CONWAY — Former Bryant Lady Hornets star Jessie Taylor and former Bryant boys basketball coach Ron Marvel were honored at the University of Central Arkansas’ annual Bear Nation Celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The event honors the accomplishments of the past year.
Taylor, a junior catcher on the UCA softball team, was named the Female Student-Athlete of the year. Last spring, she set a new UCA record with 55 runs batted in as the team captured its first Southland Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Regional.
At Bryant, Taylor was one of the leaders of teams that won three consecutive Class 7A State championships.
Marvel, who retired from UCA in 2004 as the winningest coach in school history in any sport was the featured honoree of the 2015 event. Marvel, a member of the UCA Sports Hall of Fame, led the Sugar Bears basketball program to 494 victories and numerous postseason tournament appearances. He also coached tennis while at UCA. Marvel was introduced by one of his former players and UCA Hall of Famers, assistant athletic director Natalie Shock.
Marvel, whose daughter Rhonda Hall, coached girls basketball at Bryant, stepped in to coach the Bryant High School boys basketball team for the 2009-10 season after Hornets’ coach Mark Smith was hired at Bauxite in August 2009.
