Springfield Area Sports Commission Awards 2023

June 20, 2023 ozark empire fairgrounds e-plex ozarks community celebrating the area's best athletes and teams

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WILLARD TENNIS HONOREE NEW HARRY COOPER?

ON YOUR SPRINGFIELD SPORTS C O M M IS S I O N R E C O G N I T I O N !

W E A RE P R O U D O F Y O U AN D Y O UR A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S

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JUNE 20, 2023 • OZARK EMPIRE FAIRGROUNDS The Springfield Sports Commission Awards Honors the Best Southwest Missouri Area Athletes, Teams and Specialty Awards Annually

Program of Events Opening Remarks................................................................Byron Shive | CEO & Executive Director, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Welcome................................................................... Marc Mayer | Chairman, Springfield Sports Commission Board of Directors Invocation.................................................................................................................................................................. Bob Roberts Pledge of Allegiance......................................................................... Teri Cantwell | Springfield Sports Commission Board Member National Anthem............................................................................................................................................ Dr. Marcia Mahnken Sports Commission Remarks................................................... Lance Kettering | Executive Director, Springfield Sports Commission GIRLS TENNIS GIRLS WRESTLING – UPPER WEIGHTS BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING BOYS WRESTLING – LOWER WEIGHTS GIRLS GOLF BOYS WRESTLING – UPPER WEIGHTS GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY INSPIRATION AWARD – SAMUEL MURPHY BOYS CROSS COUNTRY GIRLS BASKETBALL INSPIRATION AWARD – BEERLY BROTHERS BOYS BASKETBALL BOYS SOCCER INSPIRATION AWARD – KATYLYNN DRAKE SOFTBALL SPIRIT AWARDS: MARCHING BAND, DANCE TEAM, CHEERLEADING TEAM VOLLEYBALL INSPIRATION AWARD – ANTHONY COWAN FOOTBALL-LINEMEN FOOTBALL-LINEBACKERS & DEFENSIVE BACKS BOYS TENNIS BOYS GOLF FOOTBALL-OFFENSIVE SKILL POSITIONS INSPIRATION AWARD – RYLEE HODGES INSPIRATION AWARD – MARGO PRICE GIRLS SOCCER GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING GIRLS FIELD EVENTS GIRLS WRESTLING – LOWER WEIGHTS GIRLS TRACK

BOYS FIELD EVENTS BOYS TRACK BASEBALL INSPIRATION AWARD – KELLAR DAVIS EMERGING SPORTS: BASS FISHING, BOWLING, ESPORTS, TARGET SHOOTING, BOYS VOLLEYBALL SPORTS COMMISSION AWARD -- MEDIACOM GIRLS PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR BOYS PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR BOYS TEAM OF THE YEAR GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR BOYS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Closing Remarks............................................................... Byron Shive | CEO & Executive Director, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

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SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE TABLE SPONSORS* Ash Grove High School Camdenton High School Carthage High School Central Bank/Central Trust Contender E-Sports Edgeman Properties Elliott Lodging Evangel University Fair Acres Family YMCA Fair Grove High School Family & Friends of Abby Chadwell Family & Friends of Adam Lewis Family & Friends of Ahlante Askew Family & Friends of Austin Wilkerson Family & Friends of Brooks Kettering Family & Friends of Chloe Miller Family & Friends of Cole Feuerbacher Family & Friends of Cole Vincel Family & Friends of Dawysn Decker Family & Friends of Drew Wedgeworth

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Hermitage High School Cross Country HPMG Kyle & Sons Tree Service Lamar High School Licking High School Lockwood High School Marshfield High School Mid-Missouri Bank Missouri Farm Bureau-Scott McCowan Mount Vernon High School Munnik Real Estate Group National TV Progressive Ozark Bank Serenity Shores Stockton High School Cross Country Waynesville High School Wil Fischer Distributing WMC Mechanical

*List Current as of June 16, 2023

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Founded in 1999, the Springfield Sports Commission is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the economic development of the area through sports travel and tourism. The organization aims to enhance the quality of life and stimulate positive economic growth for our community by promoting and developing the Springfield area as a top destination for quality amateur, collegiate and professional sporting events.

SPRINGFIELD SPORTS COMMISSION Lance Kettering, Executive Director Katie Johnson, Assistant Director

SPRINGFIELD SPORTS COMMISSION BOARD OF DIRECTORS–OFFICERS Chair - Marc Mayer, Guaranty Bank Vice Chair - Dennis McDonald, Evangel University Secretary - Mark Hecquet, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau Treasurer - David Holtmann, City of Springfield Past Chair - Josh Scott, Springfield Public Schools

SPRINGFIELD SPORTS COMMISSION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bob Belote, Springfield-Greene County Park Board Melissa Bondy, Bass Pro Shops Erin Boster, Collegate Awards Ryan Bowling, Old Missouri Bank Teri Cantwell, Central Bank Jennifer Dalton, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Tom Mast, Masterful Events Kyle McClure, City Utilities Nyla Milleson, Drury University

Kyle Moats, Missouri State University Aaron Owen, Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Brent Parker, Springfield Hotel Lodging Association Kelly Polonus, Great Southern Bank Jeff Portman, Elliott Lodging Jason Pyrah, CoxHealth Dan Reiter, Springfield Cardinals Byron Shive, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Stacie Wells, Betty & Bobby Allison Sports Town

PROUD TO HOST THESE ORGANIZATIONS

The Springfield Sports Commission is proud to host events by these organizations.

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Special thanks to these Sports Commission Supporters PLATINUM MEMBERS REST ASSURED REST ASSURED

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GOLD MEMBERS

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ASSOCIATE MEMBERS 2023City of Springfield; City Utilities; DNC-Sportservice; Forvis; Heritage Insurance; Kwik Kar Automotive; Lake Country Soccer; Legacy Bank and Trust; Missouri Sports Hall of Fame; Nakato Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar; Neale & Newman, LLP; Ollis/Akers/Arney; Ozark Empire Fairgrounds; Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper Bottling Co.; Price Cutter Charity Championship; Redline Athletics; Rolling Oaks Hospitality; Springfield Amateur Softball Association; Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau

HOTEL MEMBERS Angler’s Lodge; Arbor Suites at the Mall; Arbor Suites Medical Mile; Baymont Inn; Baymont Inn & Suites North; Best Western Plus Coach House Inn; Best Westen Route 66 Rail Haven; Candlewood South; Candlewood Suites; Clarion Inn & Suites; Comfort Inn; Courtyard by Marriott; DoubleTree Hotel; Drury Inn & Suites; Econo Lodge North; Fairfield Inn & Suites; Greenstay Hotel & Suites; Greenstay Hotel & Suites - Courtview; Hilton Garden Inn; Holiday Inn Express Suites-Medical District; Holiday Inn Express Suites-North; Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites; La Quinta Inn & Suites Airport; La Quinta Inn South; Lamplighter Inn & Suites South; Lamplighter Inn & Suites North; Quality Inn-East Battlefield; Quality Inn & Suites North; Oasis Hotel & Convention Center; Residence Inn

by Marriott; Sleep Inn-Medical District; SpringHill Suites by Marriott; Towne Place Suites by Marriott; University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center; Vib Best WesternJerald

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS Jerald Andrews; Erin Boster; Bob Cirtin; Steve Everest; Gail Fredrick; Bill Hobbs; Lance Kettering; Tracy Kimberlin; Marc Mayer; Bob McBride; Kyle McClure; Josh Scott; Tom Stout; Joe Tonkinson

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★ ★

★ Girls Tennis ★ ★ ★

Brett Boney, Central High School Boney has been a longtime fixture for the Bulldogs, earning a Class 3 state berth in the doubles draw with Allie German in 2021. Boney and 2022 doubles partner Elana Noor Hadi won the Class 3 District 5 doubles championship before falling to the eventual state runner up in Class 3 this past season. Boney is a three-time unanimous all-conference selection.

Brynley Brotherton, Kickapoo High School Brotherton has made numerous state appearances for the Chiefs over her career in both doubles and singles. She and graduated doubles partner Ester Choe finished fourth in Class 2 doubles with an overall record of 26-3 in 2021. Individually, Brotherton was undefeated in singles as a junior with an 18-0 record and followed that up with another solid senior season that came to an end in the Class 3 girls singles quarterfinals.

McKylie Cox, Willow Springs High School

Olivia Edwards, Glendale High School Olivia Edwards has been a force over the past few years, whether she was playing singles or doubles. The Glendale senior made back-to-back trips to state in Class 2 doubles, with her and partner Lucy Huang coming up short in the state quarterfinals this past season.

Edwards was a key piece on a solid Glendale squad, which brought home both an Ozark Conference championship and Class 2 District 6 title.

Isabella Mosley & Allison Schubert, mount Vernon High School Mosley and Schubert qualified for state in doubles in 2021. The two returned this past year to help lead Mount Vernon to an 11-3 team record, and a second-place finish in the Class 1 District 10 championship. Mosley and Schubert had a solid season in 2022, including a third-place finish at the Show-Me Spotlight, and won the Joplin Tournament.

~ Fall Sports~

Cox finished the 2022 season with a combined record of 42-10, which is the best single season for any tennis player in Willow Springs school history. She won the Joplin, Forsyth and Osage tournaments and earned third at the Nixa Tournament. Cox was a First Team All-District selection and ends her career as the most decorated tennis player from Willow Springs. Her combined career record of 129 wins places her 15th all-time in state history.

Liliana Strang, Glendale High School Strang was a key piece to a solid Glendale squad this past season, as it won the Nixa, Ozark Conference and Class 2 District 6 tournaments. She boasted a 14-2 singles record as a senior to go along with a record of 19-6 in doubles. Strang earned a berth to the Class 2 state tournament in doubles as a junior.

Sophia Vestal, Bolivar High School

Vestal posted a 22-10 overall singles record as a junior on her way to an eighth-place finish at the Class 1 state tournament. In her senior season, it was much of the same as Vestal helped lead the Liberators to a Class 1 District 11 title and a state berth in Class 1 girls doubles with partner Reagan Hunt

emma watts, joplin High School Watts had a strong senior showcase, finishing with a 21-7 record in singles and earning third place in Class 3 District 6. She also finished first in the Central Ozark Conference for singles, going 8-1 against other No. 1s. After winning the COC tournament, which she did in 2020 and 2021, Watts was the Athlete of the Week by one publication. Her coaches say Watts is dedicated not only to her craft, but also in the classroom.

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★ ★

★ Boys Swimming & Diving ★ ★ ★ Kai Brownlee, Nixa High School Every senior athlete wants to go out with their strongest performance. Brownlee certainly accomplished that at the end of the season last fall, as he advanced to the MSHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships, earning a pair of top 10 finishes. He was seventh in the 200-yard freestyle relay, and was ninth in the 100-yard freestyle in 47.40 seconds. He won the Southwest Missouri Championships in the 100-yard backstroke (52.87 seconds) and the 100-yard freestyle (46.63).

Graham Eisenmann, Ozark High School A senior, Eisenmann made sure to make his final high school campaign a memorable one. He qualified for the MSHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships in three events, earning two top-10 finishes. He was seventh in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 51.42 seconds. And was ninth in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:44. He also was on the 200-yard relay team. At the Southwest Missouri Championships, he won the 200-yard freestyle (1:44) and the 100-yard butterfly (51.95 seconds).

Kickapoo should be in good hands in the next couple of years. A sophomore, Ruder competed in three events at MSHSAA’s Class 2 Swimming & Diving Championships. He placed fourth in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing in 4:44. He also was 11th in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:46, and finished the 50-yard freestyle in 22.41 seconds. He was the runner-up in the 200 at the Southwest Missouri Championships.

Brett Smith, Kickapoo High School Every so often, Springfield Public Schools will produce a successful diver in the pool. It’s a skill that few can truly master, as it’s all about technique and form more than sheer power you see in races. Smith took that mantle this past winter, finishing as a state runner-up in Class 2 1-meter diving. He finished with a final round score of 393.9.

~ Fall Sports~

Bryce Ruder, Kickapoo High School

Ethan Vance, Camdenton High School Next season is going to be fun in the pool in Camdenton, where Vance should be a big factor late in the season – not only locally but at the state level. After all, he placed third in two events at the MSHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships. He finished in 21.22 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle and covered the 100-yard freestyle in 46.74 seconds. That came after he won the 50-yard freestyle (21.28) and placed second in the 100-yard freestyle (47.91) at the Southwest Missouri Championships.

Dakota Windsor, Lebanon High School Lebanon always seems to produce competitive athletes across its athletic department.

Among them is Windsor, a senior who reached the MSHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships and placed in the top five in two events. He finished in 51.75 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly, good for fifth place, and was fourth in the 100-yard butterfly in 56.78 seconds in the 100-yard breaststroke. At the Southwest Missouri Championships, he won the 200-yard individual medley (1:59) and the 100-yard breaststroke (58.08).

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★ ★

★ Girls Golf ★ ★ ★

Page Bowman, Glendale High School Bowman was what you would consider a freshman phenom for Glendale this past season, averaging a plus 1.6 over par per 9-hole round. She played in seven tournaments last season, winning the Ozark Conference championship and a district championship. Touted by her coaches as a hard worker, one of Bowmans best performances came in the Class 3 state tournament, where she shot a combined 156 across two rounds, earning a third-place finish.

Emree Dawn Cameron, Nevada High School

Cameron showed large improvement to her putting last season, which pairs well with perhaps her greatest strength coming from length off the tee box. She finished the year with an average 18-hole score of 69, which helped guide her to eight first-place finishes last fall. In the Class 2 state meet, Cameron posted a 71, followed by a second-round 75, which was good enough to earn her second place.

~ Fall Sports~

Marlene Edgeman, Marshfield High School With arguably one of the best short games in the entire state, Edgeman had a season to remember for the Blue Jays. In 2022, she had an average round score of 73 with several notable performances. She shot a course-record 64 to win the individual Big 8 Conference title at Whispering Oaks Golf Course in Marshfield. She followed that performance at the Class 2 state meet by shooting two consecutive rounds of 72 to win her second consecutive state title.

Lyla Louderbaugh, Springfield Catholic high school

Louderbaugh led the Irish this past fall, which as a team brought home both a Big 8 Conference championship and Class 4 District 4 title. She finished every regularseason tournament with a score of 71 or lower, leading to six first-place wins. In the Class 4 state meet, Louderbaugh shot an opening round 75, followed by a 77, which earned her a tie for second place.

Catherine Rhoads, Glendale High School

Club speed and adding distance to her game was key for Rhoads in 2022, as she averaged plus-5.4 over par per 9-hole round last season. Rhoads had six top 10 finishes in eight tournaments, with her final three tournaments earning her First Team AllOzark Conference, First Team All-District, and First Team All-State honors. At the Class 3 state tournament, Rhoads shot a combined 167 across two rounds, placing sixth. She is committed to play golf at Evangel University in the fall.

Josey Roberts, Ozark High School Roberts made her presence known as a freshman last season, with an average round score of 74. She was a top 10 finisher in every tournament, which included four first-place finishes. As a freshman Roberts brought home an individual Central Ozark Conference championship and finished runner-up in the Class 4 District 3 tournament. Coaches say her club speed and creativity around the greens shined, on her way to a fifth-place finish at the Class 4 state meet. Roberts is Ozark’s first AllState golfer since 1997

Savannah Thessing, New Covenant Academy Thessing overcame great adversity in her junior season after her family’s home was lost in a fire. She had a 9-hole average round score of 38.7 with multiple top 10 finishes, including a third-place finish at the Class 2 District 3 tournament. Coaches say Thessing’s game improved greatly both off the tee box and on the green. After winning a Class 1 state championship in 2021, she followed up with a fourth-place finish at the Class 2 state meet, shooting a combined 163 across two rounds.

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★ ★

★ Girls cross country ★ ★ ★ Klarie Brown, Kickapoo High School Brown has been a regular on this list each for three years now, and for good reason.

Unfortunately, the 2022 season was marked by injury issues that kept her out of a number of meets. A twisted ankle early cost her a few early meets before returning in late September. She went 19:49 at the Class 5 MSHSAA State Cross Country Championship. However, she placed sixth at districts in 19:28 and was the runner-up of the Ozark Conference meet. She went 20:04 at Gans Creek and 20:04 at the Missouri Southern Stampede.

Kopelyn Delong, Ozark High School

~ Fall Sports~

Delong finished in 20:00 and was 47th at the Class 5 MSHSAA Cross Country Championships at the Gans Creek Course in Columbia. She placed fourth in District 2 with a time of 19:18 and was third in a personal-best 19:06 at the Central Ozark Conference meet. Delong also earned First Team All-Southwest Region and had a great influence on the Ozark team, as it finished runner-up in the COC and missed, by seven points, of being only the second team in school history to qualify for the state meet.

Kiersten Potter, Lamar High School Potter has been on southwest Missouri’s cross country scene for four years now, and she has earned a lot of respect. In November, she placed 10th in Class 3 at the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships, finishing in 19:44. That marked her fourth All-State finish and came in a year when she set a personalrecord of 19:02, won five meets and was the runner-up of three others. Among her wins was her fourth consecutive Big 8 Conference title.

Abigail Street, Webb City High School Street placed third in Class 4 at the MSHSAA State Cross Country Championships, finishing in 19:06. She won several meets, including districts (18:53), the Central Ozark Conference (18:40), the Laker Invitational (18:37), the Carthage Invitational (19:40) and the SWCCCA Richard Clark Invitational (19:07). Street finished third at the Missouri Southern Stampede (18:39).

Gracie Troester, Republic High School Troester had a deceiving finish to her season, as she ran in 20:17 and finished 60th at the Class 5 MSHSAA Cross Country Championships in Columbia. Days earlier, she had suffered a cut on a leg in an ag class and declined stitches. Otherwise, Troester was among the top runners in the area. She ran a personal-best 18:51 and placed second at the district meet, and also was runnerup with a time of 19:00 at the Central Ozark Conference meet. Troester also won the Cedar Ridge Invitational, the Republic Invitational and the Riann Lubinski Invitational. She went 19:53 at the Missouri Southern Stampede.

Ellie Webb, Camdenton High School Webb turned in quite a remarkable season, as she placed 38th in Class 5 at the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships, finishing in 19:43 – one of the top five times of any southwest Missouri runner. She also finished in 19:46 and 20:19 at the district and Ozark Conference meets, respectively, with both finishes good for 10th place. Her other times were 20:04, 20:15, 20:33 and 20:18 at the Camdenton, Joplin, Lebanon and Southwest Cross Country Coaches Association’s Richard Clark Invitational.

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★ ★

★ Boys cross country ★ ★ ★ Hobbs Campbell, Joplin High School A senior, Campbell earned respect throughout the area, as he placed fifth in Class 5 at the MSHSAA State Cross Country Championships (15:42). He also was fourth in the district meet (15:36) and won the Central Ozark Conference with a personal-best 15:21. Campbell also had good times at the Chile Pepper Festival (15:28) in Fayetteville, Ark., Gans Creek Classic (15:49) and the Missouri Southern Stampede (15:24). He was the runner-up at the SWCCCA Richard Clark Invitational (15:47).

Tyler Harris, Kickapoo High School Harris led Kickapoo to a third-place team finish in Class 5 at the MSHSAA State Cross Country Championships, and placed third himself in 15 minutes, 22 seconds. That was the fastest time of any southwest Missouri runner on the Gans Creek course that weekend. He won the district meet in 15:14 and the Ozark Conference in 15:18. Harris went 14:58 at the Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark.

Ian Horton, Joplin High School

Kyle Keltner, Kickapoo High School Kelter finished 25th in Class 5 at the MSHSAA State Cross Country Championships at the Gans Creek Course in Columbia, crossing in 16 minutes, 6 seconds. He was fifth at the district meet in 15:52 and third in the Ozark Conference with a time of 16:11. In other regular-season events, Kelter was 15:42 at the Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark., and 16:11 at the Southwest Cross Country Coaches Association Richard Clark Invitational.

Grant Musick, Kickapoo High School Musick had a solid season for Kickapoo, as he earned All-State in Class 5 with a 14thplace finish in the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships at the Gans Creek Course. He finished in 15:57 there, and was sixth at the district meet in 15:52. Additionally, Musick finished 16:02 at the Ozark Conference meet, and that was good for a runner-up finish.

He also had solid regular-season times at the Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark., (15:46), Missouri Southern Stampede (15:39), and the Southwest Cross Country Coaches Association Richard Clark Invitational (16:06).

~ Fall Sports~

Horton ran 15:59 in the Class 5 meet at the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships, and that was good for 16th place. It also was among the top six times at state for a boys cross country runner. He was 16:11 at districts but fourth at the Central Ozark Conference Championships (15:45) and ran 15:42 at the Chile Pepper Festival in Arkansas. At the Missouri Southern Stampede, Horton set a personal-best time of 15:42, or good for sixth place overall.

Evan Stevens, Webb City High School A junior, Stevens was among the top runners in 2022. While he finished 16:24 and 11th in Class 4 at the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships, he was a contender everywhere else. Stevens won districts in 15:57, placed third in the Central Ozark Conference with a 15:40 and, notably, ran a personal-best 15:38 and finished fourth at the Missouri Southern Stampede. He also was third at the Southwest Cross Country Coaches Association Richard Clark Invitational (15:54).

Sean Walker, Buffalo High School Walker fell ill just ahead of the Class 3 state meet and finished in 16:57, but you have to look at his overall body of work to understand why he was among the leaders. He won seven meets, including District 2 (16:27), the Ozark Highland Conference (personal-record 15:22), the Missouri Southern Stampede (16:17) and the Southwest Cross Country Coaches Association’s Richard Clark Invitational’s Class 3 meet (16:00). He also was 23rd at the Chili Pepper Festival in Arkansas (15:31

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★ ★

★ Inspiration Award ★ ★ ★ BEERLY BROTHERS, Lockwood high school

In Lockwood, if you attend the local high school team’s football, basketball or baseball games – or almost any sporting event there – you are bound to run into a couple of familiar faces.

“They started going to ball games when their sisters played sports about 40 years ago,” said Carla Sears, their sister. “Once their sisters graduated, they continued going to all the Tiger games -football basketball, volleyball and track meets as well as baseball games. They have also always enjoyed going to see all their nieces nephews, great nieces and great nephews play their ball games they are their biggest fans!”

Brant and Grant Beerly, twin brothers diagnosed with Down Syndrome, have been attending games for the past 50 years.

That’s not a typo. Fifty years. And 2,000 games.

Think they just sit and watch? Not a chance.

In fact, their presence has inspired all athletes who have put on a Lockwood uniform and reminded the community about what’s important in life. That’s why the Sports Commission Awards presented by Elliott Lodging is proud to honor the Beerly Brothers with an Inspiration Award.

“They are also very protective of their nieces and nephews,” Sears said. “Don’t you dare foul them or they’ll be out there on the court!”

They were toddlers when the 1974 football team won it all in Class 1. And roughly 20 years later, they were there to see that great boys basketball Final Four era of the mid-1990s that was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2021. Plus, all those Cheryl Shores volleyball teams? Yep. The Beerly Brothers were there thanks to their parents.

The best part, to the family, is that the community has always welcomed the brothers with open arms.

“Our little town has always love and supported my brothers since they were born they’ve always included them and made them feel just like any of the other kids,” Sears said. “They plan their week every Sunday by looking at their calendars to see which games or where and who’s playing so they don’t miss a thing.”

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★ ★

★ Boys soccer ★ ★ ★

Corbin Clay, Kickapoo High School A senior, Clay played like a machine at forward for Kickapoo. And that’s saying something for a program that’s produced a number of talents over the years. He earned First Team All-State after leading the Chiefs with 41 goals and 15 assists. Additionally, he earned Co-Player of the Year in the Ozark Conference. It’s probably no wonder that colleges took interest, and Clay will take his game next fall to Truman State University in Kirksville.

Miles Elliott, Kickapoo High School When teams talk about defensive winning championships, one great example is Kickapoo.

A senior, Elliott fueled the Chiefs’ line of defense this past season as the team won a district championship, beating Ozark. He earned First Team All-State honors in Class 4, with Kickapoo falling to eventual state champion Rockhurst 1-0 in the state quarterfinals. Elliott was voted the Defensive Player of the Year in both the Ozark Conference and in District 4.

Alex Flores, Webb City High School

Adrian Ortega, Ozark High School Ozark enjoyed a nice fall season, reaching a Class 4 district championship game. One of the reasons for that success was Ortega, a senior forward. The Tigers could always count on him to score, as he set the program’s single-season scoring record, with 31 goals. That also netted him First Team All-State honors, as well as Offensive Player of the Year honors in the Central Ozark Conference and First Team All-COC.

Gage Vehr, Springfield Catholic high School

~ Fall Sports~

It’s always fun to watch teams chase history, and that was the case as Webb City’s boys soccer team churned its way to the program’s first district title since 1999. One of its key players was Flores, a senior forward. He earned First Team All-State honors after scoring 28 goals and making seven assists. He also was First Team All-Central Ozark Conference. Flores has signed to play soccer at Crowder College in Neosho.

Springfield Catholic has historically enjoyed success with athletes like Vehr. The senior midfielder enjoyed a remarkable senior season, as he earned First Team All-State honors in addition to being voted the Co-Offensive Player of the Year in the Ozark Conference. In the fall, he scored 19 goals and contributed eight assists. You’ll find him next season playing in college and, fortunately, right here in Springfield, for Drury University.

Cole Vincel, Glendale High School The Glendale Falcons reached the Class 3 Final Four and earned a fourth-place finish. Fueling that successful run, in part, was Vincel, the team’s goalkeeper. He earned First Team All-State honors in addition to being named the Goalkeeper of the Year in the Ozark Conference. A senior, he helped Glendale record a team-record 20 shutouts, 17 goals against, a .660 goals against average and had 142 saves in 2,280 minutes. He has signed to play for Jefferson College right here in the Show-Me State.

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★ ★

★ Softball ★ ★ ★

Taylor Akers, Kickapoo High School One of the fastest baserunners in all of southwest Missouri, Taylor helped lead Kickapoo to a 26-9 record last fall, while earning First Team All-Ozark Conference and First Team All-State in Class 5. During her senior fall, Akers showcased her defensive skills while also breaking the Missouri state record for stolen bases in a single season. She has signed to play softball at Missouri State University.

Harley Daniels, Mount Vernon High School

F a~l l / S p r i n g S p o~ r t s

Daniels was the key piece of the Class 2 state champion Mount Vernon Mountaineers (35-1), largely contributing both in the circle and at the plate. She finished the season with a 29-1 record, boasting a 1.62 ERA and 229 strikeouts, which broke her own single-season record set as a junior. At the plate, Daniels slashed an impressive .545 average with 20 doubles and 44 RBI. She was named the Big 8 Conference Pitcher and Player of the Year, in addition to earning First Team All-District, All-Region and All-State honors.

Nevaeh Dodson, McDonald County High School Dodson was a force for McDonald County last fall, both in the circle and at the plate. In the fall, she set the team record for wins (21) and strikeouts (339) in a single season. Offensively, it was much of the same, as Dodson finished with a .351 average, 16 RBI and a .419 OBP. Dodson was selected to the All-Big 8 Conference, All-District, All-Region and All-State teams. She was also named the Big 8 Conference Pitcher of the Year.

EmmaLee Essary, Republic High School A first baseman, Essary was an offensive showcase in her senior season for the Tigers, who finished 16-13. She was a 2022 Second Team All-State selection in Class 5, in addition to being named to the All-Central Ozark Conference and All-Region teams. Essary hit .462 and slugged an even 1.000 during her senior season. She homered 13 times and finished the year with 29 extra base hits. She has signed to play at Chipola College in the fall.

Jordyn Foley, Ozark High School A longtime fixture in the circle for Ozark, Foley’s senior season was as advertised. The right-hander finished the year with a 24-5 record in which she tallied 212 strikeouts, en route to a district championship. Foley was a unanimous First Team All-Central Ozark Conference, First Team All-District and Second Team All-State in Class 5. That was in addition to being named Central Ozark Conference Player of the Year. She will play at Missouri State University-West Plains next season.

Zoe Lockhart, Camdenton High School A junior outfielder, Lockhart had a season to remember as a junior for Camdenton, leading the team in home runs, doubles, tiples, and RBI, not to mention finishing the season with a perfect fielding percentage.

She helped guide the Lakers to a 24-9 season that ended in a loss to Helias Catholic in the Class 4 state tournament. She was voted Ozark Conference Player of the Year in addition to First Team honors on teams for All-Region, All-Ozark Conference (unanimous) and All-State.

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★ Volleyball ★ ★ ★

Abby Chadwell, Strafford High School A senior, Chadwell helped lead the Ashley Bough-coached Strafford High School volleyball team to a third-place finish in the Class 2 state tournament and a 27-9-1 overall finish.

Chadwell earned All-State honors as she recorded 103 kills, 61 service aces, 331 digs (3.0 per set) and 1,035 assists (9.5 per set).

Emma Conrad, Nixa High School Nixa High School has enjoyed quite a recent stretch in volleyball, and Conrad has played a big role. This year, the team reached the district championship game a year after reaching the Class 5 state quarterfinals. Conrad earned All-State honors this season as a defensive specialist. She recorded 422 digs, or 3.9 per set, and had 47 service aces.

All eyes gravitated to Kickapoo High School’s volleyball program in October as the team zeroed in on a Final Four berth. The Lady Chiefs ultimately earned a state runner-up finish and 31-9 record, with Faria playing a large role and earning All-State honors in Class 5. A junior, she finished with 330 kills (2.7 per set), a .219 hitting percentage, 65 service aces, 35 total blocks and 456 digs (3.7 per set).

Logan jones, Carl Junction High School Jones appeared on this list a year ago, and she returns this year for good reason. A senior, she led Carl Junction High School to a district runner-up finish, with the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association naming her to its Class 4 All-State team. She recorded 770 digs (10.1 per set), 11 digs (1.9 per set), 80 kills and 26 service aces. She later signed with the University of Arkansas.

~ Fall Sports~

Bella Faria, Kickapoo High School

Grace O’Reilly, springfield catholic High School O’Reilly enjoyed a memorable senior season as she led Springfield Catholic to a 17-9-5 overall record and personally earned Class 3 All-State honors from the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association. She averaged 5.1 kills per set with a .430 hitting percentage, recorded 464 kills, had 156 total blocks and 773 digs (2.7 per set). She also converted 47 service aces. O’Reilly has signed to play at Long Beach State University.

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★ Football-Linemen ★★★

Danen Conrad, Lebanon High School Lebanon’s offense rushed for 5,076 yards, and that was the fifth-best team rushing total in state history. A key factor was Conrad, a 5-foot-10, 240-pound junior offensive lineman. He earned Second Team All-State in Class 5 in addition to First Team All-Ozark Conference, All-District and All-Region

Garrett Davidson, Nixa High School

~ Fall Sports~

A 6-foot, 265-pound senior offensive lineman, Davidson helped Nixa reach a Class 6 district championship game, which also was a state quarterfinal. He earned First Team All-State and for good reason. He not only plowed the way for Ramone Green, Jr., and protected quarterback Conner Knatchel, but Davidson ended the season with a grade average of 94 percent and 73 knock-down blocks – stats that are rare at the high school level.

Dontrell Holt, Joplin High School A 6-foot-5, 290-pound junior offensive lineman, Holt has kept Joplin among the most competitive teams in the area. He was voted a Second Team All-State selection in Class 6 by the Missouri Football Coaches Association and was First Team All-Central Ozark Conference, All-Southwest Missouri Football Coaches Association and All-District. He had 47 pancake blocks and is being recruited by Kansas State, Iowa State, Memphis and several other NCAA Division I teams.

Micah Lindsey, Carthage High School A 6-1, 240-pound senior defensive lineman, Lindsey led a stingy defense and helped Carthage reach the Class 5 state semifinals. He earned First Team All-State in Class 5 following quite a season that made for good highlight videos. Lindsey had 94 tackles, six sacks, 19 tackles for loss, two pass break-ups, four caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Andrew Link, Kickapoo High School Link arrived on campus four years ago weighing about 200 pounds and put on a ton of muscle by the end of his season last year. A 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior defensive end, he was the team captain each of the past two seasons. He earned Second Team All-State in Class 6, along with the Defensive Player of the Year in the Ozark Conference and Southwest Missouri Football Coaches Association. Overall, he had 48 tackles, eight for loss, to go with nine sacks and a forced fumble.

Drew Musche, Carthage High School Carthage’s offensive line has been among the best in the area, as it is skilled techniquewise and mostly because of exceptional footwork. A 6-foot, 230-pound offensive lineman, Musche received a lot of support from area coaches. He earned First Team All-State in Class 5, and it was certainly warranted. You see, he anchored an offensive line that averaged 426 yards per game (323 rushing, 103 passing) last season

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★ Football-linebackers & defensive backs ★★★ Luke Gall, Carthage High School A 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior linebacker, Gall has been a menace for opposing offenses the past three seasons. He earned All-Central Ozark Conference honors after leading Carthage to an 11-2 record and the Class 5 state semifinals. He finished with 106 tackles, seven tackles for loss, one pass break-up and two fumble recoveries.

Davion King, Carthage High School A 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior defensive back, King was a First Team All-State selection in Class 5. He helped Carthage reach the state semifinals and finish with an 11-2 record. Along the way, King had 78 total tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, five pass break-ups and one forced fumble. He also was First Team AllCentral Ozark Conference, All-Southwest Missouri Football Coaches Association and All-District.

Adam Lewis, Reeds Spring High School

Draven VanGilder, Joplin High School A 5-foot-10, 205-pound senior linebacker, VanGilder is a two-time All-State selection in Class 6. This past season, he earned second team honors, as he helped the Eagles finish 7-3. VanGilder finished with 145 tackles, including 98 solo. He and his brother, Drew, later signed national letters of intent to play football for Truman State University in Kirksville.

~ Fall Sports~

A 5-foot-10, 215-pound senior linebacker, Lewis led Reeds Spring to a state runner-up finish in Class 3. He was a First Team All-State selection. This was his fourth year as a starter at middle linebacker, and he was the Class 3 Defensive Player of the Year by the Southwest Missouri Football Coaches Association. Lewis finished with a programrecord 173 tackles, including 92 solos, and had 22 tackles for loss. He had a half a sack, five quarterback hurries, one pass break-up, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a defensive touchdown.

Spencer Ward, Nixa High School A 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior defensive back, Ward was a First Team All-State selection in Class 6. He helped Nixa reach the state quarterfinals and a 10-1 finish, including 8-1 in the Ozark Conference. Ward finished with 151 tackles, including 114 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and three fumble recoveries.

Austin Wilkerson, Lamar High School A 6-foot, 190-pound senior, Wilkerson helped Lamar to a state runner-up finish in Class 2. He earned First Team All-State from the Missouri Football Coaches Association and for good reason. He finished with 110 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble, three pass break-ups, one interception and one defensive TD.

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★ Football-Offensive Skills ★ ★ ★ Joel Beshore, Lamar High School A 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior quarterback, Beshore earned First Team All-State as an athlete in Class 2 despite missing three games due to injury. He led Lamar to a state runner-up finish, and ended the year with 1,22 yards passing (56 of 72 attempts) with 17 touchdowns – and no interceptions. He also rushed for 1,226 yards on 144 carries, and scored 21 touchdowns.

Luke Gall, Carthage High School

~ Fall Sports~

A 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior running back, Gall committed to the Air Force Academy ahead of the 2022 season and proved to be among the best in the area. He earned First Team All-State in Class 5 and was the Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year by the Missouri Football Coaches Association. Gall rushed for 2,000 yards, or 8.1 yards per carry, on 246 carries. He scored 40 touchdowns, and also had 15 catches for 388 yards, scoring two TDs.

Isaiah Green, Neosho High School A 6-foot-1, 160-pound senior wide receiver, Green received a lot of mentions from area coaches – and earned statewide recognition after the season. He was voted First Team All-State in Class 5. He had 112 receptions for 1,473 yards, which led all of southwest Missouri. That included 17 touchdowns.

Ramone Green, Jr., Nixa High School A 5-foot-9, 188-pound senior running back, Green had a comeback season for the ages in 2022. He was a First Team All-State selection in Class 6 after leading southwest Missouri with 2,223 yards rushing on 241 carries. That included 32 touchdowns, and he also caught 18 passes for 231 yards. The Missouri State commit had suffered a broken collarbone the previous season, missing most of the fall.

Cole Feuerbacher, Glendale High School A 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior quarterback, Feurbacher earned Third Team All-State honors in Class 5. And what a season it was. He led the Ozarks in passing with 2,952 yards on 273 completions. That included 30 that went for touchdowns. That came a year after he threw for 2,088 yards and 35 touchdowns on 233 completions. He later signed with Missouri State University.

Cade Muscia, Lebanon High School A 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior, Muscia helped Lebanon reach the Class 5 state quarterfinals. He earned First Team All-State in Class 5 and rushed for 2,016 yards and scored 30 touchdowns. Along the way, he was First Team All-Ozark Conference, the Ozark Conference Co-Player of the Year, All-District and All-Region. He finished with nearly 4,000 career yards rushing.

Bear Shore, Camdenton High School A 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior quarterback, Shore has been among the top passing quarterbacks in the Ozark Conference the past two seasons. He led the Lakers to the district championship game and earned Second Team All-State in Class 5 after throwing for 2,014 yards on 249 completions. That included 24 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 711 yards and scored 15 touchdowns on the ground. With it, he earned Co-Offensive Player of the Year in the Ozark Conference.

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★ Inspiration Award ★ ★ ★ MARGO PRICE, Glendale high school

Less than a year after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Price returned to competitive swimming with her Glendale teammates in January.

AML is a rare type of cancer which occurs in the blood and bone marrow, inhibiting the normal development of myeloid cells into white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.

As rare as AML is, it is even more unusual for someone of Price’s age. The average age to receive a diagnosis is 68, according to the American Cancer Society.

Price started feeling pain in her leg in the spring of 2022 and, after a trip to a local hospital, received her leukemia diagnosis.

“We thought that it was due to a cold muscle,” Margo’s mother Cari Price told local media outlets. “We initially thought the leg pain was associated with working out.”

After visiting St. Jude, Price and her family received a proper diagnosis of AML. “I was really shocked and wondered how I could even have cancer when all I came in for was a hurt leg,” Margo said.

Shortly thereafter, Margo began her journey in the fight against cancer. Not surprisingly, the swimming and Springfield communities gathered support.

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“So many people helped us through.” Cari Price added. “The swim community was amazing, and Olympians, like Missy Franklin and Kathleen Baker, sent videos of support. The Glendale swim team came, and they actually designed her ‘Team Margo’ logo in the hospital room.”

After one round of chemotherapy, eight surgeries and some 70 blood transfusions, Margo’s leukemia vanished.

“We did a bone marrow biopsy and I think she had 19 percent Leukemia cells and immediately it went to zero,” Cari Price said.

How did Margo feel?

“I was hoping to start Glendale (swim) season,” she said.

And return she did, qualifying for the MSHSSA state meet in the 100 meter backstroke. She also was a member of Glendale’s 200 meter medley relay team which reached the state finals.

“I feel like I’m pretty much at where I was last year, I’m pretty close,” Margo told reporters in January. “It makes me feel grateful because most people have to go through this for like years and I just love life.”

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★ ★

★ Girls Swimming & Diving ★ ★ ★ Chloe Miller, Carl Junction High School Miller proved to be one of the top talents in southwest Missouri. At the MSHSAA’s Class 1 Swimming & Diving Championships, she won the 50-yard freestyle in 23.6 seconds, placed fifth in the 100 freestyle in 53.94 seconds and helped the 200 relay with a fourth-place finish. A year ago, she was the state runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle.

Missy Mizell, Lebanon High School

~ Winter Sports~

Athletes always want to finish a season strong, and Mizell did just that. At the Southwest Missouri Championships, she was the runner-up behind Carl Junction’s Chloe Miller in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing in 24.36 seconds. She also was the runner-up in the 100-yard freestyle, again to Miller, with a time of 54.59 seconds. At the MSHSAA Class 2 Swimming & Diving Championships, she was fifth in the 50 freestyle in 24.24 seconds and ninth in 100-yard backstroke in 59.63 seconds.

Addy Moore, Kickapoo High School Swimming in southwest Missouri, and especially in Springfield, has become even more competitive in the past decade-plus. And it always seems as if a freshman bursts on the scene every winter. That’s true about Moore, a freshman from Kickapoo. She earned two top-eight finishes at the MSHSAA Class 2 Swimming & Diving Championships. She placed seventh in the 100 butterfly in 59.49 seconds. This was after she was the runner-up at the Southwest Missouri Championships in the same event, finishing in 59.39 seconds.

Madison Riley, Carthage High School A senior, Riley enjoyed a nice winter in the pool. At the MSHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships, she placed fourth in the 100-yard butterfly in 56.69 seconds and was sixth in the 100-yard freestyle in 53.20 seconds. This came after she won the Southwest Missouri Championships in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:55.90, the 100-yard butterfly in 57.48 seconds.

Paige Sheridan, West Plains High School West Plains High School won the Ozark Conference and was the runner-up at the Southwest Missouri Championships this past winter. That was pretty impressive for a program that launched only nine years ago. Sheridan was a big reason for its success. At the MSHSAA Class 2 Swimming & Diving Championships, she placed fourth in the 200 freestyle in 1:57 and was fourth in the 500 freestyle in 5:10.46. She also helped the 200 relay to a fifth-place finish.

Skyler Sundy, Carl Junction High School A senior, Sunday finished her high school career with a pair of top-eight finishes at MSHSAA’s Class 1 State Swimming & Diving Championships. She placed fourth in the 100 backstroke in 59.68 seconds. She also was eighth in the 50 freestyle in 24.85 seconds. She also was the second leg of the 200 freestyle relay that placed fourth in 1:40.

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★ girls Wrestling-Lower weights ★ ★ ★ Halea Bartel, Lebanon High School Despite a third-place finish in the 125-pound weight class in Class 2, Bartel was clearly one of the top wrestlers in southwest Missouri this past season. She finished 45-4, and her only other tournament losses were in The Wonder Woman and Dan Gable Girls Donnybrook – events where she was the runner-up. She also won District 3, the Ozark Conference and Lady Tiger Pride Battle.

Abigail Fuglsang, Camdenton High School Fuglsang was the state runner-up in the 100-pound weight class in Class 2 and finished 46-1. Her only loss was a 2-0 decision in the finals to Liberty’s Lilly Breeden. That was the only tournament which Fuglsang did not win. Her victories included District 3, the Ozark Conference Tournament, the Capital City Girls Tournament and the Union Girls Tournament.

Harkins finished as a state runner-up in the 125-pound weight class in Class 2 and finished 45-6. At the state tournament, she pinned her first three opponents to reach the championship match before suffering a pin. She also was a runner-up in District, placed third at the Wonder Woman but won the Central Ozark Conference.

Jessa Joiner, Lebanon High School Joiner helped lead Lebanon to its fourth state title in five years, and was a state champion herself. She won the 110-pound weight class in Class 2 and finished 50-1. At the state tournament, the sophomore scored a pin, 10-9 decision, 15-0 technical fall in the semifinals and a pin in the finals. She won District 3, the Ozark Conference and Lady Tiger Pride Battle.

Annie Moore, Cassville High School A senior, Moore reached the state semifinals in the 115-pound weight class of the MSHSAA Wrestling Championships and, despite a 6-2 loss there, rallied to place third. She finished 44-6, with the final match of her career resulting in a pin. That marked her third pin of the state tournament. She previously won the district tournament and Big 8 Conference Tournament, and was fifth at the Wonder Woman.

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~ Winter Sports~

Addison Harkins, Nixa High School

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★ ★

★ girls Wrestling-upper weights ★ ★ ★ Mariyah Brumley, Lebanon High School Brumley was the state champion in the 190-pound weight class in Class 2 and finished 48-2. She dominated at the state meet, pinning her first three opponents to reach the finals, and then scored a 3-2 decision. A junior, Brumley won District 3, the Ozark Conference, the Lady Tiger Pride Battle and was fourth at The Wonder Woman.

Brenya Crahan, Nixa High School

~ Winter Sports~

Crahan is another regular on this list and is deserving, considering she finished 51-1 this season. She placed third in the 135-pound weight Class in Class 2, and it was impressive.

She lost her second-round match, and then rallied for four victories to earn the medal.

She won District 3, the Central Ozark Conference and The Wonder Woman, one of the toughest tournaments in the country.

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Catherine Dutton, Willard High School Dutton is on this list for a third consecutive year, and for good reason. She earned a second state championship, this time in the 235-pound weight class in Class 2. Two years ago, she accomplished the feat for Central High School. This time, she finished 37-0, ending her season with four pins. Only one of those opponents made it past the first period.

Elizabeth Henderson, El Dorado Springs High School Henderson was a state runner-up in the 135-pound weight class in Class 1 and finished 3212. A junior, she pinned her first two opponents at the state tournament, and then earned a 3-0 victory in the semifinals before suffering a 7-0 setback in the finals.

Isabella Renfro, Seneca High School A junior, Renfro captured the state championship in the the 190-pound weight class in Class 1 and finished 47-0. She pinned her first three opponents at the state tournament, and then scored an 8-2 decision in the finals. She won District 3, the Lady Thundering Herd, the Big 8 Conference and the Mrs. Claus Slam.

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★ Boys Wrestling-Lower weights ★ ★ ★ Zan Fugitt, Nixa High School A senior, Fugitt entered the season as the highest-ranked wrestler in southwest Missouri and showed why. He won yet another state championship, this time at 132 pounds in Class 4 and finished 50-1. He pinned three of his four opponents, including in the finals, and scored a 7-3 decision in the semifinals. His only loss was at the Walsh Jesuit Ironman, which is considered one of the top three high school tournaments in the country.

Caleb Caldwell, Willard High School A sophomore, the future is bright for Caldwell, who finished as a state runner-up in the 144-pound weight class in Class 3. Overall, he finished 39-6, having gritted out two close wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals before suffering only a 4-2 loss in sudden death overtime in the championship match. He was third in District 3, but won the Central Ozark Conference and the Neosho Wrestling Tournament.

Roark is a familiar name on this list, having appeared on here for a third consecutive year.

And for good reason. He won his second state championship, this time at 132 pounds in Class 2, and finished 56-0. At the state tournament, he pinned all four opponents. He also won the district, the Seneca tournament, the Big 8 Conference and the Diamond State Duals, to name a few.

Canon Roark, Lebanon High School Roark may have been a state runner-up but consider he suffered a loss to one of the country’s top wrestlers in the finals of the 132-pound weight class of Class 4. He finished his season 36-7. At state, he pinned his first two opponents and then worked his way to a 3-2 victory in the semifinals. He was a runner-up in the district tournament, won the Ozark Conference and competed in the Dan Gable Donnybrook in December.

Braxton Strick, Ozark High School Strick had another great winter, as he placed third in the new 150-pound weight class in Class 4. He was 51-3 overall and battled back after a tough loss in the state semifinals. He won his next match, and then earned third place with a pin. He won districts, the Central Ozark Conference and the Winnetonka Varsity Boys Invitational, and placed second at the Dan Dable Donnybrook.

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~ Winter Sports~

Brady Roark, Seneca High School

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★ Boys Wrestling-Upper weights ★ ★ ★ Trey Brewer, Bolivar High School Brewer was the state runner-up in the 175-pound weight class in Class 3 and finished 38-2. His only losses were to the eventual state champion, Helias Catholic senior Logan Montoya, who won 3-1 in the finals and himself finished 48-1. Brewer won District 3, the Ozark Conference and the Monett and Bolivar tournaments. He was second at the Branson tournament.

~ Winter Sports~

Brennan Carey, Nixa High School Eyes will be on Carey now that he has won a state title. He achieved that milestone in March by winning the 215-pound weight class in Class 4. At the state tournament, he pinned his first two opponents, and then won 3-2 in the semifinals before earning a 5-1 decision in the finals. He won districts and the Central Ozark Conference Tournament, was second at the Rose Hill Invitational and competed in the Walsh Jesuit Ironman in Ohio. Overall, he finished 46-6.

Cade Grimm, Branson High School Grimm was the state runner-up in the 215-pound weight class in Class 3, as he suffered a sudden victory overtime loss to Samuel Murphy. Grimm finished 41-4 overall, placed second at District 3, fourth in the Central Ozark Conference and won Monett, Harrisonville and Neosho tournaments during the regular season.

Jayce Hitt, McDonald County High School Hitt won the state championship at heavyweight in Class 3 in March, finishing 26-0 in a season in which he dealt with a foot injury. Overall, he dominated at the state tournament, pinning three of his four opponents. The closest match, however, came in the semifinals as he scored a 7-3 decision. His season included winning District 3, the Kyle Thrasher Tournament and the Big 8 Conference. He placed fifth last year.

Samuel Murphy, McDonald County High School Murphy won the 215-pound weight class in Class 3 in March, and dedicated the victory to his older brother, Jeremy, and friend Bradly Skaggs, who were killed two weeks apart in November. Murphy finished 44-1 and won in sudden victory overtime in the finals.

It wasn’t an easy road to get there. He won 4-3 in the opening round, pinned his next opponent but needed a 3-2 win in the semifinals to advance.

Gary Walker, Willard High School Walker exploded on the scene last year, when he dedicated the season to his late father. He then steamrolled through this season and placed third in the 165-pound weight class in Class 3. That was impressive, considering Walker lost 1-0 in the semifinals to the eventual state champion but kept his composure and rallied to win his final match. He won District 3, was runner-up at the Central Ozark Conference, and third at the Red Schmitt Holiday Tournament.

Eli Zar, Neosho High School A senior, Zar was the state runner-up in the 165-pound weight class in Class 4 as he suffered a 7-2 overtime loss in the finals against Francis Howell Central’s Aiden Hernandez. Still, he finished 48-3. At state, he scored a pin and two major decisions to advance to the finals. He won District 3, the Central Ozark Conference, the Branson Invitational, the Red Schmitt Holiday Tournament and the Neosho Tournament

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★ ★

★ Inspiration Award ★ ★ ★ Samuel Murphy, McDonald County HIGH SCHOOL

In the face of tragedy, Samuel Murphy showed everybody last winter that you can be a leader on your team and soldier on to meet your goals.

You see, the McDonald County High School junior wrestler won a Class 3 state championship in the 215-pound weight class. How he got there was pretty remarkable, considering in November his childhood friend died in a car accident and weeks later his older brother was killed.

That’s why Murphy is being recognized with an Inspiration Award during the Sports Commission Awards presented by Elliott Lodging.

“When both tragedies happened, I worked harder, spent more time doing mental activities, wrote my goals down and made sure to always show up,” Murphy said. “I led by holding myself accountable and others accountable. I tried to make sure everyone knew we are a team and family, not just individuals.”

Bradley Skaggs, his childhood friend, died in an accident in mid-November.

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“He was always there for everything,” Murphy said. “My favorite memory is when he was 4 and I was 3. In a 10-day ice storm, his family stayed at my house, and he bite me on the arm and I still have the scare to show it.”

His older brother, Jeremy, was killed in a double homicide in southeast Kansas in late November. Samuel wrestled the next day.

“My older brother means a ton to me. He was always one call away when/if I needed him,” Murphy said. “Even though he was older, and we didn’t get to see each other, much he was always there. There are a ton of memories that are special. I would say the main one is when he taught me how to ski in Colorado and when we all road dirt bikes on the farm.”

Murphy thanks many for the support, including from family, principals, teachers, coaches and teammates. He singled out Erica Price, a counselor.

“It is a great honor for this award because I try to lead my life to encourage and inspire others,” Murphy said.

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★ Girls Basketball ★ ★ ★

Kaemyn Bekemeier, Republic High School Among the handful of players that were box-office draws this past winter, Bekemeier was right there. She earned All-State in Class 6 to go along with co-Central Ozark Conference Player of the Year and Player of the Year in District 5, which Republic won. She averaged 22.5 points on 46 percent shooting from the field. She signed with Missouri State.

Destiny Buerge, Carl Junction High School Buerge earned All-State in Class 5, as well as co-Player of the Year in the Central Ozark Conference and District 7. She averaged 23.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 4.2 steals for a team that finished as the state runner-up and was considered the best team in southwest Missouri. She has signed with Pittsburg State.

~ Winter Sports~

Norah Clark, Nixa High School To even be a starter for the Nixa girls basketball team is an accomplishment. So it says a lot that Clark became one of its leaders, too. She earned All-State in Class 5 along with unanimous First Team All-Central Ozark Conference and All-District 5. She averaged 16.9 points in shooting 48 percent from the field. She signed with NCAA Division I Tennessee-Martin.

Grace Frazier, Diamond High School The Diamond girls basketball team enjoyed a wonderful season, as it won Class 3 District 12 before suffering a first-round state tournament loss to the eventual state champion, Fair Grove.

Frazier earned All-State honors in addition to Player of the Year awards for the Southwest Conference and District 12. She averaged 24.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists.

Kameron Green, Fair Grove high School Fair Grove won the Class 3 state championship in March just years after some of its outstanding teams kept running into the Strafford juggernaut. Green saw to it that the Lady Eagles soared, as she earned All-State in Class 3, was a unanimous First Team All-Mid-Lakes Conference selection and the Player of the Year in District 11.

Breona Hurd, Waynesville High School Because of their rural location, Waynesville teams don’t receive the constant attention of their counterparts in the Ozark Conference. However, Hurd certainly drew a lot of eyes toward the mid-Missouri school. She earned All-State in Class 6 along with First Team All-Ozark Conference and All-District 2. She averaged 27 points a game.

Macie Mays, El Dorado Springs High School When you look back over the past decade with El Dorado Springs girls basketball, a few names immediately come to mind. Mays is right up there. She earned Class 3 Player of the Year honors and was First Team All-Ozark Highlands after averaging 25.2 points, 6.7 rebounds 2.4 steals and 1.9 assists.

She shot 54 percent from the field and scored 804 points, a school record for a single season.

Raegan McCowan, Lebanon High School Cowan earned All-State honors in Class 6, to go along with Player of the Year awards for the Ozark Conference and District 2. She averaged 26.9 points to go along with 9.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals.

In becoming Lebanon’s all-time leading scorer. She signed with Western Illinois.

Sara Mendel, Ava High School The Ava girls basketball team advanced all the way to the Class 4 state quarterfinals. Mendel was a big reason why. She averaged 18.5 points a game, 9.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.8 assists and 2 blocks. She shot 53 percent from the field. All told, that led to Mendel earning the Co-Player of the Year honor in Class 4, All-State, Player of the Year in the South Central Association and in District 11.

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★ Girls Basketball ★ ★ ★

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★ ★

★ Boys Basketball ★ ★ ★

Ahlante Askew, Republic High School Askew finished with more than 1,000 points all-time and is the career leader in assists and steals. This past season, he averaged 15.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists. With it, he earned All-State in Class 5 to go with First Team All-Central Ozark Conference and All-District 5.

Aidan Burns, Thayer High School Thayer raged its way all the way to the Class 3 Final Four and earned a third-place finish. Burns was the go-to guy, as he averaged 21.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists. For his efforts, he earned AllState in Class 3, and was the Player of the Year in the South Central Association and was Co-Player of the Year in District 10.

Marionville reached the Class 2 state quarterfinals, and Carlton was a big reason why. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals and had a 1.88 assist-to-turnover ratio. It’s no wonder he was voted All-State in Class 2 and earned Player of the Year honors in both the Southwest Conference and in District 12.

Kael Combs, Nixa High School This past spring, Combs signed with the University of Wyoming for basketball. He led Nixa to an undefeated regular season and earned All-State in Class 6, along with Player of the Year honors in the Central Ozark Conference and in District 5. He averaged 23.4 points.

Gage Johnson, Weaubleau high School When you want a 3-pointer, call on Johnson. He made 118 this past winter for Weaubleau High School. And, course, coaches took notice. He earned All-State in Class 2 along with Player of the Year in the Polk County League, and was All-District 13. For the season, he averaged 19 points.

Jacob Lafferty, Sparta High School

A senior, Pock earned the Class 5 Player of the Year distinction, as he scored at least 20 points in 15 games and had double-digit rebounds 11 times. Overall, he averaged 20.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.2 blocks a game. He finished in the top five in nine different categories in Bolivar history, including career points (2,319). He signed with Northern Iowa.

Brayden Shorter, Kickapoo High School It says a lot to work your way into a leadership role for the Kickapoo boys basketball team.

That’s why Shorter is on this list. In leading the Chiefs to the state title game, he earned Class 6 All-State honors along with Co-Player of the Year in the Ozark Conference and All-District 5.

This was after he averaged a team-best 17.4 points a game.

Curry Sutherland, Logan-Rogersville High School Coach John Schaeffer keeps producing talent at Logan-Rogersville. A 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior, Sutherland helped Rogersville reach the state quarterfinals. Along the way, he earned All-State honors in Class 4 and was the Player of the Year in the Big East Conference and in District 11. This after he averaged 23.8 points a game, 8.2 rebounds

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You knew it was going to be special season for Lafferty when he hit the Greenwood Blue & Gold Tournament in late December and proceeded to score 88 points in four games. That set the junior on his way to Class 3 All-State honors, in addition to earning Player of the Year in the Southwest Central League and District 11.

Kyle Pock, Bolivar High School

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~

Winter Sports

Wil Carlton, Marionville High School

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★ Inspiration Award ★ ★ ★ Kaytlynn Drake, norwood High School

When the Norwood High School girls basketball team reached the Class 2 Final Four this past winter, the journey may have meant even more to Kaytlynn Drake.

The senior missed her sophomore season because of a left knee injury that required surgery, and then missed her junior season after injuring her right knee and requiring another surgery following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.

And yet, despite those two seasons going on without her, Drake never let up in her quest to return to the game she loved.

That is why she is receiving an Inspiration Award during the Sports Commission Awards presented by Elliott Lodging.

In fact, she wrote this ahead of this past season: “As you can imagine, one ACL tear is hard enough, but two is a whole different level of difficulty,” Drake said. “When the doctor told me that he thought I had torn my other ACL, it was hard for me to believe. Even though it was something I did not want to endure again, my coach helped my perspective about what I was walking through. He helped

me to realize that my view would shape who I became not only on the floor but also in the real world. So, this season when I am on the floor dripping in sweat again, I know it will all be worth it.”

Drake powered Norwood to its first Final Four appearance in 24 years, with the Lady Pirates ultimately finishing fourth. They had won only three games in the previous two years.

A conversation she had with then-coach Adam Hill helped change her outlook. The second ACL injury had come after what she and doctors assumed was a sprained knee.

At the time, she asked, “Why does this keep happening to me? Why me?”

“My coach had a very real conversation with me, which led to more tears,” Drake said.

“He told me that he views life as, ‘Why not me?’ In fact, it would be unfair if this wasn’t happening to me. I was reminded that whatever I face, my outlook determines how it goes.”

Advantage MidMo Bank!

Bella Mosley

Mid-Missouri Bank is passionate about supporting the future leaders, today’s students, of each of the communities we call home. When those same leaders join us professionally, we get to see some of their growth personally. It’s another reason that everyone at MidMo is so thankful to work for the hometown bank of the Ozarks. We know that people like Bella Mosley will be a large part of the future successes of the Ozarks and we can’t wait to see what else Bella and the other future leaders of our communities will accomplish next. Congratulations, Bella, and best of luck!

Live. Work. Play. Bank.

417.466.2163 | MidMoBank.com | 300 E. Mt. Vernon Blvd., Mt. Vernon, MO 65712 Member FDIC

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★ ★

★ spirit awards ★ ★ ★

Marching Band: Kickapoo Golden Arrow Band The Kickapoo High School Golden Arrow Band won the Pride of the Ozarks Marching Invitational and were the Indoor Percussion MCCGA champion for the sixth consecutive year. The band featured 175 members and precited 225 days through the school year, with the Indoor Percussion featuring 35 members and practicing 150 times. Directors were Aaron Scriven, Jeff Payne, Orion Avery and Kylea Burke.

~ Spirit Awards~

Cheerleading: Ozark High School

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This past school was another memorable one for the Ozark High School cheerleading team. It was the Class 5 Missouri Game Day state champion, as well as the United Cheer Association Missouri Regional Game Day champion and the UCA Missouri Regional Traditional champion. The 20-member team refined its routine over and over to throw the judges a surprise, practicing about four times a week. Coaches are Tess Keller, Jessica Mabe, Megan Adams and Angelo Corsolini.

Dance: Glendale High School The Glendale Crimson Girls Dance Team won the Missouri State Sugar Bears regional competition and the state dance team championship, too. It was a dedicated group of dancers, with the team totaling 14 members. Practices began in August and ran through February, usually up to three times a week. It was impressive considering the team had graduated nine seniors last year, and many observers assumed it could be a learning year for Glendale. The team was coached by Shana Fishel.

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★ ★

★ Inspiration Award ★ ★ ★ ANTHONY COWAN, exeter High School

In the far southwest Missouri community of Exeter, you’ll find a young man who loves baseball and classmates who enjoy watching him get a kick out of it.

Anthony Cowan was part of the Class of 2023 for Exeter High School, and a big part of the school’s baseball team after being asked to by its coach to join a few years ago.

“It means everything to him, and the biggest reason he goes to school,” said his grandmother, Evelyn Cross.

Born with Down Syndrome, Cowan has shown everybody that you can make a difference – and that’s why the Sports Commission Awards presented by Elliott Lodging is proud to recognize him with an Inspiration Award.

Not long after moving to the community from Northview in 2018, Anthony was asked by coach Matt Tripp to be part of the team.

Anthony spent the pandemic year watching a lot of baseball video games, and his love for the game only grew. In fact, after being given the team’s red hat, he slept in it for two days.

“We all play wiffle ball a lot,” his grandmother said. “His teammates are the best. They practice with him and make sure

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he’s involved in every aspect. Anthony hits from a T, and the entire team cheers him on as he runs the bases. They meet him at home plate with loud cheers. It’s amazing.”

She added, “Anthony has never felt so grown up or important as he does in that dugout or on that field.”

To say that Anthony has impacted the community would be an understatement.

Everybody rallies around him.

“He is the spotlight,” his grandmother said. “No one misses a birthday or celebration for Anthony. We had 60 people in our backyard for his graduation party.”

So what does this award mean?

“Everything,” his grandmother said. “He deserves this award for the special person he is and the joy he brings to all our lives. He truly is an inspiration to the world.”

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★ ★

★ Boys Tennis ★ ★ ★

Raghav Bansal, Central High School Raghav Bansal had one of the most dominant senior seasons in southwest Missouri in recent history, finishing with a 20-2 record in singles, with his only losses coming due to forfeit in the state tournament because of International Baccalaureate graduate testing. A longtime fixture for the Bulldogs, coaches complimented Bansal’s selfless play and willingness to put the team first. He also touted a 19-5 doubles record, pairing with Central’s No. 6 lineup player.

Nate Bartram, Branson high school Bartram backed up a solid junior campaign with another outstanding season for the Pirates in 2023.

One of the top players in the Central Ozark Conference, he finished with an 18-4 record in singles to go along with a 17-6 doubles record. Bartram saw his success carry into the postseason, where he finished second in singles at the COC tournament. He was also a Class 2 District 6 finalist in doubles and later a state qualifier.

~ Spring Sports ~

Hart Hillman, Kickapoo high School Hillman impressed in his senior season with consistency and, at times, flashy play. Holding down the No. 1 lineup spot for Kickapoo, he finished with a 10-7 singles record, along with a 12-6 doubles record. That earned Hillman an All-Ozark Conference selection and a second-place singles finish in the Class 3 District 5 Tournament. Coaches say Hillman showed tremendous growth this past season and assumed a leadership role, leading to a state berth in Class 3 singles as he finished in the top 12.

Josh Kim, Central high School Kim had a memorable junior season in which he anchored the No. 2 position in a stacked Central High School lineup. He finished the year with a 22-3 singles record and 20-4 doubles record, with most of his losses coming to Kansas City and St. Louis area schools. Kim was complimented on his leadership skills this past season by coaches, saying he was willing to do anything for the team and frequently paired with different doubles partners in the regular season.

caden lingenfelser, willard high School When folks talk about tennis in southwest Missouri, Ligenfelser’s name is usually the first to be mentioned. And for good reason. He was 43-2 in singles, 20-3 in doubles and 63-5 overall. At state, Ligensfeler earned third place in singles in Class 2. Overall, he set the state record for career wins, doing so in three seasons, and also set the single-season wins record by besting his record 36 wins of a year ago.

Pranav Mandava, Central High School Pranav Mandava was undoubtably the area’s best No. 3 lineup player this past season, finishing with a 20-1 singles record, with his only loss coming to the Class 3 third-place finisher from Marquette High School. Mandava also finished the season with a 12-2 doubles record, with losses only coming in the state championship, with partner Josh Kim. He helped the Bulldogs to a team fourth-place finish at the MSHAA Class 3 State Championships

Lucas Wilhoit, Logan-Rogersville High School Over his four years of high school tennis, Wilhoit developed into an outstanding all-around player. He helped lead Logan-Rogersville to championships at the West Plains Tournament, Bird Dog Boarder Battle, Big 8 Conference Tournament and the Class 1 District 9 Tournament.

Whilhoit finished the year with a 28-5 singles record, to go along with an 11-1 doubles record.

He earned Big 8 Conference Player of the Year honors and finished fourth in singles at the MSHAA Class 1 State Championships.

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★ Boys Golf ★ ★ ★

Jaxon Bailey, Monett High School A senior, Bailey was the Class 3 state-runner-up after firing a 73-74 147 at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club in New Bloomfield. He was the district individual champion, and tied for first – and won on the third playoff hole – in the Big 8 Conference meet at Neosho. He also won at the Missouri State Relays, Reeds Spring, Bolivar and Marshfield. In the MSU Relays, it went to a five-way playoff lasting four holes, with Baily birdieing the final hole.

Tyler Davis, Logan-Rogersville High School

Gaige Lewis, Kickapoo High School Lewis finished 27th at the Class 5 state meet after winning the district tournament. He also won the Pearson Championship, was fourth at the Springfield Public Schools Invitational, fifth at Ozark, sixth at Bolivar and sixth at the Missouri State Relays. At district, he carded a 5-under par 67. For his season, in 18 of his 22 nine-hole rounds, he was 2-over par or lower. This year, he frequently sacrificed some of his driver distance by using an iron off the tee to improve the scoring opportunities for his approach shots.

Ethan Mustard, Lebanon High School Mustard earned All-State in Class 5 after tying for seventh, as he carded a 71-78 149. His season included six top four finishes. They included a fourth at the district meet and at the Marshfield Invitational, Bolivar and Reeds Springs meets, and a runner-up at the Waynesville Invitational. He lost in a five-man playoff for first at the Missouri State Relays.

His incremental improvement from last year showed late in the season, as he focused a lot on practice time.

Asher Rust, Ash Grove High School

~ Spring Sports ~

Davis earned an All-State honor after placing ninth at the Class 3 state meet, as he fired an 83-72 155 and helped Rogersville earn a second-place team finish. He opened the season with a runner-up finish at the Reed Springs Tournament (73) and a tie for first at the Missouri State Relays (73). He later made all-conference and tied for second (76) at the district tournament. He and teammates pushed each other to improve, spending hours after school working on their game.

Rust won the Class 1 state championship, firing a two-day score of 73-76 149. He placed third at the district tournament in Joplin, was runner-up at the Southwest Conference Tournament and won three other tournaments. Those wins were at Forsyth, Aurora and Clever. Much of this was the result of an improved short game, as he cut down on strokes and, thus, had the one of the hottest putters at the state tournament.

Harry Satterlee, Joplin High School A senior, Satterlee tied for fourth at the Class 5 state meet, firing a two-day score of 7271 143. That capped a season in which he won three tournaments, including the Joplin Invitational at Twin Hills Country Club with a 4-under par 68. His season average per nine holes was 1 under par. He had two eagles and numerous birdies. He has signed to play golf next season at the University of Cincinnati.

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★ Inspiration Award ★ ★ ★ RYLEE HODGES, Camdenton High School

Last fall, Rylee Hodges began experiencing headaches and vision issues so strongly that he finally went to see a doctor. Turned out, the Camdenton High School golfer was soon diagnosed with a brain tumor in late October, and surgery followed 10 days later.

“I was pretty scared. I’m not gonna lie,” Hodges said. “I was scared it was cancerous or that it would be inoperable, but I had a pretty good support group behind me, whether that be my parents, sister, and grandparents or my buddies. They were all very helpful in getting me back to my baseline.”

Hodges not only underwent surgery but meticulously spent five weeks in inpatient rehabilitation – he had to learn to talk and walk again – and later returned to the game he loved on May 5. That’s why the Sports Commission Awards presented by Elliott Lodging is proud to honor him with an Inspiration Award.

Initially, he was diagnosed after an ER in the local hospital and was flown the next day to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where an MRI confirmed it. It was highly suspected to be

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central neurocytoma and rare, accounting for only 1 percent all tumors, said his mother, Victoria.

Rylee did physical therapy, OT, speech therapy, and music therapy every day for five weeks to relearn how to walk, talk, and use his right side again. He was discharged from the hospital on Dec. 8.

“We constantly encouraged Rylee to keep his eye on the prize and that the end goal would be worth all the small steps in the right direction that led to it,” Victoria said.

There were tough moments out on the golf course, for sure.

“Early March, I would just play along with them and I think just being there had a positive impact on morale,” said Rylee, who remembered that doctors and therapists’ saying of “slow and steady wins the race.”

He did return to play and appreciates everyone who made it possible.

“I hope my experience encourages others who are going through challenging times to never give up on your dreams,” Rylee said.

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★ Girls Soccer ★ ★ ★

Haley Brown, Springfield Catholic High School A junior goalkeeper, Brown earned honors on the All-Big 8 Conference and All-District teams in what was another excellent season. In essence, she continued to improve as the year went along, instead of settling for early season success. For instance, Brown never gave up a goal in Springfield Catholic’s final seven matches before yielding one after 107 minutes, or 12 minutes into the second overtime of its state quarterfinal match against Union.

Reilly Heman, Glendale High School

Katherine Simmons, Monett High School A junior goalkeeper, Simmons earned Goalkeeper of the Year for the Big 8 Conference, First Team All-District and District Goalkeeper of the Year. She was responsible for five shutouts and had a total of 145 saves. As her coach put it, Simmons was a real game changer, as she made everybody around her even better. It’s no wonder that Monett made her the team captain of this past season’s team.

Calli Watson, Marshfield High School A junior midfielder and forward, Watson earned All-Big 8 Conference and was First Team All-District. This past season she scored 71 goals and added five assists. Her 173 goals puts in the Top 10 of the state all-time. She also was nominated for All-Region and All-State.

Her coach calls her a “generational talent,” with Watson usually the first to practice and the last to leave.

Riley Whisenhunt, Glendale high School Glendale has long had one of the area’s strongest programs, largely because it has talent all across the pitch, and depth to go with it. Count Whisenhunt as part of that depth that ultimately has risen to starting status the past two seasons. This past spring was her senior season, and it was a solid one. She earned the Region Defensive Player of the Year, and had seven goals and 10 assists as a center back. She signed with Arkansas State.

~ Spring Sports ~

Heman was among the most talented players in girls soccer this season, and a case could be made for one of the best over the past several years. In 2023, she had 57 goals and nine assists, reaching 100 goals in her three-year career. She was the Class 3 Offensive Player of the Year and made the All-Central team, which covers eight states, last year and will be recognized this year as well. She is on the National ODP team and will play for Missouri State in the fall.

Nakita Wood, Logan-Rogersville high School A senior midfielder, Wood can distribute the ball anywhere on the field and has been one of the top players in the area for Logan-Rogersville. She scored 22 goals and had 23 assists, earning First Team All-District and First Team All-Central Ozark Conference. Her levelheadedness allowed Kita to make the impossible passes look routine and to battle through injuries.

Nikki Wood, Logan-Rogersville high School A senior forward, Wood scored 56 goals and had 14 assists, as she earned All-Big 8 Conference honors in addition to All-District. This was all after helping Logan-Rogersville win a second consecutive district championship and reach the Class 3 state quarterfinals.

Call it a remarkable finish to a career that saw her score against the area’s better teams and do so while being double-teamed. She is the program’s career leader

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★ Girls Field Events ★ ★ ★ Dawsyn Decker, Webb City High School When a coach was asked about Decker in early June, one replied with a comment that will never be forgotten. “She’s a hammer,” the coach said. Apparently so. Decker won the Class 4 state championship in the javelin with a throw of 139 feet, 10 inches. That was the best among southwest Missouri athletes in state competition and won Class 4 by more than eight feet and would have been good enough for second place in Class 5.

Dorothea Gantert, Conway High School

~ Spring Sports ~

In the small Laclede County community of Conway, which is just west of Lebanon, one of the neat stories this past school year was that of Gantert. She qualified for the MSHSA Track & Field Championships in two events in Class 2 and came home with a pair of All-State medals. She was the state runner-up in the high jump (5-4), and eighth in the pole vault (16-6). Her high jump was the best among southwest Missouri competitors at the state level.

Taylor Mayo, Kickapoo High School A University of Kansas signee, Mayo placed third in the triple jump (37-3) in Class 5 at the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships. That was the best performance among any southwest Missouri athletes in state competition this season. That came after she won districts in the triple jump (38-8.25) and long jump (18-3.25), and won both events at the Ozark Conference Championships, where she also competed on the 400- and 800-meter relay teams.

Abigail McBride, Marshfield High School Marshfield enjoyed a great spring track & field season, and McBride was among the reasons why. A three-time conference champion, she placed sixth at the Class 4 state meet (personal record 34-10) in the triple jump, and that was the second-best jump behind Kickapoo’s Taylor Mayo in state competition among southwest Missouri athletes. She also was third in the long jump (18-04), the best among the area at state. Even better, she hopped in for the fifth-place 4x100-meter relay team that was a body short.

Alaina Norman, Republic High School Earning state medals is becoming a habit for Norman, who will head into her senior year next year with a chance to stand atop the podium. She earned two All-State honors, with a fifth-place finish in the javelin (127-05) and a sixth-place medal in the shot put (38-8.25). Those were the second-best and fourth-best performances of southwest Missouri athletes in state competition this season.

Dailynn VanDeren, Bolivar High School Every high school senior wants to end their prep career with something positive. VanDeren had two good things to head off into the world on, as she earned a pair of All-State honors in Class 4 at the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships. She placed third in the discus (125-04), and that was the best among the area in state competition. She also placed third in the shot put (39-5.25), which was third-best among area shot put competitors.

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★ Girls Track ★ ★ ★

Jozey Sharp-MacPherson, Mountain Grove high school Three years ago, Sharp-MacPherson was a freshman trackster who pushed through to the state meet. This time, she not only did that but took home two All-State medals.

Competing in Class 3 of the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, she ran the 100 meters in 12.57 seconds, good for fifth place. She also went 26.59 seconds in the 200 meters, good for eighth place. This in a season when she led Mountain Grove to the South Central Association title.

McKinli Mays & Hannah Klaiber, El Dorado Springs high school El Dorado Springs’ 4x400- and 4x800-meter relay teams won Class 3 state championships at the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships. Mays and Klaiber ran on both teams Both finished with the best times at state among any southwest Missouri relay teams. The 400 relay finished in 4:06, and the 800 relay finished in 9:57. Those were the best times of any southwest Missouri relay teams in state competition this year. Mays also placed third in the 400 (58.50) and was ninth in the long jump.

One year after placing fourth in the 400 meters at the Class 1 edition of the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, Nold punctuated her senior season by reaching the pinnacle. She won the state championship in the event, going 57.97 seconds. That was the best time among southwest Missouri runners in state competition. But that wasn’t all.

She also advanced to the state meet in the 800 metes and finished in 2:23, good for a state runner-up.

Crystal Smith, Jasper high school Rural schools need track athletes to compete in several events. Smith stepped up big-time in the Class 2 edition of the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, earning four AllState honors. She was the state champion in the 100 meter hurdles (15.57 seconds), placed seventh in the 200 meters (26.98), eighth in the 300 meter hurdles (49.16) and fourth in the high jump (5-02.5). In order, those were the best, third-best, fourth-best and third-best performances of southwest Missouri athletes in state competition.

Abigail Street, Webb City high school A University of Kansas signee, Street is among the better distance runners southwest Missouri has seen the past few years. In the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, she earned two All-State honors, as she placed fourth in the 1,600 meters (5:08) and placed third in the 3,200 meters (10:59). Her 1,600 meters time was the second-best among southwest Missouri runners, and her 3,200 meters time was the best among that group as well.

~ Spring Sports ~

Autumn Nold, Dora high school

Gracie Troester, Republic high school A sophomore, Troester qualified in three events for the Class 5 edition of the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships. She placed seventh in the 1,600 meters with a time of 5:04, and went 11:01 for fifth place in the 3,200 meters. Those times were the tops and secondbest among southwest Missouri runners in Jefferson City that weekend. She also ran in the 800 meters and finished ninth.

Sydney Ward, Carl Junction high school Only a sophomore, Ward has established herself already as one of southwest Missouri’s better athletes. She was on this list a year ago and returns after earning two All-State medals at the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships. In Class 4, she placed fifth in both the 100 meters (12.21 seconds) and in the 200 meters (25.15 seconds). Both were tops among southwest Missouri runners, and her times were slightly better than her sectional performances

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★ Boys Field Events ★ ★ ★ Drew Beachler, Nevada High School Beachler capped off a successful school year by not only advancing to the Class 4 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships but by earning two All-State honors. In fact, he won a state championship in the triple jump with a 45-10, the best among southwest Missouri guys.

Most impressive was that it was his final jump in high school, as a first-place medal almost looked out of reach because he was sitting in third place. A day before, he was a state runner-up in the long jump with a 23-02, the second-best mark among area competitors.

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Jackson Cantwell, Nixa High School Most coaches and certainly Nixa fans know about Cantwell, but the rest of the Ozarks will really want to follow him the next three years. He earned his way to starting time on the varsity football team and capped his school year with a state record in the shot put at the Class 5 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships. His throw of 64-03.75 bested the previous record of 62-7.75, set in 2019. He also was state runner-up in the discus with a 190-09, best in the area.

Kyshin Isringhausen, Branson High School

Karon Johnson, Willard High School

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If you look at Johnson’s Twitter bio, you’ll notice that he had a 4.23 grade-point average and this school year signed with none other than Brown University, an Ivy League institution.

But he didn’t simply excel in the classroom. He also was among the best in the shot put and was at one point nationally ranked. At the Class 5 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, he was the state runner-up with a throw of 60-3.25. That mark also was the second-best among southwest Missouri competitors at the state level.

Spring Sports

At one point in late May, it appeared that Isringhausen might not even advance to the Class 5 MSHSSA Track & Field Championships in the pole vault. After all, at districts, his pole broke, and he broke his nose in six places. However, he rallied and earned a state title in the event, with a 14-8.25. That came after he nearly “no-heighted,” meaning he would have gone home empty-handed.

Grayson Smith, Webb City high School Trying to defend a state championship in any sport is difficult. So what an effort it was for Smith at the Class 4 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, as he competed – and won – the pole vault. He went 15-5.75, the best among southwest Missouri competitors at the state level. He had just come back from a broken leg and four-month absence. His season personal record was 16-2.

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★ Boys Track ★ ★ ★

Angel Dickerson, Camdenton high school Dickerson carried Camdenton to a third-place team finish in the Class 5 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships. He won state championships in the 100 meters (10.44 seconds) and the 200 meters (21.53 seconds) despite Camdenton moving up from Class 4. A year ago, he was fourth in the 100 and won the 200. This year, he also was second in the long jump (246.25) and helped the 4x100-meter relay to a fifth-place finish.

Canyon Crowley, Fair Grove High School A sophomore, Crowley had one of those seasons that left coaches – and his teammates – wondering what he might have in store the next two seasons. At the Class 3 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, he was the state runner-up in the 400 meters, finishing in 49.01 seconds. That wasn’t all. He went 21.89 seconds in the 200 meters, good for fourth place and fourth overall among southwest Missouri guys at state.

Spring Sports

Hobbs Campbell, Joplin high school

A senior, Campbell has been a regular on this list the past two seasons. He’s back because he was the state runner-up in the 1,600 meters in Class 5 of the MSHSSA Track & Field Championships, in 4:13, the best time among any southwest Missouri guys at the state level.

Cade Nold, Dora high school It’s always neat to hear about the rural schools sending someone to the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, because there is usually someone who could compete with the bigger schools. That was the case with Nold, who won the Class 1 state championship in the 400 meters in 49.63 seconds. He also went 1:57 in the 800 meters to win it, and the time would have been good for fourth among area guys.

Konner Poynter, Monett High School Some stories are simply harder to believe than others. What if we told you that Poynter took up the 300-meter hurdles in mid-April and then went on to win the event at the Class 4 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships? It’s a true story, as the senior ran it in 38.33 seconds, winning by more than a second. He also competed at state in the 200 meters and the 110-meter hurdles at state.

Brett Schwanke, Buffalo high school You figured it would be a memorable finish for Schwanke at the Class 3 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, considering he won the 100 and 200 meters at every regular-season meet and then finished with the fastest times in both events in the state preliminaries. Sure enough, he went 10.49 seconds to win the 100 meters and 21.67 seconds to finish second in the 200 meters.

Chase Sorrell, East Newton high school Had classes been held at East Newton High School after the Class 3 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, certainly Sorrell would have received a standing ovation upon walking down the hallway. After all, he earned three All-State honors. He was the state champion in the 800 meters in 1:53, the best of any in southwest Missouri at state.

Evan Stevens, Webb City high school Distance running among high schoolers in southwest Missouri isn’t for the feint of heart.

It’s been one of the most challenging parts of cross country or track the past five-plus years.

Stevens added to the lore by winning the Class 4 state championship in the 3,200 meters, finishing in 9:18 at the MSHSA Track & Field Championships. He also went 4:21 in the 1,600 meters, good for fifth place

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★ Baseball ★ ★ ★

Gavyn Beckner, Republic High School Beckner was the Central Ozark Conference co-Player of the Year, in addition to earning First Team All-District. He was an All-State selection a year ago and came into this season on a mission. He batted .367 with a 44 hits (a program single-season record), 38 RBI, 23 runs scored and nine stolen bases. Pitching-wise, he worked 53 innings, with a 1.84 earned run average.

He struck out 56 batters, issued only 17 walks. He has committed to St. Charles Community College.

Kam Durnin, Camdenton high school

Klayton Kiser, Willard High School

Kiser was the Central Ozark Conference co-Player of the Year, and for good reason. He batted .392, had 12 doubles, four triples and six home runs. He also stole 10 bases. Willard installed Kiser as the closer, and he ended up working 18 innings, striking out 22 batters and allowing only nine walks. He finished with a 1.56 earned run average. Kiser, who is tied atop Willard’s career hits list, has committed to play for Drury University.

Brooks Kettering, Glendale high School A shortstop and right-handed pitcher, Kettering earned First Team All-Ozark Conference and helped Glendale reach the Class 5 state quarterfinals. The All-District and co-Position Player of the Year in the Ozark Conference while batting .424 and had a .685 slugging percentage. He had eight doubles, two triples and four home runs. He pitched 10 innings, earned two wins, a save and didn’t allow an earned run. He signed with Southeast Missouri State.

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Ross Lawrence, Logan-Rogersville high School A junior, Lawrence enjoyed a successful spring baseball season. He earned Second Team All-Big 8 Conference East as a pitcher and First Team as an outfielder. He also was First Team All-District 10 as a pitcher. Lawrence fired 37 innings, striking out 55 batters and issuing only 11 walks. He had a 3.02 earned run average and finished with a 5-2 record. He has verbally committed to Missouri State University.

Ben Smith, Springfield Catholic High School

~ Spring Sports ~

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Durnin batted .417 with seven home runs, 13 doubles and four triples – his slugging percentage was .825 – and set the school record in several categories. On the mound, he was Camdenton’s closer and struck out 24 batters in 12 innings, with his fastball sitting just shy of 90 mph. Prior to the season, he was selected to play in the Midwest Scouts Association Select 50 Showcase at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. He has signed to play baseball at Wichita State.

When Smith signed with the University of Missouri, baseball folks in the know simply nodded, as he had seemed destined for an NCAA Division I school. He has been on the Cincinnati Reds Scout Team and the Adidas Academy 17U national team. In 2023, he helped Springfield Catholic finish as the Class 4 state runner-up. Smith batted .341 with six doubles, eight home runs and 24 RBI. He also scored 28 runs. He also pitched 50 innings, striking out 25 batters.

Case Sanderson, Nevada High School Sanderson was a First Team All-Big 8 Conference as both a pitcher and hitter, named the Big 8 Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-Class 4 District 12. He batted .476 with an .845 slugging percentage, finishing with 14 doubles, four triples and three home runs. In 64.2 innings pitched, his earned run average was 0.541. He struck out 118.

Curry Sutherland, Logan-Rogersville High School A Missouri State University signee, Sutherland had 40 hits, including nine doubles, three triples and six home runs. He also scored 27 runs and had 29 RBI. He batted .440 with a 1.381 OPS. On the mound, he was 3-2 with two saves and a 2.62 earned run average. He was All-Big 8 Conferenc and the Big 8 Player of the Year. He also was a First Team All-District infielder

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★ ★

★ Inspiration Award ★ ★ ★ Kellar Davis, licking high school

Last July, after being struck in the head by a batted ball and requiring surgery, Kellar Davis made a promise to himself.

That is, he would be back pitching again for the next spring.

regain my strength and confidence.”

Davis, who pitched for Mansfield High School in the spring of 2022, was already set to transfer to Licking by the time the accident happened.

“When I began walking in the hospital (the day following my injury/surgery), I told myself and my family I was going to come back and compete on the mound to prove to myself that I could,” Davis said.

He ended up returning to full game action Oct. 3 and then made his pitching debut on March 28. This past season, he was 7-0 with a 0.719 earned run average in 48.2 innings. He also batted .353 and had 28 RBI.

Did he ever. Davis not only returned but fired Licking High School to the Class 3 state championship, with the righthander returning to Sky Bacon Stadium in Ozark – site of the scary line drive – and pitched a complete game. The team won 3-1 for the school’s first state title since 1989.

That’s why the Sports Commission Awards presented by Elliott Lodging is proud to honor Davis with an Inspiration Award.

The line drive happened last July 10, and the surgery required cutting out a piece of his skull.

“I had to work, day in and day out,” Davis said, referring to the road back to full recovery. “I stuffed my face with food to replace the 30 pounds I had lost. I was grinding in the gym and baseball cages to

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“Pitching in that game was surreal and extremely difficult to begin the game, due to my history with the stadium,” Davis said. “Once I got past the first inning, I started to enjoy the game for what it was.

During the game I was locked in, and it was just like any other game, but the shock began to set in after the game.”

He thanks many for the support: Grandma Becky, Dad (Jason) and Mom (Tracy), Grandpa and Grandma Gray, Grandpa Randy, the “6th Coalition,” Hannah Dzurick, and Dr. Angela Spurgeon (and the medical team at Cox South Hospital).

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★ emerging sports ★ ★ ★ Archery & Target Shooting: Alyssa Willis, Sarcoxie high school Willis proved to be one of the best in Archery & Target Shooting. Since December 1, she has earned five second-place finishes and the rest have been No. 1 for the regular season.

This season, she won her third state championship. At the Western Nationals, she took fifth place out of 838 competitors in Bullseye. She also was first out of 5,682 competitors for 3D target in Branson.

Fair, who played numerous positions in 2021, has had a great school year. Last summer, he ran a 5-1 offense for the 16 at AAU Nationals in Orlando. His senior year he came in and ran a 5-1 again for the 18s team and, after the first two tournaments, had multiple coaches reaching out about recruitment. This spring, his senior project was creating the first boys high school volleyball tournament in the area. He will play the sport at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.

Bass Fishing: Logan Welch, Bolivar high school Welch took third overall at the state fishing competition as a freshman, beating out 160 other anglers as a one-person angler in a two-person sport. For the most part, he used the motion fishing football jig, despite usually using a swim bait. When going into a tournament, Welch looks for spots where others may not go. His style is he is a fast-paced angler, so he gets lines in repeatedly. At state, he had a combined two-day total of 20 pounds, 45 ounces. He won the Lake of the Ozarks Tournament, too.

E-Sports: Wilson Mao, Kickapoo high school

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Mao was among the top e-sports competitors in southwest Missouri. He helped Kickapoo to an undefeated season through regionals (12-0) before a 2-1 showing at state. He joined the e-sports club last year on the suggestion of a friend, and the club joined a League of Legends. He has managed the team overall and was quick to help out anyone when they needed it.

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Emerging Sports

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Boys Volleyball: Curtis Fair, Republic High School

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★ Sports Commission Award ★ ★ ★ MEDIACOM

The Springfield Sports Commission is proud to honor and recognize Mediacom as a recipient of this year’s Sports Commission Award.

“We acknowledge and recognize the outstanding coverage that Mediacom has provided athletes, schools, and events in southwest Missouri over the course of many years of service in the region,” said Lance Kettering, Executive Director of the Springfield Sports Commission. “Congratulations and THANK YOU to Mediacom for giving our athletes the attention and recognition they deserve!”

For 42 years Mediacom and its cable predecessors have been providing unique local content and covering local events in Springfield and southwest Missouri. The cable company that started it all was TeleCable back in 1981 under the leadership of Stan Melton after the cable franchise agreement was reached in 1979.

The first event the local crew would cover in the landscape of high school sports was football. And since then they have produced close to 500 football games. The coverage has expanded over the years to include high school basketball for both boys and girls, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, volleyball, wrestling, and swimming.

The cable company ownership has changed over the years going from TeleCable to TCI to AT&T and in, 2004, Mediacom.

Several Missouri Sports Hall of Fame broadcasters have lent their voices and talents to the coverage of high school sports on cable television with names like Art Hains, Don West, Corey Riggs, Mike McClure, Tom Mast, and Scott McCauley being a part of the cable broadcast team over the years.

The channel has moved around on the old cable dial over the years and now is MC22.

Since that time, MC22 has continued to be one of the only places where fans and friends and family in southwest Missouri can turn to and find complete game coverage with multiple camera angles, replays and animated graphics like what you find on ESPN and other sports platforms. Live streaming coverage of high school sports and on-demand service are now available at www.MC22.net.

Covering high school sports is not a revenue generator. Instead, it is Mediacom’s way of giving back to the communities that support it in the best way they know how. By putting their kids and local teams on television.

JOIN US AT THESE UPCOMING SPORTS COMMISSION EVENTS!

MI

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CHAMPIONSHIP

CHALLENGE Presented by

Presented by

Sports Commission

Sports Commission

Mini Golf Championship

BigShots Golf Challenge

September 18, 2023

Spring 2024

Presented by Great Southern Bank

Presented by Sporting KC

For information on tickets and Partnerships contact us today at sports@springfieldmo.org!

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We are proud of you and your accomplishments!

-Mom, Dad and the Kettering & Thomas Families

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★★

★ Girls Performance of the Year ★★★ Kaemyn Bekemeier, Republic High School When Bekemeier set the school’s single-game scoring record with 38 points against Carthage, she took her pedal off the gas, right? Yeah, not the case. Not by a long shot. Ten days later, Bekemeier ratcheted up her scoring prowess and dropped 48 points, including 33 in the first half, to lead Republic past Willard on Feb. 8. She made 18 of 21 shots from the field.

Lyla Louderbaugh, Springfield Catholic high school

All Sports

You can take your pick on which performance you like from Presley. She hit three home runs and drove in 10 runs in a victory against Halfway on Sept. 10, 2022. The Marion C. Early standout also struck out 12 batters in only three innings – setting a state record for a threeinning game – against Spokane on April 3. She also struck out 12 in four innings – tying a state record for four-inning games – against Pleasant Hope on April 15.

Crystal Smith, Jasper High School To earn an All-State honor in track & field, it’s a great accomplishment. To pull off four of them in a two-day span? That’s quite something, but Smith – a sophomore – did just that in the Class 2 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships. She was the state champion in the 100 meter hurdles (15.57 seconds), placed seventh in the 200 meters (26.98), eighth in the 300 meter hurdles (49.16) and fourth in the high jump (5-02.5). That was no surprise to coaches, considering she was 52-0 in her four events in 13 track meets before state.

Addison Stockton, Miller High School It was a tremendous volleyball season for Miller, which reached the Class 1 state championship game for the second year in a row. One of the great storylines was that of Stockton, who had 47 digs in a five-set loss to Advance. That total is tied for third-most alltime in the MSHSAA record book. That’s also an average of 9.4 digs per set, an incredible statistic.

Alyssa Willis, Sarcoxie High School At the NASP Western National, Willis had a tremendous day on April 28, 2023. She scored a 289 in archery, ranking third out of 343 high school competitors, and first out of 75 juniors – and fifth out of 838 overall. She also scored a 293 in the 3D Challenge, the best out of 582 girls overall. There were 50 juniors and 246 high schoolers in the event.

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Hailey Presley, Marion C. Early High School

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When you play on what’s been the best girls golf program in the state the past few years – and you’ve been climbing the ladder to be among the best – it stands to reason that you’ll find your way to the record books. Louderbaugh did just that, as she set a state record for a par 70 course by shooting a 7-under par 64 on Sept. 26, 2022. She also shot a 63 on Oct. 5.

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★ Boys Performance of the Year ★★★ Jackson Cantwell, Nixa High School Folks in the track & field community have been excited in recent years to see what Cantwell could do at the high school level, considering he set national junior records in the throws. They certainly were delighted this spring as the son of a pair of Olympians set the state record in the shot put with a throw of 64-3.75 to win the Class 5 state title. That was more than four feet better than the previous record. And he is only a freshman.

Kael Combs, Nixa high school Combs has been a box-office draw the past couple of years, especially in basketball. So on one night this winter in the Nixa Invitational, if you were lucky to be there, Combs treated fans with one of his best performances. He dropped 46 points and snared 11 rebounds for the Eagles as they marched through the regular season undefeated. He added eight assists and four steals.

Ramone Green, Jr., Nixa High School

Quin Renfro, Joplin High School Football coaches always talk about putting in the work in the offseason so that players are ready for anything in the season. Mainly, it boils down to a battle of the fittest. You can say that about Renfro, who scored eight touchdowns in rushing for 309 yards on 36 carries as Joplin outlasted Neosho 68-43 on Oct. 21, 2022.

Brett Schwanke, Buffalo high school

All Sports

Green had a strong start to his football season in the season-opener at Webb City, but then turned on the jets as the season went on. On the night Nixa beat Joplin in a battle of Class 6 unbeatens, he rushed for 301 yards on 35 carries and scored six touchdowns in a 49-35 victory.

He scored on runs of 21, 1, 3, 19, 9 and 41 yards, and also hauled in four catches for 37 yards.

Who doesn’t love just watching athletes go toe to toe to see who’s the fastest? Schwanke turned a lot of eyes his way at the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, as he ran a school record and personalbest time of 10.49 seconds in the 100-meter dash. He later finished as the runner-up in the 200 meters, finishing in 21.67 seconds.

Drew Wedgeworth, Glendale high School It’s one thing to pitch well in the regular season, but to do it in the postseason? That’s a special. So what about a no-hitter? Well, that’s a completely different animal, but Wedgeworth did just that in a Class 5 district championship game as Glendale beat state-ranked Willard 2-0. Wedgeworth yielded only four base runners – one on a hit batter, the other via walk in the first two innings – and navigated his way the rest of the way.

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★ ★

★ Girls Team of the Year ★ ★ ★ Fair Grove High School girls Basketball Team Coached by Jenny Talbert, the Fair Grove girls basketball team won the school’s first state title in any sport with a 54-52 victory in Class 3. The Lady Eagles rallied from a 14-point deficit in the first half, but Kameron Green’s bucket with 1:16 left set what would be the final score. Green (18 points) and Ashton Bell (16) scored in double figures, while Emma Padgett, Camdyn Hart, Abbey Green, Brooke Daniels and Hannah Maxwell all contributing to the scoring. Fair Grove finished 28-4.

Glendale High School Girls Golf Team Glendale has enjoyed success in girls golf over the years, with an incredible stretch in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The 2022 team added to the trophy case last October by winning the Class 3 state championship with a 687, or two strokes better than Visitation Academy. Page Bowman carded a 156, while Catherine Rhoads turned in a 167 and Hannah Peak a 182 before Scotlynn Blackington and Audrey Duvall went 184 and 185, respectively. The team was coached by Ron Yocum and was the program’s first state title since 1979.

~ All Sports ~

Lebanon High School Girls Wrestling Team

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For the fourth time in five years, the Lebanon Yellowjackets girls wrestling team won a state championship, this time in Class 2. Jessa Joiner (110 pounds) and Mariyah Brumley (190 pounds) won individual weight classes, and seven others earned medals. Lilliam Cottongim (105) and Halea Bartel (125) placed third, while Taylor Johnson (135) was fourth. Adeline Cottongim (115) and Bailey Joiner (145) were sixth. The team was coached by Matt Neely and scored 134.5 points, or 31.5 more than the runner-up.

Mount Vernon High School Softball Team Mount Vernon captured its second softball state championship in history, and its first since 2016, with a 6-0 victory against West County in the Class 2 finale. Harley Daniels pitched seven innings, yielding five hits and one walk but struck out nine. Daniels also supplied a run-scoring double before Cheyenne Bieber hit a two-run triple. Hali Stokes’ single pushed the lead to 4-0. Coached by Matt Schubert, the Mountaineers stormed through the postseason, win 13-3 and 13-2 wins and finished 37-1.

Ozark High School Cheerleading Team This past school was another memorable one for the Ozark High School cheerleading team. It was the Class 5 Missouri Game Day state champion, as well as the United Cheer Association Missouri Regional Game Day champion and the UCA Missouri Regional Traditional champion. The 20-member team refined its routine over and over to throw the judges a surprise, practicing about four times a week.

Coaches are Tess Keller, Jessica Mabe, Megan Adams and Angelo Corsolini.

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Congratulations to Allie & Bella for making it to the Final 4 in the Class 1 Girls Tennis State Championships.

It's a Great Day to be a Mountaineer!!

Congratulations to the 2023 Class 2 Softball State

Champion Mt. Vernon Lady Mountaineers It's a Great Day to be a Mountaineer

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Congratulations Reilly Heman, Riley Whisenhunt, and the Glendale Falcons on another great season!

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★ Boys Team of the Year ★ ★ ★ Ash Grove High School Baseball team The Ash Grove Pirates won the Class 2 state championship and finished 25-0. That marked the first time a Missouri state baseball champion had gone unbeaten since Santa Fe’s 2008 team was 20-0. The Pirates also became the eighth unbeaten baseball champion since 1976. In the postseason, Ash Grove scored wins of 13-0, 10-5, 11-0 and then 13-0 against Salisbury. They were coached by Berrah Brown, who led Ash Grove to its first state title in school history.

Hermitage High School boys Cross Country team Talk about an impressive performance. Coached by Mark Sabala, Hermitage won the Class 1 state cross country championship with 51 points, or 38 points better than the runner-up.

Bennett Mantooth placed third, Justin Horn 10th, Justus Yates 17th, DeJuan Chambers 22nd, and Jaxson Wheeler was 34th. Kavon Wright and Cabriel Montejo also were on the team. It was the second consecutive state title for Hermitage, which improved on its 2022 finish by 10 points.

Hermitage High School boys Track & Field team

Licking High School Baseball team The Licking Wildcats (28-3) won their first state championship since 1989 in beating South Callaway 3-1 in the Class 3 finale in Ozark. Coached by Harv Antle, the Wildcats saw right-handed pitcher Kellar Davis fire seven innings, striking out eight, and they rode a three-run second-inning to the victory. In the second, consecutive hit by pitches and two walks led to the first run before Cole Wallace’s single scored two runs. Licking’s journey to the crown featured postseason wins of 11-0, 11-1 and 4-1 before reaching the finals.

Stockton High School Boys Cross Country team Stockton won the Class 2 state championship in cross country, finishing with 120 points, or 14 better than Whitfield. It was the second consecutive state title for the Tigers, who were in fifth after the first kilometer. Coached by Ryan Pate, Stockton saw seniors Braden Postlewait, Max Brown and Dakota Duncan cross the finish line in 20th, 22nd and 30th.

Colby Adams was 47th, while Michael Hudson, Colter Woods and Carter Thornton were also members of the team.

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~ All Sports ~

Hermitage earned a co-state champion in Class 1, finishing with 42 points at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City. Justin Horn earned a trio of third-place finishes in the 800 meters, 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters. The 4x800 relay won it (8:07), and the 4x400 relay was second. DeJuan Chambers was seventh in the 400 meters, and Bennett Mantooth was fifth in the 300 meter hurdles. The team is coached by Mark Sabala.

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★ Girls Athlete of the Year ★ ★ ★ Norah Clark, Nixa High School Clark was a two-sport All-State selection. She began her school year with an All-State selection in volleyball. She helped the team to the Class 5 District 6 championship game.

Overall, she finished with 338 kills and 25 total blocks to go with 265 digs. In basketball, she earned All-State in Class 5 along with unanimous First Team All-Central Ozark Conference and All-District 5. She averaged 16.9 points a game.

Kameron Green, Fair Grove High School A two-spot All-Stater, Green had a memorable year. In volleyball, she helped the team to a 30-2-4 record and personally had 352 kills and 41 blocks. Green earned All-State in Class 3 basketball, was a unanimous First Team All-Mid-Lakes Conference selection and the Player of the Year in District 11. She averaged 15.8 points on 57 percent shooting and snared 6.7 rebounds a game.

Breona Hurd, Waynesville High School

All Sports

Hurd was a four-sport athlete this past school year, competing in volleyball, basketball, track and soccer. In basketball, she committed to the University of Virginia and earned Class 6 All-State honors from the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association. She averaged 27 points and 13 rebounds. She was a Second Team All-Ozark Conference selection.

Lauren Jones, Strafford High School Jones was All-State in two sports. In basketball, she averaged 15.4 points a game, to go with averages of 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.7 steals. She shot nearly 39 percent from the field, and was 34.7 percent on 3-point attempts. At the free-throw line, she made 79.1 percent of her shots. In softball, she batted .370 with a .533 slugging percentage, with four doubles, four triples, a home run and 14 RBI.

Macie Mays, El Dorado Springs High School Mays was the Class 3 Player of the Year in girls basketball this past winter after averaging 25.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in leading El Dorado Springs to a state runner-up finish. She also was a standout in volleyball, earning All-State as a middle hitter, with the past season being her third year as a starter.

Raegan McCowan, Lebanon High School Raegan McCowan was a Class 6 All-State selection in basketball, averaging nearly 27 points and more than 9 rebounds a game. She became Lebanon’s all-time leading scorer, with more than 2,000 points. She also earned Class 5 All-State honors in softball, as well as Class 5 All-Region. She batted .581 with a 1.682 OPS, with 16 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 29 RBI and 42 runs scored. She also had a .871 fielding percentage.

Isabella Renfro, Seneca High School Much of the spotlight in Seneca always seems to fall on its football program, and its boys wrestlers.

However, Renfro forced the spotlight her way in girls wrestling and in track & field. In wrestling, Renfro captured the state championship in the 190-pound weight class in Class 1 and finished 47-0. In the field events at the Class 1 MSHSSA Track & Field Championships, she earned a state runner-up finish in the shot put, with a distance of 39-11.5 feet

Crystal Smith, Jasper High School Talk about starting and finishing a school year the right way. And it’s no wonder there’s a lot of excitement in Jasper now that Smith finished her sophomore year. She was a Class 1 All-State selection in volleyball, where she had 83 service aces, 563 kills, 63 solo blocks, 40 assists and 280 digs. In track & field, she earned four All-State medals at the Class 2 state meet . She was the state champion in the 100 meter hurdles, placed seventh in the 200 meters, eighth in the 300 meter hurdles and fourth in the high jump.

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★ Boys Athlete of the Year ★ ★ ★ Drew Beachler, Nevada High School A tight end, Beachler earned Class 4 All-State honors in football and was a unanimous pick as the Big 8 Conference tight end. He hauled in 11 catches for 347 yards and seven touchdowns. In basketball, he was a Second Team All-Big 8 selection. In track, he won the state triple jump and was runner-up in the long jump to earn a pair of All-Star honors, setting school records in each. In the triple jump, he went 45-10 after falling into third place just minutes before. He went 23-2 in the long jump.

Bryant Bull, Marshfield High School Bull was a four-sport athlete. In football, he was Class 4 All-State as a specialist. He threw for 1,404 yards on 81 of 123 passing, including 18 touchdowns, and ran for 809 yards and seven TDs. He also had 41 tackles and a 40.75-yard punting average. In basketball, he averaged 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds, and earned All-Big 8 Conference Defensive Team honors. At the Class 4 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, Bull went 45-01 in the triple jump, placing fourth to earn All-State.

A three-sport athlete, Durnin was a Second Team All-State selection in Class 5 as a wide receiver. He also played basketball, where he earned All-Ozark Conference as a defensive specialist. In basketball, he was on the All-Ozarks Conference All-Defensive Team after being talked into playing his senior year, helping the team to 14 wins. In baseball, he was All-Ozark Conference in batting .417 with seven home runs, 13 doubles and four triples – his slugging percentage was .825 – and set the school record in several categories.

Kyshin Isringhausen, Branson High School Isrinhausen has been among the most competitive wrestlers in the area and moved up to the 138-pound weight class this season, ultimately placing fifth and finishing 49-3. That wasn’t his only All-State finish. He went on win a state championship in the pole vault, going 14-08 in Class 5. That came after he nearly “no-heighted” in the event after missing two jumps and going 13-9 in another..

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Micah Lindsey, Carthage High School Lindsey has been a big part of Carthage’s football success the past two seasons and is one of those oldschool athletes who also competes in the throws in track & field. He was Class 5 All-State as a defensive lineman, having started since his sophomore year. His speed and athleticism are are incredible, as he worked on his craft as well as in the weight room. In track & field, he placed fifth in Class 5 in the shot put, with a throw of 57-9 -- the third-best throw at state among southwest Missouri guys.

~ All Sports ~

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Kam Durnin, Camdenton High School

Kyle Pock, Bolivar High School Pock landed on this list last year and is back for much of the same reasons – he was an All-Stater in two sports. In basketball, the senior earned the Class 5 Player of the Year distinction, as he scored at least 20 points in 15 games and had double-digit rebounds 11 times. Overall, he averaged 20.6 points, 8.7 rebounds. He also played tennis and advanced to the state tournament. That’s putting it mildly. Pock and his doubles partner reached the Class 1 state semifinals

Curry Sutherland, Logan-Rogersville High School Sutherland earned Class 4 All-State honors in two sports. In basketball, he averaged 22.2 points on 53.1 percent shooting. In baseball, he also was the Big 8 Conference Player of the Year in a season when he had 40 hits and, as pitcher, struck out 71 batters. He was All-Big 8 Conference (First Team infielder, Second Team pitcher) and the Big 8 Player of the Year. He also was a First Team All-District infielder.

Brett Schwanke, Buffalo High School Schwanke was a Class 3 All-State football player for Buffalo, landing on the list as an athlete. He was the team’s quarterback, with the Bison reaching the district quarterfinals. In the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships, as he ran a school record and personal-best time of 10.49 seconds in the 100-meter dash. He later finished as the runner-up in the 200 meters, finishing in 21.67 seconds.

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Sports Commission Award Winners, 2013-2022 Girls Athlete of the Year

FALL SPORTS

Volleyball

SPRING SPORTS

Bass Fishing

2022 – Riley Arnold, Blue Eye 2022 – Sydney Golden, Nixa 2022 – Caden Kowal & Reece Waters, Girls Tennis Boys Tennis 2021 – Riley Arnold, Blue Eye 2021 – Payton Van Veen, Willard Camdenton 2022 – Brynley Brotherton & Ether Choe, 2022 – Caden Lingenfelser, Willard 2020 – Kaesha George, Monett 2020 – Birdie Hendrickson, Logan2021 – Brock Pearce & Preston Trapp, Kickapoo 2021 – Caden Lingenfelser, Willard 2019 – Hayley Frank, Strafford Rogersville Diggins 2021 – Lexi Berry & Megan Roberts, 2020 – Asa Borup, Joplin 2018 – Hayley Frank, Strafford 2019 – Birdie Hendrickson, Logan2019 – Devon Rathbun & Caleb Haines, Bolivar 2019 – Garrett Lewis, Joplin 2017 – Hayley Frank, Strafford Rogersville Parkview 2020 – Erin Jarvis, Springfield Catholic 2018 – Garrett Lewis, Joplin 2016 – Claire Workman, NCA/Summit Prep 2018 – Chloe Rear, Strafford 2018 – Devon Rathbun & Caleb Haines, 2019 – Erin Jarvis, Springfield Catholic 2017 – Jason Nayar, Springfield Catholic 2015 – Emma Lander, Crane 2017 – Chloe Rear, Strafford Parkview 2018 – Anna Rader, Springfield Catholic 2016 – Jason Nayar, Springfield Catholic 2014 – Emma Lander, Crane 2016 – Chloe Rear, Strafford 2017 – Rachel Dwyer, Glendale 2015 – Tucker Ethridge & Jack Gold, Logan- Cheer 2013 – Morgan Kensinger, Fair Grove 2015 – Laynie Dake, Mt. Vernon 2016 – Rachel Dwyer, Glendale Rogersville 2020 – Glendale 2014 – Mikala Hicks, Fair Grove Boys Athlete of the Year 2015 – Madison Watts & Hannah Nixon, 2014 – Wil Sistrunk, Greenwood 2019 – Republic 2013 – Morgan Kensinger, Fair Grove 2022 – John Gholson, Nixa Logan-Rogersville 2013 – Tucker Ethridge & Matthew Gartland, 2018 – Seneca 2021 – Case Tucker, Lamar 2014 – Abbey Belote, Parkview Football Logan-Rogersville 2017 – Central 2020 – Terrell Kabala, Webb City 2013 – Samantha Johns & Avery Lawson, 2022 – Tristan Wilson, Lebanon (Linemen) Boys Golf 2016 – Republic 2019 – Tyson Riley, Springfield Catholic Forsyth 2022 – Austin Wilkerson, Lamar (LB & DB) 2015 – Ozark 2022– Aiden Asby, Bolivar 2018 – Arkell Smith, Carthage 2022 – Luke Gall, Carthage (Offense) 2014 – Ash Grove Boys Swimming & Diving 2021 – Max Bowman, Glendale 2017 – Connor Sechler, Bolivar 2021 – Tristan Wilson, Lebanon (Linemen) 2013 – Ozark 2022 – Lucas Chadwell, Glendale 2020 – Dawson Meek, Glendale 2016 – Chase Allen, Nixa 2021 – Treghan Parker, Webb City (LB & DB) 2021 – Michael Jasinski, Glendale 2019 – Dawson Meek, Glendale Dance Team 2015 – Lane Duncan, Licking 2021 – Devrin Weathers, Webb City (Offense) 2018 – Dawson Meek, Glendale 2020 – Ben Hines, Nevada 2020 – Glendale 2014 – Spencer Haik, Glendale 2020 – Isaiah Davis, Joplin 2019 – Ben Hines, Nevada 2017 – Taylor Haltom, Ava 2019 – Glendale 2013 – Shane Williams, Mt. Vernon 2019 – Will Boswell, Mount Vernon 2018 – Ethan Bergmann, Logan-Rogersville 2016 – Taylor Haltom, Ava 2018 – Glendale 2018 – Will Boswell, Mount Vernon Girls Team of the Year 2017 – Cole Smith, Ozark 2015 – Baron Weaver, Glendale 2017 – Glendale 2017 – Josh Pruett, MV-BT/Liberty 2022 – Springfield Catholic Golf 2016 – Samuel Senn, Kickapoo 2014 – Ben Charles, West Plains 2016 – Kickapoo 2016 – Malachi Stout, Kickapoo 2021 – Willard Volleyball 2015 – Samuel Senn, Kickapoo 2013 – Clayton Moles, Marshfield 2015 – Glendale 2015 – Josh Martin, Camdenton 2020 – Springfield Catholic Golf 2014 – Jordan Hill, Nixa 2014 – Willard Girls Track 2014 – Blayne Armstrong, Marshfield 2019 – Strafford Basketball 2013 – Will Brand, Glendale 2013 – Bolivar 2022 – Ally Montez, Carl Junction 2013 – Jaelon Acklin, MV-BT/Liberty 2018 – Strafford Basketball Girls Golf 2021 – Brianna Utecht, Marshfield Marching Band 2017 – Strafford Basketball 2022 – Reagen Zibilski, Springfield Catholic 2020 – Brianna Utecht, Marshfield 2020 – Camdenton 2016 – Strafford Basketball 2021 – Reagen Zibilski, Springfield Catholic WINTER SPORTS 2019 – Brianna Utecht, Marshfield 2019 – Camdenton 2015 – MVBT/Liberty Volleyball 2020 – Kayla Pfitzner, Springfield Catholic Girls Swimming & Diving 2018 – Kylie Meier, Camdenton 2018 – Kickapoo 2015 – Winona Volleyball 2019 – Kayla Pfitzner, Springfield Catholic 2022 – Ashlyn Moore, Kickapoo & Maggie 2017 – Grace Wormek, Camdenton 2017 – Lebanon 2013 – Pleasant Hope Softball 2018 – Amber Wilson, Camdenton Moore, New Covenant Academy 2016 – Ariel Okorie, Waynesville 2016 – Parkview Boys Team of the Year 2017 – Ari Acuff, Kickapoo 2021 – Maggie Moore, New Covenant 2015 – Claire Workman, New Covenant 2015 – Lebanon 2022 – Glendale Swimming 2016 – Ari Acuff, Kickapoo Academy Academy 2014 – Willard 2021 – Hartville Basketball 2015 – Paige Moles, Marshfield 2020 – Maggie Moore, Summit Prep 2014 – Claire Workman, New Covenant 2013 – Camdenton 2020 – Hartville Basketball 2014 – Paige Moles, Marshfield Academy Academy Specialty Awards 2019 – Greenwood Basketball 2013 – Ashley Childers, Mt. Vernon 2019 – Cabrini Johnson, Logan-Rogersville 2013 – Kailey Chapman, Spokane 2017 – Uniform – Logan-Rogersville Baseball 2018 – Aurora Baseball 2018 – Molly Moore, Summit Prep Academy Girls Field Girls Cross Country 2016 – Athletics Director - Will Christian, 2017 – Mansfield Baseball 2017 – Molly Moore, Summit Prep Academy 2022 – Brayden & Jordan Kantola, West 2022 – Taylor Mayo, Kickapoo Lebanon 2016 – Mountain Grove Baseball 2016 – Krista Shimizu, Summit Prep Plains 2021 – Cali Essick, Branson 2015 – Student Section - Nixa 2014 – Springfield Catholic Baseball Academy 2021 – Riley Arnold, Blue Eye 2020 – Kaesha George, Monett 2015 – PA Announcer - Ramona Whayne, 2014 – Greenfield Boys Track & Field 2015 – Madeline Nelson, Glendale 2020 – Klaire Brown, Kickapoo 2019 – Kaesha George, Monett Hartville 2013 – Republic Basketball 2014 – Krystal Caylor, Kickapoo 2019 – Alexis Barber, Ozark 2014 – Fans - Cassville Boys Track 2013 – Anna Brinck, Nixa Girls Performance of the Year 2018 – Kelie Henderson, Bolivar 2013 – Mascot - West Plains 2022 – Daelen Ackley, El Dorado Springs 2022 – Ashton Judd, West Plains 2017 – Tabitha Weber, Marshfield Girls Wrestling 2021 – Daelen Ackley, El Dorado Springs Sports Commission Award 2021 – Lilly Whitten, Skyline 2016 – Tabitha Weber, Marshfield 2022 – Quincey Glendenning, Lebanon 2020 – Lance Ward, Carl Junction 2022 – Jerald L. Andrews 2015 – Claire Workman, New Covenant 2021 – Ashlyn Eli, Nixa Boys Performance of the Year 2019 – Lance Ward, Carl Junction 2021 – CoxHealth & Mercy Sports Medicine Academy 2020 – Lizzie Miller, Buffalo 2022 – Greenwood Basketball 2018 – Nate Swadley, Willard 2020 – Chevy Dealers of the Ozarks 2014 – Tabitha Weber, Marshfield 2019 – Lizzie Miller, Buffalo 2021 – Marshall Swadley, Willard 2017 – Nate Swadley, Willard 2019 – Springfield Greene County Park Board 2013 – Lexi McNiel, Plato Boys Wrestling 2016 – Daylan Quinn, MV-BT/Liberty 2018 – Elliott Lodging Inspiration Award Boys Cross Country 2022 – Eli Zar, Neosho (Upper Weights) 2015 – Lance Molz, El Dorado Springs 2022 – Bella Fletcher, Greenwood Volleyball 2014 – Brendan Black, Greenfield 2022 – Libby Lakey, Dadeville Cross Country 2022 – Tanner Talley, New Covenant Academy 2022 – Zan Fugitt, Nixa (Lower Weights) 2021 – Riley Simpson, West Plains 2021 – Jesse Cassatt, Carl Junction 2013 – Blake Alexander, Strafford 2022 – Miller High School Girls Basketball 2020 – Daelen Ackley, El Dorado Springs (Upper Weights) 2022 – Jacob Skaggs, Willard Boys Tennis 2019 – Clayton Whitehead, Carthage 2021 – Zan Fugitt, Nixa (Lower Weights) 2022 – Lawrence Green & Skyline Athletics Boys Field 2018 – Ryan Riddle, Webb City 2020 – Gaven Sax, Waynesville 2021 – Mollie Beeson, Pierce City Softball 2022 – Donoyn Fowler, Joplin 2017 – Stephen Kielhofner, Springfield 2020 – Trevor Christian, Lebanon 2021 – Lilah Genel, Parkview Cross Country 2021 – Marshall Swadley, Willard Catholic 2019 – Cayden Auch, Neosho 2021 – Morgan Green, Marshfield 2020 – Nate Baldwin, Sarcoxie 2016 – Stephen Kielhofner, Springfield 2018 – Adrian Hitchcock, Neosho 2021 – Ashlyn Grier, Marshfield Volleyball 2019 – Zach Westmoreland, Joplin Catholic 2017 – Ethan Smith, Buffalo 2021 – Bennie Hank Joiner, Lebanon Girls Soccer 2015 – Marcus Johnson, Nixa 2016 – Niko Chavez, Willard Wrestling 2022 – Reilly Heman, Glendale 2014 – Spencer Haik, Glendale 2015 – Christian Lance, Nixa 2021 – Victor Kelbaugh, Reeds Spring 2021 – Abby Harrison, Nixa 2013 – Thomas Chabrecek, Crane 2014 – Chase Brennan, Monett Basketball 2020 – Aeryn Kennedy, Camdenton 2013 – Chase Brennan, Monett 2021 – Cross Kubik, Kickapoo Baseball Softball 2019 – Jadyn Easley, Ozark 2020 – Damon Emery & Dora Boys 2022 – Jenna Lane, Logan-Rogersville Girls Basketball 2018 – Jadyn Easley, Ozark Basketball 2021 – Haidyn Berry, Webb City 2022 – Bella Fontleroy Kickapoo 2017 – Jadyn Easley, Ozark 2020 – Michael Finley – Willard Wrestling 2020 – Izzy Erickson, Reeds Spring 2021 – Lacy Stokes, Mount Vernon 2016 – Alyson Reinold, Kickapoo 2020 – Ethan Maddox & Marshfield Girls 2019 – Julia Higgins, Republic 2020 – Priscilla Williams, Branson 2015 – Kasey Opfer, Glendale Basketball 2018 – Morgan Loggins, Waynesville 2019 – Hayley Frank, Strafford 2014 – Whitney Snow, Camdenton 2020 – Anya Smith & Rogersville Pomcat 2017 – Zoey Mullings, Strafford 2018 – Hayley Frank, Strafford 2013 – Payton DeHart, Nixa Dance team 2016 – Tabitha Francka, Morrisville 2017 – Kelsey Winfrey, Lebanon Baseball 2019 – Skyline Boys Basketball 2015 – Allie Krueger, Monett 2016 – Lexie Vaught, Crane 2022 – Ben Smith, Springfield Catholic 2017 – Coach Doug Jones Legacy, Mansfield 2014 – Bailie Stine, Marionville 2015 – Morgan Henderson, Buffalo 2021 – Landon Richards, Hollister Baseball 2013 – Catlin Evans, Pleasant Hope 2014 – Lauren Aldridge, Marshfield 2020 – Garrett Rice, Willard 2016 – Jacob Luebbering, Ava 2013 – Andi Haney, West Plains Boys Soccer 2019 – Gage Singer, Aurora 2015 – In honor of Logan Middleton, Nixa 2022 – Alex Spence, Glendale Boys Basketball 2018 – Wyatt Sparks, Aurora 2014 – Tim Whisnant, Gainesville 2021 – Luke Courtney, Kickapoo 2022 – Garrett Davault, Norwood 2017 – Connor Sechler, Bolivar 2020 – Kyle Sutton, Branson 2021 – Aminu Mohammed, Greenwood 2016 – Hunter Dame, Conway 2019 – Mitch Stephens, Glendale 2020 – Aminu Mohammed, Greenwood 2015 – Hunter Dame, Conway 2018 – Dylan Brown, Republic 2019 – Aminu Mohammed, Greenwood 2014 – Tyler Ast, Springfield Catholic 2017 – Keaton Amstutz, Ozark 2018 – Monte Johal, Glendale 2013 – Deric Link, Fair Grove 2016 – Jason Puente, Monett 2017 – Jared Ridder, Kickapoo 2015 – Caleb Rodriguez, Waynesville 2016 – DJ McNew, Mountain Grove 2014 – Ryan Randell, Springfield Catholic 2015 – Juwon Morgan, Waynesville 2013 – Nic Bauer, Glendale 2014 – Chris Kendrix, Willard 2013 – Austin Ruder, Nixa

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2022

2023

Play Too Hard?

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