Boit Inks First Class of 2026 Commit
Ryan Lewis signed on the dotted line and will become an NWACC Eagle next fall.
PEA RIDGE, Ark. - NWACC Cross Country and Track and Field Head Coach Josphat Boit announced the signing of Ryan Lewis for Fall 2026 at Pea Ridge High School on Tuesday.
Lewis will compete for the Cross Country and Track and Field programs at NWACC.
"When I went to the visit and talked with Coach Boit [and assistant coach Chris Weller], it just seemed like they know what they're talking about," Lewis said.
"[I'm] very excited to try and run some college races and see if I can do well."
The NWACC coaching staff was quickly drawn to Lewis by virtue of both his times and his personality. Lewis' season-low time in 2025 was a personal record of 16:37.77 Oct. 16, 2025 at the Gravette Invitational.
Lewis also placed 12th in the Arkansas 4A Boys State Championship, contributing to a third-place team finish for the Blackhawks.
"[Beyond] his time, he seems like a really hardworking young man," Boit said. "[Pea Ridge cross country head coach Heather Wade] talks highly of him, which is a good sign for us."
Lewis joins an Eagles program coming off of a 19th-place finish at the NJCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship in October, the fifth time in five seasons that the program has finished in the top 20.
