Thousands gather for Battle at the Fort 2011
by January 30, 2011 10:45 am 70 views
story and photos by Ruby Dean
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Round robin play began for volleyball teams in the Battle at the Fort 2011 on January 29 with 164 teams signing up. The age divisions 15-18 had 84 teams playing this weekend with the remaining teams in the 10-14 age division to play next weekend (Feb. 5-6).
Teams from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee came to compete to see who is the best.
Tournament play began Sunday (Jan. 30) with the Fort Smith Junior League’s 18-1 team playing in the gold division. The proceeds from the tournament, which is sponsored by Arvest Bank, benefit the Fort Smith Juniors. Plans for the proceeds will include future scholarships and cost of traveling expenses.
Attending a ceremonial coin toss Saturday morning were Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders, City Directors Andre Good, Kevin Settle and Pam Weber, and City Administrator Ray Gosack. Sanders flipped the coin to begin the first match.
The tournament is an annual event in its 14th year, with the Convention Center the main hub during the previous 9 years. Other area gyms and facilities are used to support the event. The tournament has proven successful as a regional event, growing from 14 teams playing in its first year to the 164 planned to compete in the 2011 competition.
Battle at the Fort also provides an economic impact to the region. With about 150 of the competing teams from outside the area, event organizers estimate at least 2,500 visitors spending money on hotels, restaurants and other area retail outlets in Fort Smith, Greenwood, Roland and Alma.
With volleyball in their blood, Brook Hale follows in the footsteps of her older sister, Whitney, who is now her coach. Brook plays for the FSJ 18-1 team while her sister Whitney helps coach the team. Whitney and Brook have played volleyball for the Fort Smith Juniors and also for Southside High School. The sisters were also on state championship teams while attending Southside.
The most challenging thing for Whitney coaching her sister is that “she sees the talent in her sister and strives to get her to play at her highest level.” Brook said the advantage of having her sister coach her is that “she knows her well and knows what she is capable of.”
Both sisters agree that when the day is over and the game is done, everything is left on the court and no hard feelings carry over. They have a very close bond and don’t let the coach-player relationship interfere with sisterly love.
Whitney plays volleyball at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. However, younger sister, Brook, will not play volleyball in college. She will focus more on her academic work after her graduation in May from Southside, perhaps majoring in nursing.
