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Saturday, December 1, 2007
A Bushel Full of Bennetts
Western Arkansas, AR
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They say the apple never falls far from the tree, but in the case of Chris Bennett it’s not just one apple, it’s an entire bushel basket full of them.
Bennett, who played and lettered in basketball at the University of Arkansas from 1976-78 under Eddie Sutton, and his wife, Marie, have six children who have participated in athletics in the Harrison school system.
The two youngest, Caroline and Adam, are beginning their junior and sophomore basketball seasons and are the final two chapters in a family’s story of success both on and off the field.
The Bennett children – Britton, Claire, Luke, Amelia, Caroline and Adam – have been a part of state championships at Harrison in basketball, soccer, cross country, track and volleyball. The athletic ability was inherited from a father who was a standout basketball player at Catholic High School in Little Rock, being named to the Parade and McDonald’s All-American Teams, and a mother who played 6 on 6 basketball at Mt. St. Mary’s while cheering for Catholic High.
They’ve been married for 27 years, the majority of which they may feel like have been spent at one of their children’s sporting events. But they wouldn’t have it any other way. And even though Chris is a radiologist at North Arkansas Regional Medical Center and Marie graduated with a chemistry degree, years of attending games has made them experts in the art of schedule juggling.
“Needing to be so many places at one time – attending sporting events but yet needing to be home with the younger kids – has been the hardest part,” said Marie. “When we had junior high and high school players there was a sporting event four nights a week. Most of the time Chris and I would have to split up and go different places.”
As experts on the topic they’re qualified to dispense advice to other families that are just beginning to learn the tricky art of juggling high school sports schedules.
“Try to divide your time as equally as possible,” Marie offered, adding, “and enjoy your rides home from the games.” And on those rides home she suggested “limiting advice about the game to one suggestion.”
Sure, the pace can be a little hectic at times, but Marie feels it’s important for parents to attend as many games as they can so their children “will know you are interested in how they are doing and so you can spend time together on the long drives home.”
Chris and Marie have enjoyed following the athletic careers of their children, especially getting to see them “mature and improve over time” as well as “watching them learn the value of hard work and practice.”
Even though there have been times when their paths have briefly taken off in different directions, the journey has been one this family has enjoyed taking together.
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