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November 15, 2000
RHS Senior Signs Letter with Ouachita Baptist
Adam Sweeney for The Courier • Russellville AR
Lindsey Loper, who moved to Russellville from Cabot earlier this year, signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Ouachita Baptist University during a ceremony Tuesday at Cyclone Gymnasium.
Loper enjoyed a successful volleyball season, making the AAAAA-West All-Conference team despite an ankle injury early in the season and helping the team advance to the semifinals of the state tournament.
Shortly after she began practicing basketball she tore her ACL and possibly ended her first season with the Lady Cyclones before it started.
"We are definitely down about her injury, especially because she can't help us on the floor. But I was more concerned about her. I felt sick for her, I know she feels bad for us, but we'll overcome it. This team is still hungry. Without her we get pretty small. We'll miss that inside size, but she'll still be a big part of the team cheering us on from the sidelines and I'm looking forward to having her there," RHS Coach Matt Kordsmeier said.
In her speech after her signing, Loper said that she hopes to make the fastest recovery in history, but if she doesn't she plans to be the best cheerleader anyone has ever seen to help her current team.
Loper said that the players and coaches at Ouachita Baptist are the main reasons she decided to attend it instead of other schools she was being recruited by.
"They were all positive. They really accepted me and I had been to several other colleges and I didn't see that. They all seem really close," Loper said.
In her speech Loper recounted a portion of her visit to Ouachita that turned out to be prophetic. Speaking of the commitment that Ouachita made to her, she said that they told her that even if she were to tear her ACL, they would still have a scholarship for her.
"I hope that didn't jinx me, but I was impressed with the commitment they made to me," Loper said.
Loper hopes to contribute as much as possible to the Lady Cyclones' bid for a state championship this season. " I hope we go out and have a great season, have fun, and take state," Loper said.
Loper was recognized as one of the top forwards in the state and was ranked 88th in the nation at power forward in the Mike White National All-star Girls Report. She was recruited heavily by several NCAA Division I and II schools for both basketball and volleyball.
She made the AAAAA All-State tournament team at Cabot and twice made the AAAAA-East All-Conference team. She also played on the 2000 Junior Olympic team.
Loper was a Girl's State Delegate, a DARE Role Model, and served as FCA President at Cabot.
In his introduction speech, Kordsmeier noted how well Loper has been accepted by the Russellville community in her brief time here. Loper mentioned that her teammates and classmates have made her feel like she has been here all along.
Ouachita Baptist University• Lady Tigers
