Varsity Vibe: Arkansas

In this week's episode of Varsity Vibe, hosted by Alyssa Orange, we talk with the director and producer of "Because of the Tigers" about their documentary on the 2001 football team. We also highlight Fayetteville's Will Caston as he gets ready to lead the purple dogs his senior season.

August is here, and the Elkins Elks are excited about the potential of another successful season heading into 2026. However, coming off a state championship in 2025, they've got a lot of holes to fill. Head Coach Zach Watson sits down with Alyssa Orange to look ahead to the season. Plus, Bentonville West, Bentonville and Bryant are the focus of this week's Lewis Automotive Opening Drive. 

The 2026 high school football season is right around the corner, and as we get fall camps starting in the next few weeks, Alyssa Orange and Kyle Sutherland look at the bigger storylines around the state, what all the coaching movement means for the sport, and what players to keep an eye on.

Monty Patel has been around basketball in the state of Arkansas for a long time, and after finding success a eStem, he’s taking over a North Little Rock Charging Wildcats team excited to keep their rich tradition going. Patel joins Alyssa Orange to chat about NLR, coaching the Arkansas TBT team and what he’s learned coaching over the years.

The Van Buren Pointers hit numerous milestones and brought record during the 2025 season, but they've still got a lot they want to accomplish as a football program. Head Coach Moe Henry joins Alyssa Orange to look ahead to the 2026 season, and his excitement for what he believes the Pointers can achieve. 

The 2025 season was a tough one for the Fort Smith Northside Grizzlies and first year head coach Dom Mirocke. However, they are carrying motivation and growth into a 2026 year they believe will prove who they are on the football field. In addition to a handful of players that will be big contributors on the field, Mirocke believes this upcoming season will be better than 2025. 

Farmington brought home their 5th State Championship in softball back in May with a 3-2 in over Benton in Hot Springs. Head Coach Jason Shirey sat down with Alyssa Orange to look back on the season, how he got into coaching softball, what the sport has taught him over the years, and how Farmington Softball can continue to grow. 

After being a Pea Ridge cheerleader herself, Courtney Hurst knew she wanted to return to her hometown and continue being part of the Blackhawk family. Since taking over as Head Coach, she has grown the program into a State and National Championship winner. She sits down with Alyssa Orange to discuss how proud she is to see the program excel and what it's like coaching her daughter.  

Rogers Heritage Football is heading into a new era. New head coach Max Washausen takes over a War Eagles program hungry for success. Setting a culture and implementing a formula for winning, Washausen joins Alyssa Orange to share how the transition has gone, and why he believes Heritage has the tools to be successful in the 7A West. 

Former assistant coach Honesty Holt is now the new head coach for Har-Ber Softball, after Randy Osnes decided to retire at the end of the 2026 season. A former player for Har-Ber and Bentonville West, she excited to take over and lead the program in their next chapter of success.

Heading into his senior season, Har-Ber quarterback Brice Owens believes his best football is in front of him. Now in his second season with head coach Aaron Danenhauer, Owens sits down with Alyssa Orange with stare how he's grown as a player, and who Brice Owens is away from the football field.

Reed Smith was promoted to head coach of the Pea Ridge Girls Basketball program after being an assistant coach over two separate stints. Joining Alyssa Orange on this episode of Varsity Vibe, Smith talks about what he learned from Heath Neal, how he's adjusting to his new role, and what he hopes the future of Lady Blackhawks basketball looks like. 

When you think of the Taylor Tigers, softball is one of the things that comes to mind. They just know how to win. In 2026 they won their 9th straight softball state championship, lead by head coach Courtney McHenry. McHenry, who also coaches volleyball, joins Alyssa Orange to talk about the success the Tigers have had, the success of the 2026 team, and coaching her daughter. 

The Bentonville West Girls Soccer team's season came to an end at the State Finals game, falling to Mount St. Mary's 4-1. But despite the loss in the championship game, it was a season full of success, growth and relationships. Alyssa Orange and Kerry Castillo recap the year in the final episode of Kickin' It With The Wolverines. 

🔴 Powered by Lindsey & AssociatesAnthony Lucas is back in Northwest Arkansas — but this time, he's not catching touchdowns. He's building a powerhouse.The new Fayetteville High School head football coach joins the show to talk about taking over one of the biggest jobs in Arkansas high school football, his championship run at Pulaski Academy, the pressure of replacing Casey Dick, and the vision he has for the Purple Dogs moving forward. From "Stoerner to Lucas" Razorback legend status to leading one of the state's premier programs, Coach Lucas breaks down what it takes to build a championship culture in Fayetteville.In this episode:Why Fayetteville was the right move for him and his familyThe culture and standards he's bringing to the Purple DogsLessons learned from winning state championships at Pulaski AcademyWhat Fayetteville fans can expect from Year OneLike, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with the biggest names in Arkansas football and beyond.🔴 Anthony Lucas on replacing a state championship coach🔴 Building a winning culture in Fayetteville🔴 Stories from his Razorback and NFL journey🔴 What separates good programs from elite programsAnthony Lucas was a Razorback legend, earning All-SEC honors and becoming part of one of the most iconic moments in Arkansas football history with the famous game-winning touchdown against Tennessee in 1999. He later played professionally with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys before building a championship coaching résumé that includes multiple state titles at Pulaski Academy. He was recently hired as the head football coach at Fayetteville High School.#ArkansasFootball #AnthonyLucas #FayettevilleBulldogs #Razorbacks #HighSchoolFootball #Coachespod #ArkansasSports #PulaskiAcademy #SECFootball #FridayNightLightsPresented by Lindsey & Associates Real Estate.Visit https://www.lindsey.com for all your real estate needs.

Jeff Williams sits down with new Sylvan Hills Head Coach Trey Shucker about taking over the program, what got him to leave Arkadelphia, and what he's looking forward to about the upcoming season. 

The Arkansas high school baseball finals begin on Thursday in Hot Springs at Majestic Park. Kevin Bohannon has joined Alyssa Orange over the season and joins once again to break down the championship match-ups in each classification. 

The Bentonville West Girls Soccer team is heading back to the State Finals! The Lady Wolverines defeated Jonesboro, Conway and Rogers in the state tournament to punch their ticket to Hot Springs. Alyssa Orange and Head Coach Kerry Castillo relive the playoff run and the excitement of playing for a championship

The high school state softball finals are set, and by the end of the week, champions will be crowned in Hot Springs! Kyle Sutherland joins Alyssa Orange as they look at the match-ups in each classification and break down their road to get to the finals. 

Bentonville pitcher Darby Burnett is about end her high school career with the Tigers and take the next step to the SEC and Texas A&M. The senior would love to end her time at Bentonville with another state championship. She joined Alyssa Orange to talk about her softball journey, the recruiting process and the advice she would give to younger players who want to play at the next level. 

The Rogers Mounties won their seventh consecutive 6A-West conference title, and finished the regular season 24-2. One their way to try and defend their State Championship from a season ago, Head Coach Matt Melson joins Alyssa Orange to look ahead to the post season. 

The regular season is in the books, and it is post season time for high school soccer. The Lady Wolverines finished the regular season with a win on Senior Night against Southside, and turn their attention to their first game of the playoffs against Jonesboro. Head Coach Kerry Castillo joins Alyssa Orange with the latest from the pitch. 

The Great American Conference was started in 2010, and how has 12 universities across Arkansas and Oklahoma. Commissioner Will Prewitt took the time to talk with Alyssa Orange on the growth of the conference over the years, how the transfer portal and NIL has affected them at the DII level, and his advice to high school athletes who want to play collegiate sports. 

The Bentonville Tigers fell in the 2025 7A State Title game to Bryant, and as they look to 2026 there are a lot of new roles to fill with the talent returning for the upcoming season. Alyssa Orange and head coach Jody Grant to look ahead at what the Tigers want to accomplish during Spring Football. 

The Bentonville West girls soccer team has two more regular season games against Fayetteville and Southside before the post season begins. Alyssa Orange and head coach Kerry Castillo discuss the 2-2 tie against Bentonville and the 5-1 win over Springdale last week, plus give some love to the senior class with Senior Night coming up on Friday. 

Year one under Head Coach Aaron Danenhauer is in the books for the Har-Ber Wildcats, and now he looks to continue to build on what they've accomplished in the fall during Spring Practices. He joins Alyssa Orange to talk about the group of talent returning, including quarterback Bryce Owens, and what they hope to accomplish over the next few weeks. 

Springdale Head Coach Brett Hobbs joins Alyssa Orange to preview spring football with the Bulldogs, what's new with the 2026 team, and the addition of new Offensive Coordinator Eric Munoz. 

The Rogers Mounties have had a few months to move on from the way the 2025 season ended, and are now excited about what the 2026 season can bring. As head coach Chad Harbison explains to Alyssa Orange, it'll be different and new, but they've got some good talent to lean on. 

With a week off to work on fundamentals and reset, the Bentonville West Wolverines feel really good about where they are heading into the final stretch of the regular season. 

Spring Football is ramping up for high schools around the state of Arkansas as they get ready to see what their teams will look like for the 2026 season. Our first stop takes up to Bentonville West, where head coach Bryan Pratt and the Wolverines have a lot of returning talent back, but they have a key position to fill at quarterback. 

High School football is back, with Spring Football starting around Arkansas. On top of the start of practice, there have been more coaching changes around the state this off-season than in the past few decades. Jeff Williams and Alyssa Orange break down what teams have in store for the spring and what the changes mean for the programs ahead. 

After six seasons as the Head Coach of the Greenwood Bulldogs, and serving as the Offensive Coordinator for 11 years prior, Chris Young is stepping down and moving to the role of Director of Student Activities and Operations. What does this mean for Greenwood Football? A new era.Young visits with Jeff Williams about why he decided to make the move and how Jason Gill is a great fit to take over the football program. 

A new era of Greenwood football is upon us! The district announced on Wednesday the hiring of long-time Defensive Coordinator Jason Gill as the new Head Coach of the Bulldogs. Gill replaces Chris Young, who served as Head Coach for 6 seasons and who is transitioning into a new role as Director of Student Activities and Operations. Gill joins Jeff Williams to discuss the move and the future of Bulldogs Football. 

There are only a handful of weeks left of the regular season before Regional Tournaments and State Tournaments begin for high school baseball. Teams are starting to separate themselves, and some surprises are starting to set themselves up for success. Longtime Arkansas baseball reporter Kevin Bohannon joins Alyssa Orange to give his take on the action around the state and how teams have set themselves up for the post season. 

Bentonville Tigers head baseball coach Will McGinnis is building his own groundwork for success his first season leading the program. But he's no stranger to the 6A-West. He played in it as a high schooler at Springdale, and coached as an assistant at Har-Ber. McGinnis joins Alyssa Orange to discuss the 2026 season so far, growing up playing baseball in Northwest Arkansas for his dad, and what this senior class has meant to him in just a short amount of time. 

Despite a wake boarding accident at 10, Brett Brewer was a high level high school player at Mountain Home High School as a goalie, and then went to college to pursue Agriculture. But the game kept calling him back. He now is in his 3rd season as the Har-Ber head girls soccer coach, and continues to build the program in the right direction. He joins Alyssa Orange to brag on the way his team has played this season, and share his own soccer journey. 

The Lady Wolverines continue to play at a high level as they get closer and closer to the post season. Coming off wins over Heritage and a tie 0-0 over Rogers, they now look ahead to Northside and Har-Ber next. Head Coach Kerry Castillo joins Alyssa Orange to give shoutouts to his team that continues to rise to the occasion. 

After taking over for the legendary head coach Noel Boucher in 2020, Leighton Hardin has been able to set his own standard leading the Conway baseball team while also embracing the tradition set before him. He joins Alyssa Orange to talk about the 2026 team, taking over the program, and where the ceiling is for Conway baseball. 

When he first starting playing soccer at a young age, Bentonville West's girls soccer head coach Kerry Castillo had no idea the lessons the sport would teach him about life. Those lessons taught to him, and the people around him helped him through some of the hardest moments of his life. Sharing his testimony of what he's overcome plays a big role into how he views his responsibility as a head coach. 

Fayetteville Softball head coach Ed Duncan has been with the Bulldogs program for 10 years, and is now in his 4th season at the helm. He joins Alyssa Orange to share his love for the game of softball, how he got into the sport after being a dual sports athlete in football and baseball, and how he found his passion for art at a young age. 

Powered by Lindsey & AssociatesHall of Fame Head Coach: Buck James A legendary figure on the sidelines, James carved out one of the most respected coaching careers in the state, leading programs with toughness, discipline, and consistency for decades. Known for developing not just great players but great men, his impact stretches far beyond the scoreboard. Now, that legacy is officially stamped forever with his induction into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.• Built championship-caliber programs year after year• Known for discipline, toughness, and player development• Impacted generations of athletes across Arkansas• A career that defines what high school football is all aboutLike, comment, and subscribe for more stories that matter across Arkansas sports.🔴 Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026🔴 One of the most respected coaches in the state🔴 Legacy measured in lives changed, not just wins🔴 A true pillar of Arkansas high school footballFinal segment presented by Lindsey & Associates — support those who support high school and Arkansas athletics.

The Lady Wolverines have stacked together wins over the last few weeks, including wins over Fayetteville and FS Southside. Head Coach Kerry Castillo joins Alyssa Orange to give the lastest update on the team and what lies ahead next week. 

In 2022, Brandon Brewer left the very successful Owasso Baseball program as an assistant coach to come back home to Greenwood and lead his alma mater. As a former player, he's seen what it takes to maintain success in a town that builds champions. He joined Alyssa Orange to share his story and what it's been like pouring back into the program that helped build who he is. 

JJ Andrews shined during the festivities of the McDonalds All-American week on Phoenix surrounded by the best high school basketball players in the country. And Varsity Vibe's Alex Hall was there to capture it. Hall joins Alyssa Orange to give share is experience around the best new wave of talent, his favorite moments, and what it was like to cover the event on the inside. 

HawgBeat and Arkansas HS reporter Kyle Sutherland joins Alyssa Orange to break down how the softball season is unfolding, and the biggest storylines in high school athletics including Daryl Fimple's move to Arkansas Tech and Anthony Lucas' move to Fayetteville. 

It's been two weeks since our last episode, thanks to Spring Break, but that doesn't mean the action slowed down for the Lady Wolverines. They tied against Bentonville 2-2, then went on and beat Harrison, Springfield Catholic and Springdale. Alyssa Orange and Head Coach Kerry Castillo catch you up on everything that is happening on the pitch, and freshman Addy Sharp joins us to share her soccer journey and play trivia! 

From a star player at Pine Bluff to an assistant coach and now leading his own program, Claude Johnson has been around the game of football in Arkansas his whole life. In February he was hired as the Marion Patriots new Football Head Coach and has hit the ground running starting to build his vision of success. He joins Alyssa Orange to look ahead to his first season, why it's important for him to build the relationships away from just the X's and O's and the supportive family behind him. 

After nine years as an assistant coach for the Fayetteville Volleyball team. Kele Luigs is to take the torch passed to her by her mentor Jessica Phelan, and start a new era of Bulldogs Volleyball. Luigs sits down with Alyssa Orange to share her own volleyball career, playing at Arkansas, getting into coaching, what she learned from Phelan and much more. 

After over a decade with the program, Pea Ridge softball head coach Josh Reynolds led the Lady Blackhawks to their first State Title in 2025. Now, he’s ready to build on that success. He joins our host Alyssa Orange to look back on what that championship meant for the program, and the enjoyment he gets seeing his player’s hard work pay off.

Rogers Baseball head coach Matt Melson lead the Mounties to their second state title in 2025 and continues to maintain a level of success at Rogers that was built when he was a player and an assistant coach. Melson joins Alyssa Orange to talk about his roster in 2026, what the program means to him, and how he still learns from his mentor Tom Woodruff.