Several standout athletes from the Deltaplex Area were part of nearly 400 athletes recognized Saturday night at the All-Arkansas Preps Banquet, held at the Statehouse Convention Center. Among the top honorees were Sheridan High School’s Skylar Sterritt and her best friend, Cooper Terry, who both brought home prestigious awards.
Sterritt, a rising senior and dual-sport star in softball and track, was named the All-Arkansas Preps Female Athlete of the Year for the 2024-25 school year. She helped lead the Lady Jackets back to the 5A state softball championship game last month alongside Terry, who was honored with the CHI St. Vincent Health Award, recognizing her perseverance in overcoming injury or illness.
Coaching and Track Honors
Fordyce’s Anthony Hammonds earned Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Redbugs to a 2A state title in May. Several athletes from Southeast Arkansas also earned individual All-Arkansas Preps accolades in track and field:
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Aria Hunt (Warren) swept the 100, 200, 400, and 800 meters to dominate 4A competition.
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Anescia Martin (Hamburg) won the 4A shot put title and later took the crown at the Meet of Champions.
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Christian Reeves (Rison) claimed the 3A high jump and Meet of Champions high jump championships.
Football, Basketball, and Volleyball Standouts
Warren’s Antonio Jordan, an Arkansas Razorbacks signee, was named to the First Team in Football after a standout senior season with 1,075 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Fellow Lumberjack Rhett Clanton also earned All-Arkansas Preps honors.
Second-team and underclassmen football honors from Southeast Arkansas included:
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Brendon Simmons (Fordyce), second team linebacker
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Isaiah Stephens (Sheridan), underclassman running back
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Joseph Accelus (Monticello), underclassman running back
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Jamartez Stroud (Fordyce), underclassman wide receiver/free safety
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Eythan Cowden (Sheridan), underclassman offensive lineman
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Micah Gamble (Fordyce), underclassman linebacker/running back
In basketball, Brian Cal Jr. (White Hall) and Xavier Cox (DeWitt) were recognized as underclassmen standouts.
In volleyball, Journey Peppers, a middle blocker from White Hall, made the second team.
Softball and Baseball Achievements
Woodlawn’s Lillie-Faye McWhorter, the Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year in softball and a future Razorback, headlined the First Team in Softball. McWhorter had a dominant season, finishing 22-1 in the circle with five no-hitters, six home runs, and a .483 batting average while leading the Lady Bears to the 2A state semifinals.
Additional Southeast Arkansas honorees in softball:
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Alaina Lyle (Monticello), second team, pitcher/first base
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Paisleigh Martin (Star City), underclassman pitcher
In baseball, Woodlawn right hand pitcher and shortstop Tate Hall made the second team, while Rison right hand pitcher/middle infielder Noah Matheson made the underclassmen team.
The All-Arkansas Preps Banquet celebrates the top high school athletes across the state, highlighting not only talent and statistics, but also perseverance, leadership, and sportsmanship. This year’s honorees from Southeast Arkansas showed once again that the region continues to produce elite talent across multiple sports.
