PEA RIDGE — Courtney Hurst hasn’t been coaching long, but she is in a select group - she’s one of 10 cheer coaches in the state nominated for coach of the year.

Regardless of whether she wins, she is honored just to have been nominated. Hurst will have to wait until May to know whether she will be cheerleading coach of the year.

Hurst is one of 10 cheer coaches in Arkansas nominated for coach of the year.

The Arkansas Activities Association names the coaches, then coaches throughout the state nominate the winner.

The winner will be announced at the annual cheer coaches’ meeting.

“I was very surprised just to be selected. My name just showed up onthe ballot,” Hurst said.

“(The coaches nominated) are anyone who has made a name for themselves, well known in Arkansas.

We get to know each other at competitions ... and get together to ask advice,” she said.

“We (at Pea Ridge) don’t pay thousands of dollars to have a routine put together, we do it all ourselves,” she said. “I have a lot of talent on my team.”

Hurst was also selected to be one of three assistant cheer coaches from the west side of the state at the upcoming high school allstar football and basketball games held at the University of Arkansas in June.

Sports, Pages 7 on 02/24/2010