By Rob Patrick
Bryant Lady Hornets cross country coach Danny Westbrook quipped that the Henderson State University[more] cross country team may need to change its nickname from the Lady Reddies to the Lady Hornets after Skylar Oswalt became the third Bryant runner to sign with HSU.
In a ceremony in the BHS gym, Oswalt signed her letter of intent to continue her education and cross country career on scholarship at the Arkadelphia school. She’s the daughter of Ken and Jennifer Oswalt.
She joins Bryant teammates Ashlyn Lessenberry and Stacy Emmerling as HSU commitments.
“We’ve been together, all three of us, since the seventh grade and now we’re going to college together and it’s exciting,” Oswalt said.
“It’s always been the college I really wanted to go to, since I was little,” she mentioned. “It’s just the environment around it. It’s really safe and it’s close to home.
“I knew Henderson had a good cross country team, so that’s where I wanted to go. I went up there one day and talked to the coach. She was really excited that she’s going to have three Bryant girls from Coach Westbrook. I’m excited to go up there.”
Oswalt is a four-year letterman in cross country and track at Bryant High School, contributing as a scorer (top five runners) in the Lady Hornets’ 2009 and 2010 7A-Central Conference cross country championships. She was also a member of the Lady Hornets’ track team, which won the 2011 7A-Central Conference title.
“This scholarship is a reward for the hard work and commitment Skylar has put in during her high school career,” Westbrook said. “She leaves Bryant a champion and she will be missed. I’m excited to see her join Ashlyn and Stacy on the same team. I wish her well in her future college career.”
“I’ve just tried to keep running harder and harder each day, keeping up my pace,” Oswalt said of her success. “I’ve had my friends as motivation to be up there.”
She plans to major in education and become an elementary school teacher.
