Attendance has continued to grow each year since the inception in 2008 of the high school state wrestling championship at UALR's Jack Stephens Center.
Proud parents, grandparents, siblings, other related folks and just fans or friends have proven Greg Hatcher was right when he basically pioneered wrestling in the state.
Last weekend was no exception and excitement was running high with everyone, but Amy and Michael Zini might have set the curve as their son was one match away from not only an undefeated season but being the first Arkansas wrestler to have pinned every opponent.
Braden Zini, a senior at Central Arkansas Christian, pinned his 44th opponent to win the 195-pound division, his third consecutive state title, and help the Mustangs win the state championship for 1A-5A classifications.
Joy abounded for all who know this remarkable young man, who gathers more compliments for his disposition, personality and manners than even his wrestling accomplishments.
Students from all grades and all walks of life at CAC know Braden. They admire and look up to him as a role model.
Sunday morning, his mom, Amy, sent out a message on Facebook that had little to do with victories, pins or championships.
She wrote that when her son was in the sixth grade he had little interest in sports or much of anything. But CAC wrestling Coach Keith Almond reached out to the uninspired Braden and told him -- he did not ask him -- he was going to be one of his wrestlers. He told Braden he saw something special in him.
Braden's life, and his family's life, changed for the better.
Next year Braden will attend Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge on a wrestling scholarship, and his sister Bailey is expected to join him on a softball scholarship.
When Hatcher, a self-made success story of his own, was campaigning to start wrestling, even buying the wrestling mats for any school willing to give the sport a try, one of his most-used phrases was how wrestling builds "character."
Hatcher couldn't have known for sure, but he was describing perfectly a future wrestling champion named Braden Zini.
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It keeps getting better for the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame banquet this Friday night.
The event is already a sellout with a host of well-known sports personalities such as Jerry Jones and Ben Crenshaw expected to attend. Now, The Golf Channel has asked if it can attend as it prepares to do a story on Carl Jackson, who is being inducted for his longtime participation in golf.
Jackson is considered the ultimate Masters caddie.
Doors open at 5 p.m. and the festivities begin promptly at 6 p.m. at the Statehouse Convention Center.
This will be the most attended and most successful banquet in the 39-year history of the Hall of Fame.
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When people look back over a season, especially basketball, they tend to forget close games and look at the big picture, total victories and losses.
How far a team advanced in the NCAA Tournament.
Last Saturday's narrow victory over Mississippi State in Starkville won't even be a blip on the radar when the Arkansas Razorbacks' season is analyzed.
This is a guess, but at 22-5 overall and 11-3 in SEC play, the Hogs are virtually guaranteed a spot in the field of 68 -- barring a total collapse that doesn't seem likely. They are playing now for seeding, having won nine of their past 10 games.
However, this might be the toughest week they have faced. Tonight, Arkansas takes on Texas A&M, which has won eight of its past 10 games and is tied for third, then Arkansas goes to Kentucky on Saturday, and the Wildcats are No. 1 and 27-0.
Sports on 02/24/2015