Avid Blackhawk fans, the three Blackhawk cheer coaches work together for the good of the team. Courtney Hurst, Amber Harrison and Courtney Powell are dedicated to their teams.
Courtney Hurst
Head varsity cheer coach Courtney Hurst is a native of Pea Ridge and graduated from Pea Ridge High School in 1999. She graduated from Arkansas Tech University.
Hurst currently teaches 10th-grade Keystone-College & Career Readiness.e
In high school, she was involved in basketball, softball, golf and cheer.
Her favorite sport to play is softball and her favorite sports to watch are basketball and competition cheer.
Her hobbies include spending time with my family, being outside, cooking.
Her favorite sports moment was making it to the state tournament the first year softball was offered at Pea Ridge High School.
Her favorite coaching moment was during the 2022 Fayetteville High School Cheer Classic when a cheerleader blew out her knee while tumbling and, after getting her taken care of, the team had just about five minutes to regroup then take the competition mat again. The team came together, made changes to the competition routine and performed flawlessly. They wound up winning the competition!
She and her husband, Braxton Hurst, have two daughters — Gracyn and Kamryn.
“I love all things Pea Ridge,” she said.
Amber Harrison
Harrison is a graduate of White Hall High School and Henderson State University. She also earned a masters in gifted education and a gifted and talented director certificate from Arkansas State University.
In high school, she was involved in softball, basketball and studio dance.
She enjoys playing softball/baseball and watching football and “ANYTHING RAZORBACK.”
Her hobbies include spending time with family, hunting, fishing, camping, kayaking, hiking, anything outdoors.
“One of my most memorable sports achievements occurred during high school when I was selected to participate in the Arkansas High School All-Star softball game. In that game, I faced a pitcher who had previously pitched a no-hitter, and I hit a home run.”
“One of my most memorable coaching experiences was from this past season. Achieving victory at both the state and national levels but also having the opportunity to share this success with my son, who was one of the athletes on the team.”
“I am a very competitive person and love to win. In my earlier years of coaching, I want to win, win, win. I’ve come to realize that winning isn’t always the best outcome. True value lies in the journey and the lessons learned along the way. For my cheerleaders, the focus is on what they gain in the process — resilience, teamwork, discipline and a sense of integrity. These are the skills that will serve them long after the trophies are forgotten.”
“Our practices and performances are opportunities for growth, not just in terms of athletic ability but in becoming better individuals. It’s about learning to push through challenges, support one another, and handle both success and failure with grace. In the end, it’s the person they become through these experiences that matters most, far more than any single win.
Harrison’s parents are Don and Sherry Warriner and she has one brother, Wade Warriner.
Her husband Michael Harrison is a teacher for Arkansas Connections Academy. She and Michael have two children, Jaxson, 19, and Karson, 15.
“We invite you to support our cheerleaders at their upcoming competitions. Your presence as fans greatly motivates us and enhances our performance.
“I am so proud to be a Blackhawk and moving here seven years ago was the best decision for my family and I.”
Courtney Powell
Powell is a graduate of Carlisle High School and earned an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology and audiology and a master of science in speech-language pathology, both at the University of Central Arkansas
She cheered six years in high school and did competitive all-star cheer.
She cheered for two years in collage at Arkansas Tech University. Then transferred to the University of Central Arkansas and coached all-star competitive cheer while there.
Her favorite sports to watch are football or baseball.
Her hobbies include hiking and kayaking.
Her favorite coaching moment was coaching her daughter last year.
“I have been married to Brian Powell for 22 years. We have three children: Layton, 21, a senior at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs; Boston, 16, a junior at Pea Ridge High School; and Haddison, 13, an eighth-grader at Pea Ridge Junior High. We have lived in northwest Arkansas for 17 years. This is my 17th year as a speech-language pathologist in Pea Ridge Schools and my second year coaching cheerleading in Pea Ridge.”
