Note to Our Readers: The following story was sourced directly and in its entirety from Mr. Glenn Parrish, Director of Communications, Booneville School District. Mr. Parrish is a RNN Sports contributor, and we thank him for bringing this story to our readers.
BOONEVILLE- Last week the Booneville Bearcat volleyball team went to a team camp in Branson, Mo., continuing a tradition started when Robert Dean was the head coach.
Dean, who launched the program and was the head coach for a decade, passed away in last November.
Tributes, condolences, and lamentations by the scores of former players flooded Facebook announcements of Dean’s passing.
Earlier this month current volleyball head coach Bailey Stringer announced the creation of the Robert Dean Memorial Alumni Game,
The game, which is set for 5:30 p.m., August 10 in BHS Gym will pit program alumni against the 2023 Bearcats in a best-of-three match.
“I wanted to do it to get some alumni back in the building and resonate with the girls still playing,” said Stringer. “And, I want to do right by Coach Dean. He had a big impression on a lot of those kids before I got here.
“I thought it made sense naming it after him, with this being the first one. I want volleyball to get bigger here and if I can get alumni more involved and build more tradition it will be better.”
Reaction to that alumni game news was just as immediate as was the passing of Dean.
Two weeks ago there were more than enough players to field a full roster despite the number of players who expressed interest but are no longer in the area, or who are don’t believe themselves physically able to play.
“There’s a bunch of girls on (the roster) I know, or know of. Some of the names that came up I remember. Some of those I had played against when I was at Mena,” said Stringer, who graduated from Mena in 2015.
Stringer figures the alumni squad will end up with 20 or more former players who will not necessarily be held to the rules under which they played.
“I’m going to let them do their own thing,” said Stringer. “I’m going to have my lineup set. I’m going to be the up ref, because we’re getting ready for games. I’m going to be hard on my side but a little lenient on their side – let them have some fun.”
It’s not exactly a fundraiser. The entry fee is $1.
“It’s not really about making money it’s more about getting some recognition for these girls and getting some of the past girls to come back,” said Stringer. “We’re hoping it will be a good turnout.”
Stringer also said she hopes to make the event an annual tradition. The Bearcats, who were third in the conference last year and made the state tournament for the second straight year under Stringer, do not play the first week of school (August 14-19), but will play a Purple-White game and open the season on August 21 against Mena.
