Prep Rally Podcast

4:42 Mile?! Meet Arkansas Commit Gabbie Bishop

Graham Thomas — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000

We’re back with another Prep Rally Athlete Podcast, and this time we’re sitting down with Providence Academy standout Gabbie Bishop, a rising star who’s headed to run at the University of Arkansas

Gabbie shares her journey from a small-school runner to becoming a nationally competitive athlete, including the moment she realized she could compete at an elite level. From breaking the 5-minute mile barrier in a huge way to committing to one of the top track and cross-country programs in the country.

Plus, stick around for some fun hot takes where Gabby weighs in on:
Carbon-plated “cheater” shoes
Marathon vs. 5K debates
Running in the rain, wind, and wild race conditions
Cross-country chaos (yes… even getting tripped )
And whether yelling “Run, Forrest, Run!” should be allowed

Ep. 10 Basketball wraps up; looking ahead to spring sports!

Graham Thomas — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:32:56 +0000

Basketball season in Arkansas wraps up with a bang on this week’s Prep Rally Podcast! Join hosts Graham Thomas, Sydney Ruth, and Leland Barclay as they break down all the action from the state championship games in Hot Springs. From dominant performances to historic moments, the crew dives into the biggest storylines across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.

Highlights include:

- The Farmington Lady Cardinals’ incredible FOUR-PEAT state championship run
- A record-breaking tournament performance from sophomore standout Easton McCullough
- A hard-fought battle from Springdale Har-Ber in the 6A title game
- Pea Ridge’s impressive playoff run to the finals
- Key takeaways and standout moments from championship weekend across multiple classifications

Plus, the team looks ahead to spring sports season, previewing what to expect in baseball, softball, soccer, and track & field across the region.

Presented by West Termite & Pest Management — “Take control of your pests with West!” Check them out: https://westtermite.com/?matchtype=b&network=g&device=c&adposition&keyword=west%20termite&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20398503280&gbraid=0AAAAAC2LJsftliarCl_kVnDibQXLmI7ZK&gclid=CjwKCAiA4KfLBhB0EiwAUY7GAYzkIeaDuTKetfvoBkPtsb_mYXEffMON34X_u_OsEIpsZFT3GslK-xoCRlIQAvD_BwE

BONUS: Syniah Coachman on her second state appearance and Har-Ber's path to state victory

Graham Thomas — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:59:00 +0000

Syniah Coachman visits the NWA Democrat-Gazette studio to talk all things State Championship! The Har-Ber Lady Wildcats are making their FIRST EVER State Final appearance with a 16-0 season, the Lady Wildcats are ready to make a statement.

Ep. 9 Harber Lady Wildcats & Farmington Lady Cardinals going to the state final

Graham Thomas — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:25:38 +0000

On today's podcast, Leland and Graham break down every tournament across the state with stand out performances from the Farmington Lady Cardinals and the Har-Ber Lady Wildcats who will make their FIRST EVER appearance at the state final in Hot Springs this weekend!

Presented by West Termite & Pest Management — “Take control of your pests with West!” Check them out: https://westtermite.com/?matchtype=b&network=g&device=c&adposition&keyword=west%20termite&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20398503280&gbraid=0AAAAAC2LJsftliarCl_kVnDibQXLmI7ZK&gclid=CjwKCAiA4KfLBhB0EiwAUY7GAYzkIeaDuTKetfvoBkPtsb_mYXEffMON34X_u_OsEIpsZFT3GslK-xoCRlIQAvD_BwE

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon so you never miss a new episode of Prep Rally—where every week, we bring you the highlights, hype, and heart of Arkansas high school sports.

Ep. 8 Basketball tournaments are here! Who will make the state run?!

Graham Thomas — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:35:32 +0000

On this episode of the Prep Rally Podcast, we wrap up a grueling regional tournament week and turn our full attention to the Arkansas high school basketball state championships. After marathon nights of four-game slates, overtime thrillers, buzzer beaters, and deadline sprints, it’s finally time to see which teams survive and advance.

The crew breaks down key storylines across the 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A state tournaments, including:

The dominance of Springdale Har-Ber girls and their undefeated conference run
The battle-tested Har-Ber and Fayetteville boys heading into a stacked 6A bracket
Farmington’s boys and girls sweeping the 5A West
Potential upsets in those always-dangerous 1 vs. 4 matchups
The challenges of first-round byes and long layoffs

Ep. 7 Landon Price with a crazy game winning shot against Bentonville

Graham Thomas — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:21:41 +0000

BONUS: Landon Price of Bentonville West talks hot takes, singing & dancing, and what's next

Graham Thomas — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 18:31:22 +0000

Today we welcomed Bentonville West's star athlete Landon Price! Landon is the 6'4" senior guard for Bentonville West who earned 6A All-State and 6A All-Conference honors last season! So far, the Wolverines are making a name for themselves this season. Joined with host, Sydney Ruth Mulvenon, Landon talks all things Bentonville West, what's next in his career, and his thoughts on High School Musical's Troy Bolton!

Ep. 6 Playoff Picture Tightens in NWA & River Valley Hoops

Graham Thomas — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:58:38 +0000

It’s another huge week of high school basketball in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley on the Prep Rally Podcast!

Hosts Sydney Ruth Mulvenon and Graham Thomas, along with Leland Barclay in the River Valley, break down a packed week of hoops, postseason implications, and major storylines across the 6A West and 5A West.

This week’s episode covers:

Injury update: Fort Smith Northside star Camryn Schmidt suffers a torn ACL, what it means for the Lady Bears’ title hopes and how Northside responded with a big road win over Bentonville.
Conference races heating up: Har-Ber and Northside clinch top seeds in the girls race, while the boys standings are “all clumped up” heading into the final stretch.
Key matchups to watch:

Bentonville vs. Rogers
Bentonville West vs. Fayetteville
Fort Smith Northside vs. Southside (Battle of Rogers Avenue)
Big 5A West showdowns including Siloam Springs, Alma, Mountain Home, Van Buren and more

Winter sports state championships:

Bentonville dominates the 6A West swim meet
State wrestling champions crowned across multiple classifications
State bowling champions highlighted

Ep. 5 Har-Ber Takes Control, Farmington Surges & Buzzer-Beaters Everywhere

Graham Thomas — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:05:39 +0000

It’s another packed week of high school basketball across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley — and the playoff race is heating up

On this episode of the Prep Rally Podcast, Sydney Ruth, Graham Thomas, and Leland Barclay break down:

Har-Ber girls taking control of the 6A West Conference
Harbor boys hand Fayetteville its first loss with a dominant 16–0 run
Farmington boys and girls separating from the pack in the 5A West
Conference bowling and regional wrestling highlights
State tournament qualifiers and postseason seeding battles
Small-school storylines heating up in 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A

BONUS: Makenlie Campbell & the Lady Wildcats are making a statement this year!

Graham Thomas — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000

This week on the Prep Rally Podcast, we’re joined in studio by Har-Ber High School standout Makenlie Campbell, one of the top players in Northwest Arkansas girls basketball. Fresh off a milestone 1,000-point scoring achievement, Makenlie opens up about her journey, her bond with twin sister Madisen, and what’s fueling Har-Ber’s dominant season.

We dive into:

Har-Ber’s team chemistry and defensive identity
Preparing for conference matchups against West and Fayetteville
Playing with your twin and pushing each other to be better
Leadership, mindset, and staying humble amid success
The grind of Har-Ber practices and what “locking in” really means
Looking ahead to postseason play and college basketball recruitment
Life beyond basketball — from psychology dreams to crime shows

️ Catch Makenlie and the Har-Ber Wildcats in action
Har-Ber vs. Fayetteville
Friday at 6 PM | Fayetteville High School

️ Episode Sponsor: Southern Loft
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Ep 4. Snow madness means three days of basketball this week

Graham Thomas — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 22:47:02 +0000

In this episode of the Prep Rally Podcast, we break down a wild week of high school basketball across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley as teams finally return to the court after snow, ice, and schedule chaos.

Hosts Sydney Ruth Mulvenon, Graham Thomas, and Leland Barclay recap the long-awaited return of games, including conference sweeps, rivalry matchups, statement wins, and standout performances — plus a look ahead at what may be the busiest week of the entire school year.

Episode highlights include:

Winter Storm Fern fallout and postponed games
Springdale’s big sweep of Bentonville
Har-Ber vs. Northside showdown in Fort Smith
Fayetteville, Bentonville West, Shiloh Christian & River Valley recaps
A packed week ahead with three-game schedules
Hot takes that could throw conference standings into chaos
Wrestling, bowling, National Signing Day & more

This episode is a must-listen for high school sports fans who love behind-the-scenes stories, buzzer beaters, student section chaos, and real talk from the gyms — not just the box scores.

Ep. 3 Snowed In but Still Talking Hoops

Graham Thomas — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:14:52 +0000

he Prep Rally Podcast is back with a special snowed-in edition as winter weather shuts down high school sports across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley but the coverage doesn’t stop.

With games postponed and schedules in flux, Graham Thomas and Leland Barclay break down what did happen before the snow hit, including one of the wildest games of the season: a four-overtime thriller between Rogers and Bentonville. The guys recap big wins, rivalry nights, and historic performances while previewing massive matchups that might happen once the ice melts.

In this episode:

A 4-OT instant classic: Bentonville vs. Rogers
Bentonville West girls making history with record-setting wins
River Valley rivalry night: Northside vs. Southside & Alma vs. Van Buren
Big road wins and player interviews from Heritage & Northside
Weather chaos and how postponements impact small-school schedules
What to watch once games resume across 6A, 5A, and beyond

Ep 2. Upcoming battle between Bentonville West & Fayetteville

Graham Thomas — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:25:20 +0000

The Prep Rally crew breaks down all the action from the past week, highlights the biggest wins, previews key rivalry matchups, and crowns the top performers with Gimmie Five and Top Five honors.

This week’s show features:
Fort Smith Northside girls’ thrilling comeback win over Fayetteville in a state-final rematch
A loaded 6A West girls race featuring Northside, Springdale Har-Ber, Fayetteville, Bentonville, and Bentonville West
Farmington sophomore Easton McCullough’s historic 53-point night against Greenwood
Van Buren boys staying undefeated with clutch wins over Russellville and Mountain Home
Fayetteville boys rallying for an overtime road win at Rogers
A buzzer-beater stunner as Fort Smith Northside knocks off Bentonville
Shiloh Christian girls taking sole possession of first place
Weather impacts, rivalry week previews, and games to watch across the region

If you love high school sports coverage in NWA and the River Valley, don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE!
Drop a comment: Who are you rooting for this week?

Swim Special: Hayden Gibson & Ella Butcher TOP swimmers in the state!

Graham Thomas — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000

On this special bonus episode, we welcome Hayden Gibson & Ella Butcher to the studio--two of the TOP swimmers in the state! They talk about all things swim, what motivates them, and what's in store.

Hayden Gibson is a multi-record holder, an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200M Backstroke, Junior Nationals qualifier, Straight-A Honor Roll student, and has committed to the Hogs! You can find her at @hayden.gibby on Instagram!

Ella Butcher is a heavily decorated swimmer, state champion, six-time finalist at Justin Futures, and has committed to swim at the University of Utah! You can find her at @ella_ranee12 on Instagram!

We can't wait to see where these swimmers go! If you love high school sports coverage in NWA and the River Valley, don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE!

Ep. 1 Conference play starts up, Fayetteville and Har-Ber are top contenders

Graham Thomas — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Prep Rally is BACK! Basketball Edition is officially underway!
We’re tipping off the new year with a full breakdown of high school basketball across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. In our first episode back, hosts Sydney Ruth and Graham, joined by Leland, recap the opening stretch of conference play, spotlight early standouts, and preview a massive week of matchups.

In this episode:
• Breakdown of marquee rivalries, including Har-Ber vs. Fayetteville (boys & girls)
• Early contenders in the 6A West and 5A West conferences • Why Farmington, Northside, Har-Ber, and Van Buren are teams to watch
• A look ahead at one of the busiest basketball weeks of the season
• Debate on transfers, momentum, and why basketball seasons can flip fast
• A little fun with new gen slang

⭐ Top 5 & Gimmie 5: We crown the top performances of the week from both Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, including record-setting nights, game-winners, and our Players of the Week.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introduction
(00:01:07) - Conference play starts up, Fayetteville and Har-Ber are top contenders in NWA
(00:04:27) - Farmington is killing it in the 5A West!
(00:06:21) - Northside is defending state champions
(00:08:19) - Thoughts on transferring at the high school level
(00:12:52) - Sponsor! West Termite
(00:14:19) - Upcoming Matches
(00:24:41) - THE RIVER VALLEY GIMMIE 5!
(00:27:23) - THE NWA TOP 5!

Ep. 18 A breakdown of class 3A and 4A state championships

Graham Thomas — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 22:35:29 +0000

Football season comes to a close in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley! On this week's podcast, and the LAST episode of Prep Rally Podcast (Football Edition) we're breaking down the class 3A and 4A state championships with outstanding performances from both Elkins and Mansfield!

Ep. 17 Shiloh Christian ends Greenwood winning streak

Graham Thomas — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:08:11 +0000

Football season is almost over in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, but there’s still plenty to talk about! Sydney Ruth and Graham are back in the studio with Leland to break down the final stretch of high school football. In this episode, we recap the wild weekend of state championship action, from Bryant’s dominance over Bentonville to Shiloh Christian and Greenwood’s historic 116-point showdown. We also look ahead to the Class 3A and 4A title games, including Mansfield vs. Fordyce and Elkins vs. Dardanelle.

Plus:
Our Top 5 athletes of the week
The fan-favorite Gimme 5 segment
Key storylines, standout performances, and game-changing moments
Behind-the-scenes takes from the sidelines and the press box Whether you’re a Tigers, Bulldogs, Saints, Elks, or Wolves fan, this episode has something for every Arkansas football diehard.

Ep. 16 State finals are HERE for 6A and 7A classifications!

Graham Thomas — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000

The weather is cooling down, but high school football in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley is heating up. After an absolutely wild week of playoff action, we’re breaking down every moment, the heartbreaks, the comebacks, the jaw-dropping performances, and looking ahead to state championship week. This episode includes:
A full breakdown of Rogers vs. Bryant’s double-overtime thriller
Bentonville’s grind-it-out semifinal win and a look at their title game matchup
Deep dives into 6A action with Greenwood, Benton, Shiloh Christian, and Sylvan Hills
Mansfield, Boonville, Prairie Grove, Elkins, and more standout performances across 3A & 4A
Upcoming matchups + our predictions across classifications
And of course… our Top 5 and Gimmie 5 athletes of the week Plus, we talk storylines, coaching decisions, elite defenses, emotional endings, and everything that makes playoff football unforgettable.

Grab your brackets. Hit play. Let’s get into it.

Ep. 15 Semi-Finals Predictions & News from Greenwood

Graham Thomas — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 21:44:03 +0000

Playoffs are in full swing across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, and this week’s Prep Rally Podcast is stacked. Sydney Ruth and Graham are joined by a special guest in the studio — the one and only Leland Barclay — to break down an absolutely wild week of high school football. We’re recapping the biggest Friday night matchups, unforgettable performances, controversial calls, and the teams that rose to the moment. From 7A all the way down to 3A, we cover it all — the blowouts, the nail-biters, the comebacks, and the heartbreakers.

Plus:
The biggest takeaways from NW Arkansas
Standout players and milestone performances
A deep dive into Greenwood, Benton, Shiloh, Farmington, Prairie Grove, Boonville & more
Kane Archer’s recruiting update
Our full Who Ya Got? picks for every classification
And of course, this week’s Top 5 + Gimme 5 athletes It’s Thanksgiving week, football is still rolling, and the brackets are tightening.

Grab your bracket, grab a snack, and let’s get into it.
Drop a comment: Will Rogers pull off an upset this Friday night???
Presented by West Termite & Pest Management — “Take control of your pests with West!”
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon so you never miss a new episode of Prep Rally—where every week, we bring you the highlights, hype, and heart of Arkansas high school sports.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preprallypod/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preprallysports/
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook: @preprallysports
Full coverage at: https://www.nwaonline.com/
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#PrepRallyPodcast #ArkansasHighSchoolFootball #NWADG #HighSchoolSports #GreenwoodBulldogs #BentonvilleTigers #ElkinsElks #CharlestonTigers #RogersMounties #PlayoffsBound #GimmieFive

Ep. 14 A close game between Bentonville West and North Little Rock!

Graham Thomas — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 19:34:36 +0000

The first round is in the books, and the Prep Rally crew is breaking it all down; the upsets, the blowouts, the heartbreakers, and the unbelievable performances that pushed teams into Round 2!

This week, Sydney Ruth, Graham, and Leland dive into:

️ Full recap of Bentonville West vs. North Little Rock, Fayetteville’s big payback win, Springdale’s historic playoff victory, Charleston’s wild 71-point shootout, and more.
Who You Got? Our panel makes their predictions for every major matchup across 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A and 3A.
Top Performers: We close out the show with this week’s Gimmie Five & Top 5: our top five athletes across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.
️ Long road trips, high stakes, tough brackets, and even tougher picks… this episode has it all.

Ep. 12 Touchdown History MADE & Upcoming May Bowl?!

Graham Thomas — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:55:28 +0000

What’s up, everyone! Welcome back to the Prep Rally Podcast — your go-to huddle for high school sports action across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley! Hosts Sydney, Graham, and Leland break down all the biggest games, highlights, and storylines from Week 10 of Arkansas high school football. In this episode:

Conference Races Tighten Up – Bentonville vs. Bentonville West in the Battle of Bentonville and Greenwood’s trip to Mountain Home could decide top playoff seeds.
Historic Milestones – Greenwood QB Kane Archer makes state history with over 100 passing touchdowns and 50 rushing touchdowns!
Breaking Streaks & Big Wins – Siloam Springs ends a 35-game conference losing streak, and Elkins clinches a fourth straight title.
‍ The “May Bowl” – Father vs. son matchup as Charleston head coach Ricky May faces his son Brock May at Greenland — who will take the bragging rights home?
Plus: Predictions, playoff implications, and our Gimme Five top athletes of the week!

Drop a comment: Should Leland come up to the studio for the state playoffs episode?

Presented by West Termite & Pest Management — “Take control of your pests with West!”

Ep. 11 Bentonville and Farmington come out on top

Graham Thomas — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 21:22:24 +0000

Welcome back to The Prep Rally Podcast — your weekly huddle for high school sports action across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley!
In this episode, hosts Sydney, Graham, and Leland break down another wild Friday night under the lights — from clutch plays to emotional wins and everything in between.

Highlights from this week’s show:
1. Postgame reaction from players who stepped up big after key injuries this season
2. One wide receiver talks about what it means to be the glue holding his team’s offense together
3. A breakout 83-yard touchdown that changed the momentum of the game
4. Coaches reflect on what it took to overcome adversity — from early turnovers to second-half struggles — and how toughness and teamwork carried them through
5. A heartfelt celebration of hard-fought wins and resilient athletes who left everything on the field

Plus, our favorite segments:
Gimmie 5 & Top 5 Athletes of the Week!

From sideline interviews to locker room celebrations, this week’s Prep Rally Podcast captures the heart and hustle of Arkansas high school football.
Listen for the passion. Stay for the stories.
✨ Presented by: West Termite — “West knows pests best!”
Watch the full episode and join the conversation in the comments!

Ep. 10 Heritage War Eagles Defeat Northside!

Graham Thomas — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 18:34:40 +0000

Welcome back to The Prep Rally Podcast — your go-to huddle for all things high school sports in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley!
his week, hosts Sydney, Graham, and Leland break down an action-packed slate of games and unforgettable finishes across the region.

In this episode:
Bentonville dominates Fayetteville in a statement win
Rogers Heritage breaks a 25-game losing streak in an emotional 41-40 overtime victory
The Van Buren Pointers make history with their best conference start since 1996
Leland shares exclusive postgame interviews with Rogers Heritage head coach Eric Muñoz and his players Predictions and picks for this week’s biggest matchups — including Bentonville vs. Rogers, Boonville vs. Mansfield, and more!

Ep. 9 Rogers and Springdale BIG Wins!

Graham Thomas — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:30:00 +0000

What’s up everyone! Welcome back to the Prep Rally Podcast — your go-to huddle for all things high school sports in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. This week, hosts Sydney, Graham, and Leland break down a wild slate of games and preview what’s next under those Friday night lights.

In this episode:

The Battle of Springdale — Springdale vs. Har-Ber in a rivalry thriller you don’t want to miss.
Rogers dominates again — can anyone stop Jeff Regan and Titus Cramer?
Shiloh Christian and Van Buren are rolling — what’s fueling their success?
Fayetteville breaks its losing streak and gets set for the Battle of the Better-ville.
Predictions for the biggest matchups of the week — including the down-in-the-dumps bowl and the winless showdown.
“Purple will reign!” — Sydney’s bold call for Fayetteville vs. Bentonville.

Ep. 6 Rogers stuns Fayetteville + Rivalry Week in NWA!

Graham Thomas — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 22:00:13 +0000

What. A. Week. of high school football across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley! In this episode of the Prep Rally Podcast, hosts Sydney Ruth, Graham, and Leland break down one of the most thrilling finishes of the season — Rogers’ 56-55 win over Fayetteville, their first in Fayetteville since 1994!

We dive deep into how it all went down — from the explosive offenses to the controversial blocked PAT that sealed the deal. Plus, we highlight standout players like Hank Hendrick, Jeff Regan, and more top performers across the region. Then, we look ahead to Rivalry Week matchups including:
Springdale vs. Har-Ber — the Battle of Springdale!
Shiloh Christian vs. Fort Smith Southside
Farmington vs. Greenbrier — could this decide the 5A West?
️ Van Buren vs. Lake Hamilton, Bentonville West vs. Rogers, and more.

Ep. 5 Conference is HERE!

Graham Thomas — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 21:55:26 +0000

Welcome back to the Prep Rally Podcast – your go-to huddle for high school sports action in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley! This week, Graham, Leland and Sydney break down:

The biggest wins and wildest finishes from non-conference play

Bentonville’s hot start and Fayetteville’s wild comeback effort

Elkins, Hackett, and Southside making noise before conference matchups

A look ahead to conference season – Fayetteville vs. Bentonville West, Bentonville vs. Har-ber, and the massive Shiloh Christian vs. Greenwood showdown

Plus: a fun debate about polls, rankings, and whether Prep Rally should make its own Top 10 list

From Friday night lights to game predictions, interviews, and some laughs along the way, we’ve got everything high school sports fans need. D

rop your thoughts in the comments: Should Prep Rally make our own Top 10 poll?

Available wherever you listen to podcasts & right here on YouTube.

Ep. 4 Non-Conference Matchups Wrap Up

Graham Thomas — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:32:31 +0000

In this episode, Sydney, Graham, and Leland break down the biggest wins, wildest finishes, and top performances from the week, including:
Greenwood’s nail-biting one-point win led by star QB Kane Archer
Rogers’ explosive 84-point shootout vs. Sheridan
Bentonville West’s dominant performance against Muskogee
Charleston’s huge rivalry win over Ozark
Fayetteville, Bentonville, and other teams to watch heading into the next slate of games

We also dive into “Who You Got?” predictions, counting down the most anticipated matchups of the week, and reveal our Top 5 athletes from both Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.

Featured Player Spotlight: Charleston QB Carter Little, our River Valley Player of the Week, after a lights-out performance in the Franklin County feud.

Ep. 3 Football Season Ramps Up!

Graham Thomas — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:30:00 +0000

We’re back with another episode of the Prep Rally Podcast, your go-to huddle for everything high school sports in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley!

This week, Sydney, Graham and Leland break down the biggest wins and wildest finishes in our “Reel It Back” segment — from Bentonville’s dominant win over Conway to Fayetteville’s overtime thriller against Broken Arrow.

We also look ahead to the biggest matchups of the week:

Greenwood at Springdale Har-Ber
Farmington at Prairie Grove
Lincoln Christian at Shiloh Christian
Muskogee at Bentonville West
Ozark at Charleston (Battle of the River Valley)

And of course, we’ve got our fan-favorites:

✨ Gimme 5 – spotlighting standout athletes across the River Valley

✨ Top 5 – breaking down the best performances in Northwest Arkansas

Featured Athletes & Highlights This Week:

Kane Archer (Greenwood) – 7 TD performance
Carson Hayter (Springdale) – 200+ yards + TD pass
Tre Thompson (Bentonville West) – 6 TD passes
Grace Abbruzzese – Hole-in-one + Athlete of the Week

…and more!

Don’t forget to follow us for exclusive player interviews, behind-the-scenes moments, and more high school sports content:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preprallypod/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preprallysports/

Full coverage at:

https://www.nwaonline.com/

https://www.rivervalleydemocratgazette.com/

#podcast #highschoolsports #preprally #sports #football

Ep. 2 Non-Conference Matchups

Graham Thomas — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 21:00:00 +0000

The high school football season is here! Sydney, Graham and Leland break down last week's non-conference matchups, highlights, next week's predictions, and the Top 5 and Gimmie 5 Players of the Week in the Prep Rally Podcast.

This episode covers:

Greenwood v. Bentonville West showdown

Battle of Rogers Avenue: Northside vs. Southside

Battle of the Bone: Alma vs. Van Buren

Rogers outstanding performance

“Top 5” + “Gimmie 5” takeaways from scrimmage week

Ep. 1 Scrimmage Week

Graham Thomas — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:30:00 +0000

The high school football season is here! Sydney and Graham break down Week Zero matchups, scrimmage highlights, predictions, and the Top 5 takeaways of the week in the Prep Rally Podcast.

This episode covers:

Fayetteville vs. Greenwood scrimmage recap

Battle of Rogers Avenue: Northside vs. Southside

Battle of the Bone: Alma vs. Van Buren

Bentonville, Har-Ber, Rogers & more big storylines

“Top 5” + “Gimmie 5” takeaways from scrimmage week

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introduction
(00:00:55) - Reel it Back - Scrimmage Week
(00:08:00) - The Look Ahead - Week 1 of High School Football
(00:17:09) - Gimmie 5 (Takeaways from Scrimmage Week)
(00:21:15) - Top 5 (Takeaways from Scrimmage Week)

Ep. 0 Football Season Preview

Graham Thomas — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 19:15:00 +0000

We’re back! The Prep Rally Podcast kicks off a brand-new season with our Football Season Preview, breaking down everything you need to know before Friday night lights return across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. This week, Sydney and the crew are joined by special guest Walter Woodie to huddle up on all things high school football—conference by conference. From 2A battles to the heavyweights in 7A, we’re spotlighting the teams, players, and storylines to watch this fall.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

2A: Magazine, Mountainburg, Johnson County Westside, Subiaco Academy

3A: Booneville, Charleston, Mansfield + who else could shake things up

4A: Can Elkins repeat? Will Ozark break through in a tough league?

5A: Farmington vs. the field—can Alma or Harrison make a run?

6A: Greenwood and Shiloh lead the pack, but who’s next in line?

7A: Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville… and new coaches to watch We also bring you our “Gimme 5” segment, featuring the biggest questions in the River Valley and the top 5 players to watch in NWA this season.

We also bring you our “Gimme 5” segment, featuring the biggest questions in the River Valley and the top 5 players to watch in NWA this season.

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introduction
(00:01:50) - Class 2A
(00:04:58) - Class 3A
(00:10:44) - Class 4A
(00:15:56) - Road Trip Trailer
(00:17:50) - Class 5A
(00:22:42) - Class 6A
(00:27:57) - Class 7A
(00:34:15) - Leland's Top 5 Questions of the Season
(00:37:30) - Graham's Top 5 Players to Watch
(00:39:58) - Sydney's Top 5 Things to Look Forward To

Upcoming softball, baseball, and soccer grand finales

Graham Thomas — Wed, 21 May 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Join our hosts Graham Thomas and Leland Barclay, as they look towards the upcoming finals in Softball, Baseball, and Soccer. All finals will take place starting this Friday, May 23rd at The University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR.

#podcast #sports #highschoolsports

Keep up to date on High School Sports! https://www.nwaonline.com/sports/prep/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introduction
(00:01:22) - Summary of Semi-Finals
(00:08:44) - Upcoming Finals

Upcoming basketball tournament finals

Graham Thomas — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:58:16 +0000

Join our hosts Graham Thomas, Leland Barclay, and Sydney Ruth Mulvenon as they look back at last weeks' basketball games. They also dive into their predictions and thoughts about the upcoming finals, starting on Thursday and finishing with the 6A finals on Saturday in Hot Springs.

A visit to Springdale High School

Graham Thomas — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 21:11:12 +0000

In this exciting episode of the Pep Rally Podcast, join hosts Sydney & Graham with special guests Kaiya McCoy and Adriana Hernandez from the Springdale High Girls Basketball Team as they discuss their upcoming state tournament! They share their thoughts on playing on their home court, preparing for tough competition, and the electric atmosphere of their previous games. Plus, hear fun behind-the-scenes moments and team dynamics that make their season unforgettable. Get an insider's look at what it takes to compete at the highest level and support your team! Don’t miss out—watch these athletes in action next week!

Ice cold! Basketball games rescheduled due to snow

Graham Thomas — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 21:52:43 +0000

Join our hosts Graham Thomas and Leland Barclay over zoom! Heavy snow has caused many games to get postponed.

Where are we?!

Graham Thomas — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:43:52 +0000

Join our hosts Graham Thomas and Sydney Ruth Mulvenon as they visit the Fayetteville High School Basketball arena. Then, Graham makes the trip down to Fort Smith to reunite with Leland Barclay in the flesh!

Best play of the week?

Graham Thomas — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 22:50:18 +0000

Join our hosts Graham Thomas, Leland Barclay, and Sydney Ruth Mulvenon as the discuss the big match up Springdale vs. Har-Ber, Springdale vs. Northside, and so much more!

Biggest upset of the week in high school basketball

Graham Thomas — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 19:46:43 +0000

Join our hosts Graham Thomas, Leland Barclay, and Sydney Ruth Mulvenon to discuss the biggest upset win of the week, upcoming match ups, and a surprise snack session.

Basketball underdog picks & Prep Rally fantasy League

Graham Thomas — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 18:06:01 +0000

Join our hosts Graham Thomas, Leland Barclay, and Sydney Ruth Mulvenon as basketball season continues across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Who are the underdogs this season?

New era of Prep Rally has begun

Graham Thomas — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 19:10:38 +0000

Jump into this season of Prep Rally with Graham Thomas, Leland Barclay, and our new host, Sydney Ruth Mulvenon! This episode, we talk all things basketball from Har-Ber Wildcat Boys surprising victory against the Fayetteville Bulldogs, to Hackett's Michaelyn Freeman earning the Gatorade Player of the Year Award.

Keep up with High School Sports:

High School Sports Democrat Gazette

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Prep Rally Podcast Instagram

Arkansas sportswriter Rick Fires retirement show

Graham Thomas — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 19:02:17 +0000

Democrat Gazette award winning sportswriter Rick Fires hosts his final show of Prep Rally. With Graham Thomas and leland barclay discussing their favorite memories with Rick.

State Championship Recap

Graham Thomas — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:40:18 +0000

Five state championships are in the books, and two more are left this weekend. Graham, Rick and Leland break it down on Prep Rally.

High school football playoff review and state championship preview

Graham Thomas — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:36:41 +0000

It’s state championship weekend for 8-man, Class 2A, 5A, 6A and 7A. Graham, Leland and Rick are back for another episode of Prep Rally and will have championship predictions. See who made Gimme 5 in the River Valley and Top 5 of Northwest Arkansas. Don’t miss out on WHO YOU GOT?

Prep Rally Thanksgiving Special

Graham Thomas — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 20:40:47 +0000

Today Leland and Rick discuss their top picks for the next round of the Arkansas high school playoffs, and the top picks for their Thanksgiving plates!

Arkansas High School Football Top Playoff Matchups of the Week

Graham Thomas — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:03:16 +0000

The opening round of the Arkansas high school playoffs is in the books. The guys are ready for Round 2 and are back for another episode of Prep Rally.

See who made Gimme 5 in the River Valley and Top 5 of Northwest Arkansas. Don’t miss out on WHO YOU GOT?

Week 11 recaps best high school football games and cross country matchups

Graham Thomas — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:58:50 +0000

It’s playoffs time in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Rick, Graham and Leland are back for another episode of Prep Rally.

See who made Gimme 5 in the River Valley and Top 5 of Northwest Arkansas.

Don’t miss out on WHO YOU GOT?

Week 10 recap and a tribute to a fallen teammate

Graham Thomas — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 21:43:25 +0000

It’s Week 10 of the high school football season and the last regular season game.

Graham, Rick and Leland are back for another episode of Prep Rally. We take a look at last week’s best performances with Gimme 5 in the River Valley and Top 5 of Northwest Arkansas.

Don’t miss out on WHO YOU GOT? for this week’s predictions. Plus we pay tribute to the late Greenwood wide receiver Isaiah Arrington and his family members, who died last week in a housefire.

High school football week 9 recap: Top players including ones from Mansfield, Greenwood, Rogers and more

Graham Thomas — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 22:27:53 +0000

It’s week 9 of the high school football season and Graham, Rick and Leland are back for another episode of Prep Rally. We’re recapping last week’s best performances with Gimme 5 in the River Valley and Top 5 of Northwest Arkansas. Don’t miss out on WHO YOU GOT? For this week’s predictions, including Rogers at Bentonville and Springdale at Fayetteville.

00:00 Prep Rally Podcast
02:07 Gimme 5 River Valley
02:14 Daniel Burton SR RB Mansfield rushing defeated Booneville, 34-22
04:13 #3 Kaylor Jasna SR DB Greenwood
05:01 #3 Cutler Winters SR QB Lavaca
05:38 #4 Davis Carter SR Spiro
06:03 #5 A.J. Lyons-Jerrell, SR Pocola
07:56 River Valley Report
12:50 Top 5 Northwest Arkansas
12:58 #1 Farmington beats Morrilton 78-75
13:30 NWA Player of the Week - Ayden Lester
18:23 #2 Bentonville beats Rogers 56-34
19:27 #3 Gabe Holmes, Gravette
20:13 #4 Fayetteville tops Springdale
20:46 #5 Shepherd Newcomb, Ozark Catholic
21:51 Northwest Arkansas Sports Report
25:58 Predictions for this week’s game
26:30 CLASS 3A River Valley Game of the Week: Charleston at Booneville
28:02 CLASS 4A: Gentry at Prairie Grove
29:01 CLASS 4A: Lamar at Ozark
29:52 CLASS 5A: Pea Ridge at Alma
30:37 CLASS 6A: Van Buren at Mountain Home
31:18 CLASS 7A: Fort Smith Northside at Bentonville West
32:34 CLASS 7A: Bentonville at Springdale
33:16 CLASS 4A NWA Game of the Week: Gravette at Elkins

Big matchups, Top 5 and more

Graham Thomas — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 20:15:13 +0000

Recap of the first week of conference play for NWA and River Valley schools

Graham Thomas — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 21:11:30 +0000

Graham, Rick and Leland are here to talk about the first week of conference play. Who made this week’s Gimme 5 from Waldren, Paris, Lavaca, Mansfield and Southside? Also in this week's addition what players and teams made the Top 5 in Northwest Arkansas that includes?

PLUS, WHO YOU GOT? Predictions for this week’s best high school games.

Prep Rally Podcasts - September 24, 2024

Graham Thomas — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 20:02:01 +0000

Conference play is here and Graham, Rick and Leland are here to talk about it on this week’s Prep Rally. Check out the highlights from River Valley with Leland Barclay’s Gimme 5 and Rick Fires goes over the Top 5 performances of the week in Northwest Arkansas. PLUS, WHO YOU GOT? Predictions for this week’s best high school games.

Give Me 5 - River Valley

Brycen Hamilton - Hackett

Angel Alvarez, QB, Clarksville

Blake Forsgren, QB, Southside

Jackson Harris, QB, Sallisaw

Braxin Goodson, QB, Sallisaw Central

River Valley Sports Report

Hackett - Hamilton Touch Down

Fayetteville- Odom to Mattingly Touch Down

Little Rock Southwest at Fort Smith Southside

Northwest Arkansas Top 5

Texas High vs Fayetteville

Garyt Odom - Fayetteville

Catavion Taylor - Fayetteville

Colby Grogan of Greenland

Prairie Grove

Volleyball - Bentonville vs Benton

Northwest Arkansas Sports Report

Volleyball

Chill Pepper Cross County

High School Football

Game of the Week - Greenwood at Shiloh Christian

Lincohn at Gravett

Elkins at Gentry

Alma At Harrison

Northside at Rogers

Harber at Bentonville

Girls JHigh School Golf

Who You Got - Game Picks

3A Hackett at Mansfield

4A Lincoln at Gravette

5A Alma at Harrison

6A Mountain Home at Fort Smith Southside

6A Van Buren at Russellville

7A FS Northside at Rogers

7A Springdale Har-Ber at Bentonville

GAME OF WEEK: Greenwood at Shiloh Christian

Prep Rally Podcast - September 18, 2024

Graham Thomas — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 21:49:41 +0000

Graham, Rick and Leland are back with another exciting episode of Prep Rally, heading into the final week of non-conference high school football games. Check out the highlights from River Valley with Leland Barclay’s Gimme 5 and Rick Fires goes over the Top 5 performances of the week in Northwest Arkansas.

PLUS, WHO YOU GOT? Predictions for this week’s best high school games.

Prep Sports Report on Football, Volleyball, Cross Country and more

Graham Thomas — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:27:54 +0000

The boys are back with another exciting episode of Prep Rally. Check out the highlights from River Valley with Leland Barclay’s Gimme 5 and Rick Fires goes over the Top 5 performances of the week in Northwest Arkansas.

This week, they talk about the second week game results from around Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Volleyball and cross country get a shout out as their seasons are underway.

PLUS, WHO YOU GOT? Predictions for this week’s best high school games.

Prep Rally Podcast: Week 1 Thrillers

Graham Thomas — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 21:19:45 +0000

Graham Thomas and Leland Barclay discuss the great games including the Battle of Rogers Avenue — Fort Smith Southside at Fort Smith Northside — and the Battle of the Bone — Van Buren at Alma, along with Tulsa Union at Bentonville. PLUS, this week’s WHO YOU GOT? Predictions for this week’s games.

Prep Rally Podcast - August 28, 2024

Graham Thomas — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 21:32:51 +0000

High school football season begins this week and our Prep Rally Podcast guys Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay give their picks on this week’s Who You Got? Plus Gimme 5 in the River Valley, Top 5 in Northwest Arkansas.

Find out who the pick in the following game picks this week in Who You Got:

Van Buren at Alma

FS Southside at FS Northside

Gravette at Pea Ridge

Farmington at Shiloh

Fayetteville at Cabot

Rogers at North Little Rock

Greenwood at Bentonville

Tulsa Union at Bentonville

We're Back and So Is High School Football

Graham Thomas — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 20:59:43 +0000

“We’re back!” NWA Democrat-Gazette sports guys Graham Thomas and Rick Fires return with Leland Barclay in the River Valley for the season-debut of the Prep Rally Podcast.

NWA and River Valley Prep Basketball Tournament Recap

Graham Thomas — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 17:23:59 +0000

We’re back with a post basketball season edition of Prep Rally. Join us as we recap the state finals in Hot Springs and local state tournaments

Conference showdowns highlight final stretch of prep basketball season in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley

Graham Thomas — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 22:33:04 +0000

We’re into the final week and a half of regular season prep basketball in NWA and the River Valley. A lot of exciting conference races coming down to the finish line. We’ll talk about it next on Prep Rally.

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports editor Graham Thomas, reporters Rick Fires and Leland Barclay cover some of the best games from this past week.

Rick returns after time on the disabled list. Something about a mule we hear. Leland witnessed the battle of Crawford County part two. Alma vs. Van Buren where the Pointers handed Alma their first loss and earned a trip to the postseason. Rick watched Rogers Heritage come in Springdale Har-Ber's Wildcat stadium get decimated by Courtland Muldrew and the rest of the Wildcats.

Bentonville and Fayetteville, was a fight for most of the game. Other teams include Bentonville West, a dangerous Springdale team and upcoming district tournaments.

We figured it would all come down to the final weeks of the year and that's ringing true.

From hard fought victories on the court to record-setting track wins, Graham and Leland cover the top performances from NWA and the River Valley

Graham Thomas — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Graham Thomas and Leland Barclay take a look back at the best games from Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.

The crew talk about the stellar atmosphere as the Springdale boys down Fayetteville, the New School sweeps Ozark Catholic to win their conference, Bentonville sets track records are over the weekend, Fayetteville girls win over Springdale and the latest wrestling victories for NWA schools.

In the River Valley, Van Buren wins another championship. In what? Better listen to find out. Also, several River Valley athletes found success in track, Northside Lady Bears continue to excel and Alma starts 9-0. The first since the 1940's.

Breaking down the latest high school basketball action for Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley

Graham Thomas — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:59:12 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters Graham Thomas and Rick Fires join River Valley reporter Leland Barclay to discuss the latest high school basketball action, including Van Buren’s visit to Alma, along with the best games in the 6A-West Conference including Bentonville's win against Springdale, and the split series between Rogers and Heritage.

They also preview upcoming games and mention standout performances from players like Annabelle Perry, Alyson Edwards of Mansfield, Marco Smith of Fort Smith Northside, Erianna Gooden of Fort Smith Northside, Israel Towns-Robinson of Alma, and other high school athletes.

The 6A-West Conference is starting to take shape

Graham Thomas — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 20:09:40 +0000

The 6A-West Conference is starting to take shape on both the boys and girls sides. Who’s out front? Who’s in the mix? And How bout that 5A-West? All this and more on this week’s Prep Rally.

Wintry weather postpones highs school games, but a big thaw promises relief

Graham Thomas — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:07:23 +0000

Winter weather all over Arkansas has put a halt over everything for the time being, but hopefully warmer days and basketball are ahead. Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and River Valley Democrat-Gazette reports Rick Fires, Walter Woodie, Leland Barclay and Graham Thomas stay warm and recap the pre-snow games and look ahead to a restart of the season for 6A teams.

Basketball and the weather are in full swing in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley

Graham Thomas — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:48:56 +0000

Basketball season is in full swing in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, if the weather cooperates. So far so good. Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leleand Barclay dive into it and much more on this week’s Prep Rally.

Fayetteville Bulldogs and Greenwood Secure Perfect 13-0 Records, Claiming Football State Titles

Graham Thomas — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 21:51:53 +0000

It's Purple Perfection in 7A football as the Fayetteville Bulldogs finish 13-0. Greenwood also finishes 13-0 and brings the state title back. We take a look at the state championship games from last weekend on this week's Prep Rally.

Fayetteville defeats Conway, Bentonville defeats Bryant to set up a 7A west state championship

Graham Thomas — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 21:24:57 +0000

Graham, Rick and Leland take a look back at last week’s playoff games, including Fayetteville’s victory over Conway, Bentonville defeating Bryant and wins from Greenwood and Shiloh Christian. Then the guys look ahead to this week’s Class 5A, 6A and 7A championship games.

The Return of the 7A West?

Graham Thomas — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:54:39 +0000

After Week 2 of the Arkansas High School playoffs, we're down to just a few teams here in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Who will survive Week 3?

We take a look this week on a special Thanksgiving edition of Prep Rally.

Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

A recap of the first round of prep football playoffs

Graham Thomas — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 21:28:42 +0000

Round 1 of the Arkansas High School playoffs is in the books. Graham, Rick and Leland take a look back at last week’s playoff games and look forward to the second round as Fayetteville, Bentonville and Greenwood join the party.

Recap of last week's games in Northwest Arkansas, River Valley and a look to the playoffs

Graham Thomas — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 01:16:14 +0000

Sports reporters Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay take a look back at the last week of the regular season and look to this week’s first round of the Arkansas High School football playoffs.

Playoff Picture Unveiled: Week 10 scenarios and more

Graham Thomas — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 20:42:42 +0000

It’s the final week of the regular season. Who’s in after this week? Who’s out? And who needs to win in Week 10 to keep playing? We discuss this and much more on this week’s Prep Rally.

Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

Recap of Bentonville's victory, Har-Ber's shootout, and more on Prep Rally

Graham Thomas — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 21:06:02 +0000

Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay look back at Bentonville’s win over Rogers, the shootout between Springdale Har-Ber and Fort Smith Southside and Farmington’s upset win over Shiloh Christian.

Also, the guys take a look at this week’s games.

Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

Fayetteville's triumph, Harrison's Hail Mary, and 3A-1 showdown

Graham Thomas — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 20:09:10 +0000

Fayetteville's win over Bentonville as Purple ‘Dogs are in driver seat for the conference championship. Harrison rallies to beat Alma with a Hail Mary pass and Booneville and Charleston set to clash in a 3A-1 showdown. All this and more coming up on this week’s Prep Rally with Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay.

Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

Undefeated Fayetteville faces Bentonville in a high stakes showdown for the 7A-West Conference

Graham Thomas — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 16:39:30 +0000

Undefeated Fayetteville hosts Bentonville with the winner in the driver’s seat for the 7A-West Conference championship.

The wild, wild 5A-West stays wild with Alma and Shiloh Christian out in front, and big games in the 4A-1 and 3A-1. All this and more on this week’s Prep Rally.

High school football recap: Fayetteville triumphs, anticipation builds for Springdale showdown, and top 5 highlights

Graham Thomas — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:55:48 +0000

Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay look back at Fayetteville’s 47-42 victory over Rogers as well as the other big high school football games in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.

The guys then look ahead to this week, including the Battle of Springdale, Springdale High vs Springdale Har-Ber. Also, be sure and watch for the Top Five.

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Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

Rogers Mounties impress with win; Eyes on Fayetteville in 7A-West conference battle

Graham Thomas — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 15:36:30 +0000

How about those Rogers Mounties? Rogers with a huge win at Fort Smith Southside to open 7A west conference play.

Can the Mounties do it again this week at Fayetteville in another conference showdown of undefeated teams?

Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay recap this and all the big games from the start of 7A-West Conference play. Leland has the scoop from the Rogers-Fort Smith Southside game, which ended in a 44-38 Mounties win.

The guys then take a look ahead to this week’s biggest matchups, including another showdown for Rogers, who travels to Fayetteville.

We discuss this and much, much more on this week's Prep Rally.

7A-West Conference Play begins in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley

Graham Thomas — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 20:24:00 +0000

It’s time for 7A-West Conference play. Sports reporters Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay examine this week’s best matchups, including Rogers at Fort Smith Southside and Fayetteville at Bentonville West along with looking back at last week’s games.

Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

Week 2 is over, week 3 is set to kick off

Graham Thomas — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 20:08:54 +0000

Week 2 is over as week 3 begins before Arkansas High Football conference play begins, Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay drill down in last weeks games and the upcoming games.

Don’t miss theirs top 5 picks from around Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley form last weeks games and events.

Week 1 recap including a matchup between 7A titans Bentonville, Conway; Shiloh Christians Bo Williams monster game

Graham Thomas — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 22:13:43 +0000

Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay take a look back at Week 1 in high school football in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. The guys break down the Conway Wampus Cats’ 42-39 win at Bentonville in a match up of two of the the best teams in Class 7A.

They also look at the performance of Bo Williams at Shiloh Christian, who had 400 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, along with looking ahead to this week’s games.

A look back to week zero

Graham Thomas — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 19:04:23 +0000

Sports reporters Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay look back on the games from Week Zero in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. The guys then turn their attention to the Week 1 football games, including the Game of the Week — Conway at Bentonville, which will draw much interest from all over the state.

The podcast wraps up with this week’s Top Five performances from the previous week.

Football is back in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley

Graham Thomas — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 21:56:08 +0000

Football is back and so is the Prep Rally Podcast.

Sports reporters Graham Thomas, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay discuss the Week Zero games in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, including rivalry matchups with Alma at Van Buren, Northside at Southside and this week’s game of the week, Cabot at Fayetteville.

They also discuss how the extreme heat will impact the start times for kickoff.

The guys also will break down their Top Five storylines heading into the 2023 season.

The toughest kids in high school sports

Graham Thomas — Thu, 25 May 2023 18:31:32 +0000

Toughness is the theme today as Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters recap the spring state championship games and Booneville’s Lexi Franklin pitching with 6 stitches over her right eye after getting hit prior to the Lady Bearcats’ 3A state championship softball game.

Franklin, with her eye bandaged, earned MVP honors in leading her team to the title. Gravette softball, Har-Ber baseball, and soccer champs at Harrison, Green Forest and Bentonville are all recognized on today’s episode of the last Prep Rally Podcast of the school year.

Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

Weekend of Champions and 5 consecutive no-hitters

Graham Thomas — Thu, 18 May 2023 16:40:20 +0000

It’s Weekend of Champions this week and the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters break down all championship games in Conway this weekend.

In the Feats of the Week, Benton’s Alyssa Houston has thrown 5 consecutive no-hitters to lead the Lady Panthers to the 5A championship game; Anna Woolsey pulled off a rare feat at the Meet of Champions winning the 100, 200 and 400, only the second time in MOC history that feat has been accomplished.

Introducing NWA's newest sports editor and some fantastic high school sports feats

Graham Thomas — Thu, 11 May 2023 20:40:57 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sports Editor Graham Thomas joins the podcast this week.

A plethora of spring sports were the topic today starting with Gunnar Woolard’s big day for the Gravette Lions as they win the 4A-North Regional baseball championship.

In the feats of the week, Gravette sophomore Sydney Kildow was huge for her team in the championship game of the 4A-North regional softball tournament, pitching three hitless and scoreless innings in a 3-0 win against Pea Ridge. And Leland Barclay recaps the state powerlifting meet in Lake Hamilton where Charleston’s Reese Merechka won the 165-pound weight class.

Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

State Track Meets Begin - Ozark's Anna Woolsey Dominates

Graham Thomas — Thu, 04 May 2023 18:36:39 +0000

In today’s podcast, Anna Woolsey of Ozark had another big day on the track, scoring 46 points with four first place finishes in the Class 4A state track meet Tuesday.

In our Feats of the Week, Rogers Gael Salinas drove in 8 runs in two games for the 6A-West baseball champs; Dahana Tuemala homered twice including a grand slam in Rogers’ 15-0 win against Springdale; and Austin Mitchell of Greenwood came into Tuesday night’s must-win game with the bases loaded and delivered for the Bulldogs as they clinched the 5A-West title.

Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

A Champion clinches the conference on a walk-off

Graham Thomas — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 18:50:05 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters talk on today’s podcast about the merits of a perfect game and Stephanie Crittenden’s three-homer game for Bentonville West.

Also on today’s show, we hit the feats of the week including Caleb Champion’s conference-clinching walk-off single for the Rogers Mounties.

Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

No-hitters and perfect games

Graham Thomas — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 16:54:28 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters dive into spring sports to recap Springdale Har-Ber pitcher Ross Felder’s no-hitter and Hackett sophomore pitcher Makenzie Freeman’s 10th career perfect game. Also reporters give a brief preview of the upcoming track meets including the 6A and 5A conference meets.

Support you local news, subscribe at: nwaonline.com/podcast23/

Dive into spring sports in Northwest Arkansas

Graham Thomas — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:22:17 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters dive into spring sports in recapping baseball, softball and soccer games from this week. And this week’s feats of the week were incredible from Ozark’s Anna Woolsey’s 56 points in a track meet to Lincoln’s Brinkley Moreton’s three home run day in a doubleheader sweep Tuesday.

Also Bentonville’s Rowan Christensen had never had a game-winning hit, much less a walk-off home run. Now he has both as his homer Monday lifted the Tigers to a 6-5 win against Rogers Heritage.

Read more sports stories at: nwaonline.com/sports/prep/

Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

Rain couldn't stop these outstanding feats for three NWA schools

Graham Thomas — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 19:47:07 +0000

Rain wiped out a large number of games this week, but it did not diminish three outstanding feats of the week. Farmington’s Justine Davidson had a huge day for the Lady Cardinal softball team in back to back games, hitting three home runs and driving in seven runs; Grace Nowlin led her Rogers soccer team to a 4-3 win, getting a hat trick of three goals; And Fort Smith Northside track star Demari Smith clocked a 10.51 in the 100 at the Bulldog Relays in Fayetteville.

Also, Springdale has begun the search for a new athletic director, and Greenland’s highly successful girls basketball coach Alan Barton is stepping away from the sideline and into a full-time principal role.

Support you local news, subscribe at: https://www.nwaonline.com/podcast23/

Spring sports are in full swing

Graham Thomas — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 21:10:14 +0000

Spring sports are in full swing after spring break and there were a number of highlights this week.

The three Feats of the Week are:

Jaison DeLamar of Fayetteville threw a no-hitter in Fayetteville’s 1-0 win against Fort Smith Northside;
Janie Kramer of Fayetteville had two goals and an assist as the Lady Bulldogs remained undefeated;
Alma’s Julia Nutt had seven hits and drove in 12 runs on Tuesday in a doubleheader sweep of Siloam Springs.

Also in today’s podcast, Bentonville will be looking for a new athletic director as Scott Passmore, who led the two Bentonville athletic programs to more than 100 state championships in his tenure, will be taking on a similar role at the Thaden School.

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State Basketball Championship recap and incredible pitching from Pea Ridge

Graham Thomas — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 14:23:55 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters break down Pea Ridge pitcher Emory Bowlin's incredible week, she struck out all 21 batters she faced in a game against Rogers Heritage, then came back four days later and pitched another perfect game against Lincoln.

Also, state basketball finals in Hot Springs saw Greenwood, Farmington and County Line all claim state titles last weekend.

Top 3 Feats of the Week.
1. Emery Bowlin two perfect games
2. County Line boys go 45-0
3. Rogers pitcher Jake Taylor, a freshman, posts third straight shutout for the Mounties

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The Basketball Championship Games are Set

Graham Thomas — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 23:08:50 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporters break down state basketball tournaments as teams advance to state championship games this week in Hot Springs. The Springdale boys (6A), Greenwood girls (5A), Farmington girls (4A), Lamar girls (3A) and County Line boys (1A) all punched their tickets to the state finals.

Also, coaches in the 6A state tournament are not in favor of getting byes, saying it completely changes their weekly routine, having as many as 8 days between games. How can that be remedied so teams do not have such long layoffs between the end of the regular season and the start of tournament play?

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Basketball, Basketball and Even More Basketball

Graham Thomas — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:38:40 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters will preview state basketball tournaments which start Tuesday across the state.

Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley will host three conference tournaments. Rogers will host the 6A tournament, Lamar will host the 3A and Ozark High will host the 1A, but the games will be played at County Line since they have larger facility.

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It's Regional Tournament Time for High School Basketball

Graham Thomas — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 20:56:00 +0000

On this week’s Prep Rally podcast, reporters Henry Apple, Rick Fires and Leland Barclay turn their attention on the regional tournaments for Class 1A through 4A and how important winning the first-round game becomes as it leads to a berth to next week’s state tournament.

They also touched on the final week of regular-season play in the 6A-West and 5A-West Conferences and what lies ahead for those teams, as well as this week’s state wrestling tournament in Little Rock.

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6A Basketball Conference Tournament Preview

Graham Thomas — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 20:51:00 +0000

Sports writers with the NWA Democrat-Gazette and River Vally Democrat-Gazette take a look at the upcoming 6A conference basketball tournaments and the small schools conference play starting this week.

Read more sports stories at: nwaonline.com/sports/prep/

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Basketball Roundup for Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley

Graham Thomas — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 01:44:00 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters recap Bentonville West’s big home win against Bentonville; and Springdale Har-Ber girls home win against Fort Smith Northside.

Read more sports stories at: nwaonline.com/sports/prep/

Weather wrecks this week's basketball games in Northwest Arkansas and River Valley

Graham Thomas — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 22:38:00 +0000

Sport writers with the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette talk about the effect weather is having on the high school basketball season, a big night at Farmington, and give a shout out to the now winningest high school girls basketball coach.

Read more sports stories at: nwaonline.com/sports/prep/

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The Dominant 6A west basketball conference

Graham Thomas — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 22:35:00 +0000

Join Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports editor, Chip Souza and writers Henry Apple and Leland Barclay on this week's Prep Rally Podcast.

The crew will recap the past week of basketball action including the seeming dominance of the 6A west boys conference, Tom Halbmaier's 400 win and Har-Ber's winning streak.

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Prep Rally Jan. 12, 2023

Graham Thomas — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 22:08:00 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters recap conference basketball games including Springdale HIgh’s huge comeback win Tuesday against rival Har-Ber.

Read more sports stories at: nwaonline.com/sports/prep/

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Arkansas State 3A Football Championship Recap

Graham Thomas — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 22:24:00 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters recap the Class 3A state football championship as Charleston knocked off Booneville.

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State Football Championship Recap

Graham Thomas — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 19:39:00 +0000

State football championship games recapped and Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporters preview this weekend’s big basketball tournaments.

Read more sports stories at: nwaonline.com/sports/prep/

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State Championship Preview

Graham Thomas — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 21:58:00 +0000

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters preview this weekend’s state championship football games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Read more sports stories at: nwaonline.com/sports/prep/