The Conway Wampus Cats won the 2022 6A Soccer state championship this weekend, defeating the Northside Grizzlies 3-1 Saturday evening in Benton at 4:00 pm. The Wampus Cats captured their third state title in program history, bringing home Conway’s first trophy in soccer since 2008. 

The Cats wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as Will Childers scored in the first minute to give Conway an early 1-0 advantage. Conway would score again coming out of the break, as Ty Fisher would get into the scoring column to put Conway up 2-0. A controversial Northside goal during a substitution would give the Grizzlies life, before Will Childers would score again, this time from 40 yards out, to secure Conway’s first state championship in 14 years. 

Junior Will Childers scored twice in the game, bringing home MVP honors for his performance. “It meant a lot after losing last year to win this year.” Said Childers. Conway boys soccer went to state last year and fell short to Springdale. This was a big deal to the seniors because they got to come back and get a win. 

Senior Hart Irby played and won his last high school soccer game. “I felt great about the  game because we came in with a good game plan everyone believed in. It was great to win my senior year, especially after seeing the seniors last year after we lost in the championship game.”

Coach Matthew Page said the team was motivated by the setbacks they’d experienced in recent seasons.  “This all started around Covid and how each day could be your last and that’s how the kids played this year,” Page said. “I’m most proud of the way they finished business and bounced back from losing the state title from last year.” 

The Cats will keep that same energy as they move into the offseason and prepare to defend the title next year.