By Leland Barclay / Special to the Times Record
The Van Buren Pointers have embraced their move back to the rugged 7A-West led by senior defensive tackle Alex Espinosa.

“Ever since we found out we were going to the 7A-West, we’ve been welcoming it and looking forward to it to show everyone how much we’ve changed,” Espinosa said.


The change is a return to a physical, tough brand of football.

“It’s the mindset of everyone on this team,” Espinoza said. “That’s the mindset that we started bringing back to Van Buren Pointer football.”

Espinosa and his senior teammates spent the last two seasons in the 7A/6A-Central. Reclassification by the Arkansas Activities Association, which occurs every two seasons, placed Van Buren back in the 7A-West, the conference they originally joined when they were elevated to the state’s largest classification in 1991.

“I’m excited,” Espinoza said. “It’s more of a challenge, and I like that. I mean, it was good going against guys in 6A, but I feel like you get better competition going against the 7A guys.”

Espinosa is the strong guy on the Pointers team, benching 320 pounds and in the top three in the squat and power clean.

“He had a tremendous offseason especially in the weight room,” Werner said. “He’s put on a lot of muscle. He does a good job in the weight room. He takes a lot of pride in that.”

It’s obvious Espinosa likes his time in the weight room.


“I try to concentrate on all of my weightlifting,” Espinosa said. “I’ve been pretty good at bench press. I work out as much as I can to try to improve myself and my team. I get into a certain mindset just like when I play. I want to beat everyone there. In football, you have to be strong for the D-line, and all of the O-line.”

Of course, the weightlifting aspect is a love or hate relationship.

“About half the team we have to kick them in the butt to get them in there and the other half love going in there,” Werner said. “He’s one of those that loves going in there and lifting. We don’t have to worry about him.”

In addition to lifting a lot during the offseason and the summer, Espinosa also made the tour of linemen camps like at Arkansas Tech University.

“I went to a lot of defensive line camps,” Espinoza said. “I learned some different things from the coaches at ATU, just learning different moves I can use on the field.”

If Van Buren is able to return to their tough-minded football, it will begin with Espinosa, who will anchor the middle of the Pointers 4-3 defensive alignment at tackle.

“He’s put on a lot of muscle,” Werner said. “He’s gotten quicker. He’s getting better.”


He’s be joined there by Jake Mendez, who moves inside from end. Together they form a strong tandem and the anchor of the defensive front.

“Being a kid that’s played a lot, that’s going to be big,” Werner said. “We feel like we’ve helped us a lot there. Jake Mendez was an end last year and we’ve moved him inside with Alex. I think the combination of those two gives us a good middle there. With the folks we’re going to play, we’re going to have to have one.”

Espinosa has also taken on a leadership role.

“He’s not a real loud guy, but he’s leading by example,” Werner said. “He sets a good example for the other kids.”