Who is Life CHAMPS® Sports

Life CHAMPS is a non-profit youth sports organization that uses the platform of sports to build champions for life.  We promote healthy competition while also teaching that life is about more than just winning.

Guiding Principles

1.        Make it fun

2.       Stay positive (yell encouragement, whisper criticism)

3.       Everybody plays

4.       Emphasize fundamentals

5.       Foster healthy competition

6.       Build character for life

7.       Promote a positive attitude

Sportsmanship 
One of the most important character traits is sportsmanship. Every practice, game and meeting in the Life CHAMPS® Sports league is built upon the principle of sportsmanship. This applies to players, coaches, referees, and parents to ensure that everyone has a positive experience.

Leaders
 

Anthony Lucas was born in Tallulah, LA to Gerald and Rena Lucas. He is married to Mrs. Devae’ Lucas and they have been married for 4 years.  Devae’ has truly been a blessing in his life and they are enjoying their new born, Kassidy Alise. Kassidy was born March 8^th.  As a high school football player, he made All-American, All-State, All-District and set school career records with 204 receptions for 3,350 yards.  He went on to make All-District, All-State, and All-Area honors in basketball, leading the team to a 32-1 record and the state title as a junior.

Anthony had numerous scholarship offers to play football coming out of high school, but  chose to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks.  In 1995, 1998, and 1999 he made All-SEC Honors.  He also was named to the All-American team and was a member of the SEC “Good Works” team.  He was ranked third in the conference with an average of 100.4 yards per-game receiving.  Anthony had 43 receptions for 1004 yards (23.3 avg.) and 10 touchdowns where he broke the record for most TD’s in a season.  He is ranked second now behind Marcus Monk.

In 1999, Anthony was on the receiving end of Clint Stoerner’s 27 yard game-winning touchdown pass against the defending National Champions, Tennessee Volunteers.  This play is referred to as “The Catch” in Arkansas Razorback football. 

Anthony holds the Razorback all-time record with 2,879 receiving yards and is ranked second with 23 touchdown receptions.  He is third on the schools career-record list with 137 catches.  His average of 21.0 yards-per-catch set a SEC career-record.  He also set a Razorback record of 10 games with over 100 yards receiving during his career.

Anthony graduated from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in December of 1999, with a degree in Social Work.  He was drafted in the fourth round, 114 overall pick, in 2000 by the Green Bay Packers.  He was released from the Packers in 2001, and the Dallas Cowboys signed him in August 2001.  Anthony spent two years with the Cowboys before several knee injuries forced him to retire.  He decided to go back to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville to work on his Master’s Degree.  Anthony started in August 2003 and received his Master’s in December 2004 in Adult Education.

Having been in the corporate world for a few months after finishing his Master’s, he worked with Tyson Foods. Anthony then decided to move to Little Rock to serve the youth as the Co-Director for Life CHAMPS Youth Sports and he also is the Facility Coordinator of D1 Sports Training and Therapy. Anthony’s love for kids, people, great character, dynamic personality, and record for making good choices in life makes him who he is today.

Ben Faires currently serves as the Director of Life CHAMPS in Little Rock, AR.  Ben is originally from Springdale Arkansas where he was a multi-sport athlete at Springdale High School.  He was all-state in track and field for 3 years, and won State and the Meet of Champs in the 400meters as a senior.  Ben also was all-state in football in his one and only year to play Wide Receiver at Springdale High under Head Coach Gus Malzahn (current Auburn Offensive Coordinator)  Faires led the state in catches, and yards that year and went on to play in the Arkansas High School All- Star Game, and sign a scholarship to play football at the University of Central Arkansas.

From there Faires had a great 4 year career starting as a true freshman and finishing #6 all time in catches and TD at UCA.  Just recently Faires was named to the UCA all decade team as Coach Clint Conque described Faires as "one of the most enjoyable players I have ever coached".

Ben Faires and his wife Whitney currently live in Little Rock as she is finishing up her fourth year teaching at Little Rock Christian Academy. Whitney will stay home next year as they are expecting their first child.

Ben also serves as Asst Facility Coordinator at D1 Sports training where he handles coaching duties and admin for coaching staff.