Mansfield’s Alyson Edwards is 2023-24 SBLive Arkansas high school girls athlete of the year
1970s rocker Meatloaf once sang, “Two out of three ain’t bad.”
And so it was for Mansfield star athlete Alyson Edwards. The senior had a chance to win three state championships in three sports during the 2023-24 school year but settled for two rings.
She collected her fourth Class 2A state title in volleyball in the fall, narrowly missed the basketball championship in March and two months later led the Lady Tigers to an extra-inning state softball championship after falling in the final the previous season.
“I think people talked about it, and I always wanted to win (three titles), but I didn’t prioritize that,” said Edwards, who was all-state in all three sports. “We still did really well. It would have been great to win all three, but I can’t complain.”
The University of Nebraska-Omaha softball signee also was her class’ co-salutatorian with higher than a 4.0 GPA. For all those efforts, Edwards has been named the SBLive Arkansas Girls High School Athlete of the Year for 2023-24.
“Players like her don’t come along often,” said Donnie Eveld, Mansfield’s head softball coach and athletic director. “You don’t see that combination of attitude, work ethic and talent. Alyson has it all, and it has helped all of our programs and our school and community.”
Mansfield volleyball coach Kaylie Andrews came to the school as Edwards entered seventh grade and recognized her potential. Two years later, the coach pulled her up to the varsity squad after junior high season was over, and she was a major contributor in the postseason and helped the Lady Tigers to their first of four straight state titles.
“She was a kid that no matter what you asked of her, she was willing to do it to the best of her ability,” Andrews said. “When we moved her up, she just started working and was outstanding.”
She will be playing collegiate softball, but she became known as a dominant volleyball star as she was the catalyst of the current title streak, earning tournament MVP honors the past two seasons. It wasn’t a surprise her first title of her senior year came at Hot Springs in October.
In a three-set sweep of Conway Christian, Edwards totaled 20 kills and nine digs.
“Aly played in the middle, but she could play everywhere – she was that versatile and had that high of a volleyball IQ,” Andrews said. “She had 960 kills in her career. She scored a lot of points. We had some other contributors, but opponents knew when she got the ball, it is coming.
"It is going to hurt us losing her. We wish her the best and thank her for helping us win four state championships.”
During volleyball season, Edwards prepared for the upcoming basketball season with regular Sunday shooting workouts. The routine helped her to another all-state performance, and she eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career as the Lady Tigers fell to Mount Vernon-Enola, 50-44, in the 2A state final.
The Lady Tigers finished 32-1.
“We had a great year,” said Edwards, who averaged 13.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. “We just couldn’t quite pull off [the championship], but it was a great year.”
After the basketball loss, Edwards’ focus turned immediately to the softball diamond, where the Lady Tigers hoped to avenge a title loss to Northeast Arkansas power Riverside. The two teams met again in another pitchers duel. This time, the Lady Tigers won 4-2 in eight innings. Edwards pitched a complete game, giving up just three hits and one earned run, earning MVP honors.
“I think winning the [softball title] was the biggest one because we have all been working so hard,” Edwards said. “We knew going in it was going to be a good, tough game, and the finish of the game made it really exciting.”
Edwards finished with a .600 batting average with six home runs and 31 RBIs. In the circle, she was 24-1 with 319 strikeouts in 148 innings.
Andrews said it’s clear, Edwards could’ve played collegiately in any of the three sports. Bowman said college basketball coaches called him showing interest only to find out she was committed to play softball. In the end, Edwards decided on softball and chose UNO after also considering in-state University of Central Arkansas.
Despite the long distance to Omaha, Edwards realized quickly that the school was a perfect fit.
“I was a little scared about being 7.5 hours away from home, but when I got there and started talking to the coaches, I got excited,” Edwards said. “When I started talking to the coaches, I got excited, and it really felt like home. I couldn’t wait to get up there and start working and be a part of it.”
Some incoming freshmen might be overwhelmed with the demanding schedule collegiate sports commands, but not Edwards. She said it will be a relief to focus on one sport with an offseason. She said the demands of juggling three sports with a challenging academic load has prepared her for college. She also credited her coaches for being accommodating as she was always preparing for the next season.
“It can be challenging, but you just have to prioritize things and get them done,” she said. “I still have time to spend with friends, but I may be writing a paper while I am there.”
She also makes time to shop and enjoys trying different restaurants and foods, including sushi.
Edwards’ prep career is filled with wins and titles, but she said years later it isn’t the wins she will remember most fondly.
“I think I will mostly remember the relationships and the funny times with teammates,” she said. “The time spent with them will stick out, and that is what I will miss most.”
--Nate Olson I nate@scorebooklive.com I @ndosports
NATE OLSON
Nate Olson has covered prep and college sports in Arkansas since 1998. He has managed several newspapers and magazines in The Natural State and has won numerous awards for his work. Nate, who also has six years of public relations experience, has appeared statewide on radio and television throughout his career, and currently co-hosts a high school football postgame radio show.