No matter the sport, the rivalry with Hoxie is something that is intense the whole year around.“ Ever since I was little I can remember the rivalry against the Mustangs, and I always wanted to get to high school and say that I beat them and luckily I can,” Cunningham shared.“ Not once but twice, and it is an amazing feeling. For two small schools the atmosphere the crowd brings makes you feel like you’ re in a huge stadium with adrenaline that can’ t be beat. Being that I had an older sister and watching her go through high school and their rivalry with Hoxie, I think is what grew the tradition in me.”
Now, unexpectedly, there is more on Cunningham’ s to do list other than sports. Recently, Jersie and some friends have started an apparel company. He shared with NEA Sports how it all got started and how he balances that now with school and sports.“ It all got started when me and three other friends were scouting for hunting ducks one day, and we wanted to have something that we could wear that would represent us,” he described.“ We came out with Sloughboys and was just going to make it for us so that we could have a label. After the first batch of hats came out people started to ask how much we are selling them for and, not even thinking about it, we started selling everything we made. We couldn’ t keep things in stock for a long time. We spent countless hours embroidering all handmade patches. Then finally we decided this could be something bigger and decided to make it a business. I could not ask to run it with a better team and my best friends Riley Richey, Brice Bullard, and Jasper Callahan. Right now, we are getting an official website made but for the time being we make a lot of sales through TikTok and Instagram, even selling our new speakers that came out”.
Jersie Cunningham has dedicated his career to the Walnut Ridge Bobcats throughout different sports. He hopes to continue to do that through his senior year, and wants people to remember the fun he had while suiting up for the Big Orange.“ I hope people remember that in playing both sports, I was able to not have a dull moment,” he shared.“ Being that I am always positive and kept a smile on my face. I have always enjoyed sports and nothing makes me happier than playing them with all my friends.”
Cunningham and some of those close friends are hoping that will help find even more success in this new venture they have embarked on. The lessons learned on the field and the court, could provide a bright future in the business world for Jersie Cunningham and his partners.