By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Thanks to the East Arkansas Razorback Club, the University of Arkansas and the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, 23 Forrest City youths will have an exciting Saturday.
They will be attending Saturday's Arkansas-South Florida football game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. And for most of the kids, if not all of them, it will be the first time at a Razorback game.
The Burlsworth Foundation is a charitable organization, founded in 1999 by Marty Burlsworth, brother of former University of Arkansas All-American guard Brandon Burlsworth, and exists to develop and implement innovative concepts and worthy projects which will have a positive impact on today's youths.
The 23 Forrest City kids -- all members of the seventh-grade football program this year -- will attend the football game and will be given the chance to go onto the field during pregame warmups and meet the Razorbacks.
Each youth will be given a "Burl's Kids" t-shirt and a pair of Brandon Burlsworth black rim glasses and a personalized certificate.
The Burlsworth Foundation began the "Burl's Kids" program in 2000.
In it's third year, the foundation selects youths from different Arkansas schools to send to the football games.
Stanley Reed of Marianna helped open the door for the Forrest City kids. Reed is a member of the Burlsworth Foundation board.
"We got in touch with Stanley and Buddy Billingsley with the East Arkansas Razorback Club and worked out the details," said Marty Burlsworth. "Then we got Forrest City Athletic Director Michael Bender involved and Bill Baxter and everything just started clicking."
Forrest City will be the only school represented Saturday.
Mountain Home and Morrilton have been selected to attend future home games at Fayetteville and Little Rock.
According to Bender, the 23 kids were selected from a list submitted by seventh-grade coaches Lewis Etheridge and Tommy Wheetley.
"All of the kids selected meet the criteria, but we have to narrow it down to 23," Bender said. "The final selection process will be made today and the kids notified this evening. Each kid will be given $5 by our booster club and as I understand it, maybe one or two of them will get the chance to be interviewed live on the ARSN radio network."
Bender said all of the kids will be recognized over the public address system during the game.
"A lot of the times, after the game, the Razorback players will come over to where the kids will be sitting and meet with them," Bender said.
"By providing this opportunity, these kids are going to have the time of their lives Saturday," Marty Burlsworth said. "And at the same time, they will learn about character, faith, values and hard work."
Brandon Burlsworth was an All-American University of Arkansas Razorback guard who was drafted by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 draft, 11 days before he was killed in a tragic auto accident.
Burlsworth went to Arkansas as a walk-on and worked to gain a scholarship.
His biography "Through the Eyes of a Champion" details his early formative years and his rise from the status of walk-on to All-American.
The annual Easley Award, given in memory of Chandler Easley, was presented recently to DeVanté Mitchell by Austin Easley. The award is given each year to a young Forrest City-area player who exemplifies sportsmanship and athletic ability. Mitchell, 9, is the son of Dennis and Mercedes Mitchell, and is in the fourth grade at Stewart Elementary.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
SYLVAN HILLS -- The Forrest City Lady Mustangs returned to the volleyball court Tuesday after a four-year hiatus from the sport.
In a doubleheader varsity-junior varsity match, the Lady Mustangs varsity lost to the Sylvan Hills Lady Bears in straight games, 15-0, 15-1, 15-2. The junior varsity team lost 15-0, 15-1.
Forrest City travels to Blytheville next Tuesday.
In other volleynall matches played Tuesday, Jonesboro outscored Bartlett High School of Tennessee 30-18 to claim a three-game victory Tuesday in high school volleyball.
Jonesboro (2-0) won the second game 15-12 and the third 15-6 and was led by Hillary Speer and Stacey Lewis, who compiled 14 and 15 kills, respectively.
Jonesboro will next play in the Bolton Invititational Tournament in Arlington, Tenn., beginning Friday.
The Westside Lady Warriors sped ahead of Harrisburg early on its way to a 15-4, 15-11 victory in high school volleyball Tuesday at Warrior Gym.
Lauren Eggers led the Lady Warriors with seven kills and Mandy Dickens added four. Lauren Keith tallied 10 assists and Heather Burnside led with six digs. Brittney Lambie served four aces.
Wynne improved to 2-0 in the AAAA-East conference with a 15-8, 15-13, 15-13 high school volleyball victory over Greene County Tech Tuesday.
Jessica Stepp led the Lady Yellowjackets (2-0) with 12 assists while Jesse Meadows and Jena Gracey each had five kills.
* CITY LEAGUES
MEN'S FALL SOFTBALL
Thursday, September 12
Miller Ins. vs Marion Performance, 6 p.m. F3
M&T Paving vs Barnes Timber, 7 p.m. F3
Morgan vs Section 8 Youth, 8 p.m. F3
Gym 2000 vs Wynne Sports World, 9 p.m. F3
CO-ED LEAGUE
Tuesday's Scores
Butler Building 13, Boar's Head 8
Wynne Cinema 20, T. Rodgers Construction 1
FLAG FOOTBALL
Monday, September 23
Vikings vs Tigers, 6 p.m. F8
Bears vs Lions, 7 p.m. F8
Razorbacks vs Indians, 8 p.m. F8
YOUTH SOCCER
Tuesday, September 24
Tigers vs Rockets, 9-under, 6 p.m. F4&1
Grizzlies vs Iguanas, 10-13, 6 p.m. F2
Bullets vs Sting, 9-under, 7:15 p.m. F4&1
Flames vs Thrashers, 10-13, 7:15 p.m. F2