Northwest Arkansas schools form new sports conference

Published: January 25, 2017

St. Joseph fifth-grader Karina Wilhelm (left) and sixth-graders Julia Gunnell and Kristina Keenan stand near the finish line at a cross country event for the Ozark Activities Conference.

St. Joseph fifth-grader Karina Wilhelm (left) and sixth-graders Julia Gunnell and Kristina Keenan stand near the finish line at a cross country event for the Ozark Activities Conference.

Two Catholic schools in northwest Arkansas participated in the formation of the Ozark Activities Conference in the fall of 2016.

St. Joseph School in Fayetteville and St. Vincent de Paul School in Rogers are joined by the Northwest Arkansas Classical Academy and The New School.

According to St. Joseph coach T.J. Barnes, “It was created to promote the strength and success of northwest Arkansas small and/or private junior high schools and is under the direction of the founding schools’ athletic directors. … Nearly 200 junior high students from the member schools will be able to compete annually in the conference. This conference will build in member schools over the next few years.”

Barnes said the schools are “committed to a competitive environment where sportsmanship and fair play take center stage.” All four schools are members of the Arkansas Activities Association and will use the AAA rules.

Barnes said in the first year the schools sponsored a volleyball championship Oct. 14, won by St. Vincent de Paul, a cross country tournament Oct. 22, won by New School boys and St. Vincent de Paul girls, and a basketball tournament to be held Feb. 13 and 15.

The conference will expand to include tennis, golf, track and field, music, band and quiz bowl.

Click for the Catholic Schools Herald, January 2017 index