30 Jul 2024 Conway Soccer Team three-peats

Posted at 10:09 PMh in Sports by

A true dynasty was born in Arkansas high school boys soccer May 18 at Estes Stadium in Conway. 

The Conway Wampus Cats needed only one goal to beat Little Rock Catholic, 1-0, to win the Class 6A state championship for the third consecutive season. The Wampus Cats join two other schools to win three consecutive state titles in the state’s largest classification.

The Conway Wampus Cats celebrate after beating Little Rock Catholic, 1-0, to win the Class 6A state title for the third consecutive season on May 18 at Estes Stadium in Conway.

“I still haven’t settled in and thought about it all the way,” Conway Coach Matthew Page said. “I told the guys leading up to the game that we were in unmarked territory. I didn’t want to jinx it too much. Catholic was undefeated against us in the finals. They had beaten us twice in the finals before. They have five total state championships. Now, we have five as well and three in a row, which puts us in a very rare category for the state of Arkansas.

Conway goalkeeper Brody Tyler punches a Little Rock Catholic corner kick away during the final minute of the Class 6A state title game.

“I keep telling the guys we’re so lucky, and we’re so blessed. We’re in that territory that’s not normal. There are so many teams sitting at home right now. There are so many teams that see the target on your back year after year after year.”

Conway’s win over Catholic was the Wampus Cats fourth consecutive appearance in the state finals. In 2021, Conway lost to Springdale, then beat Fort Smith Northside in 2022 and Springdale last season.

The victory also gave Conway its fifth state title since soccer became a sanctioned sport in 1998.

“I told the guys after that first year that we might not ever get back there,” Page said. “So, the whole next year, I preached, ‘I want a ring.’ We deserved to have another star on our jersey. After the second year, we were at the top of the mountain. This year, I’m at a loss for words. I can’t explain where we’re at, as far as the charts. I love it for our seniors. They’ve played for us the last three years.”

Thank you to Mark Buffalo and the Log Cabin Democrat for sharing images and a portion of an article originally published in the newspaper.