The past four years have been banner years for Mansfield High School athletics. The school has been playoff contenders in virtually every sport and has won back-to-back state championships in volleyball.

Among those teams have been outstanding athletes that have played at Mansfield. And in two weeks, four seniors from MHS will graduate and will further their playing careers at the collegiate level.

It is believed by most local historians that the number of four MHS students being offered collegiate athletic scholarships is the most in any one year at the Sebastian / Scott County school. Mansfield plays football in the 3A classification and plays in 2A in all other sports. So the number of four athletic scholarships going to MHS athletes is very impressive in comparison to the school’s enrollment.

Earning an athletic scholarship in any size school is quite an accomplishment. But considering the size of MHS, it is quite remarkable. According to the website, scholarshipstats.com, the percentage of athletes going on to play college sports is quite low. The website states, “Overall, a little over than 7% of high school athletes (about 1 in 13) go on to play a varsity sport in college and less than 2% of high school athletes (1 in 57) go on to play at NCAA Division 1 schools.”

Four MHS students have defied those odds and will be playing collegiately next school year in the sports of college volleyball, baseball, and softball.

Mansfield senior volleyball player Natalie Allison will begin her college playing career next fall at Henderson State University. Lady Tigers softball player Brooklyn Adams will play college softball next spring at Carl Albert State College. Tigers baseball player Braxton Byers will play college baseball at Hesston College in Kansas, along with Tigers baseball player Drew Elmore who will also be attending Carl Albert State College to play baseball.

Natalie Allison started for the Lady Tigers her sophomore season. She, according to her coach, Kaylie Pyles, “immediately became a key role starter in all three state championships in 2020, 2021, and 2022. She is a strong competitor who has a hard work ethic and always strives to be the best she can be no matter what it takes. Natalie earned the well-deserved recognition of being named the 2021 Most Valuable Player of the volleyball state tournament as a junior, where she contributed statistics as a setter, hitter, server, and defensively. As a senior, she was the captain of the team and led the team in kills. She is a tremendous multi-sport athlete who succeeds in all she does and also maintains her grades in the classroom.”

Coach Pyles concluded her comments by saying, “I am excited to see Natalie play at the next level because she has the determination and talent to continue to excel. Henderson State will be gaining a huge asset and one of the best I have ever coached, and I know she will have tons of success there. I am very proud to have coached her and thankful for her contributions to Mansfield volleyball.”

Brooklyn Adams was named twice an All-Conference selection as well as a two-time All-State selection. Brooklyn also earned All-Region honors. She was named by the internet publication Scorebook Live as one of the best catchers in Arkansas for three years. As a team member of the Lady Tigers, she was named as the team’s Defensive Player of the Year, as well as Offensive Player of the Year.

Brooklyn’s coach, Donnie Eveld, said of her, “Brooklyn is a player you can count on to always give the best that she’s got. She is an integral player for our team; she’s very good behind the plate or at third base. Hitting wise, she routinely hits at or above the .400 mark and both offensively and defensively is looking for ways to improve. I think she will excel at the next level as she has all the tools needed to be successful.”

Braxton Byers was named three times to the All-Conference team and three times All-Region. When his coach Layton Robinson, who himself played collegiately at Arkansas Tech University between 2014-18, was asked about his talent and value to the Tigers over the past four years, Coach Robinson responded by saying, “It has been a pleasure to be able to coach Braxton the past four years. He has been a starter since Day 1. He is a very good defender at first base and has major pop at the plate. Braxton is also a kid that never lets the stage get too big for him; he competes at a high level every time he steps on the field.”

Drew Elmore was also a three-time All-District baseball player for the Tigers. Drew was also named All-Region three times and All-State twice. Drew was named as the Regional Tournament Most Valuable Player twice.

Mansfield baseball coach Layton Robinson said of Elmore, “Drew is an exceptional arm talent that you don’t see at this level very often. Through my four years with him, he has gotten better every year. He is the type of guy that you want on the mound in big games. He never lets the moment get too big for him and is a high-level competitor on the mound.”

Graduation is always an emotional time of the year for students, faculty, and families. It is a bittersweet moment; on one hand, happy and excited that the students are moving on to their exciting futures, and on the other, sad to see them go.

But, this very special group of talented Mansfield seniors is moving on to greater opportunities, both athletically and academically, and that is a wonderful thing for everyone involved.

It was great to be back on the campus of Mansfield High School, and personally, I could not be prouder to see this class of successful Tigers move on to the great futures that they have earned with all of the hard work that they have invested over the past four years.

On behalf of everyone at Resident News Network, we are truly honored to have covered your stellar sports careers, and we wish them all of the best in the next phases of their lives.

Congratulations, and GO TIGERS!