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Big Trouble from a Tiny Culprit: MRSA What started off as a small pimple has bloomed into a major skin infection. How did it happen? The culprit could be methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. “This type of staph infection is resistant to the antibiotics most commonly used to treat skin infections,” says Edemekong Bassey, M.D., board certified physician with CMH Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine Clinic in Bolivar. “While most cases of MRSA aren’t serious, some can potentially be life-threatening. What’s concerning is how these infections show up.” Historically, MRSA infections were most commonly seen in health care settings, such as in patients who had been hospitalized. However, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows the growth of MRSA cases in people who have no connection to health care settings. Called community-acquired MRSA, the infection is often passed through direct skin-to-skin contact.
Dr. Edemekong Bassey
“Community-acquired MRSA is common among high school athletes,” says Dr. Bassey. “They pick up the infection by close contact with each other. It may start out looking like a pimple or spider bite, but can become swollen, red, painful, and have discharge.” It appears now that ever yone is at risk, researchers explain. If you think you have a spider bite or other skin lesion that is not healing, see your doctor to make sure it’s not an infection like MRSA. The Best Defense? Good Hygiene In the study, 59 percent of the skin infections studied turned out to be MRSA. Most cases are mild and heal after the infection is cleaned and treated. Some, however, can require a stay in the hospital, and in rare cases, they may be deadly. Fortunately, new antibiotics that are more effective against MRSA are already testing well. Curb the infection’s spread by practicing prevention:
Cover up. An open wound that is draining or has pus is a haven for staph or MRSA. Keep wounds bandaged to avoid spreading the infection to others. Scrub up infection. Wash with warm water and soap (or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) several times a day—especially before and after bandaging or handling a wound. Hands off. Let others tend to their own cuts and scrapes. If a laceration seems serious, visit the hospital to have a professional physician treat it. Don’t share. Never let your friends borrow your personal towel or razor. If they balk, just chalk it up to good hygiene. If you think you may have MRSA, contact Dr. Bassey at the CMH Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine Clinic in Bolivar at (888) 328-6010 or (417) 328-6010.
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CHALK TALK Head Coach, Skyline Volleyball
Recently, my good friend and I attended a coaching clinic. The guest speaker that was part of the program asked a question of all in attendance, “Why do you do what you do?” Coaches from all levels began discussing the reason that they coach: love of the game, competitive nature, interacting with the players, extra money, etc. The question seemed so simple, but yet I still had a hard time pinpointing my exact answer in just a few words. I sat in the crowded gymnasium, asking myself, why do I coach? Easy answer: I love the game of volleyball. I thought of my current volleyball team (many of these girls I have coached at some level for the last ries came to mind. I remember these girls in their first week of practice. Some of the girls would catch on so quickly, while others awk-
ment with success is why I coach. This next story will be forever in my mind and heart as long as I teach, coach, and when my own children start playing sports. I will call this athlete Suzy. She is the youngest child from a large family, all of which have played sports at Skyline. This family is known for their work ethic and the energy that they bring to whatever activity they are involved in.
of the most rewarding parts would be watching, when after numerous attempts,
try-outs and became one of the toughest servers, and the best encourager on the team. She saw limited playing time, but had the most energy of anyone on the court.
I like to remind one of my current players, and one of our best servers, how much she hated overhand serving. She worked on getting her serve over the net for two years. The day that she got it over the net, she was rushed by her teammates and they were all so genuinely excited for her. The absolute best, though, was when her ace serve on game-point won a tournament game. Her smile lasted for days,
had too many girls come out for just a JV and varsity team, but not enough for a freshman team. Suzy was one of four girls that did not make the team. Without batting an eye, Suzy asked if she could be our manager. Throughout the season, Suzy would come to every practice, she would be in every drill, linejudging every game, helping anywhere and everywhere she was needed.
without her sister being on the same almost every sprint, but was still the loudThe second week, she told me that she tice one day, and that she was sorry. The
same thing happened a couple of weeks to practice. Finally, the next time she told me that later practice, I asked her what was going ride, and that her mom had been sick again. I offered to take her home. told me that was her driveway and that she could just walk the rest of the way. her to her house, especially since it was was teary eyed when she thanked me for taking her home and bringing her to her house. week and a half, Suzy had been walking from her house to the highway to meet a teammate, and having another teammate drop her off at the end of her driveway after practice. She walked over eight miles just to come to our practice. be a part of the whole volleyball program at Skyline. I recently asked Suzy, who is now a senior, why she plays volleyball. Her answer: “I love volleyball, and I love being a part of our team.” Why do I coach? I love the game, but more importantly, I coach because of all of my girls.
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Girls Cross Country
Kaitlyn Cravens, Glendale—After 4 qualifying for State as a freshman, Cravens is committed to returning to Jefferson
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City as a senior this year. Cravens finished as the runner-up in a strong field in the White Division race at the Forest Park Cross Country Festival on Sept. 14. Cravens, a 2nd-Team All-SWCCCA selection last season, also finished with a top 10 at the SWCCCA meet on Sept. 7.
Bolivar Invitational on Sept. 17. Allie Pell, Logan-Rogersville—Pell finished in 20th-place last year at the state meet, earning her All-State honors as a freshman. This year, the sophomore already has a 6th-place finish at the Strafford Invitational on Aug. 30 and a runner-up finish at the Lebanon Invitational on Sept. 16 to her credit. Tabitha Weber, Marshfield—It would be hard to
Paiton Fritsche, Ozark—The Lady Tigers have a roster full of OPI Watch List-worthy runners, but Fritsche may be the best of the bunch. The senior, who was a state qualifier last season, finished in 9th-place overall at the SWCCCA meet on Sept. 7, and added a runnerup finish at the Steve Waggoner Invitational on Sept. 12 in Willow Springs.
Lydia Holtmann, Springfield Catholic—A key member of Springfield Catholic teams that won a state title in 2010, finished as state runner-up in 2011, and finished in 5th-place a year ago, Holtmann is looking to return the Lady Irish to the podium in her senior season. A three-time All-State selection, it might be Holtmann who is closing out one of the most impressive cross country careers in recent memory this season. (See Devlin, Kelly) Holtmann, a 1st-Team All-SWCCCA selection last year, has a 9th-place finish at the Strafford Invitational on Aug. 30 to her credit. Hinkle, 1 Emily Marion C.
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Early—Only a sophomore, Hinkle already has an All-State finish to her credit after a 20th-place finish last year. Last year’s district runner-up, Hinkle finished in 7th-place at the El Dorado Springs Invitational on Sept. 12, the highest finish by a Class 1 runner in the race.
Megan Hergesheimer, Republic—After an AllConference, All-District and state-qualifying season a year ago, Hergesheimer is poised for another big season this year as a sophomore. Hergesheimer, a 1stTeam All-SWCCCA honoree, already has recorded runner-up finishes this season at the SWCCCA meet on Sept. 7 and the Carthage Invitational on Sept. 12.
make a better debut than that turned in by Weber, Marshfield’s freshman sensation who has Amanda Kearney, Branson—Just a freshman, already finished first at the Strafford Invitational Kearney announced her presence with an on Aug. 30, against a loaded field at the SWCCA impressive showing at the SWCCCA meet on Sept. meet on Sept. 7, and against another strong field 7, where she finished in 7th-place overall. at the Bolivar Invitational on Sept. 17. If one were Kearney then ran a personal best 20:26.60 at the nit-picking, they could point out Weber’s 19thForest Park Cross Country Festival on Sept. 14. place finish in the Green Division race at the Forest Park Cross Country Festival on Sept. 14, Elle Moon, Nixa—A state qualifier as a freshman but she still ran that race in a ridiculous PR of last season, Moon has opened her sophomore 19:00.00. Weber never lost a race last season in campaign with a solid 12th-place finish at the middle school, and the phenom appears to be a SWCCCA meet on Sept. 7, and a 5th-place run at lock for Jefferson City. the Carthage Invite on Sept. 12. Moon should contend for All-State honors this season. Rachel Bareford, Strafford—After Class earning All-State honors last season with Jessica Cox and Sierra Wells, Class Bolivar—Bolivar has been a fixture at the a 22nd-place finish at State, Bareford has picked up where she left off. First, she ran a PR of state meet for the past several years, due in large 20:31.00 at the Strafford Invitational on Aug. 30, part to the contributions of Cox and Wells, both which was good enough for a 5th-place finish. of whom received 1st-Team All-SWCCCA honors She also won the Steve Waggoner Invitational on last season. You will likely see these two seniors Sept. 12 in Willow Springs, and added another running side-by-side, and their final results are top-5 finish at the Bolivar Invitational on Sept. 17. often indistinguishable. Both would like to cap Look for Bareford to earn All-State honors once their careers with All-State finishes at State in again this season as she closes out her prep November, and both earned top-10 finishes at career. the Bolivar Invitational on Sept. 17. Kelly Devlin, Springfield Catholic—A two-time Grace Cloud, Monett—Just a sophomore, Cloud All-State selection, including last season’s 8thwas a state qualifier last year as a freshman, and place finish, Devlin is closing out one of the most is one of the top underclass runners in the area. impressive cross country careers in recent Cloud, who garnered All-Conference and Allmemory this season. The senior, who won eight District honors last season, also was named 2ndraces last year (including the District 5 meet), got Team All-SWCCCA. her final season started in style with a 2nd-place Shelby Jackson, Buffalo—Last year, Jackson came finish at the Strafford Invitational on Aug. 30. within 12 seconds of earning All-State honors Tessa Durnell, El Dorado Springs—Durnell after a solid 30th-place finish. A 1st-Team Allqualified for State last year as a freshman, and SWCCCA selection, Jackson already has a 6thbrings a top-50 finish into her sophomore year. place overall finish this season at the SWCCCA Durnell has already registered a race win this fall meet on Sept. 7, and a runner-up finish at the (at the El Dorado Springs Invitational on Sept. 12),
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and finished in 7th-place at the Strafford Invitational on Aug. 30.
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Ashley Hutchinson, Sparta—A Class 1 state qualifier as a freshman last season, Hutchinson already has a 7th-place finish this season at the Steve Waggoner Invitational on Sept. 12 in Willow Springs. The All-District honoree also earned honorable mention All-SWCCCA honors last season. Sarah Kurpjuweit, Humansville—After an AllState finish as a sophomore in 2011, Kurpjuweit slipped to 30th-place last year, and the senior will be looking to close her career out this year with another All-State performance. Last year’s District 6 medalist and 1st-Team All-SWCCCA honoree already has a 3rd-place finish at the Strafford Invitational on Aug. 30, an 8th-place finish at the Raymore-Peculiar Invitational on Sept. 14, and a top-5 finish at the Bolivar Invitational on Sept. 17. Hailey Stevens, Chadwick—A two-time All-State selection, Stevens will be looking to make it three-for-three this year as a junior. However, Stevens will need to get her times back closer to her PR of 20:49.03, or at least in the neighborhood of the 22:41.99 she ran at State last fall, which was good enough for a 25th-place finish. Lexie Vaught, Crane—It was a pretty good debut for Vaught, who finished in 6th-place at State last year as a freshman. Vaught, who also played point guard for the Lady Pirates’ Class 2 state champions, also won the district and conference meets last year. This season, the sophomore has already run a PR 21:09.00 at the Strafford Invitational on Aug. 30.
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One team has dominated the boys soccer landscape over the past several years and that is SPRINGFIELD CATHOLIC. The Fightin’ Irish are coming off back-to-back Class 1 state championships, and have established their program as one of the best in the state—regardless of class. However, Catholic graduated eight seniors from last season’s state champions, including four 1st-Team AllState honorees.
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“The key to our success this season will be to utilize an extremely difficult schedule that is littered with Class 2A and Class 3A powerhouses to improve as a team in a routine and positive fashion, thus preparing us for the Class 1A district tournament and, hopefully, the state playoffs,” said Guinn.
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“I have a lot of new faces on the team, so it will take a few games to build a cohesive unity that is needed to have a successful season,” said head coach Eric Crain. “Our keys will be hard work and sacrifice. These two things must show up in each game. No matter what is stacked against us, hard work and sacrifice can make up for the lack of experience we have.”
Greenwood graduated five seniors from last season, including a 2nd-Team All-State goalkeeper in Evan Loyd. The Bluejays do return plenty of talent, though, led by a trio of seniors in forward Nick Hogan, an honorable mention All-State honoree, and defenders Ben Aiken and Raph Freelander. Junior midfielder Tony Eon also will be counted on heavily for production this season.
Senior Joshua James, an All-District selection last season, will play a major part in the team’s leadership this season—both on the field and off. Sophomore Jack Johnson, who also received All-District honors last season as a freshman, will be asked to play a major role in the Warriors’ backfield.
“I’m very excited,” said head coach Chris Shull about his team’s prospects this season. “We have a young and energetic group this year. We need to play with poise, play consistently, and keep everyone healthy. We also need to play faster as a unit.”
Rounding out the District 11 field is FAIR GROVE, which is entering just its third season in the program’s short history. The Eagles posted a 3-13-1 record a year ago, and return seven starters and a host of players eager to step up and make their mark in building the Eagles’ foundation on the pitch.
Another Class 1 District 11 member that is looking to get over the “Catholic” hump is NEW COVENANT ACADEMY. The Warriors posted a misleading 4-17 record a year ago, but six of those losses were by a single goal. New Covenant Academy lost 10 players to graduation, though, including seven starters.
“I am excited for the upcoming season,” said head coach Joseph Florez. “We are a very different team this year. We have younger players who are ready to step in and contribute right away, and some of our returning starters will definitely have to step up and take on more of a leadership role this year.” Springfield Catholic's Landon Green (8) (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography)
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Yes, some talented players have graduated, but the cupboard is far from bare for the Irish, who return their third-leading goal scorer from a year ago in senior Ryan Randell, a 2nd-All-State selection. Catholic also returns junior defender Blake Weber, who averaged well over 70 minutes per game a year ago in anchoring the backfield.
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“Many people have subtly suggested that this is a rebuilding year, and that we are expected to struggle a bit in the 2013 fall season,” said third-year head coach Tom Guinn. “While I can see why someone may believe this to be the case, especially considering the abundance of talent that has moved on, I am greatly optimistic about this season and the things we are capable of accomplishing.”
Although outshone, perhaps, by the accomplishments at Springfield Catholic, GREENWOOD has built itself a solid boys soccer program in recent years. Last season, the Bluejays posted a 13-11 record playing against several larger schools. Unfortunately, Greenwood finds itself tied into the same district as Catholic, thus hampering the Bluejays’ chances of advancing to the Class 1 state playoffs.
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Last year’s leading scorer, junior forward Preston Padgett, is back, as is senior Cody Crews, a three-year starter at goalkeeper. Senior Jayden Happel returns at center-mid, while fellow senior Logan Beach is back at the sweeper position. Padgett, Happel and Crews earned 1st-Team All-District honors a year ago, while Beach was a 2nd-Team selection.
This year’s senior returnees include John Delatorre, a 1stTeam AllConference and All-District selection, as well as goalkeeper Carter Havens. A pair of All-District juniors also are back in Cooper Dunn and Quinton Puckett, as well as fellow junior Nate Terry and sophomore Bailey Fletcher.
Last season, MONETT won a 4-3 overtime thriller over arch-rival Cassville to capture the Class 1 District 12 championship before losing in the state playoffs to eventual Class 1 state champion Springfield Catholic. It was the Cubs’ first district title since 2001. However, Monett lost nine players from last year’s championship squad. “It is hard on any team to lose all these players, but we are fortunate to have players that will be stepping up this season,” said first-year head coach Cristobal Villa. “I know for a fact that our players will give it their all to fill the empty spots and are excited to do so.”
“We have big holes to fill on defense, but a solid core already exists,” said Magee. “If we have a player or two step up and fill those holes, our defense will be very solid.”
Senior Eddie Aveces is back at forward, and will take on a major leadership role in the wake of the departed players. A pair of juniors, Jairo Rueda and Misael Cordeo, and sophomore Juan Salas have played together for the past three years, which will be a major asset as the season progesses.
OPI WATCH LIST Eddie Aveces, Monett—With nine Cubs from last season’s district champions lost to graduation, there will be a lot of scoring opportunities this fall. Look for Aveces, a talented and speedy forward, to score his fair share. Tucker Brown, LoganRogersville—Arguably the best goal scorer in the area, Brown enters his junior season this year after shattering the school record last fall by scoring 42 goals on the year. Brown, who also added 11 assists, was named honorable mention All-State for his efforts. Devin Cavero, Central—A 1st-Team All-District selection last fall, Cavero teams with Andy Sivils to give the Bulldogs one of the best one-two punches in the area.
After last Wyatt Davis, Branson—One season’s of the top defenders in the disappointing “The keys to success involve teamwork, area, Davis anchors the district title game hard work, support from each other and, Pirate backfield. The junior loss to Willard, most importantly, communication on and off was a 2nd-Team All-District the field,” said Villa. “I think we need Greenwood's Nick Hogan (14) (Staff Photo) LOGANselection last fall. ROGERSVILLE has improvement in all areas, but definitely in its sights set on year ago, returns, as do senior fullback Rickey our defense since this is where we lost the Joey Davolt, Bolivar—The Hernandez and midfielder-defender Jacob Young. taking the next step majority of our players.” senior scored 22 goals and this fall. Nearly every Junior goalkeeper Marshall Henson will be added 10 assists last fall. Coming off an 8-13 season, CASSVILLE is still player returns for the entering his first season in goal for the Wildcats. Davolt, an All-District smarting from the overtime loss to Monett in the Wildcats, who finished forward, should contend for “We need to improve on offense this year and district title game. The Wildcats return plenty of with a 16-7 record a All-State honors in his final experience, and will be looking to advance to the work on playing as a team which practices year ago. year for the Liberators. possession to benefit the whole team,” said state playoffs this time around. The Wildcats will not Hoskins. “I feel out team can also improve on John Delatorre, “I feel this season will be a good test for us to be lacking for talent defense to help our new goalkeeper this year.” Willard—The senior returns test our merit as a team,” said head coach this fall, especially with as one of Willard’s go-to After losing seven players from a team which Andrew Hoskins. “We have a veteran defense talented junior Tucker players. Delatorre was posted a 3-15 record last fall, AURORA will be in and a driven offense that has a good Brown returning. named 1st-Team Allrebuilding mode this season. Senior Joe Janes combination of new and veteran players. I feel Brown was named Conference and All-District we have an opportunity to be a challenging team will be counted heavily for production with the honorable mention All- after a standout junior departure of the seven seniors, as will juniors in our conference and district.” State last year after season a year ago. Tristan Swaim and Dylan Castro, a pair of speedy breaking the school Wyatt Lopez is back at his sweeper position goal-scorers. “We are losing a lot of experience Sam Engler, Kickapoo—The record with 42 goals after earning 1st-Team All-District honors last and skill sets, but we know that every year only non-senior starter for scored during the season. Kendal Branham, a striker who scored presents that challenge,” said head coach Curtis last year’s state season. Brown added five goals and had 14 assists last year, and striker Bishop. “We had a lot of underclassmen get quarterfinalist Chiefs, look 11 assists for good Zach McGuffey, who scored 13 goals, both return valuable varsity time and they were competitive for Engler to increase his measure. after 2nd-Team All-District campaigns in 2012. against varsity players.” goal-scoring significantly Trever Supulver, a wing who scored four goals a In addition to Brown, this season as one of The the Wildcats feature a perennial contender WILLARD six-deep senior class Kickapoo’s key players. Tigers won this fall, including a 1stthe Class 2 District 11 Team All-Conference championship last season, a and All-District honoree in Kyle Pister and a 2nd3-1 victory over LoganTeam selection in Ty Stevens. The other seniors Rogersville, but will need to include Tyler Shirk, Marcus Coffey, Ryan Broyles, find replacements for seven and goalkeeper Lance Littlewood, who will have departed players from that the unenviable task of replacing a three-starter title-winning team. The in Derrek Louderbaugh. Three sophomores also Tigers posted a 14-11 should be major contributors, and include Jonah record for the season. Popa, Riley Shirk, and Chris Capels. “We lose a lot of “I am looking forward to the season,” said head experience with last year’s coach Brett Wubbena. “I think we have a tougher seniors, as well as schedule, but also believe that we are a better leadership,” said head team. If we have some things fall into place, our coach Tim Magee. season will be better than last season.” “Hopefully, the example Last fall, REPUBLIC finished with a 9-11 record, they set will be picked up by which included a loss to Logan-Rogersville in the this year’s seniors.” Cassville's Marshall Henson (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography) District 11 semifinals. Eight of those losses were
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OPI WATCH LIST Avery Genovese, Bolivar—One of the top defenders in the area, Genovese garnered AllRegion, All-District and AllConference honors last season. The senior should be in the mix for similar postseason accolades again this season. Jacob Hoffman, Branson—Look for the talented Hoffman to use his size and athleticism to be one of the area’s leading goal scorers this season. Nick Hogan, Greenwood—Hogan led the Bluejays in scoring last season, and figures to pick up where he left off this season. The senior forward should rank among the area leaders in goals scored.
and exemplify the level of teamwork to be successful.” Hillcrest does return eight seniors this season, including a 1st-Team AllConference and AllDistrict goalkeeper in senior Caleb Boston. Senior forward Josh Crabtree will be counted on to increase his goalscoring after tallying eight goals last season. Senior midfielder Kyler Anderson will play a key role in setting upo the Hornet goal scorers after a team-leading 12 assists a year ago. Senior Jorge DonJuan returns at center back, while sophomore newcomer Andrew Stewart will be counted on immediately.
A 15-8 record would be a very good season for Joshua James, New most teams. BOLIVAR is Covenant Academy—James not “most teams,” should emerge as the though, as the Liberators warriors’ go-to goal scorer have come to expect this season. The senior deep tourney runs each New Covenant Academy's Joshua James (2) earned All-District honors a fall, thus making last (Photo by Amy Walker) year ago, but must fill the season’s district by a single goal. This void left by seven departed semifinal loss a bit disappointing after winning fall, the Tigers bring teammates this fall. four-straight district titles from 2008-11, back several key players including a state runner-up finish in 2009. Wyatt Lopez, Cassville—A who will be looking to 1st-Team All-District The good news for Bolivar is that the Liberators make a run at a district selection last fall, Lopez will welcome back the bulk of their lineup, including championship in the be a major part of Cassville’s fourth year of the senior All-District forward Joey Davolt, who quest for a district title this scored 22 goals and 10 assists last season. Allsoccer program’s year. The senior sweeper District senior midfielders Gage Mossman (6 existence at Republic. will also serve as the goals, 15 assists) and Chase Kurtz (4 goals, 12 Senior defender Jacob assists) will also be counted on for more goalWildcats’ captain. Goetz is back, along scoring in their final campaigns. Anchoring the Zach McGuffey, with a pair of fellow defense will be senior defender Avery Genovese, Cassville—After scoring seniors in forward Seth who garnered All-Region, All-District, and All13goals last season, Carter and defender Conference accolades, and also scored four goals McGuffey was honored as a Cooper Kelley. Junior and had six assists. Tyler Dickenson will also play 2nd-Team All-District midfielder Mitchell a key role this season after garnering Allselection. Look for McGuffey Heinzler, who is also District honors a year ago. Sophomore to score more goals this fall, Republic’s kicker on the Ethan Conley will be the team’s new and for him to be a 1st-Team gridiron, is also back, as goalkeeper. honoree in October. is sophomore midfielder “Our senior class is a solid group who are Tanner Peabody. Preston Padgett, Fair highly motivated to compete and win,” Grove—The Eagles’ leading “While we will be a said head coach Steve Fast, who is scorer last season, Padgett young team, with the entering his 18th season as the Liberators’ has been with the team possibility of starting head coach. “We return nine starters from since its inception in 2011. two or three freshmen a highly competitive team last year. I look The senior will be looking to and three or four for our junior class to step up and end his career on a high sophomores, our complement our seniors well this year. We note. younger players have have some speed and are very aggressive. been playing soccer for I look forward to watching this team several years, which is compete and improve each week. Our relatively new to goal is to improve daily and to win a Republic,” said head coach Mike Hines. “Our district title.” team speed will be greatly improved, and we After a 4-18 season last fall, have the opportunity to win 14 or 15 games this MARSHFIELD will need to find season, which will be a new high for the boys’ replacements for six senior starters lost to program.” graduation. That means this is a rebuilding With just six wins on the ledger the past two year for the ‘Jays, but the experience seasons, HILLCREST has taken its lumps on the gained this season by Marshfield’s young pitch. With only 15 players on the roster this lineup will be beneficial in the next few season, the Hornets will be looking to turn seasons. several close losses into victories this season. “I’m looking forward to the fact that we “The boys have made great strides and will be rebuilding with a young group,” improvements since last year,” said head coach said head coach Tom Searson. “Success Edward Gumucio. “We had a lot of close losses this season will have a lot to do with how and that’s tough to deal with sometimes, but it’s well our players pick up on our new a necessity that our experienced players step up 10 opi
system. I’m looking for an improved defense for all parts of the field and for a focus on attacking with speed. If we can put those two things together, it will be a fun year.” Senior Riley O’Dell, who played defender last season, has moved to forward this year and will be counted on to score some goals for the ‘Jays. A pair of midfielders, senior Hunter Heape and junior Cuyler Obermaier, is back again this year, while sophomore Robert Cheeney returns at defender after a solid freshman campaign. Sophomore Justin Kanengieter should be the team’s goalkeeper after getting some time in net last season as a freshman.
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Last fall, GLENDALE captured its 16th district championship, a 2-1 victory over Nixa. After posting a 16-7 record on the season, the Falcons will be looking to add a 17th plaque to the trophy case this fall.
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Glendale lost three talented seniors to graduation, but do return plenty of talent, including Tony Palmisano, a 2nd-Team AllConference and All-District selection who scored 10 goals a year ago but will be counted on for more this season. Returning in the defensive backfield are a pair of All-Conference and AllDistrict honorees in Derek Roberts and Ben Reinbold. “Every year the next group must step up…it’s a tradition,” said longtime head coach Jeff Rogers, who earned his 400th career victory in the Falcons’ victory over Branson in the district semifinals last year. “We’re always looking for a goal scorer. We’re looking to put ourselves in State play in November.” Although the close district championship game loss to Glendale stung, what hurt NIXA the most for this season was the loss of 13 seniors to graduation, including 10 starters. The Eagles twice beat Springfield Catholic, the Class 1 state champion, and also beat state runner-up Carthage, while winning the COC-Large for a second consecutive season. But if the Eagles are going to match (or better) last year’s 17-8-1 record, they will need a host of varsity newcomers to adapt and contribute
Logan-Rogersville's Tucker Brown (9) (Staff Photo)
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immediately. “We will have a new look, that is for sure,” said head coach Evan Palmer. “We have a talented group of players that won’t have much varsity experience. The players will have to learn the varsity game quickly. We need to improve our possession and changing the point of attack. Defensive shape and cohesiveness in the back is an area of improvement, too.” The Eagles will look to a quartet of seniors for leadership early on. The list includes goalkeeper Josh Pittser, forward-defender Jacob Bratcher, and midfielders Drew Lindeman and Chris Whitlock. Sophomore forward Trustin Baker will also be counted on for major production. “It is a transition year for us, but we still expect greatness,” said Palmer. “It is a great opportunity for players who have been waiting in the wings for their chance to prove themselves. I am confident they will be successful.” It was a record-breaking season at BRANSON last year, as the Pirates set school records in wins (16) and goals scored. However, 12 players in all were lost to graduation, including eight starters. “Graduating a large class last year has created a fantastic opportunity for our younger players to step up and play key roles this season,” said head coach David Brenner. “The theme for our season is ‘opportunity.’ This year we will have young players making the transition from JV to varsity. We are optimistic that this team will enjoy the same success we had last season.” The only two returning starters are senior Ethan Holden and junior defender Wyatt Davis, a 2ndTeam All-District selection who will anchor the defense. Senior Jacob Hoffman will look to use his size and athleticism to increase his goal-scoring, as Branson graduated the bulk of its scoring from a year ago. Senior midfielders Wes Davis and Anthony Centeno will have to control the midfield and distribute the ball. “The key to our success is patience and maintaining possession of the ball,” said Brenner. “We want to control the pace of the game. We want to be competitive and continue to build on our previous success.”
A youthful OZARK team struggled with consistency last season, but was playing its best soccer at the end of an 11-12 campaign. The Tigers lost three talented players to graduation in Jakob Neidig, Robbie Oslica, and Rodney Geremia, all of whom are playing soccer collegiately. Therefore, Ozark will need some players to step into the vacated roles. In particular, look for increased production from Hunter Wallace, Than Poivre, Hunter Earnest, and Bailey Williams.
OPI WATCH LIST Tony Palmisano, Glendale—Palmisano scored 10 goals a year ago, and look for the talented All-District and All-Conference honoree to increase that total this season. Kyle Pister, LoganRogersville—The senior was named 1st-Team AllConference and All-District last fall, and should be in the mix for multiple postseason accolades again this season. Josh Pittser, Nixa—Arguably the best goalkeeper in the area, Pittser was a 1st-Team All-District and AllConference selection last year as a junior. Pittser should garner even higher accolades as a senior. Ryan Randell, Springfield
Catholic—A 2nd-Team Class “The key to our 1 All-State selection last season will be Central's Nikhil Havaldar (15) season, Randell figures to be (Photo courtesy of Central High School) finding a scoring the leading goal scorer this punch,” said head junior Ben Fielder and season for perennial state coach Tom Davidson. “We need to work on our senior Josh Rovey will powerhouse Springfield chemistry and competitiveness, but I’m very anchor the backfield Catholic. excited because we have lots of potential. from their defender Winning district and conference championships positions. Also look for Derek Roberts, are always our goals.” Glendale—One of the best senior Kyle Scranton The good news for KICKAPOO is that the Chiefs and juniors Kyle Hunter defenders in the area, enjoyed a memorable 2012 campaign, as and Nikhil Havaldar to Roberts was a 1st-Team AllDistrict selection last fall, as Kickapoo advanced all the way to the state have a big impact for well as a 2nd-Team Allquarterfinals before bowing out to Rock Bridge in Central this season. a 1-0 heartbreaker. The bad news is that 13 Chiefs Central will also look to Conference honoree. earned their diploma and will not be in uniform a talented incoming Andy Sivils, Central—A 1stthis fall, which means a host of varsity newcomers freshman class for Team All-District honoree in will have to step in and contribute immediately. quality minutes. 2012, Sivils will play a key role if the Bulldogs are to “We will have very little varsity experience this “I think we have a topple perennial top-dog season, but we’re excited for a big wave of juniors great incoming Kickapoo in district play. The to step into some varsity spots this year and freshman class, as well senior teams with Devin prove that they deserve to be there,” said head as some new players coach Phil Hodge. “Our senior who have been playing Cavero to give Central a lethal combo. leadership will be key. We need to at the club level and have some positive leadership from have decided to play Blake Weber, Springfield our two seniors.” high school soccer, as Catholic—The junior figures well,” said head coach to be the next in a long line Those two seniors are Austin Chris Welch. “We need of talented Catholic Reinold and Drew Kennedy, who to show improvement defenders. Last season, will need to be major contributors on pressure and Weber averaged over 70 both on and off the field for the communication, and minutes per contest as the Chiefs this season. Junior Sam team development will anchor of the Fightin’ Irish Engler, the only non-senior starter also be a key for us.” backfield. last year, will also need to step up his production. There will be a new look at PARKVIEW this fall, as first-year head Regardless of the number of coach Brandon Randall takes over the reins of a departed Chiefs, the goal is always the same at tradition-rich Kickapoo. team that posted a 4-19 record last season. The Vikings do have some talented players in the fold, “We’re always looking to compete who will be looking to increase the win total this for a district championship,” said year. Hodge.
After a 14-7 campaign last year, CENTRAL is looking to continue to establish itself as a perennial power on the pitch. The Bulldogs lost just four seniors, and return a host of talented players to make a run at a district championship.
Branson's Wyatt Davis (Photo courtesy of Branson High School)
Senior midfielder Devin Cavero and senior forward Andy Sivils both were named 1st-Team All-District a year ago, and will key the Bulldogs’ offensive attack this season. Junior midfielder Phillip Starns will also look to be an offensive threat, while
“We have a healthy mix of older players and younger players,” said Randall. “We are working hard every day to get better. I believe by the end of the season, we will be a competitive soccer team for any team who plays us. We have to stay healthy and control the things that are within our control.”
The Vikings will be led by a deep senior class that includes Louis Taylor, and All-District honoree last year, Aidan Griffin, Josh Hess, Jacob Carlson, and David Perches. Also look for juniors Noah Pratt, Hayden Chavez, and Cesar Fernandez to play major roles in any Viking success, as well as sophomores Shane Mulberry and Riley Rathburn. opi
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Boys
Logan-Rogersville's Ethan Evans (Staff Photo)
Swimming By Byron Shive
The sport of competitive swimming has been, perhaps, the fastest growing sport at the high school level in recent years, with new programs being added at schools across the Ozarks. LoganRogersville will enter the pool this fall for the Wildcats’ third season, while new programs will be making their debut at both Bolivar and Monett. Of course, the long-time stalwarts will be back to make another run at State, a place dominated by the Kansas City and St. Louis programs. The biggest obstacle for first-year programs is that, for the most part, none of their swimmers have any competitive swimming experience. Therefore, it is very important to lay a solid foundation for the program’s future.
“I am very excited about our upcoming season,” said MONETT head coach Dan Janssen. “Not only because it is our first year, but what we do this year builds the foundation for years to come. We have a good chance to be competitive and I’m really excited to give my athletes a chance to compete in a sport they love.”
“Our main key to success this year will be learning what it takes to be a high school swimmer,” said Janssen. “Summer swimming is a good experience, but nothing like high school. The races are different and the training is different. We will need to adjust to that mentality. But we are really excited to be adding swimming and diving to our school sports offering. We look forward to starting well and growing a program and a bright future for our up-and-coming swimmers.” The recipe for future success is the same at BOLIVAR. The Liberators are offering swimming and diving for the first time this season, and will also be looking to lay a solid foundation. “The main to key to our success for this season will be building the foundations of swimming technique,” said Bolivar head coach Nicole Miller. “Because all of our swimmers are new to the sport, we have to work on building endurance and an understanding of the basics of each stroke. Our team will be working on building experience, endurance, and confidence as the season approaches. Also, establishing a strong technical understanding of the sport will contribute to success in competition.” As far as team goals are concerned for the Liberators’ inaugural season, Miller said that her team will focus on improving personal bests in event times, finishing each race strong, and good sportsmanship.
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OPI WATCH LIST Will Brand, Glendale—The Falcon senior figures to be the best swimmer in Southwest Missouri, and a serious threat to capture multiple individual state titles in the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard freestyle. After finishing in 4th-place at State in the 100 fly a year ago, Brand has the fastest time in the state of anyone returning this season. Brand also has the second-fastest time of the returnees in the 200 free after a 6th-place podium finish at State last year. For good measure, Brand will also be a key member of the Falcons’ three relay teams, all of which should be factors at State . Ethan Evans, Logan-Rogersville— Evans is one the area’s best backstrokers, and should be a threat to reach the podium in the 100-yard backstroke at State this season after a state-qualifying effort a year ago. Evans will also be a key reason if any of the Wildcats’ relay teams make it to St. Charles.
The Cubs do have some swimmers on the team who have some competitive experience with the Waterthrashers club team. Senior Alex Schmitt should be a factor in the butterfly and sprint freestyle events, while sophomore Jonah Paszek will compete in both the breaststroke and backstroke. Freshmen Joshua Pitts (butterfly) and Joel Ridenour (breaststroke) should compete immediately.
“This is the first season for the Bolivar swim team, and we are excited to give this opportunity to our students,” said Miller. “Our athletes are very excited, and in the short time we have been practicing we have seen great improvement in the swimmers. I am very proud of the boys on our team. They are very hard working young men who show great potential.” Although it is technically not a first-year program, GREENWOOD will be back in the pool this fall after not having a team last season. A pair of freshmen, Daniel Stone and Zachery Cosby, are the Bluejays’ lone team members, but head coach John Mullen is excited about their future. “I’m excited that we have two freshmen that are there every day and work hard,” said Mullen. “The keys to our success will be continued hard work and gaining race experience. We still need more guys to participate. These guys have a great attitude. The only thing holding them back is our lack of numbers.” After a winning both the All-City and SWMO Championships last season, GLENDALE will be looking to improve on last year’s 13th-place finish at State. Although the Falcons graduated a lot of talent, they do return a trio of seniors who all were state qualifiers a year ago in Will Brand, Wilson Mace, and Tanner Reynolds, as well as
fellow classmate Alex Vaughan.
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Hayden Graham, Central—One of the area’s top divers, Graham will be looking to return to State again this season in his final campaign. With his ability to score points in the first event of each meet, Graham allows the Bulldogs to build momentum for the rest of the meet. Wes Kleeman, Marshfield—The
“I am really excited up-and-coming senior is the ‘Jays’ about our seniors,” top breaststroker and sprint said head coach freestylist. Kleeman will be a Steve Boyce, who threat to reach St. Charles in guided the Lady multiple events. Falcons to a state Wilson Mace, Glendale—After championship last qualifying for State in the 50-yard season. “They will score big individual freestyle last season, Mace will be a key contributor for the points and all are returning state qualifiers. We need a fourth guy to step up for our relay success. There is a great battle among the sophomores to fill this spot. Our key will be the young guys stepping up to fill the holes left by last year’s seniors.” Brand is the top returner in the state in the 100yard butterfly, and has the second-fastest time in the 200-yard freestyle. He will be a threat to win a pair of individual state titles. Mace will be a key contributor in the sprint events (50 free, 100 Free, 100 Back), while Reynolds will be the primary scorer in the distance events (200 Free, 500 Free, 200 IM). “We just need to find out who will be our depth guys that will help the team score points,” said
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Boyce. “The seniors will score their points. What will the rest of the team do to help? We would like to get back in the top 10 at State.”
OPI WATCH LIST Falcons in the sprint events (50 free, 100 Free, 100 Back). Look for Mace to qualify for State in multiple events this time around.
Another perennial local power with big ideas this season is KICKAPOO, which finished runner-up to Glendale at the conference meet a year ago. The Chiefs graduated some strong seniors, but do return a lot of experience, including a batch of sophomores who got their feet wet in a big way as freshmen. “We come back with some very strong swimmers,” said head coach Pete Hill. “The key to our success will be the strength of my returning swimmers. I look forward to seeing them compete. With the loss of some strong seniors, we need to fill behind them to fill the roster.” Leading the charge for the Chiefs this season will be Andrew Workman, Andrew Smith, Noah Phillips, and Samuel Senn. If everything comes together for Kickapoo, then the Chiefs will be looking for a top 10 finish at State. Last season, HILLCREST had a large group of mostly inexperienced swimmers. With the bulk of that team back this season, the Hornets figure to be stronger this fall. “I only have two swimmers with more than a year’s experience, but they improved so much last year that I’m excited what they’ll do this year,” said head coach John Mullen. “I also have seven freshmen that are eager, hard-working, and listen well, which is the secret to success in swimming. Even though they have no experience, they have already improved greatly.” Senior Hunter Huett is the team’s elder statesman, and a threat to qualify for State in the backstroke. Junior Christian Shearer is the team’s distance specialist, and a key recruiter of the aforementioned freshmen. Fellow classmate Joseph Adkins will compete in the butterfly and distance events, while Drew Langley (distance, IM), Kurt Stockwell (IM, breaststroke), Sam Gibbens (middle distance, distance freestyle), and Karl Larson (breaststroke, freestyle) all will factor prominently in the Hornets’ success. Entering just its third season of competition, LOGAN-ROGERSVILLE is still working toward developing the depth that is necessary to compete consistently as a team. The Wildcats had just eight swimmers on the team a year ago, and lost two of those to graduation. “We had a fairly successful season last year,” said head coach Wendy Shepard. “With only eight swimmers, we actually did well as a team, but because of our small size it made it difficult to compete at the bigger meets. We have not picked up any new swimmers as of yet, but the hope is to get a few more. I would like to have a few individuals qualify for State and improve our times on the relays.” The Wildcats do return a state qualifier in in the 100-yard backstroke in senior Ethan Evans, who should be one of the area’s best swimmers. In addition, junior Nathan Roy should be a threat to qualify for State in multiple events after narrowly missing qualifying last year in both the 50 and 100 free. Junior Eli Simon is a solid all-around swimmer whose versatility will be important this season for Rogersville. The CENTRAL Bulldogs had a solid 2012 campaign in the pool, and despite the loss of some solid swimmers to graduation, the team returns a solid corps of upperclassmen who will be looking to take the next step in 2013. “We have another great group of seniors and juniors,”
Hillcrest's Joseph Adkins (Staff Photo)
said head coach Wendy Shepard. “Many of the boys have been putting in a lot of time on their own this summer to prepare for the upcoming season.” Leading the Bulldogs will be a trio of state qualifiers, including senior diver Hayden Graham. Both junior Evan Petrich and senior Russ Watson were members of the Bulldogs’ three statequalifying relay teams last season. In addition, Petrich was a state qualifier in the 100 breaststroke and 500 free, while Watson qualified in the 50 and 100 free. At MARSHFIELD, head coach John Mullen is excited about the steps his team has taken toward improvement. “I’m excited we had three of the guys swim during the offseason with the local club teams,” said Mullen. “They are already where they were at the end of last year, if not ahead of that. We just need to continue working hard, gain some race experience, and get some more guys to participate.” The ‘Jays do have senior Wes Kleeman, who is the team’s top breaststroker and sprint freestylist. Junior Brandon Mackey is a solid middle distance freestyler, while fellow classmate Nick Carrol will compete in the backstroke and freestyle events. Dylan Whitlock will be counted on to score points in the backstroke and butterfly, and is also one of the team’s top freestylers. Freshman Chase Potter will be expected to contribute immediately. A youthful NIXA team took its lumps a year ago, but the Eagles return this season with a year of experience—and some higher participation numbers. Both of those factors figure to result in a better season for Nixa. “We were a young team last year and struggled to fill the roster,” said head coach Pete Hill. “We are at 14 swimmers this season. We have had several of the boys swim year round and come into the season much stronger. We have gained strength with our new freshmen.” Team leaders this season figure to be junior Austin Campbell and sophomore Kalab Barker. “The boys are working hard and I am confident we are going to have a much stronger year than last. We would like to qualify at least one relay and two individual swimmers for State.” The good news at OZARK is that the number of swimmers continues to rise. However, of the 12 swimmers on the team this season, only three of those gained experience last season. A new batch of swimmers has head coach Steve Boyce excited about the future, though. “Our young guys are going to have to step up
and race some older dudes,” said Boyce. “We are young, but we’re working hard. Our key will be the young guys making progress against the older kids they will have to race. We have a super group of freshmen that will eventually have an impact.” The Tigers will look to senior Edward Curran and sophomore Marcus Latz to lead the team, both in the pool and out. “They are strong kids who know how to race,” said Boyce of Curran and Latz. “The rest of the team will be learning from their racing ability.”
Evan Petrich, Central—The Bulldogs qualified three relay teams for State last season, and Petrich was a big reason why. The versatile Petrich is capable of swimming the first leg or the anchor for multiple relays and will be a key contributor to the Bulldogs’ success this season. Petrich also qualified for State in both the 100 breaststroke and 500 free, and figures to do so again this fall. He reached the podium in the 500 free with an 8th-plavce finish. Tanner Reynolds, Glendale—Reynolds was a statequalifier in multiple events last season, including the 200 and 500 freestyle, and figures to be back in St. Charles again this season. Reynolds will be the Falcons’ primary scorer this season in the distance events (200 Free, 500 Free, 200 IM). Nathan Roy, LoganRogersville—Last season, Roy narrowly missed qualifying for State in both the 50 and 100 free. With another year of experience under his belt, look for Roy in both events in St. Charles this fall. Samuel Senn, Kickapoo—A sprint specialist, Senn will look to qualify for State once again in both the 50 and 100 free. He will also factor prominently in the Chiefs’ relay plans again this season, and should be a threat to reach the podium this season. Andrew Smith, Kickapoo—One of the more versatile swimmers in the area, Smith was a statequalifier a year ago in both the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke. He also was a member of a pair of relay teams that advanced to State. Smith figures to be a key cog in the Chiefs’ resurgence in the pool this season.
With three swimmers gone to graduation, PARKVIEW will continue its rebuilding project this season. “We lost a lot of leadership and Ross Watson, Central—Like some of the top Petrich above, Watson also was a swimmers on the member of the Bulldogs’ three team to State –qualifying relay teams. graduation,” said The junior also qualified for State head coach Alex in the 50 and 100 freestyle. Miller, who will rely Andrew Workman, on senior Daryl Kickapoo—Workman is the Lane to fill the Chiefs’ workhorse in the distance leadership and events, and was a state-qualifier production void. a year ago in the 200-yard and “We’re going to be 500-yard freestyle. He figures to a young team, and be one of the best distance we’re still very swimmers in the area, and could much in a reach the podium in multiple rebuilding mode. events at State this season. The keys to our success will be the continued improvement of our young and inexperienced athletes. We need to see continual meet-to-meet improvement.” opi
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Class1
In the Class 1 ranks, MT. VERNON has established itself as a perennial force on the state level, going toe-to-toe with the traditional private school powers in Kansas City and St. Louis at the state tournament. Last season, the Lady Mt’neers brought another trophy back to Lawrence County after finishing in 4th-place at the state meet for the second consecutive year. Mt. Vernon, the defending district champion, is poised for another deep tournament run, as the Lady Mt’neers return their top five golfers from last year’s state team. Leading the way will be talented junior Ashley Childers, who earned AllState honors a year ago with a 10th-place finish
at State. Rounding out the team are Megan Pope, Lexi Farmer, Hayley Bowles, and Haile Marie Dudley.
Crouch, along with juniors Kersten Strickland, Kaitlyn Kincaid, and Brooke Phiesen. Sophomore Cheyenne Wright rounds out the team.
“We will be focusing on improving our short game,” said head coach Leah Clark. “Our keys to success will be teamwork, staying positive, and dedication. Our goal is to play the best golf we can and have fun along the way.”
Last year was an up-and-down season for GREENWOOD, but the Lady Bluejays did manage to qualify four golfers for the sectional tournament. Two of those golfers, Madison Smith and Brianna Steiert, return this season as seniors after All-District junior campaigns.
If there is a Class 1 team in the area to challenge Mt. Vernon, it is most likely LOGANROGERSVILLE. The Lady Wildcats also return fully intact, and last season’s COC-Small champions will challenge the Lady Mt’neers at the District and Sectional meets for a spot in the state tournament. “We want to compete for the COC-Small championship, as well as the district championship, and make it to State as a team,” said head coach Matt Powell. “We’ll need to put in the time and effort and learn how to manage rounds as individuals. We also need to improve our course management and score more consistently.”
“It going to be an interesting year,” said longtime head coach David Oatman, now in his 31st season at the helm. “We could be very strong. We have two All-District seniors back from last year and we have some very strong players in the sophomore and freshman levels coming up. How well they get along together and support each other will have quite a bit to do with the team success. I’m looking forward to a good year.” In addition to Smith and Steiert, fellow seniors Lauren Downie, Taylor Horacek and Jessica Ledesma are on the roster. One of Oatman’s biggest challenges will be finding course time for a host of underclassmen, including sophomores Katie Godwin, Hannah Ledesma, Grace Watson, and Montana White, as well as freshmen RoseMary Cornella, Sarah Cummings, Annie Gipson, Meredith Sharp, Katherine Ulmer, and Bailey Wilbur. After finishing second to Logan-Rogersville last season in the COC-Small, BOLIVAR returns its youthful lineup with another year of competitive experience under their belts. A pair of juniors and two freshmen saw action for the Lady Liberators in the district tournament last season. Seniors Brittany Briggs and Jaden Roark are back after garnering All-Conference honors last season as juniors. Roark also was a sectional qualifier. Fellow senior Mary Beth Jones also will play a key role. Sophomores Alex Porter and Mickayla Meredith return after strong district showings a year ago, with Porter pacing the team in advancing to Sectionals. Fellow sophomores Ashton Francisco and Alexis Miller are also on the team, along with freshmen Sydnee Kirby, Mykaela Davis, Claire Ankrom, and Alena Fuggitt.
Girls
Golf
By Byron Shive
Rogersville will be led by standout sophomore Lyndsey Standage, who came within a stroke of garnering All-State honors last year as a freshman. Lauren Floyd and Micah Texter are also a pair of returning AllConference and All-District golfers for the Lady Wildcats.
One up-and-coming team that is poised for a breakout season could be BUFFALO, which will feature a lineup dominated by upperclassmen, including one of the area’s best golfers in senior Taylor Abraham. The talented all-around athlete, who also plays volleyball for the Lady Bison, advanced to the state meet last year (in her spare time) and finished in 25th-place. Logan-Rogersville's Lyndsey Standage (Staff Photo)
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Joining Abraham will be fellow senior Bailey
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The top Class 2 team in the area figures to be KICKAPOO. The Lady Chiefs won conference and district championships last season, and finished just four strokes out of a team trip to State. Kickapoo will have trouble replacing Bridgette Wells, the team’s No. 1 golfer last season who has departed due to graduation.
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Kickapoo does return a pair of talented juniors, though, including Anna Arat, who should compete for medalist honors at meets this season. Arat was a state qualifier and AllConference honoree a year ago. Fellow classmate Haley Snow also garnered All-Conference honors last season and should give the Lady Chiefs a strong No. 2. A talented batch of newcomers will vie to fill the final lineup spots.
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OPI WATCH LIST Taylor Abraham, Buffalo—One of the best all-around athletes in the area, Abraham will be making another run at the state tournament when she is not busy helping the Lady Bison volleyball team. Last year as a junior, Abraham finished in 25th-place at the state meet…just seven strokes out of All-State honors.
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Anna Arat, Kickapoo—Looking to become a three-time state qualifier, Arat figures to be the Lady Chiefs’ top golfer this season. A two-time All-District golfer, the junior will look to improve her 65th-place showing at State last season.
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Ashley Childers, Mt. Vernon—One of the top Class 1 golfers in the area, Childers will be vying to improve her 10th-place finish at the state meet a year ago. Childers will also be looking to lead Mt. Vernon back to State, where the Lady Mt’neers brought home the 4th-place trophy.
Marshfield's Paige Moles (Staff Photo)
“We have a lot of young girls that look very promising,” said head coach Angie Odom. “I think we will compete well, but our success will be determined by how well our freshmen step up. We just need experience and practice.” One intriguing team this season will be GLENDALE. The Lady Falcons have the best golfer in the area on the team in junior Sun Jung, a twotime All-State honoree who finished as the state runner-up as a freshman and in 5th-place last season. She will be the favorite to medal in every tournament prior to State. Jung’s supporting cast is another year older, which means another season of experience. The Lady Falcons were young and inexperienced as a
group last season, but should be better this year. “Our young ladies are excited for the upcoming season and are going to work on improving their skill levels in all facets of the game,” said firstyear head coach Ron Yocum. “The key to our success will be practice, practice, and more practice, along with having fun. Our team will need to understand that improving their putting, pitching, and chipping skills will help us improve our team and individual scores and apply that through focused practice. We want to be playing our best during district competition and beyond.” There is a lot of optimism this fall at REPUBLIC, as the Lady Tigers will look to advance in the post-season after a disappointing 3rd-place district finish a year ago. Republic was forced to play two freshmen last year, which should pay dividends this season. Republic does have a solid No. 1 golfer in senior Baylee Rayl, a two-time state qualifier and an AllConference and AllDistrict honoree last season. Fellow senior Bailey Cornelison has the potential to post some low numbers. The two freshmen who saw action last year, twins Emma Blanford and Caroline Blanford, are now sophomores and should score better than a year ago. Vying for the fifth and final varsity spot are junior Vanessa Nimmo and freshmen Katie Hamilton and Alexus Mitchell. “I think we have a chance to be competitive again this season,” said first-year head coach Curt Plotner. “I believe that the development of our young players will ultimately be the key to
our team’s success this year. If these girls can continue to improve as the season goes along, we have a chance to advance our team in the postseason.” With three Sectional qualifiers back again this year, BRANSON will be looking to continue to show signs of improvement. “We are continuing to improve each year and we made some strides last year,” said head coach Tim Long. Ashley Wilkerson is the only senior on the squad, and will look to cap her career with a trip to State after qualifying for Sectionals last fall. Juniors Chelsea McQueen and Ali Stone both got a taste of postseason play last year at Sectionals, and have worked hard in the offseason to take the next step this season.
Sun Jung, Glendale—Jung has to be considered the favorite to medal in every tournament she enters. The junior will be looking to capture an individual state championship after finishing in 5th-place a year ago (and as the state runner-up as a freshman). She is the defending district and sectional medalist. Paige Moles, Marshfield—Moles is as talented as any golfer in the area, as evidenced by her garnering co-medalist honors with Glendale’s Sun Jung at the district meet last season. The junior will be looking to make her thirdstraight trip to State, where she will vie for All-State honors after a disappointing finish at State a year ago. Baylee Rayl, Republic—Now a senior, Rayl has been a fixture on the state scene her entire career. Rayl was the COC-Large medalist last season, and will be the top golfer for the Lady Tigers this year. Look for Rayl to be in the mix for All-State honors at the state meet this season. Haley Snow, Kickapoo—Snow should be one of the area’s best No. 2 golfers after garnering AllConference honors last season. In fact, Snow has the talent to be a state qualifier this year. Lyndsey Standage, LoganRogersville—Standage burst on the scene as a freshman last season by reaching the state tournament, where she finished one stroke out of All-State honors in 16th-place. Now a sophomore, Standage will be looking for a return trip to state…and All-State recognition.
“The key to our success will be showing improvement in all areas of the game,” said Long. “We need to improve on our short game. This is where every team and player can cut off strokes. We will be putting a bigger emphasis on this early in the season.” Coming off its best season in years, there is a lot of optimism in OZARK. The Lady Tigers did lose four golfers to graduation, but do bring back some experienced upperclassmen who will be opi
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looking to take the next step this fall. Senior Megan Dotson was a Sectional qualifier a year ago and should be the Lady Tigers’ low scorer this season. Junior Shannon Deakins was also a Sectional qualifier last year and will push Dotson for scoring honors. Seniors Shannon Henderson and Reagan Maddox also return for Ozark. “I am excited to see if the girls can continue to improve their games,” said head coach Jared Lotz. “We also have some incoming freshmen that are showing great promise. I am excited to see them contribute. We are continuing to learn how to score. The keys to our success include creating and executing a game plan, learning how to bounce back from mistakes, and staying in the right state of mind. As always, their short game will also be a point of focus.” At NIXA, the Lady Eagles will rely on senior Alex Fjeseth and sophomore Beth McDonald this season. The two alternated as Nixa’s No. 1 and No. 2 golfers last season. “We must have all of our varsity players present and mentally ready for every practice,” said first-year head coach Jeff Lotz. “They must be willing to complete each session with the determination, concentration, and desire to improve daily. We want to improve every day and be competitive in every tournament and match.” Last year was a learning experience at WILLARD, as the youthful Lady Tigers made steady individual improvement throughout the season. With no seniors on the roster last year, that means Willard can continue its progress this fall. “I am very excited about the upcoming season,” said head coach Matt Stone. “We have several players on our team that could show a big jump in improvement from last season.” Junior Morgan Johnson returns after posting a 57.7 nine-hole scoring average last year. Sophomore Brooke Mitchals (59.3) also returns, as does Brooklyn Teague (61.3). “If our girls can focus on what they work on in practice each day and transition that to the course and competition, they will see steady improvement. The short game is a great area for that focus to begin, as this is where many of our players could improve and save themselves valuable strokes on the course.” At MARSHFIELD, junior standout Paige Moles will be the Lady ‘Jays top performer. Moles is a two-time state qualifier and a coDistrict medalist a year ago with Glendale’s Sun Jung. Last year, PARKVIEW only had two team golfers and, therefore, was unable to compete as a team. One of those golfers moved out of the district in the offseason, leaving the Lady Vikings with just one returning letter-winner in junior Taylor Bowman. “With only two athletes, when you lose 50 percent of the team, it’s disconcerting,” said head coach Steve Stratton. “But I challenged the female student body to help me build a golf team at PHS and they responded. I now have seven golfers on the team and I can’t stop smiling! “Being able to compete with a full team is great,” added Stratton. “I’m hoping that the girls will have fun, make new friends, and learn to enjoy the sport of golf. This is a game you can play for the rest of your life, and a sport you can teach your children and grandchildren. Isn’t that what it’s all about?”
Mt. Vernon's Ashley Childers (Staff Photo)
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OPI WATCH LIST Abbey Belote, Parkview—The senior has not been able to experience a lot of team success in her career, but Belote possesses the skills to win night in and night out. The problem is that she regularly faces the other team’s top player at No. 1 singles. Emily Fenton, Mt. Vernon—Fenton will step into the No. 1 singles role at Mt. Vernon after pairing with Paige McCoy a year ago to capture conference and district titles as one of the top doubles tandems in the area.
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This season could not get much better for LOGANROGERSVILLE than last fall’s campaign. Well, unless the Lady Wildcats capture a Class 1 state championship. Rogersville, which advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history a year ago, lost only one player off a team that entered the state semifinals with a 16-0 record before finishing in 3rd-place. The Lady Wildcats lost Karley Eakins to graduation, but the rest of the Final Four team is back, including a couple of the area’s best players in Hannah Nixon and Kristyn Young at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively. Madison Watts will play No. 3 singles, with Stacey Williams at No. 4. Emma Etheridge is back at No. 5 singles, while Marissa Grimes steps into the varsity spot vacated by the departed Eakins. “All of these girls played a significant role in the team’s success last year,” said head coach Sarah Worsham. “The great thing for us is that all six of these girls have the experience of the state trip from last year. “I’m looking forward to every match this year and am excited to see what happens,” added Worsham. “You never know what another team will have to offer on any given day, so we are just wanting to take it all one match at a time and not overlook any team.” The Lady Wildcats began the season with a bang by easily dispatching its first three opponents, including a pair of district champions last season in Greenwood and Republic.
Girls
Tennis By Byron Shive
Greenwood's Lucie Prewitt (Staff Photo)
CeCe Givens, Branson—Givens was a state qualifier a year ago, as she and older sister, Lucy, advanced to the state doubles quarterfinals after capturing district and sectional titles. Lucy graduated, so now CeCe will pair with Taylor Johnston to comprise what should be the most dominant doubles pairing in the area. Lyndsey Hamilton, Nixa—Like Parkview’s Abbey Belote above, Hamilton is talented enough to win a lot of matches. However, she too will be facing the other team’s best player as Nixa’s No. 1 singles player. Regardless, look for Hamilton to score points for Nixa this season. Danielle Hopkins, Republic—Hopkins, a sectional qualifier a year ago, should be a threat to advance to State this fall. Hopkins will be one of the top players this season for Republic, which will be looking to defend its district title from last season. Taylor Johnston, Branson—Johnston is, arguably, the best tennis player in Southwest Missouri. If she’s not the best, then she is certainly in the discussion. Look for Johnston, who captured district and sectional singles titles en route to the state quarterfinals a year ago, to be major factor on the singles scene again this season. She will pair with CeCe Givens to form, arguably, the best doubles tandem in the region. opi
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Speaking of GREENWOOD, after winning a district championship last season, the Lady Bluejays are poised for a big season this fall. Greenwood would return fully intact, but Crosby Garrison has elected to focus her time and talents on soccer.
However, Monett’s No. 1 singles player has moved to Colorado, so the Lady Cubs will need someone to step into that prominent role. With only one senior seeing prominent varsity action, Monett should be able to take the next step this season.
Regardless, Greenwood returns a host of talented tennis players, including junior Lucie Prewitt at No. 1 singles. Prewitt captured a district title a year ago en route to a top 16 individual finish at State. Ann Weston Sistrunk also returns after a runner-up finish at districts last season. Senior Anna Martinez should factor prominently in the team’s success, while juniors Katherine Sistrunk and Courtney Whitlock will also be major contributors to the Lady Bluejays’ success.
“Our positive attitudes and a willingness to learn from losses will be keys,” said head coach Bob Crain. “Our footwork always needs improving, but second serves can determine success in a match. Those are the main areas that we need to work on.”
“We are very excited,” said head coach Stephen Walker about the season. “We are simply going to focus on one match at a time and see what happens. Our keys to success will be max effort and good decision making. We are putting in a lot of work at the net. We’re also working on becoming more aggressive and finishing points when we have the chance.” After advancing to 10 Final Fours in 13 years, last year’s district runner-up finish was a down year by the lofty standards at BOLIVAR. A host of underclassmen gained a valuable year of varsity experience a year ago, though, for the 2011 state runner-up Lady Liberators. “With only losing two seniors, I think we are going to have a great season,” said head coach Jennifer Nutt. “The girls got a lot of varsity experience last year being a young team, and this year they will know what to expect. We have a lot of returning players this year who saw a lot of varsity action at a young age and I am really excited for this season.” Bolivar will have the luxury of returning key players in all classes, led by standout senior Emma Samek, who teamed with departed senior Abbi Porter to finish in 5th-place at the state doubles tournament last fall. Fellow seniors Cristen Meyer and Emily Reynolds also return. The Lady Liberators also return juniors Tiffany Carns and Jordan Hargis, who teamed up to finish in 2nd-place at the conference tournament, along with fellow classmate Audrey Meadows, who earned a runner-up conference finish at #4 singles a year ago. A trio of talented sophomores will also be counted on for production, and include Jessie Gamble, Macy Hall, and Kennedy Hodges. After a district runner-up finish last season, MT. VERNON will need to replace a pair of key graduated seniors in Paige McCoy and Alyssa Shepard. Senior Emily Fenton will step into the No. 1 singles role after pairing with McCoy a year ago to capture conference and district titles as one of the top doubles tandems in the area. In addition to Fenton, the Lady Mt’neers will rely heavily on senior Makayla Potter and sophomore Kaitlin Foulk. “We’re going to be a very, very young team,” said head coach Michelle Rust. “It’s definitely a rebuilding time, and there’s going to be time for players to step up and learn fast. What few older and experienced players we have will need to step into leadership roles on the varsity and help out our younger players, as well as be focused on their own games.” Fellow Big 8 counterpart MONETT finished last season by winning its final three matches, and will look to build on that momentum as a very young team is now a year older. The Lady Cubs played three freshmen, a pair of sophomores and a junior last season en route to a 3-10 record.
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Junior Hannah Pitts should get the first opportunity at No. 1 singles after playing No. 2 a year ago. A trio of sophomores should fill the middle singles spots, including Josefene Caudill, Katherine Tinklepaugh, and Lauren Bass. Senior Brianna Morris enters the season at No. 5 singles, while sophomore Meghan Gaines should fill the No. 6 slot. Down south, FORSYTH has quietly been establishing itself as a solid girls tennis program over the past several years. The Lady Panthers finished as the district runner-up to Final Fourbound Logan-Rogersville last fall, and won the Forsyth, Waynesville, and Nixa Tournaments. Forsyth only lost two seniors to graduation, but they were a state-caliber doubles tandem in Avery Lawson and Samantha Johnson. However, a trio of juniors and a sophomore are ready to climb the ladder and keep Forsyth competitive. The juniors include Sydney Oliphant, who should step into the No. 1 singles role, Hannah Karnes (No. 2), and Liz Barnes (No. 3). Sophomore Kendra Edwards played at No. 6 singles last season, but should step into the No. 4 role this year. “We should be good by District time,” said head coach Bonny Harris. “We need to improve our confidence and stroke consistency, though. We want to do well at districts and keep up the success of past Forsyth teams.” With only one returning varsity player a year ago, SPRINGFIELD CATHOLIC still managed to perform fairly well, all the while gaining valuable experience which should pay dividends this fall. “This season should be very promising,” said head coach Keary Basecke. “Our top three players are returning this year, and we only lost one varsity member from last season. Our team is very deep and we are looking forward to some exciting new additions to varsity.” Key returnees include junior Cielo dela Rosa, seniors Eden Howell and Hannah Kofron, and junior Sydney Miller. Senior Sarah Buckley will also be a key contributor, as will sophomore Julia Hawes. “Endurance will be the key to our success,” said Basecke. “Our team has been working hard throughout the summer and is in great shape. The ability to endure long matches will be a huge contributing factor to our play. We also need to be more consistent. While we have the ability to execute shots well, we need to do a better job of knowing when to utilize certain shots.” Last year’s 3-6 record at CLEVER is a bit deceiving, as the Lady Bluejays were competitive in nearly every match. However, Clever’s top five players have graduated, which means that a host of young and inexperienced players will need to contribute immediately at the varsity level. Junior Mackenzie Buckert will make the leap to No. 1 singles after playing at No. 6 last season. She is the only player with any measurable varsity experience. Other players looking to make their varsity mark include juniors Jada Hampton, Abbey
Waterworth and Shyla Cameron, senior Reanna Wilson, and sophomore Sierra Bishop. Depth will be provided by a ninedeep JV squad.
WATCH LIST
Delaney Mattix, Reeds Spring—Mattix spent the offseason working on her game, and the Lady Wolves’ new No. 1 player should be one of the “The team will be area’s most improved young this year,” said players this season. Look head coach Brian for Mattix to be a factor Breeden. “We will come Districts. have to improve Michaela Moore, quickly to be Republic—Like teammate successful. The key to our success will be Danielle Hopkins, Moore was also a sectional the younger girls qualifier last season who stepping up and will be looking to advance playing well. We to the state tournament need to improve in being consistent. We this season. Moore will also need to improve also be a key contributor to Republic’s district title in hitting stronger shots against better defense. varsity opponents. Shelbee Neal, Our confidence also Kickapoo—Neal teamed needs to improve.” with teammate Meghan After a 0-11 season Zengel to give the Lady Chiefs’ a top-notch a year ago, and the doubles tandem, one that departure of five advanced to the state players to graduation, it would tournament. Look for Neal to aid the Lady Chief seem that the cause by scoring a lot of outlook would be points at both singles and bleak at REEDS doubles this season. SPRING. However, that is not the case, Hannah Nixon, Loganas head coach Dan Rogersville—The No. 1 Jones is excited singles player on the about the direction area’s best tennis team, his program is Nixon was a major factor headed. in Logan-Rogersville’s “We will be weaker March to its first Final Four last season. Nixon as a team, but our will definitely be a factor younger girls in the Lady Wildcats’ stepping into the 1, 2, and 3 spots will be quest to improve on last season’s 3rd-place finish. stronger than last year. However, we Hannah Pitts, will be weaker in the Monett—After playing bottom of our No. 2 singles for the Lady lineup. We don’t Cubs last season, look for expect but a couple Pitts to step into the No. 1 of chances to get singles position this team wins this year, season. Also look for the but we are excited junior to be a pointabout adding five scoring threat on a nightly new freshmen and basis. one new Lucie Prewitt, sophomore.” Greenwood—Prewitt is Playing at the No. 1 one of the area’s best allsingles spot will be around tennis players, Delaney Mattix, who and will once again be has put in the work looking to make a deep to improve her game state tournament run. tremendously since The junior captured a last season. Nadalyn district title a year ago en Deatley, who has route to a top 16 added an improved individual finish at State, serve to her game, and is poised to finish was the team leader higher this season. in wins (4) last year and earned team MVP honors for her efforts. Josie Boice will play No. 3 singles this season after playing JV a year ago.
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Last year was a banner year at BRANSON, as the Lady Pirates captured conference and district titles, and sent three players to the state tournament. It marked
s d re y lo h g
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Branson’s sixthstraight conference championship.
Asana Rimal, Central—Rimal is the top player for the district runner-up Central Lady Bulldogs, and teamed with the since-graduated Serena Chang last season to capture a district title en route to the state doubles tournament. Look for Rimal to be a state tourney threat in singles this season.
Two of the three state qualifiers are back this season, including Taylor Johnston, who captured district and sectional singles titles en route to the state quarterfinals. CeCe Givens will miss older sister Lucy, who is playing collegiately at Drury Emma Samek, Bolivar—Samek is one of this year, but should team with Johnston the area’s best tennis players, and should be a to be one of the threat to advance to the state’s best doubles state singles tournament tandems. Gabriella Makuch, Kellie this season. The senior, Seaman and who teamed with Angelina Civiello departed senior Abbi also return and will Porter to finish in 5thplace at the state doubles factor prominently tournament last fall, also in the Lady Pirates’ could make a return trip pursuit of yet another conference to the state doubles title. tourney. “We will definitely Kristyn Young, Loganshoot to win Rogersville—After a standout junior campaign another conference championship, and atop the Lady Wildcats’ to take the doubles ladder, Young should team of Johnston dominate this season at and Givens to No. 2 singles. Young helped lead Rogersville to State,” said head coach Teresa Carlin. its first Final Four “Our keys to appearance and a 3rdsuccess will be place state finish last working together as year, and she should be in the mix once the state a team and being singles tournament rolls disciplined in our daily practices. We around. need to work on Meghan Zengel, our stamina and Kickapoo—Zengel is one perfecting our shots of the Lady Chiefs’ top around the net.” players, and should be a Another area team threat once again to make a state tourney run that captured a district title a year after pairing with teammate Shelbee Neal ago was REPUBLIC, in the state tournament a which lost four year ago. Like Neal, look players to graduation but for Zengel to score a lot returns several of points in both singles players from last and doubles for theLady season’s 10-2 team. Chiefs this season. “We are returning several players from last year’s varsity lineup and district-winning team, but we also have to replace four experienced letter-winners with young players,” said head coach Eric Hanson. “We lost a lot of experience, but our younger players had a great offseason and will need to fill the gaps.” Leading the Lady Tigers this season will be Danielle Hopkins and Michaela Moore, a pair of sectional qualifiers who will be looking to advance to State this fall. Also returning are Tori Giesler, Ashley Cameron, and Ta’lor Sandul. A host of younger players are ready to step into more prominent roles, including Kaylin Conner, Alyssa Damron, Nicole White, Tayler Avery, Brittany Thompson, Brittany Marshall, and Alexis Smith. After winning conference and district
championships last season, GLENDALE will need to find replacements for three departed seniors, including its Nos. 1, 2, and 4 singles players. The Lady Falcons should have enough talent left to match or better their 12-6 dual record from a year ago. In fact, Glendale jumped out to a quick 3-0 record this season by outscoring its opponents 25-2 in the three wins. “Our effort and attitude will be important keys to our success,” said head coach Bob Cooper. “We hope to always to play with great effort and attitude. Doubles will be an area of emphasis.”
“We must stay healthy, because we have no depth,” said head coach Greg Hannah. “We need to improve our footwork and foot speed, because we will have to run balls down. We would like to continue to improve and finish high at COC and districts.” With three of its top six players freshmen last season, NIXA still managed to post a 7-7 record. Those freshmen are a year older, and only one player was lost to graduation, so expectations are high for the Lady Eagles this season.
Courtney Reese will play at No. 2 singles this season after playing at No. 3 last season. Maggie Ingemi will move up the ladder to No. 4 singles from No. 5, while Caroline Kickham will move from No. 6 to No. 5 singles this season.
“I expect us to finish in the top three or four in the COC and finish with a little better record than the year before,” said head coach Brock Blansit. “We need to win some matches early to get our confidence up. We finished the season strong last year, though.”
Glendale will dedicate its season to the Nahon family, who are still mourning the untimely and tragic death of Paul Nahon. The 2011 Glendale graduate, a two-time state tennis champion and the state record-holder for career wins, died on Aug. 15 after falling 150 feet while rock climbing in Colorado.
Lyndsey Hamilton will once again play at No. 1 singles for the Lady Eagles, and should compete for points on a nightly basis. Sophomores Maran Attwooll and Hannah Todd will be key contributors in singles, but also as a talented doubles tandem. Senior Shannon Davies and sophomore Hannah Nelson will also factor prominently in the Lady Eagles’ success.
Last season, CENTRAL posted a 15-6 record in finishing as the district runner-up to Glendale. The Lady Bulldogs lost a pair of players to graduation, including a state qualifier in Serena Chang, but return some key players that should keep Central in the district mix. “I think our younger players have improved enough to put us even with last year,” said firstyear head coach John Bunselmeyer. “Our doubles play will ultimately determine how successful we are. We need to be mentally tough and compete throughout entire matches. I look for us to compete for a district title.” The Lady Bulldogs’ top returnee is Asana Rimal at No. 1 singles. Rimal is one of the area’s best allaround players, and teamed with Chang last season to capture a district title en route to the state tournament. Emily Erdel will play No. 2 singles this season, and will be an important factor in the Lady Bulldogs’ success. After finishing as both conference and district runner-up last season, KICKAPOO will be looking to take the next step this season. With only two girls having graduated, there is plenty of talent back to take that step.
It continues to be a rebuilding project at PARKVIEW, as the Lady Vikings are coming off a winless season and lost three players to graduation. However, a trio of seniors will be looking to close their careers on a winning note, including Abbey Belote at No. 1 singles, as well as Chandler Eaton and McKensie Keener. “One key to our success will be how hard the girls are willing to work to improve their game,” said head coach Leslie Callison. “Helping them understand that ‘how you practice is how you play’ will be tantamount to the success of not only each individual, but also the team as a whole. There are always plenty of ways in which we can improve, but I think the most significant will be in match smarts. It’s one thing to be able to hit the ball back and forth, but now that many of my players are comfortable keeping the ball in play, I want them to start thinking more in terms of shot strategy and ways to put a point away.”
“Our team finished strong last season with a good group of young players,” said head coach Chris Kohl. “We have a team this year that is committed to working hard and having first class character. We need to stay healthy, support each other, and do our best. A pair of state qualifiers highlights the returnees, including sophomore Meghan Zengel and senior Shelbee Neal, who teamed together to advance to state as a doubles pairing. Senior Shyanne Freeman is a returning conference champion, while fellow classmate Haven Arnzen is a three-year starter. Senior Taylor Carlton and junior Mandy Schmidt are both returning starters, while sophomore Annie Lewis and junior Kristina Taylor will be seeing their first varsity action. It was an up-and-down season for OZARK last year, as the Lady Tigers posted an 8-8 record, which featured a runner-up finish at the conference meet. Ozark must replace its No. 2 and No. 6 singles players, but do have some talented players back this fall. Senior Taylor Major will play at No. 1 singles again, and should be one of the area’s better players. Senior Kortney Jochems will play at No. 2 singles, with juniors Cami Robinson and Lindsey Major at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively.
Branson’s Taylor Johnston (Staff photo)
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liberator dominator by byron shive
Success = Preparation + Opportunity. Add to this age-old formula a dose of God-given talent and it makes success even more likely. There are a lot of talented quarterbacks in the Ozarks this season, but the best of the bunch may be Bolivar’s Rafe Peavey. The three-year starter entered this season as the #4-ranked dual threat quarterback in the country, according to national recruiting website Rivals.com. Peavey has certainly been blessed with God-given ability, something the humble senior is quick to point out. However, the son of a football coach and the younger brother of a quarterback who signed with a Division I school has prepared himself to succeed by
in the state in Class 4. The wins included an impressive, eye-opening 31-14 statement win at state-ranked Harrisonville, which beat Bolivar twice last season, as Rafe threw for three touchdowns and ran for another. It makes sense that Rafe is so highly regarded as a dual threat quarterback, having completed over 65 percent of his passes (235of-360) for 4,283 yards and 43 touchdowns (with only eight interceptions) in his career (through four games this season). Rafe has also rushed for 1,360 yards on 254 carries and another 34 touchdowns. “Rafe is a good football player,” said Bolivar head coach Lance Roweton. “He has an exceptional arm. He’s fast and strong.
more often than not. For example, when Rafe was in middle school, he followed his older brother, Kolton, and the family all around to various recruiting stops. Kolton, who quarterbacked the Liberators from 2009-10, eventually signed out of high school with Division I South Alabama. (Kolton has since transferred to Rhode Island.) Rafe tagged along to as many of Kolton’s recruiting trips as he could, and soaked up as much information as possible. When it came time for Rafe to enter high school, he already had a plan in place, and was preparing himself to succeed. Rafe will graduate early and enroll at the University of Arkansas, one of the SEC’s tradition-rich programs, in January, which will enable Rafe to participate in spring practice with the Razorbacks. “I knew that that was a really big positive to graduate early and have those extra six months to learn the playbook and everything,” said Rafe. “My freshman year I got to set my schedule up from the very beginning to try and graduate early…just in case I was ever in this position.” A starter since his sophomore season, Rafe and his teammates could not have started this season any better. Through four games, the Liberators were 4-0 and ranked second
by the numbers
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Add it all up and it makes sense that Rafe is so highly regarded as a dual threat quarterback, having completed over 65 percent of his passes (235-of-360) for 4,283 yards and 43 touchdowns (with only eight interceptions) in his career. Rafe has also rushed for 1,360 yards on 254 carries carry) and another 34 touchdowns.
He’s just a good athlete.” Rafe originally committed to play collegiately at Arkansas prior to his junior season in the summer of 2012. “I was just ready to get the decision out of the way and focus on my junior season,” said Rafe. “I felt comfortable with the
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old Arkansas coaching staff. I spent a long time praying on it. It was a big decision to make.� In the wake of former Arkansas coach Bobby much-publicized motorcycle wreck and ensuing scandal, and the ensuing John L. Smith last November following a 4-8 season, Rafe re-opened his recruiting. “It was pretty stressful at one point, but then I talked with my Dad and he told me that I could either look at is as something that stresses me out, or I can how blessed I am to be in the situation I’m in, because there are a lot of people that wish they were in my shoes,� said Rafe. “I just took that to heart and it kind of opened my eyes up a little bit. I’m just grateful. God made it pretty clear that Arkansas was the place I was supposed to be.� After Arkansas lured Bret Bielema from Wisconsin as its next head coach, Rafe got to know the new staff. In the end, Rafe reafArkansas in June. Some of college football’s heavy hitters have been interested in Rafe, who received over 30 scholarship offers in all. In addition to Arkansas, some of the other schools involved included Missouri, PAC-12 powers USC
and UCLA, Big 10 juggernaut Ohio State, and Baylor and Kansas State from the Big 12. The recruiting process has been a blessing for the entire family. “I feel that through Rafe’s hard work, he is well deserving of the opportunities that have come his way,â€? said Rachael Peavey, Rafe’s proud mother. “The process for him has been overwhelming yet rewarding, having met many coaches and having visited different schools and what they have to offer. We took him on recruiting visits and experienced through his eyes what was important to him as a player, while as parents we were able to offer insight into things he may not have thought about. For instance, if he couldn’t play football, would he still be happy going there?â€? The Peaveys are a football family. Jack Peavey, Rafe’s father, played in the NFL for both the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots, and was a highly successful high school coach in Massachusetts (winning multiple state championships) before moving onto the college ranks. The coaching stops took the Peaveys to William Paterson University in Wayne Township, N.J., before Jack was hired to coach Southwest Baptist University in 2005, which brought Jack and Rachael and their three children (Kolton, daughter Peyton and Rafe) to Bolivar. “I loved growing up as a coach’s son,â€? said Rafe. “Kolton and I used to always play catch on the sidelines of my dad’s high school games whenever he coached up in Massachusetts. We’ve always been around the game ever since I was little. I pretty much grew up with a football in my hands.â€? “From the time Rafe could stand alone he has been on the sideline with me everywhere I was the head coach,â€? recalls Jack. “Our team was playing in the playoffs one year and players were going ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ and it had players all said, ‘Coach, watch Rafe on the sideline.’ He was playing tackle football with kids of all ages on the sideline. He was absolutely hammering those kids. It was so funny!â€? So, with two Division I quarterbacks in the family, who is better‌Kolton or Rafe? “Both of our sons are uniquely special,â€? said
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Jack. “Both are leaders, both are men we as parents are proud of, both love the Lord, and both want to be great in everything they do. Whether it’s a biology test, playing Madden video games, or wrestling on the couch, they are competitive, and that’s what makes them both great! Don’t forget that our daughter, Peyton, has the same desires as her brothers. She is a worker, and she could probably play QB, too.” “Rafe and I agreed that Peyton would have been the best of us all had she been a boy,” said Kolton with a laugh. “But she’s still the best athlete.” “I still think Kolton is the best quarterback,” said Rafe of his older brother. “I know some people don’t think that, but I’ve looked up to him my whole life. I would not be in the situation I am today without him. He has taught me so much, both him and my parents. I’ve just been so blessed to be in such a great family, and to be surrounded by such great coaches and teammates.” The Peavey family is extremely close, particularly Peyton and Rafe, who are just a year apart. “Rafe is my best friend, not because he is my brother, but because of the person he is,” said Peyton, who is in her freshman year playing volleyball at College of the Ozarks. “Even though he is my younger brother, I look up to him for being a leader and for his love for life and the people around him. I have an awesome relationship with Rafe and I am so blessed to have him as my little brother. I don’t know what I would do without him and the joy he brings into my life.” Bolivar has seemingly had a steady stream of top-notch quarterbacks over the past decade. From the Blair brothers, Colt and Spencer, to Preston Guiot, to the Peavey brothers the past successful signal-callers. “Rafe’s just another good one,” said Roweton. “The thing that separates him, though, is his tools. He throws it harder and farther and he runs a little faster…and he’s bigger.” Rafe’s tools are what set him apart from the rest. At 6-2 and 205 pounds, he does not have the measurements of the prototypical quarterback, but his arm strength is off the charts. Roweton recalls an SEC coach putting Rafe on the Juggs gun, which measures velocity. The coach told Roweton that Rafe was consistently throwing the ball about 55 miles per hour. “That didn’t mean a whole lot to me,” said Roweton. “I know that in baseball, a 90 mile per hour pitch is pretty good, but it didn’t mean much with football.” According to the SEC coach, a good SEC-caliber quarterback consistently throws the football 50 miles per hour, so Rafe’s 55 MPH was considered elite. “I feel like, overall, we have several good players,” said Roweton of his team this season. “I feel like (Rafe’s) the triggerman for all of it, offensively anyway. The thing with having a guy with an arm like that is that no throw is out of the question and you can be pretty creative
with what you want to do, because he can get it there. His arm strength is elite, so that’s the big deal.” Peavey also possesses blazing speed, which he displayed last spring as a member of Bolivar’s two All-State relay teams. “We had three guys over 200 pounds out there,” laughed Rafe of the state track experience. “We were
misunderstood,” said Rachael. “Someone his age who has had the exposure and attention that he has can often go to their head. I’ve never once heard him brag on himself. If anything he’s too hard on himself.” According to Kolton, Rafe’s strength comes from an unlikely source. “He secretly loves to you have ever seen,” tells Kolton. “He swears Oreos give him strength.”
Rafe’s tools were evident at an early age. “I knew Rafe was going to be good at an early age,” said Kolton, who is three years older. “When I was an 8th-grader, we used to play
away one-by-one, he and the Liberators have
I remember Rafe being able to throw the ball 35-plus yards and outrun kids my age. The breakout moment to me, though, was when freshman, but stepped out of bounds so he wouldn’t run the score up on the other team.” Rafe has been blessed with God-given talent, but he has worked relentlessly to foster that talent. That includes working with QB guru Skip Stitzell, who heads up The Quarterback’s Edge in Columbia. Over 25 former students of Stitzell have gone on to play Division I football. “He’s really helped me with my release point,” said Rafe of Stitzell’s mentoring. “With me being a shorter QB, he’s helped me get my release point up, so I can get the ball over the
to maintain its ownership of the COC-Small crown, and then it’s off to District play, where a rematch with Harrisonville likely awaits. Many pundits feel that a match-up with perennial state powerhouse Webb City awaits in the Class 4 state championship game in November, but there’s a lot of football to be played between now and then. “I just want to go out and enjoy it day by day, because I’ve only got a few more months with my teammates,” said Rafe. “I know that at the next level, it’s pretty much a business, so I’m just looking forward to having fun and competing with my teammates, and just leading them to the best season that we can have.” Better pass the Oreos and crank up the Adele, then, because Rafe Peavey has been preparing for this season his whole life, and the Liberators have an opportunity to make it the most successful season in school history.
holes I couldn’t before. He’s really played a big part in everything that’s going on.” Rafe has also participated in some elite football camps across the country, including working with another quarterback guru, Joe Dickinson, at the DeBartolo Football Academy in Shawnee, Okla. In addition, Rafe was invited to the Elite 11 after his sophomore and junior seasons, and has also participated in the Marine All-American Combine, the Southwest Elite Showcase 7-on-7 Tournament in Springdale, Ark., and the NZone Top Gun passing camp. Located on the east outer road of Highway 13 just south of Bolivar MO Despite all the national rankings Thurs 11-8, Fri & Sat 11-9, Sun 11-3 ts and media attention, en ’s Rafe has remained one ds, e Ev e o g B r a r at grounded. “What opl nd L irs , Billia e a a t p l s r l makes Rafe special is Up Ba Sma up to r oft, a Full his humility, which e L t e r a Find us on fo Th or d may sometimes be We C ace isit n f oar
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Cassville's Hayden Prater (33) (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography)
OPI WATCH LIST
Football By Byron Shive
Big 8 Conference Predicted Order of Finish LAMAR—Despite winning the past two Class 2 state 1 championships, the Tigers have failed
to win the Big 8 Conference both years. With four starters back on the offensive line, and a host of talented and speedy backs, this is the Tigers’ time. Lamar, which entered this season as the top-ranked team in Class 2, set a state record last season by rushing for 6,417 yards for the season. Don’t be surprised to see an undefeated Lamar squad at the Edward Jones Dome.
Wildcats have 2late,CASSVILLE—The owned the Big 8 Conference of having won the past four league titles. There is plenty of talent on the roster again this season, but former defensive coordinator Lance Parnell is calling the shots on the sideline now. Don’t expect much to change for the Wildcats.
MONETT—The Cubs are fresh off a trip to the Class 3 state 3semifinals, but graduation claimed a lot of talent. There will be a lot of
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fresh faces in the lineup this season, but head coach Chad Depee has been building a solid program. Don’t expect to see the Cubs in the state semifinals again this season, but also don’t think Monett won’t be a factor in the conference either.
the conference, but that has not translated to success on the gridiron. Carl Junction has not won a conference title since 2007, and it will be another at least another year before that streak ends.
AURORA—The good news is the ‘Houn Dawgs opened the 2012 campaign with three straight wins, but the bad news is Aurora followed that streak up with seven straight losses. Although Aurora lost some very good players to graduation, look for this season’s ‘Houn Dawgs to more resemble the team that opened last year than the team that finished it.
year head coach Ozzie Riley and the Mt’neers. Mt. Vernon will need to find an immediate replacement for All-Stater Shane Williams, who is now playing collegiately at perennial Division II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State.
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SENECA—After an up-and-down 2012 campaign which included an Indians’ defeat of eventual Class 2 state champion Lamar, Seneca will need to be more consistent to get over the hump. JUNCTION—Size-wise, the Bulldogs are the largest school in 6 CARL
Oct. 11 Lamar at Monett
VERNON—With only six starters returning this season, this 7willMT. be a rebuilding year for second-
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EAST NEWTON—The Patriots will eventually contend for a Big 8 title, but it will not be this season.
Ben Bailey, Lamar—A 1st-Team AllState offensive lineman, Bailey is a leader up front of the line that opens holes for the potent Lamar ground attack. Bailey also is a standout defensive lineman for the two-time defending Class 2 state champions. Sam Bailey, Lamar—Another 1st-Team All-Stater at Lamar, Bailey is one of the state’s best tight ends. Bailey also earned 2nd-Team All-State honors as a defensive lineman after recording a pair of sacks, two interceptions, and scoring a defensive touchdown for the Class 2 powerhouse Tigers. Jared Beshore, Lamar—Yet another 1st-Team All-State player for Lamar (see a theme here?), Beshore was also named the Big 8 Conference Offensive Player of the Year after carrying the ball 178 times for 2,093 yards and 27 touchdowns. Beshore also caught eight passes for another 258 yards, while making 30 tackles and picking off six passes from his defensive back position. Braxton Graham, Seneca—Another one of the Big 8’s top defensive backs, Graham picked off four passes as a junior and should surpass that total this year as a senior. Graham also stars at running back for the Indians, and earned 1st-Team All-State honors as a kick returner, and 2nd-Team honors as an athlete. Alex Hausman, Mt. Vernon—Coming back from an injury is never easy, but the talented Hausman is looking to do just that in his senior season as Mt. Vernon’s starting quarterback. Hausman led the Mt’neers to a 5-2 record last fall before being a seasonending injury. Hausman had thrown for 671 yards and rushed for another 399 up to that point. Bradley Lueckenhoff, Cassville—It’s always good to be strong in the kicking game, and the Wildacts have one of the best around in Lueckenhoff, a 1st-Team All-State selection a year ago. Matt Magee, Carl Junction—A threat to score every time he touches the ball, Magee is one of the area’s most dangerous players. The senior earned his reputation as a wide receiver, but also plays defensive back for the Bulldogs. Levi Peterson, Lamar—Peterson had a season for the ages last year leading the Tigers’ record-setting ground attack. The quarterback rushed for 2,137 yards on 250 carries (8.5 yards per rush) and scored 35 touchdowns. The senior was named 1st-Team AllState by multiple outlets, and was the Southwest Region Co-Offensive Player of the Year. Hayden Prater, Cassville—Prater is a two-way stud for the Wildcats, but has earned his greatest accolades on the defensive side of the ball. A 1st-Team All-State linebacker, Prater is the reigning Big 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Year after registering 106 tackles, including eight tackles for loss and two sacks. Prater carried the ball 107 times for 522 yards and 14 touchdowns, and also caught 11 passes for another 117 yards and one score. Matt Wentz, Monett—A two-way standout on both the offensive and defensive lines for Monett, Wentz is the Cubs’ most experienced lineman. The senior earned All-Conference accolades last season at guard opening holes for Monett’s productive ground attack.
This game would be a good opportunity to watch the two-time defending Class 2 state champion Tigers. With 16 starters back on both sides of the ball this season, Lamar is the prohibitive favorite to win a third-straight crown. First, though, the Tigers would like to win a Big 8 Conference title, and a win at Burl Fowler Stadium over the Cubs could effectively ice a conference crown for Lamar.
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Reeds Spring's Anthony LaGrand (L) and Easton Flaugh (with ball) (Photo courtesy of Reeds Spring High School)
Central Ozark Conference (Small) Predicted Order of Finish BOLIVAR—The Liberators have 1 owned the COC (Small) since its inception. Until a conference foe
proves it can beat Bolivar, then the safe pick is to pick the Liberators again at the top. With the nation’s #4ranked dual threat quarterback in Rafe Peavey leading the offense, and with an All-State ball hawk in Drew Legan anchoring the defense, Bolivar is loaded for another romp through the conference.
area’s best running backs in Cameron Skornia, and will ride the talented senior as far as he will take them. The defense is salty, keyed by hard-hitting safety Nick Baron.
4 last season with a 3-7 record, but return senior quarterback Blayne MARSHFIELD—The ‘Jays finished
REEDS SPRING—The Wolves finished at 7-4 in 2012, and return 2 a ton of talent from that team,
Armstrong, who has plenty of options to throw to, including Logan Findley and Willie Totten, two of the best receivers in the area. Marshfield will score plenty of points. The question, though, is can they keep the other team from scoring more?
CATHOLIC—The 3 SPRINGFIELD Fightin’ Irish feature one of the
LOGAN-ROGERSVILLE—After winning a Class 3 state championship in 2011, the Wildcats slipped to 5-6 last year after graduating too many athletes from the championship team. Even more of those athletes were lost to graduation last year. The Wildcats struggled to start the season, losing their first two games by a combined
including All-State linebacker Easton Flaugh, who will also key the Reeds Spring offense from the quarterback position. The Wolves, who are enjoying being state-ranked in Class 3, will have all season to build momentum before the regular season finale at Bolivar.
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Reeds Spring at Bolivar
score of 78-3 to Mountain Grove and Ava.
BUFFALO—The Bison finished with a 1-9 record last year, but 6 brought back all five offensive
linemen and three key skill players in quarterback Dallas McGuire, running back Dakota Vest, and Austin Potter, one of the area’s best wide receivers. If Buffalo is going to turn the corner, this could be the year.
HOLLISTER—After making a push to the state playoffs 7in thestartling first year of the program’s
history in 2010, the Tigers have struggled to earn victories since, finishing with a 0-10 record a year ago. Head coach Kevin Roepke is building a foundation for future success, but unfortunately, it will be tough sledding for the Tigers in 2013 once again.
Blayne Armstrong, Marshfield—One of the most talented pure passers in the region, Armstrong is a three-year starter who has passed for over 5,000 yards in his career. An All-Conference and AllDistrict selection a year ago, the senior is being recruited heavily by some prominent Division I schools, and is primed for his best season yet with receivers Logan Findley and Willie Totten also back for the ‘Jays. Nick Baron, Springfield Catholic—A 1stTeam All-Conference and All-District honoree, Baron may be the best defensive back in the area. The senior had 44 tackles and seven interceptions as an All-Region safety a year ago. Baron also rushed for 200 yards and scored three touchdowns through the air in averaging a gaudy 23.5 yards per catch. Logan Findley, Marshfield—At 6-3 and 235 pounds, Findley is a freak of nature at the tight end position. The AllConference and All-District selection caught 61 passes as a junior for 930 yards and 11 touchdowns. Look for Findley, who also plays free safety for Marshfield, to surpass 1,000 yards this season. Easton Flaugh, Reeds Spring—A twostandout for the Wolves, the 6-2 215pound Flaugh was a 2nd-Team All-State and 1st-Team All-COC linebacker last year after recording 112 tackles, four sacks, and a pair of interceptions. On offense, the senior quarterback will key the Wolves’ potent ground game after rushing for 893 yards and passing for another 832 last year as a junior. Flaugh rushed for 253 yards this season in a Week 2 win over Green Forest. Brett Garner, Springfield Catholic—The Irish are strong in all three phases of the game, with perhaps the best kicker in the state talking care of the special teams. A 1st-Team All-State kicker, the junior was a perfect 33-for-33 on PAT’s, and booted four field goals, including a long of 39 yards. Garner also averaged 41 yards per punt. Drew Legan, Bolivar—The only All-State selection for the powerhouse Liberators last year that is back this season, the ball-hawking Legan is one of the best defensive backs in the state. The senior picked off nine passes a year ago, and made 70 tackles. Legan is also one of Bolivar’s top running backs this season. Rafe Peavey, Bolivar—Ranked as the #4 dual threat quarterback in the country by at least one recruiting service entering this season, Peavey has already committed to play collegiately in the powerhouse SEC at Arkansas. As a junior, Peavey ran for 514 yards and 13 touchdowns and threw for 1,872 yards and 16 scores. Austin Potter, Buffalo—Potter is Buffalo’s go-to player when the Bison need a big play. The 1st-Team AllConference and All-District wide receiver caught 55 passes last season for 595 yards. Cameron Skornia, Springfield Catholic—Possessing a good combination of speed and power, Skornia has been Catholic’s go-to back the last two seasons. As a junior last year, Skornia rushed for over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns in earning 2nd-Team All-Conference honors. Skornia also had an interception as a defensive back for the Irish. Dalton Thomas, Reeds Spring—A threeyear starter at guard for the Wolves, Thomas was a key reason why the Reeds Spring rushing attack averaged 235.5 yards per game in 2012. A 3rdTeam All-State honoree, Thomas also received 1st-Team All-Region and AllConference honors.
Bolivar has owned the COC-Small during its “Decade of Dominance.” The Liberators have not lost a conference game since George W. Bush’s first term in office. Bolivar is loaded once again this season and has its sights set on a deep playoff run. If any team can end the Liberators COC-Small reign, it’s Reeds Spring, which isn’t shy about its intent to compete for a conference crown sooner rather than later. The last time the Wolves paid a visit to Plaster Stadium at SBU, though, they were hammered 71-7 by the Liberators. Don’t expect a similar result this time around. opi 25
OPI WATCH LIST
Isaiah Daniels, Branson—After missing most of last season due to injury, the speedy Daniels is capable on scoring on any given play. Daniels rushed for 361 yards and five touchdowns in four games last season, and should be in the mix for All-Conference recognition this season. James Desjardins, Republic—The versatile Desjardins can play multiple positions for the Tigers. As Republic’s quarterback a year ago, the senior rushed for 439 yards and threw for almost 300. Da’Quan Ervin, Branson—Last season, Ervin was named 2nd-Team All-State as a return man, and also rushed for 387 yards, had 352 yards receiving, and scored six touchdowns. This season, Ervin is Branson’s electrifying quarterback. Ervin also earned AllConference and All-District honors at defensive back for the Pirates. Caleb Essick, Ozark—The cat quick Essick will hurt opposing defenses in a lot of ways this season. In the season opener, for example, Essick’s speed was on full display, as he took a 65-yard run and an 80-yard reception to the house. Essick also returned the second half kickoff to paydirt. Clint Godfrey, Ozark—Graduation decimated the Tigers’ skill positions from their 2012 state semifinalists, but Godfrey has emerged as a more than capable quarterback, as Ozark scored 55 and 66 points in their first two games this season, both of which were wins. Godfrey also had 55 tackles and a sack as a defensive back for the Tigers last season. Riley Herrold, Ozark—After posting 116 tackles last season, including 15 tackles for loss and three sacks to go along with two forced fumbles, it’s easy to see why Herrold was a 2nd-Team All-State selection at linebacker. Forrest Merrill, Willard—A 6-1 325pound road grader, Merrill is a mountainous 2nd-Team All-Conference and All-District offensive lineman for the Tigers. The senior also plugs holes on the defensive line, too. Alec Murphy, Nixa—Murphy might be the best tailback in the area this season. True, other backs put up more yards last season, as Murphy rushed for 846 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, Murphy made a name for himself in summer camps and has lived up to it already this fall. Murphy rushed for 211 yards and a pair of touchdowns and also scored on a 60-yard screen pass in a Week 3 win over Branson. Jordan Turner, Willard—At 6-7 and 310 pounds, Turner is a behemoth on the offensive line for Willard, and one of the best offensive linemen in Southwest Missouri. The senior was a 1st-Team AllDistrict and 2nd-Team All-Conference pick a year ago. Quinton Wingert, Ozark—With the skill position spots at Ozark decimated by graduation, Wingert has emerged this season as one of the Tigers’ go-to running backs. The sophomore announced his arrival by scoring five touchdowns in the Tigers’ 55-42 season-opening win over Benton.
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Central Ozark Conference (Large) Predicted Order of Finish WEBB CITY—The Cardinals entered 1winning this season riding ridiculous streaks of 45-straight games
overall and 90-straight regular season games. Although those streaks ended with a 42-35 loss at Springdale (Ark.) Har-Ber on Sept. 6, the fact remains that the three-time defending Class 4 state champion Cardinals have not lost a regular season game to a Missouri opponent in the regular season in a decade, and haven’t lost a conference game (COC or Southwest) since 1999, or seven state championships ago. NIXA—The Eagles finished with a 7-4 record a year ago, which included a loss to Webb City and a pair of losses to arch-rival Ozark. This season, Nixa will look to make a deep state tournament run, and will ride the talents of junior tailback Alec Murphy. A big, bulky batch of road graters up front, including should open plenty of holes for Murphy. OZARK—The Tigers came within one game of playing for Class 5 state championship a year ago. That’s the good news. The bad news is that graduation claimed 18 starters off the state semifinalists. Regardless, the
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Tigers have shown early this season that the offense will be as powerful as ever. Quarterback Clint Godfrey and company put up 55 and 66 points, respectively, in a pair of season opening wins. BRANSON—Last year, Da’Quan Ervin was an All-State kick returner and an All-Conference and All-District defensive back. This year, Branson has unleashed Ervin at the quarterback spot and the shifty and dynamic senior will give many coaches heartburn while preparing to play the Pirates. Ervin can also hand the ball off to the speedy Isaiah Daniels. The Branson defense is hardhitting and stingy, as evidenced by the Pirates holding the potent Bolivar offense to just 17 points in Week 2. CARTHAGE—The Tigers lost 14 starters off an 8-3 ball club, which would spell doom for most programs. Carthage has established itself, though, a perennial contender in the COC (Large)…well, at least a contender to finish runner-up to Webb City. The Tigers will be good, but it’s hard to overcome the loss of so many key players year after year.
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REPUBLIC—By now, everyone is 6 aware that Republic’s first-year head coach Wes Beachler has made a
name for himself by turning around downtrodden programs at Houston, Parkview and Nevada. Beachler will have his work cut out for him at Republic, though, which must run through the COC (Large) gauntlet year after year. The Tigers do return some talent for Beachler to work with, but will struggle in the heart of conference play. WILLARD—With 12 starters back from a team which won its first playoff game in years, optimism is high at Willard. However, the COC (Large) is a black hole for optimism, as the weekly grind takes its toll on teams over the course of a season. The Tigers are on the right track, but the schedule is too difficult. NEOSHO—Winless a year ago, the Wildcats will look to a new head coach to turn things around. Dustin Baldwin was highly successful in four years at Miller, leading the Cardinals to multiple Class state quarterfinal appearances, but this isn’t the Spring River Valley Conference.
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Branson's Da'Quan Ervin (3) (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography)
Oct. 18 Webb City at Ozark
The Webb City machine entered this season with some gaudy streaks intact. The three-time defending Class 4 state champions had won 45 straight games and 90 straight regular season contests. Although the steaks were snapped with a loss at Springdale (Ark.) HarBer on Sept. 6, the Cardinals still are the class of the COC-Large (and Class 4) until otherwise noted. The Tigers offense is potent and can strike in seconds, as evidenced by the Tigers’ dramatic 66-64 last-second victory over Harrison (Ark.) on Sept. 6. If there is going to be a new COC-Large champion, this could be the game that decides it. COC (LARGE) Branson's Da'Quan Ervin (3) (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography) 2
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Mid-Lakes Conference Predicted Order of Finish
STRAFFORD—After recording its 1school first unbeaten regular season in history, which included a
flawless trip through the Mid-Lakes Conference, Strafford is the prohibitive favorite to win another conference crown this season. In fact, with the key skill players from an offense that averaged 46.8 points per game back again this fall, the Indians have their sights set on an even bigger prize—a Class 2 state championship.
Tigers bring back an All-Conference and All-District linebacker in Wyatt Dampier and an All-Conference lineman in Chase Glor.
ASH GROVE—The Pirates posted a 7-4 record a year ago, and are 2 poised to be even better this fall. It
is no secret what you are going to get from the Pirates, as Ash Grove unleashes its three-headed rushing monster on opposing defenses. Senior Logan Allred, a 1st-Team AllMid-Lakes and All-District running back, has plenty of speed, as does senior Taylor Mooneyham, a twoway standout who was named AllState as a defensive back. Fullback Kelton Morris rounds out the rushing attack. Four starters return on the offensive line to open holes for the backs, including Jordan Benton, Dylan Johnson, Dakota Watson, and Jack Branham.
SKYLINE— It was a second straight 3 trip to the Class 1 state quarterfinals last season for Skyline, as the Tigers finished with a 10-3 record. The Tigers lit up the scoreboard last fall, averaging about 44 points per game, but graduation hit Skyline hard, as six All-Mid-Lakes honorees are now gone. Dylan Mountain has earned the starting quarterback job, and will have a pair of All-Conference lineman protecting him in senior Zach Vader and junior Kade Kelley, although Vader will get a look at tight end. Defensively, the
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campaign last fall. LaSalle has brought with him a winning attitude, as the Comets have lofty goals for the season. The Comets do return four All-Conference players, including senior running back Seth Smith, who galloped for over 1,200 yards last season. Senior defensive back Ryan White is also back after picking off five passes last year. Senior lineman Jacob Miller will anchor both lines, and was the Comets’ team leader in tackles for loss, while fellow two-way lineman Augie Gracia also kicks for Marionville.
6 rebuilding year ended with a 1-9 record, Stockton will once again be STOCKTON—After last season’s
Strafford's Jacob Wade (Photo by Amy Walker)
young, with only one senior playing significant minutes this season. Although young, though, many of the young Tigers saw plenty of varsity action last year, which should pay dividends this fall. Stockton does return three All-Conference and All-District honorees in senior linebacker Shane Burkdoll, the team leader in tackles a year ago, as well as junior offensive lineman Myles Rutledge, and junior defensive lineman Reece Rutledge.
HOPE—A new head 4 Mid-Lake Conference two seasons 7 PLEASANT coach takes over at Pleasant Hope, ago, and have won three of the past as Troy Rayburn will look to improve FAIR GROVE—The Eagles won the
five conference titles. The Eagles took a step back last season with a 5-5 record, but returned six starters on offense and five on defense this year. Senior Luke Ivey is one the most unheralded running back sin the area. Three starters returned on the O-Line to open holes for Ivey, including AllConference junior Mitchell Hackett. MARIONVILLE—Change is in the 5 air over in Marionville, as the Comets welcome first-year head
on the Pirates’ 1-9 showing in 2012. Pleasant Hope only lost four seniors to graduation, so optimism is high that the Pirates can show improvement. The Pirates do have a pair of All-Conference returnees in quarterback/defensive back Jacob Gettle and offensive lineman/linebacker Jobe Shirk.
coach Jamie LaSalle after a 3-8
Oct. 25 Strafford at Ash Grove This one could decide the Mid-Lakes Conference crown. Last year, the Indians posted the
first unbeaten regular season in school history, which meant an unbeaten trip through the Mid-Lakes Conference gauntlet. The bulk of that Strafford team is back this season, and is looking to make a deep playoff run behind its All-State skill players in quarterback Jacob Wade and receivers Dalton Taylor and Dallas Hester. Ash Grove has other plans, though, and will look to unleash its three-headed monster rushing attack, featuring Logan Allred, Taylor Mooneyham, and fullback Kelton Morris. Strafford coasted to a 43-14 win in the regular season finale a year ago.
OPI WATCH LIST
Logan Allred, Ash Grove—The speedy Allred, who has reached the podium multiple times in the Class 2 100-meter dash, rushed for 1,321 yards and 23 touchdowns a year ago. The senior entered this season needing just 500 yards to become the school’s all-time leading rusher, which barring injury, should be a foregone conclusion. In Week 3, Allred set a school record by rushing for 256 yards. Jordan Benton, Ash Grove—A 1stTeam All-Mid-Lakes offensive lineman, and a 2nd-Team All-District and AllRegion honoree, Benton is one of the main treasons that teammate Logan Allred is about to become the school’s all-time leading rusher. Alex Castillo, Strafford—The junior kicker earned 3rd-Team All-State honors after a sophomore season in which he connected on 64-of-68 PATs. Castillo gives Strafford a weapon most teams do not have—a near-automatic kicker. Augie Gracia, Marionville—A two-way standout for the Comets, Gracia earned All-Conference and All-District honors as both an offensive and defensive lineman last season. Gracia, who had 100 tackles last season, also covered the kicking duties for Marionville. Dallas Hester, Strafford—Yet another weapon in the Indians’ high-scoring offense, Hester was a 3rd-Team AllState wide receiver a year ago after making 35 catches for 687 yards and 10 touchdowns. Luke Ivey, Fair Grove—A 1st-Team AllMid-Lakes fullback, Ivey was the Eagles’ leading returning rusher this fall after plowing for 490 yards and seven touchdowns in 2012. Ivey is also one of Fair Grove’s starting defensive ends. Taylor Mooneyham, Ash Grove—Mooneyham may or may not be the best defensive back in the area, but he’s at least in the team picture. The senior standout registered an unheard of 121 tackles out of the secondary, intercepted a pair of passes and also had four sacks, en route to well-earned 1st-Team All-State honors. Mooneyham is also a key part of the Pirates’ vaunted rushing attack. Dylan Mountain, Skyline—Mountain is the Tigers’ new starting quarterback this fall. That means that he will have the keys to Skyline’s spread offense, which will put up a lot of yards and score a lot of points this fall. Dalton Taylor, Strafford—A 2nd-Team All-State kick returner, Taylor scored five touchdowns in returning 29 kickoff and punt returns for 653 yards. The versatile junior also added 943 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing and receiving. Taylor is also an AllConference defensive back. Jacob Wade, Strafford—A 1st-Team All-State quarterback and a 1st-Team All-State linebacker, Wade is maybe the area’s most decorated player—and for good reason. The 6-3 240-pound senior connected on 114 of 174 passes for 2,094 yards and 24 touchdowns a year ago, and also rushed 113 times for another 647 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Skyline's Dylan Mountain (12) (Photo by Tamara Weidman)
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OPI WATCH LIST
Kullen Carlock, Camdenton—One of the most dynamic players in the Ozark Conference, Carlock is coming off an injury. A two-way standout at wide receiver and defensive back, the senior was a 2nd-Team All-State selection at wide receiver. Anthony Cooper, Kickapoo—One of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the area, Cooper keys the Chiefs’ attack. Last season, Cooper garnered AllConference honors after completing over half of his passes for 1,252 yards and nine touchdowns. Cooper also rushed for 579 yards on 114 carries and another seven touchdowns. Elza Evans, Lebanon—It’s hard to replace a 1st-Team All-State tailback that rushed for over 2,000 yards, but Evans has that task for the yellow Jackets. Evans may not get to 2,000, but the All-Conference honoree should significantly increase his 616 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. John Fuchs, Kickapoo—One of the top two-way players in the conference, the hard-hitting Fuchs has seemingly been in the Kickapoo lineup for years now. The senior is an All-Conference selection at both linebacker and running back. He rushed for 504 yards and four touchdowns last season, and had 61 tackles from his linebacker position. C.J. Hubbard, Hillcrest—Quite possibly the best all-around lineman in Southwest Missouri (and maybe the state), the 6-2 285-pound Hubbard earned 2nd-Team All-State honors as an offensive lineman last season. The senior also garnered 1st-Team AllConference and All-District honors as a defensive lineman after recording 52.5 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Juwan Johnson, Hillcrest—Whether he is rushing the ball or catching a pass out of the backfield, the speedy Johnson is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Last season as a junior, Johnson rushed for 841 yards and 12 touchdowns, and caught 44 passes for 548 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Max Oeser, Glendale—One of the best offensive lineman in the conference, the 6-4 260-pound Oeser earned 2nd-Team All-Conference honors a year ago. Look for the senior to earn 1st-Team honors this fall. Connor Ratliff, Parkview—One of the Vikings’ top scoring threats, the speedy Ratliff earned 3rd-Team All-State honors at wide receiver last season. Ratliff, who also earned 1st-Team All-Conference honors, caught 39 passes last season for 606 yards and seven touchdowns. Matt Rush, Hillcrest—A two-time AllState wide receiver, the cat quick Rush is the Hornets’ new quarterback this season. Rush, who also earned 1stTeam All-Conference and All-District honors, caught 65 passes for 1,100 yards, ran the ball 49 times for 273 yards, and scored 15 touchdowns altogether in 2012.
Ozark Conference Predicted Order of Finish
Chiefs entered LEBANON—Despite a 43-40 loss to GLENDALE—The Falcons lost 15 1wereKICKAPOO—The this season believing that they Hillcrest, the Yellow Jackets were starters off of last season’s 2-8 7 4 ready to compete for an Ozark able to finish with a 9-2 record and an team. Second-year head coach Tyler
Conference title. A win at perennial contender Camdenton on Sept. 20 left Kickapoo as the lone unbeaten team in the OC. However, the Chiefs must survive trips across town to Hillcrest on Oct. 3 and to Lebanon on Oct. 18.
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CAMDENTON—The Lakers finished last season with an 8-4 record, which would be a pretty good season for most programs. Camdenton is not most programs, though. The Lakers were in the driver’s seat for an Ozark Conference title after a season-opening 17-14 win at Hillcrest and a 20-17 victory at Lebanon in Week 3. But then the Lakers lost at home to Kickapoo.
HILLCREST—The Hornets are the two-time defending Ozark 3 Conference champions. However,
after a season-opening loss to Camdenton, Hillcrest has its work cut out for them, as the Hornets find themselves trailing both the Lakers and upstart Kickapoo. With the electrifying Matt Rush running the offense, and with All-Stater C.J. Hubbard anchoring the defense, Hillcrest should be in the mix all season long, though.
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PARKVIEW—The Vikings were flying high after opening last 5 season with a 6-0 record, which
included wins over rival Kickapoo and a big victory at Camdenton. However, Parkview sandwiched a pair of losses to the conference co-champions (Hillcrest ad Lebanon) around a win over West Plains. Parkview finished the season at 8-3, and returned a host of speedy and athletic skill players this season. The Viking opened this season with a couple of losses, though. JOPLIN—The Eagles lost 16 starters off of a 5-5 team, which 6 should mean that Joplin is in
rebuilding mode this season. Right? Apparently wrong, as the Eagles soared out of the gate with a couple of victories over Glendale and Parkview.
Overstreet has a plan, and the Falcons seem to be buying into it. A strong senior class will be accompanied by a number of younger players who will be the future of the program.
WEST PLAINS—The Zizzers snapped a 21-game losing streak 8 with a 14-13 win over Waynesville in the season opener this season, so regardless of what happens the rest of the way, the season has been a success for West Plains, which had lost 30 of 32 games entering the season.
WAYNESVILLE—The Tigers lost to 9 West Plains to open the season, which allowed the Zizzers to snap
their 21-game losing streak. The following week, Waynesville went toe-to-toe with last year’s conference co-champion Lebanon before losing 21-14. So which team is the real Waynesville?
ROLLA—The Bulldogs have some talent on the roster, but 10 surviving life in the rugged Ozark Conference has been hard on the Bulldogs in recent years.
Game of the
YEAR Oct. 18 Kickapoo at Lebanon
After a brief hiatus, the tradition-laden Chiefs believe that they belong among the conference elite. Lebanon has resided at or near the top of the Ozark Conference standings seemingly every year for a while now. If Kickapoo wants to be considered “back,” then the Chiefs will need to beat good teams on the road on a regular basis. The Chiefs have already beaten Camdenton on the road. Beating the state-ranked Yellow Jackets at their place would be another feather in the cap.
Hillcrest's Juwan Johnson (Staff Photo)
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Ozark Conference co-championship with the Hornets last season. Brock West and his nearly 2,000 yards have graduated, but there is plenty of talent back this season to make another run at a conference title. A Week 3 loss at home to Camdenton won’t make things any easier, though.
Parkview's Connor Ratcliff (Photo courtesy of Parkview High School)
OPI WATCH LIST
Spring River Valley Conference Predicted Order of Finish
SARCOXIE—The Bears finished MILLER—After posting a 22-3 1 with 3 an 8-3 overall record in record the past two seasons, 2012, which included a 7-1 mark both of which included deep state
improve on last season’s 3-7 record from last season. The Wildcats have plenty of speed at and runner-up finish in the SRVC. playoff runs, the Cardinals have the skill positions, including AllWith eight starters back on both their work cut out for them if they State sprinter Brendan Black, but sides of the ball, Sarcoxie is the want to win their sixth-straight will need to stay healthy as depth prohibitive favorite to wrest SRVC title. Head coach Dustin is a concern. control of the SRVC from Miller. Baldwin left for Neosho after five DIAMOND—After posting a 4The Bears earned a big win at successful seasons, with Jason 6 record a year ago, Diamond Lockwood in Week 3 with a 27-20 Smith taking the helm after 12 will to improve on that victory over the Tigers. The years as assistant coach. Nineteen markbeinlooking 2012. conference title could be on the lettermen are also gone. The line when the Bears travel to Cardinals will have to lean on AllJASPER—The Eagles started Miller in the regular season finale. Conference running back Brenden last season at 0-5, but won four Richardson, one of just two of their last six games, including a LOCKWOOD—The success of 20-6 victory over McCauley starters back on offense. the Tigers’ season hinges Catholic in the district opener. entirely on the knee of standout PIERCE CITY—Although the Jasper will look to take the next tailback Brent Chambers, who was Eagles posted just a 3-7 overall step this fall. enjoying another All-Conference record (and 3-4 SRVC mark) a year season last fall before tearing his LIBERAL—Entering this season, ago, there are 20 lettermen and ACL. When healthy, Chambers is Liberal had not won a game 10 starters back this fall. Look for one of the best running backs in since Oct. 21, 2011, a span of 11 the Eagles to increase their win the area, and has rushed for 2,639 total in 2012. games. The Bulldogs started this yards the past two seasons. The season with three more losses, so GREENFIELD—With a host of Tigers will have to overcome a 27it does not look like things are returning lettermen back this 20 loss to Sarcoxie in Week 3. headed upward. fall, the Wildcats will be looking to
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YEAR Oct. 25
Game of the
Sarcoxie at Miller
Brent Chambers, Lockwood—A twotime All-SRVC tailback, Chambers rushed for 1,246 yards and 14 touchdowns in just nine games a year ago due to an ACL injury. How effective Chambers is this fall will determine how successful the season is for the Tigers. Brett Dorsett, Greenfield—A two-way standout for the Wildcats, Dorsett garnered All-Conference recognition as a defensive lineman a year ago after recording 3.5 sacks. The 5-11 190pound senior plays much bigger than his frame. Jordan Jack, Miller—The latest in the long line of Cardinals from the Jack family, the 6-4 205-pound Jordan is a first-year starter at quarterback this fall. The junior figures to bring his athleticism to the position. Marcos Lopez, Sarcoxie—The Bears do not plan on punting much this season, but when they do, they will have the powerful leg of a 1st-Team All-State punter on their side. Lopez also garnered 1st-Team All-Conference recognition linebacker after making 111 tackles, including four sacks. Robert Oeltjen, Lockwood—Lockwood’s defensive MVP in 2012, Oeltjen earned All-Conference and All-District honors at defensive end after registering 61 tackles and four sacks. Brenden Richardson, Miller—The Cardinals will ride their All-Conference running back as far as they can this fall. In the past two seasons, Richardson has compiled 1,897 yards and 28 touchdowns. Defensively, Richardson is a beast at linebacker, and earned 2ndTeam All-State honors after compiling a team-leading 142 tackles. Isaac Spain, Lockwood—An AllConference and All-District wide receiver, Spain also can be effective rushing out of the backfield for the Tigers. Noah Sowell, Lockwood—An AllDistrict defensive back as a sophomore last season, Sowell is also one of the Tigers’ best receivers. Garrett Triplett, Sarcoxie—One of the mainstays on the offensive line for the Bears, Triplett has been opening holes for Sarcoxie’s potent ground attack for several years now. A unanimous 1stTeam All-Conference selection, the 6-4 225-pound Triplett is the best offensive lineman in the conference. The senior also recorded 70 tackles a year ago as a 2nd-Team All-SRVC defensive lineman.
If you’re looking for some small school football, head over to Lawrence County and check out the Cardinals, one of the perennial Class 1 powers. Miller features one of the best “unknown” backs in the area in All-Stater Brenden Richardson, who will take handoffs from new quarterback Jordan Jack, the latest member of the Jack family to make his mark on the program. Miller lost a ton of talent to graduation, but should be in position to compete for another Spring River Valley Conference championship by the time the Bears get to town. Sarcoxie finished as the SRVC runner-up in 2012.
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Nixa’s Alec Murphy (#26) (Staff Photo)
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OPI WATCH LIST
Bailey Baumann, Ozark—A 2nd-Team All-State selection last season, Baumann was named the SWCL Most Valuable Player after leading Clever to a conference championship. However, Baumann has since transferred down Highway 14 to perennial Class 4 juggernaut Ozark, where the 1st-Team All-Southwest Region selection will look to help lead the Lady Tigers back to the Final Four for the fifthstraight year. Lexi Birlew, Republic—The Lady Tigers finished with a 29-9 record a district championship last year, and Birlew was a big reason why after leading Republic in kills (281) and digs (255). The senior outside hitter also loaded up on postseason accolades last year, including 1st-Team All-Southwest Region, 1st-Team All-District, and 1st-Team All-Conference honors. Lauren Boone, Branson—A unanimous 1st-Team All-COC (Large) selection last season, as well as a 1st-Team AllDistrict honoree, Boone led the Lady Pirates in nearly every statistical category, including a team-high in kills (123), aces (34), and assists (221). Boone, a senior setter/outside hitter who has committed to play collegiately at Missouri State, is a four-year starter for Branson. Emma Brand, Glendale—Not many freshman have burst on the scene as prominently as Brand, who displayed a solid all-around game in recording 278 kills, 293 assists, 219 digs, and 58 blocks a year ago. Glendale’s “rebuilding” year last season is complete, as Brand and her fellow classmates have the lady Falcons thinking big things in 2013. The sophomore middle hitter/setter earned 1st-Team All-Conference and 1st-Team All-Southwest Region honors last fall, and should contend for even bigger accolades this season. Madison Campbell, Bolivar—The Lady Liberators needed to find a replacement for the front row production lost to graduation, with AllStater Peyton Peavey now playing at College of the Ozarks. Look no further than Campbell, a junior who earned All-District honors last year. The 6-0 Campbell also was named to the Academic All-State team. Kailey Chapman, Spokane—A 1st-Team All-SWCL and 1stTeam All-District honoree last year for the Lady Owls, Chapman has already picked up where she left off last fall. A senior outside hitter, Chapman led Spokane in kills last season. Volleyball is not even Chapman’s best sport, as she earned All-State honors in four individual events last spring at the Class 2 state track meet, and won a state title in the 300-meter hurdles. El Dorado Springs' Alexa Schaaf (Staff Photo)
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Volleyball By Byron Shive
PREVIEW
Games of the Year
at Kickapoo—The Sep 30 Nixa VolleyChiefs graduated a pair of All-
State, Division I signees in Maris Below and Emily Thater, but have three six-footers filling in nicely this season in sophomore Rachel Rippee, junior Olivia Becker and senior Rae Myers. Nixa counters with a pair of All-Conference and All-District players in senior setter Chloe Lofton and sophomore outside hitter Aubrey Cheffey. Logan-Rogersville at Buffalo—The Oct 1 winner of this COC (Small) showdown
has a leg up in the conference race. These two shared the conference crown a year ago, and make no mistake about it, impolite or not, neither team is in a sharing mood this season. The Lady Wildcats, state quarterfinalists last season, have impressive wins over Kickapoo and state-ranked Mountain Grove, while Buffalo has already beaten Class 1 top-ranked Winona en route to a Willard Tournament title. Springfield Catholic at Spokane—Before entering into COC (Small) play, the Lady Irish head south to battle Spokane. The Lady Owls will be looking for a statement win before heading into the heart of SWCL action. Catholic is led by senior hitter Shae Casey and senior setter Sami Mahaffey, while the Lady Owls return their team leaders from last season in senior outside hitter Kailey Chapman (kills), senior setter Ryleigh Maples (assists), and junior libero Sadie Byrom (digs). Springs at Osceola—If you Oct 3 ElareDorado looking for an intriguing match-up
in the small school ranks, look no further than this battle up in St. Clair County between the Lady Indians, state-ranked in Class 1, and the Lady Bulldogs, one of the most underrated teams in the entire region. El Dorado Springs features an All-Stater in senior Alexa Schaaf, as well as sophomore Kinli Simmons, the team leader in serve percentage and assists last season. Osceola counters with two of the best players in Southwest Missouri in 1st-Team All-State junior Brooke Wilson and senior Kaitlyn Schrock, an honorable mention All-State honoree. Reeds Spring at Buffalo—There is no off night in the rugged COC (Small), especially for Buffalo, which gets Reeds Spring two nights after battling Logan-Rogersville.. The Lady Wolves were state quarterfinalists a year ago, yet could finish no better than third in the conference. Buffalo, the conference co-champions with Logan-Rogersville, will not relinquish the throne without a fight. Senior Danielle Curnes, a four-year starter and an All-State selection last season, leads Reeds Spring, with assistance from another four-year starter in senior Amy Taylor, an All-Conference and AllDistrict selection who led the team in blocks and kill percentage last season. Buffalo returned all six of their starters, as well as the libero. The Bison attack starts with Morgan Henderson, a 1st-Team All-Everything. However, Buffalo has a stockpile of
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talent, including All-Conference and AllDistrict honorees in Hannah Gilpin and Jamie Crawford, as well as Makayla Bowers, Shaylie Miller, and Haley Gilpin. Buffalo won in straight sets at Reeds Spring last season—don’t think the Lady Wolves have forgotten it either. Parkview at Kickapoo—It’s always interesting when Parkview and Kickapoo tangle, especially when there is something on the line, which is likely in this key Ozark Conference match-up. The Lady Vikings feature a trio of AllConference players in Elaina Hill, Jacqui Mostrom, and Gabi Mostrom, one of the top all-around players in the area who led Parkview last season in kills (334), aces (62), blocks (17), and digs (294) last season. Kickapoo has its own talent-rich lineup, including senior libero Brianne Dixon, a Missouri State commit, and sophomore Rachel Rippee, another AllConference selection. Rae Myers and Kim Thomas are also big assets in the front, while senior Maddie Marshall and sophomore Gerri Idos are a pair of defensive specialists. Quad at Lees Summit—This Oct 5 all-day quad match will be
well worth the drive up to Lees Summit, and features four of the best volleyball teams in the region, including three of the best Class 4 teams in the state. #3ranked Ozark (as of Sept. 6) will be the Southwest Missouri representative, and the Lady Tigers have advanced to the Class 4 Final Four the past four seasons, and won a state championship in 2009. St. Teresa’s Academy, the #4-ranked team in Class 4, is the de facto host school, while St. Louis parochial powerhouse St. Joseph’s Academy, an eight-time state champion, will put its #2 state ranking on the line. The fourth team is Fayetteville (Ark.), which was Arkansas’ 7A state champion last season. Parkview at Reeds Oct 7 Spring—The Lady Vikings
follow-up the rivalry game at Kickapoo with a trip down to Reeds Spring. It will be an important test for Parkview before closing the season inside the Ozark Conference (plus the Stockton Tournament). The Lady Wolves, meanwhile, will use this match as a tune-up for the heart of COC (Small) play. The game features two fo the area’s best in Parkview’s Gabi Mostrom and
Reeds Springs’ Danielle Curnes.
Oct 8
Nixa at Ozark—Why is this a must-see game? It’s NixaOzark…enough said. If you need more reason, then check out the Lady Tigers, who will be looking to make their fifthstraight trip to the Final Four. Ozark features an All-Conference honoree in senior Ivy Reynolds, a three-year starter at middle hitter, along with a pair of sophomores in setter Kendra Sater and outside hitter Paige Perry, as well as juniors Ashley Ophoven and Caroline Clifford at outside hitter. Nixa counters with senior setter Chloe Lofton and fellow classmate Hannah Bracker, as well as a trio of talented sophomores in left side hitter Aubrey Cheffey, left side hitter Audrey Engelman, and defensive specialist Makayla Stephen. Both teams also figure to be in the COC (Large) hunt, upping the stakes between these two arch-rivals. Glendale at Central—Take this opportunity to see two of Springfield’s best teams do battle at “The Pit,” as the Lady Falcons venture out of the Ozark Conference for a match-up with a talented Central squad. Glendale features a pair of 1st-Team AllConference selections in sophomore middle hitters Emma Brand and Kelsey Larsen, as well as senior Rachel Lee, a 2nd-Team honoree. The Lady Bulldogs returned seven starters from a 25-6-1 squad last season, including senior outside hitter Mary Maerz, senior libero Paige Murphy, defensive specialist Analynn Salvato, senior right side hitter Luci Pak, and juniors Emmi Murphy (setter), Makalyla Grone (middle blocker), and Lauren Marsh (middle blocker). at Oct 10 Republic Nixa—The Lady
Tigers won their district last season before losing to Final Four-bound Ozark in the Sectional. Although Republic graduated a lot of talent off that roster, the Lady Tigers did return senior outside hitter Lexi Birlew, a 1st-Team All-Region, All-District and All-Conference selection, and senior libero Maddy Sherman, a 2nd-Team honoree. Birlew led Republic in kills and digs last year, while Sherman led Republic in aces and was second on the team in digs. Republic also returned senior outside hitter Haley Chastain. Nixa counters with Nixa counters with Chloe Lofton, Aubrey Cheffey and company. The Lady Eagles will be out for revenge since Republic beat Nixa three times last season. Stockton Oct 12 Tournament—This
Republic's Lexi Birlew (Photo courtesy of Republic High School)
all-day tournament annually brings together quality competition from all classes and this season is no different. The tourney field should be wide open once again, with several teams capable of winning it all, including Osceola, Buffalo, El Dorado Springs, Bolivar, Parkview,
OPI WATCH LIST Aubrey Cheffey, Nixa—The 6-2 Cheffey stepped in last year as a freshman and turned in a standout seasonlong performance by leading the Lady Eagles in kills with 153, while also recording 122 digs. The sophomore left side hitter also earned All-Region, All-District, and AllConference honors for her efforts. Caroline Clifford, Ozark—A two-year starter at outside hitter for the powerhouse Lady Tigers, Clifford’s season ended prematurely with an ACL injury in a midSeptember game against Kickapoo in 2012. The junior Missouri State commit has battled back and looks to help lead Ozark back to another Final Four. When healthy, Clifford can be a game changer. Jamie Crawford, Buffalo—Buffalo has turned itself into a burgeoning volleyball power, as the Lady Bison rode a 27-8 record to a COC (Small) co-championship last season. Crawford, a 2ndTeam All-COC and All-Region setter, was a big reason for the Lady Bison’s success after registering 567 assists and 229 digs. Crawford and company want to win an outright conference title this season, followed by a district championship. Danielle Curnes, Reeds Spring—An honorable mention All-State selection last year, Curnes led Reeds Spring in kills (242) and digs (288) last year. A four-year starter, the 5-9 senior also earned 1st-Team All-Region, 1st-Team All-District, and 1stTeam All-Conference honors in helping lead the Lady Wolves to a district title. Brianne Dixon, Kickapoo—The steady play of Dixon has helped Kickapoo survive the graduation of a pair of Division I recruits in Emily Thater (Missouri) and Maris Below (Miami). An honorable mention Southwest Region selection and 2nd-Team All-District and All-Conference honoree, the senior libero has committed to play next year nearby at Missouri State. Emily Ellison, Miller—After leading the Lady Cardinals in digs last season, Ellison is back for her senior season after earning 1st-Team AllDistrict honors as a junior. Ellison will be a big reason why Miller should be a contender in the Spring River Valley Conference. Daiwa Emmert, Bolivar—After playing the outside hitter position for the Lady Liberators the past few seasons, Emmert moved to the middle this year and has teamed with Madison Campbell to give Bolivar a potent one-two combination. An All-District honoree last year, the scholarly Emmert also was named to the Academic All-State team. Olivia Fabro, Billings—The Lady Wildcats are poised to make a run at a SWCL title and Fabro is a big reason for that. Fabro, who recorded 177 digs and 219 assists last season, received 2nd-Team All-Conference and AllDistrict recognition, as well as 1st-Team All-Region honors.
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OPI WATCH LIST Mackenzie Farmer, Mt. Vernon—This All-Conference junior was a six rotation player last season, playing setter and outside hitter. One of the top setters in the area, Farmer tallied 227 assists and 123 service points a year ago. Makayla Faucett, Miller—Faucett, a 6-1 middle hitter, is the force in the middle of the Lady Cardinals’ attack. The junior played club volleyball in the offseason and has used that experience to take the next step this season for Miller. Brea Freeman, LoganRogersville—A key member of last season’s state quarterfinalists, Freeman has run a 5-1 set since her freshman year. Freeman garnered All-Region honors last year, as well as 1st-Team All-District and 2nd-Team AllConference accolades. Hannah Gertson, Reeds Spring—The Lady Wolves, district champions a year ago, believe they are ready to compete for a COC (Small) title (and another district crown), and Gertson will play a key role in any success. The All-Region and AllConference senior has been Reeds Spring’s 5-1 setter the last two seasons, and led the team in assists (387) and aces. Gertson has returned from an ACL tear suffered just prior to the district tournament last season. Haley Gilpin, Buffalo—A 1stTeam All-Southwest Region selection last year, Gilpin led Buffalo with 188 kills, and finished second on the team in aces (47). The 5-7 sophomore outside hitter also recorded 230 digs. Kenna Greenway, Galena—An All-Conference and 1st-Team All-District honoree last year, Greenway is Galena’s setter and outside hitter, and the Lady Bears’ go-to player. The senior is also the Lady Bears’ team captain. Abby Groover, LoganRogersville—Another reason why the Lady Wildcats have been successful the past couple years is Groover, a versatile 1st-Team All-District selection a year ago. Groover also garnered All-Region and All-Conference accolades. Morgan Henderson, Buffalo—Henderson, a standout 5-10 middle blocker, has been a major factor in the Lady Bison renaissance in recent years. A 1st-Team All-Conference, All-District and All-Region honoree a year ago. Henderson had 80 blocks and a team-high 42.2% kill percentage last season, and was second on the team in kills with 172. Mikala Hicks, Fair Grove—The Lady Eagles graduated some talented players from last season, but Fair Grove did bring back a 2nd-Team All-State selection in Hicks, who also earned 1st-Team All-Region, AllDistrict, and All-Mid-Lakes honors. The senior setter and right side hitter led Fair Grove in assists (380) and aces and was second in kills (196), while adding 182 digs.
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and Fair Grove. Rounding out the field are Hillcrest, Aurora, Greenfield, Strafford, Summersville, and Stockton.
done a solid job so far this season easing the blow of losing a pair of All-State, Division I recruits in Maris Below and Emily Thater. New head coach Marci Central at Republic—Central Johnson has Kickapoo playing solid is not a member of any volleyball, and with Brianne Dixon, conference, so the Lady Bulldogs relish Rachel Rippee and others headed any opportunity to test themselves toward even more postseason against one of the area’s best. This accolades, Kickapoo will be looking for match-up certainly qualifies, as it pits a its sixth-straight win over their archtalented (and underrated) Central squad rivals. Glendale is also a perennial against a traditional power in Republic, conference heavyweight, but the Lady which won a district title last season. Falcons are coming off somewhat of a rebuilding year by their standards. Republic at Ozark—The night after a tough match-up Consider Glendale rebuilt and ready to against Central, Republic gets to travel to contend, with a strong trio of rising stars in sophomores Emma Brand, Kelsey conference (and Class 4) heavyweight Larsen, and Jane Kickham leading the Ozark. In fact, Ozark does not have a way. All-Conference senior Rachel Lee single player on the roster that has ended a season anywhere other than the has never beaten Kickapoo, and would Class 4 Final Four. It will be a stern test for Republic, which will likely see Ozark again in the Sectional if Republic repeats as district champions.
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Oct 15
like nothing more than to add a victory on the VolleyChiefs’ home floor to her ledger. Sparta at Crane—Clever has owned the SWCL in recent years, but with graduation and transfers having decimated the Lady Bluejays’ roster, the SWCL is wide open this season. Two teams that figure to be in the mix all the way to the end are Sparta and Crane, thus making this late season game all the more important. The Lady Trojans have one of the best setters in the region in Meg Moles, a 1st-Team All-Conference honoree last season. Sparta also has middle blockers Cailyn Long and Morgan Davis, both of whom earned All-SWCL recognition last season. The youthful Lady Pirates have just one senior in
Ash Grove at Fair Grove—This one will likely decide the Mid-Lakes Conference title, or at least put one team in the driver’s seat. On paper, these are the two best teams in the conference. Fair Grove has been the team to beat in recent years in the Mid-Lakes, but Ash Grove is the defending conference champion. Fair Grove, which has won six of the past eight against Ash Grove, has a strong nucleus led by 2ndTeam All-State setter/return specialist Mikala Hicks, who led the Lady Eagles in assists and aces and was second on the team in kills last year as a sophomore. Fair Grove also has sophomore setter Jorden Stacey, a 2nd-Team All-Region sophomore who has one of the best serves in the area. Senior outside hitter Alea Cooper returns after a solid junior season in which she led the team in digs in earning All-Conference and All-District honors. Ash Grove has been building toward this season, and a strong senior class will be looking to end their careers with a MidLakes title, including Abby Arico, Madi Johnson, Jamie Mauss, and Erin Weinreis. Sophomore Morgan Allred also returns to an essential role.
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at Oct 17 Glendale Kickapoo—These two
teams should be the class of the Ozark Conference. The defending champion VolleyChiefs are a perennial mainstay atop the conference standings, and have
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Billings' Olivia Fabro (3) and Alyssa Young (4) (Photo by Amy Walker)
Billings' Olivia Fabro (3) and Alyssa Young (4) (Photo by Amy Walker)
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Marissa Stevens and one junior in Kylie Vaught, but have a deep and talented sophomore class led by Emma Lander, who led the team in kills and blocks last season.
Grand Slam Oct 19 Ozark Tournament—If you are
looking for a day of high quality, competitive volleyball featuring some of the state’s best teams, then make plans to be at the Ozark Grand Slam Tournament, which features a host of state-ranked and other highly regarded squads. The roster includes Class 4 heavyweights Ozark, Helias Catholic, Glendale, Kirkwood, and Republic, as well as the state’s top-ranked team in Class 1 in Winona, the defending state champions. Other entries include a pair of very good teams in Bolivar and Carl Junction, as well as Oakville, Rosati-Kain, Salem, and Webster Groves. Whichever team emerges from this gauntlet will have earned whatever hardware is going in the trophy case.
Sparta Tournament—If you need a break from the tense action at the Ozark Grand Slam Tournament, then head east on Highway 14 to the Sparta Tournament to take in some small school action. The teams in the field make this seem like a de facto SWCL Tournament, with Blue Eye, Crane, Forsyth, Galena and the host Lady Trojans in the mix, as well as Chadwick. It would be a good opportunity to check out some of the area’s best small-school layers, including Crane’s Emma Lander, Galena’s Kenna Greenway, and Sparta’s Meg Moles.
Crane at Springfield Oct 21 Catholic—As the regular
season draws closer to an end, there are several intriguing non-conference match-ups, including this one. The Lady Pirate’s young squad will get a test at Catholic, where the Lady Irish are usually a tough team to beat. A key match-up will be the Catholic combination of senior setter Sami Mahaffey passing to senior hitter Shae Casey against the net play of Crane’s Marissa Stevens, Kylie Vaught, and Emma Lander.
middle hitter Olivia Johnston also plays a big role.
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Sparta at Central—Another intriguing non-conference match-up, as Sparta travels to “The Pit” to battle the Lady Bulldogs. It should be a good match-up on the front line, with Sparta’s Cailyn Long and Morgan Davis facing off against Central’s Mary Maerz and company. Can the Lady Trojans’ standout setter Meg Moles get her teammates the ball in the right spot for easy kills?
MacKenzie Keithley, Hurley—This 1st-Team AllConference and 2nd-Team All-District junior led Hurley in successful attacks at eight per game, as well as blocks at three per contest. A lefthanded middle hitter, Keithley is very hard to defend. Emma Lander, Crane—As a freshman last season, Lander, led the Lady Pirates in kills and blocks. An honorable mention All-SWCL selection last season, Lander is a force on the net and Crane’s go-to girl when the Lady Pirates need a boost of adrenaline. Look for Lander to be in the mix for 1st-Team AllConference honors this fall. Kelsey Larsen, Glendale—One of Glendale’s sophomore standouts, Larsen debuted as a freshman last season by recording 334 assists and 223 digs. A 1st-Team All-Ozark Conference middle hitter and setter, Larsen also garnered 2nd-Team All-Southwest Region recognition. Julia Krebs, Clever—Still battling back from an ACL injury, Krebs is Clever’s leading hitter, and one of the team’s vocal leaders. An honorable mention AllRegion honoree, the senior outside hitter also earned All-Conference and AllDistrict honors. Rachel Lee, Glendale—The lone senior of the Lady Falcon roster this season, Lee was named to the All-Ozark Conference 2nd-Team after recording 322 digs. The outside hitter should be in the mix for bigger postseason honors this fall. Chloe Lofton, Nixa—One of the top setters in the COC (Large), Lofton earned honorable mention AllSouthwest Region honors last season. The senior also garnered 1st-Team AllConference and 1st-Team AllDistrict recognition. Mary Maerz, Central—As a junior, Maerz played an integral role in the Lady Bulldogs’ impressive 25-6-1 season, recording 203 digs and 280 kills, with a .370 kill percentage. The All-District senior outside hitter also led Central with 47 aces, and has committed to play collegiately at Missouri State. Sami Mahaffey, Springfield Catholic—An honorable mention All-Southwest Region selection last season, Mahaffey runs the floor for Catholic as the Lady Irish setter. The senior will be looking to close out her career with another solid season. Jamie Mauss, Ash Grove—The Lady Pirates are out to defend their MidLakes Conference title from a year ago, and this 2nd-Team All-State is a big reason why Ash Grove posted a 26-6 record. One of two returning unanimous All-Conference selections, Mauss also earned 1st-Team AllSouthwest Region honors. Meg Moles, Sparta—A 1stTeam All-Conference honoree last season, Moles is one of the best setters in the SWCL, and maybe even in all
Billings at Clever—Clever has owned the SWCL of late, and has also owned Billings, too, as none of the Lady apologies to Buffalo, this one could be Wildcats know what it feels like to beat for a COC (Small) championship. Even if not, it figures to be exciting from start to Clever. This year may change all of that, as the Wildcats feel they have the talent finish. Rogersville has owned the series to beat any team in the conference, of late. In fact, no one on the Reeds including the Lady Bluejays. Junior Spring roster has ever beaten LoganRogersville, though the Lady Wolves did Alyssa Young was a 1st-Team All-Region, take Rogersville to three sets last season. All-District and All-Conference selection last season after recording 43 aces, 159 Seniors Danielle Curnes, Amy Taylor, kills, 76 blocks, and 49 digs a year ago. Hannah Gertson, and Rebecca Meats all Fellow junior Olivia Fabro, another Allwant a win over the Lady Wildcats on Region, All-District and All-Conference their resume, as does junior outside hitter Kyleigh Lipasek. As for Rogersville, honoree, had 31 aces, 32 kills, 219 assists, and 177 digs as a sophomore. junior setter Brea Freeman, an AllRegion and All-Conference selection, has Three other All-Conference selections, run a 5-1 since her freshman year, while seniors Sammy Himes, Maci Saxe, and Shondra Davis, want to end their careers fellow classmate Abby Groover, an Allwith a win over Clever. The Lady Bluejays Region and All-Conference middle hitter, were hit hard by graduation and the will look to kill Freeman’s passes. There transfer of Bailey Baumann, but head is plenty of talent on the Rogersville coach Teresa Hanafin has built a roster, with juniors Leslie Clark, Claire program that can withstand these Hutchinson, and Jordan Rogers playing losses. Senior outside hitter Julia Krebs is key roles at outside hitter, while juniors returning from ACL surgery, but is one of Nicole Barner and Brooke Jungers are the area’s best hitters when healthy. the team’s libero and defensive Junior outside hitter Lexie Tennis has specialist, respectively. Sophomore Reeds Spring at LoganOct 22 Rogersville—With
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OPI WATCH LIST of Southwest Missouri. Last season, Moles recorded an impressive 627 assists for the Lady Trojans. Gabi Mostrom, Parkview—After a standout junior season, in which Mostrom led Parkview in kills (334), aces (62), blocks (17), and digs (294), the senior is ready to cap her career this fall with another solid all-around game for the Lady Vikings. Mostrom, who earned 1st-Team All-Southwest Region, 1stTeam All-Conference, and 2nd-Team AllDistrict accolades last year, has committed to play collegiately at Wichita State. Jacqui Mostrom, Parkview—When your older sister is a standout volleyball player, it can be hard to distinguish yourself, but that wasn’t the case last year for Jacqui Mostrom, who burst on the scene as a freshman last season by leading Parkview in assists (494), while also recording 56 aces. Now a sophomore, the honorable mention AllSouthwest Region and 2nd-Team AllConference Mostrom has verbally committed to join her older sister, Gabi, at Wichita State in a couple of years. Paige Owings, Willard—The Lady Tigers rolled to a 27-6-1 record last season, which included a 5-2 COC (Large) mark and a district runner up finish. Owings, a three-year varsity starter, was a big reason for the team’s success after finishing second on the team in kills and blocks. The senior middle blocker earned All-District recognition for her efforts. Paige Perry, Ozark—Perry started last season as a freshman for the powerhouse Lady Tigers, who advanced to their fourth-straight Final Four. Now a sophomore, the outside and middle hitter is Ozark’s most improved hitter and will be counted on to terminate for the Lady Tigers at the net.. Ivy Reynolds, Ozark—A three-year starter at middle blocker, Reynolds has established herself as one of the top players in the area, and is a bona fide Division I recruit. The 2ndTeam All-Conference senior recorded 193 kills, 304 digs, and 68 blocks last season, and will be counted on for leadership both on the court and off. Rachel Rippee, Kickapoo—The VolleyChiefs graduated a pair of Division I recruits in Emily Thater (Missouri) and Maris Below (Miami), but Rippee has helped compensate for the losses. A 5-11 sophomore outside hitter and setter, Rippee was able to learn from both Thater and Below, and has stepped up this season as one of Kickapoo’s top players around the net. Last season, Rippee earned 2nd-Team All-Conference honors after recording 160 kills, including a 41% kill percentage. Shelby Roberts, Bolivar—Roberts has ran the Lady Liberator setter position for the past three seasons now. As a sophomore, Roberts ran a 6-2 offense, but adapted nicely to the switch to a 5-1 last season. The senior, who was an All-Region and All-District honoree last season, is one of the top setters in the talent-rich COC (Small), if not the area as a whole. Kendra Sater, Ozark—It seems that talented volleyball players are a dime a dozen in Ozark, as the Lady Tigers regularly produce some of the area’s best. Sater is the latest of the bunch, and stepped up in a big way when standout Caroline Clifford went down with an injury by recording 199 kills, 250 digs, and 404 assists for the season. The sophomore keys the Lady Tiger attack from her setter position. Alexa Schaaf, El Dorado Springs—The Lady Bulldogs may not get the exposure as some of the area teams, but volleyball purists know that El Dorado Springs is a tough out night in and night out. Schaaf, an honorable mention All-Stater a year ago, is a big reason why, as she led the team in service aces and was second on the team in kills during 2012 season. The senior also earned 1st-Team AllSouthwest Region and All-District honors a year ago. Allie Schatz, Marionville—An honorable mention All-Mid-Lakes performer, Schatz is one of the best net players in the conference. The 5-10 senior led Marionville in kills (163) and blocks (77) last season. Kaitlyn Schrock, Osceola—An honorable mention All-State selection as a junior last season, Schrock enjoyed a standout season
Ozark's Ivy Reynolds (#10, in red) (Staff Photo)
picked up the slack in Krebs’ absence, while junior middle hitter Olivia Nolan came on strong at the end of last season. Sophomore Lacey Menzie was the team’s setter last year as a freshman, and has assumed that role once again this year in her second season for the Lady Bluejays. Junior middle hitter Briana Young has the potential to make a big impact for Clever. at LoganOct 24 Nixa Rogersville— With district tournaments set to begin the following week, this will be a good tune-up for both Nixa and Rogersville. The Lady Wildcats, who advanced within a couple points of the Final Four last season, want to make it to the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau. The Lady Eagles, meanwhile, can use this stern test to help prepare for a winnable District 12.
Republic at Buffalo—In the regular season finale for both teams, look for an exciting match featuring two of the area’s best teams, including a talented Buffalo squad that has been flying under the radar for much of the fall. A win against Republic could be a springboard for the Lady Bison into a loaded Class 3 District 10, which includes COC (Small) conference mates Logan-Rogersville, Bolivar, and Springfield Catholic. As for Republic, the defending Class 4 District 12 champions can use a stern test from the Lady Bison to build momentum for another district run. Don’t be surprised if this one is a three-set nail biter!
Fair Grove's Jorden Stacey (#7) (Staff Photo)
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OPI WATCH LIST for one of the best Class 1 teams in the state. The versatile Schrock, a 1st-Team All-Central/South Central Region honoree, recorded one of the best allround statistical seasons in recent memory to help lead Osceola to the Class 1 Final Four and a 3rd-place finish. Schrock recorded a 46.7% kill percentage (156 kills), 126 aces, and was the Lady Indians’ primary setter (540 assists). Maddie Sherman, Republic—The Lady Tigers graduated a lot of talented players, but do have the luxury of having Sherman back for another year at libero. The senior led Republic in aces a year ago, and was second on the team in digs. Sherman was named 1st-Team AllDistrict and All-Conference. Jolene Shipps, Stockton—The Lady Tigers are, rightfully so, known for their girls basketball teams, which have won four state championships in the past dozen years. However, the Lady Tigers also play some good volleyball, and one of the best players in the Mid-Lakes Conference is Shipps, a 6-3 junior who excels at the net (both in volleyball and basketball). Jorden Stacey, Fair Grove—Named 2ndTeam All-Southwest Region as a freshman last year, Stacey was second on the team with 327 assists, and led the team with 50 aces. The sophomore also was named All-Region, All-District, and All-Conference Amy Taylor, Reeds Spring—A four-year starter for the defending district champion Lady Wolves, Taylor earned 1st-Team All-District and 2nd-Team AllConference last season. The senior led Reeds Spring in blocks and kill percentage last season. Lexie Tennis, Clever—Tennis enters her junior season as one of the SWCL’s best hitters. Named to the All-Conference and All-District teams as a sophomore, Tennis was one of Clever’s leaders and has continued to be so this year. Lexi Vandegrift, Everton—A 1st-Team All-Mark Twain Conference honoree last year, Vandegrift is one of the best players in the conference, and a big reason why the Lady Tigers posted an 18-8-1 record last season. Vandegrift has stepped up her game this season, which has eased the blow caused by the loss of Linsey Denney, the conference player of the year last season. Vandegrift posted a 51.6% kill percentage last year. Whitney Vermillion, Marshfield—A 1stTeam All-COC (Small) and 1st-Team AllDistrict selection last season, Vermillion led Marshfield in kills, blocks and digs. The senior middle hitter also earned honorable mention All-Southwest Region honors. Brooke Wilson, Osceola—A 1st-Team All-State selection, Wilson was a key member of the Lady Indians’ Final Four squad last season. Wilson and teammate Kaitlyn Schrock formed a lethal one-two punch for Osceola, which has established itself as one of the top Class 1 programs in the state. The junior recorded 302 kills for the season, and averaged almost four kills per set in also being named 1st-Team AllCentral/South Central Region. Alyssa Young, Billings—The Lady Wildcats cruised to a 20-4-1 record last season, led by Young, a 1st-Team AllSouthwest Region, 1st-Team All-District, and 1st-Team All-SWCL player. A 5-9 junior outside hitter, Young led Billings last year with 159 kills (50.5% kill percentage) and 76 blocks, and also had 43 aces.
Marionville's Allie Schatz (Photo by Amy Walker)
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Softball
Watch List
Cassville's Raeghan Blisard (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography)
By Byron Shive
Carley Allen, Nixa—An All-District selection last season, Allen is a defensive vacuum as the Eagles’ shortstop. The junior hit at a .319 clip last year, scored 11 runs, and batted in another 11. Miki Andrus, Willard—One of the top pitchers in the area, Andrus has already tossed a no-hitter this season, an 11-0 gem over Kickapoo on Aug. 29. A 1stTeam All-District and 2nd-Team All-Conference honoree a year ago, the senior is poised for even bigger honors this season. Andrus, a captain, also is a middle of the lineup hitter for the Lady Tigers, too. Raeghan Blisard, Cassville—A two-time All-Region centerfielder for Cassville, Blisard has consistently batted above .400 for her career, and also provides the Lady Tigers with standout play in center. The junior lead-off hitter also was named 1st-Team All-Big 8 and 1st-Team All-District. Morgan Cantrell, Reeds Spring—With a pair of AllState players having graduated in Marley Harmon and Andrea Studer, Cantrell has stepped up this season in a big way. After a solid season on the mound last year, in which she posted a 15-13 record and 2.98 ERA, with 104 strikeouts and a 1.94 WHIP in over 176 innings, Cantrell has continued to be a workhorse in the circle for the Lady Wolves. Cantrell is also Reeds Spring’s top returning leader offensively, after earning All-Conference and All-District recognition after batting .367, with 16 RBI and a pair of doubles. Sonjia Cotter, Forsyth—Cotter burst on the scene last season with a standout freshman campaign, as she hit safely in 19 of 22 games while batting at a .455 clip for the year. The sophomore has moved from centerfield to the pitcher’s circle this season, and continues to put up gaudy numbers at the plate. Brittany Fisher, Hillcrest—A 1st-Team All-Conference and All-District selection last season, Fisher patrols centerfield for the Lady Hornets. With her quickness and athleticism, there are few balls on which the senior cannot make a play. The speedy Fisher is also a threat to swipe a base at any moment. Shania Francka, Bolivar—A transfer from Marion C. Early this summer, Francka has stepped right into the Lady Liberator lineup and put up solid numbers immediately. Francka possesses extra base power, as evidenced by her two doubles already this season and the homerun she hit against Reeds Spring, the first of her career. In the circle, Francka is unbeaten, with wins over Warsaw, Reeds Spring and Strafford. Madi Freeman, Pleasant Hope—Graduation gutted the lineup of the defending Class 2 state champions, as five All-State players are no longer in a Lady Pirate uniform. Not all of the talent graduated, though, as Freeman played a big role in Pleasant Hope’s march to a state title last fall by batting .406, scoring 30 runs, and swiping 17 bases. The All-Conference and All-District junior was the Lady Pirates’ starting centerfielder last year, but has moved to second base this season. Madisyn Freeze, Walnut Grove—A 2nd-Team AllState selection last fall, Freeze is a big reason why the Lady Tigers are thinking seriously about playing deep into October. The senior also picked up some 1stTeam All-Region, 1st-Team All-District and 1st-Team All-PCL hardware. Ashlyn Garner, Logan-Rogersville—The speedy Garner shined as the Lady Wildcats’ leadoff hitter last season, earning 1st-Team All-COC, 1st-Team AllDistrict and 2nd-Team All-Region honors for her stellar play. After playing third base last season, Garner has made a seamless move to centerfield, where the senior is well on her way to ending her career with another strong season. Neelly Gray, Stockton—An All-Conference and AllDistrict pitcher and infielder, Gray has a nasty changeup that has fooled more than one hitter this season. The junior is Stockton’s workhorse in the circle, replacing graduated senior Brittney Brown. The hard-throwing Gray came within one out of nohitter on Sept. 3, one-hitting El Dorado Springs in a 12-2 win. Kyra Gumm, Halfway—An honorable mention AllRegion honoree, Gumm was one of the lady Cardinals’ biggest offensive threats a year ago, batting .360, with 20 RBI, 25 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. The senior also earned 1st-Team All-PCL and All-District honors.
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Nixa's Carley Allen (Staff Photo)
Carleigh Hall, Purdy—A senior pitcher for the Lady Eagles this season, Hall enjoyed a solid junior season on the mound last fall, posting a 2.82 ERA with 140 strikeouts. A 1st-Team All-District honoree on the mound, Hall also batted .324 with 11 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Karsyn Hejna, Walnut Grove—One of the top all-around players in the area, Hejna was named 2nd-Team All-State as a pitcher last year after posting a 16-9 record with 148 strikeouts for the state quarterfinalists. Hejna also batted .514 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI and 24 stolen bases last season in earning 1st-Team AllRegion, 1st-Team All-District and 1st-Team All-PCL honors. The senior Hejna, a member of the Lady Tigers’ state champions on the hardwood last year, looks to lead her Walnut Grove teammates to the Class 1 Final Four on the diamond. Kori Hillenburg, Pleasant Hope—There may not have been any bigger shoes that had to be filled this fall than those stepped into by Hillenburg, who moved from second base to the pitching circle to replace departed All-Stater Sarah Siegismund, who hurled the Lady Pirates to a Class 2 state championship last fall and a state runner-up finish in 2011. Four other All-State players, including Hillenburg’s sister, Kari, also graduated last spring. The junior Hillenburg is up for the challenge, though, earning 1st Team All-Conference and All-District honors last season, and 2nd Team All-Region accolades, after batting .442, scoring 41 runs, driving in 28 runs, and stealing 14 bases. Abby Krueger, Monett—Krueger played second base for the state quarterfinalist Lady Cubs last fall, but moved to catcher this season. A 2nd-Team All-District and honorable mention All-Big 8 selection, the junior batted .305, with 21 RBI, 22 runs scored, and four triples. Allie Krueger, Monett—A 1st-Team AllRegion, 1st-Team All-Conference, and 1stTeam All-District honoree as a sophomore last fall, Krueger was a big reason the Lady
Reeds Spring's Sam Retherford (Staff Photo)
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OPI WATCH LIST Cubs made a run to the state quarterfinals in 2012. Krueger is Monett’s top pitcher, and posted a 9-4 record and 2.56 ERA with 110 strikeouts last season, and also bats leadoff. Last year, the junior hit .321 and scored 24 runs, and was only caught stealing once in swiping 34 bases. Cameron McPeak, El Dorado Springs—A 1st-Team All-District outfielder a year ago as a freshman, McPeak is one of the top sophomores in the region this season. McPeak posted a .451 batting average last season, with a .525 on base percentage, and 15 stolen bases. Kylee Murgel, Marshfield—One of the area’s best shortstops, Murgel led Marshfield in nearly every offensive category last season, including batting average (.467). The senior figures to be in the mix for 1st-Team All-COC honors this season after garnering 2nd-Team recognition a year ago. Murgel was also a 1st-Team All-District honoree. Missy Newman, Hermitage—Newman earned 1st-Team All-District and 2ndTeam All-Polk County League honors last season after a standout season at the plate and in the field at shortstop. Newman batted .338 for the season for the Lady Hornets. Brittany Nimmo, Ozark—A 1st-Team AllStater at third base for the state runnerup Lady Tigers last season, Nimmo may be the best player in the area. The junior, who also earned 1st-Team All-Conference, All-Region, and All-District recognition, moved to the pitching circle this fall to replace graduated standout Abby Clanton. Abby Norris, Republic—A solid all-around player for the Lady Tigers, Norris earned 2nd-Team All-Conference and 2nd-Team All-District honors last season for Republic. The speedy junior, who has moved to centerfield this season, can hit for both average and power at the plate.
Walnut Grove's Karsyn Hejna (Staff Photo)
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Pleasant Hope's Kori Hillenburg (Staff Photo)
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Molly O’Dell, Branson—O’Dell led the Lady Pirates in batting average last season, en route to garnering 2nd-Team All-Conference and All-District recognition. O’Dell hit .302 for the season with 14 RBI batting in the clean-up spot for Branson. Kaitlyn Painter, Marion C. Early—As a freshman last season, Painter batted at a .433 clip and drove in 25 runs. Those numbers were good enough to earn the centerfielder 1st-Team AllDistrict honors.
Marshfield's Kylee Murgel (Photo by Kelly Presley)
Monett's Abby Krueger (Photo by Amy Walker)
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OPI WATCH LIST Tyler Pringle, Dadeville—Pitching in the talentrich Polk County League can be tough, but Pringle shined in the circle for the Lady Bearcats last season, hurling her way to a, 11-3 record and a 2.48 ERA. Those numbers, coupled with her .432 batting average and 18 RBI, were good enough to earn the senior 1stTeam All-Conference and All-District, as well as honorable mention All-Region, honors. Sam Retherford, Reeds Spring—With AllStaters Marley Harmon and Andrea Studer having graduated, it was imperative for some Lady Wolves to step up, and Retherford has done just that this season. The senior, who is a vacuum on the left side of the infield, has worked hard at the plate and has shown significant improvement. Sabrina Ross, Hillcrest—The only sure things in life are death and taxes…and Ross in the circle for the Lady Hornets. The senior has pitched every inning of every varsity game since arriving on The Hill in 2010. Ross earned 1stTeam All-District and honorable mention AllConference honors for her work last season. Taylor Sechler, Bolivar—A unanimous COC (Small) selection a year ago, Sechler was a big reason the Lady Liberators won a district championship. The junior shortstop has picked up this fall where she left off last season, when she hit .358 with 23 runs scored and 13 RBI. Sechler also garnered 1st Team All-District and 2nd Team All-Southwest Region honors. Angel Serles, Republic—A 2nd-Team AllConference and All-District honoree last season, Serles is a key to the Lady Tigers’ success this season. The versatile junior can play anywhere for Republic, but handles shortstop duties primarily. Serles also can handle a bat at the plate. Jordan Shewmaker, Buffalo—After a standout junior campaign a year ago, in which Shewmaker batted .405, hit eight homeruns while posting a 2.5 ERA in the circle while striking out 110 opposing batters, Shewmaker is poised for a dominant senior season for the Lady Bison, who are good enough to make a deep October run. A 1st-Team All-Conference, All-District, and All-Region honoree, Shewmaker is the best player on a very good team.. Lakin Simmerman, Ash Grove—Simmerman did it all for the Lady Pirates last season, batting close to .500 in the clean-up spot for the season while also handling pitching duties for Ash Grove. For her efforts, Simmerman earned 2nd-Team All-District and honorable mention All-Mid-Lakes Conference recognition. The senior has given a verbal commitment to play basketball at College of the Ozarks next year. Hailee Vigneaux, Ozark—The speedy Vigneaux patrols centerfield for Ozark, last season’s Class 4 state runner-up. A 1st-Team All-Conference, All-District and All-Region recipient, the senior is a threat to steal any time she reaches base, which is often. Vigneaux, who has verbally committed to play collegiately at Missouri State, is a table setter for the Lady Tigers’ big hitters from her leadoff spot. Kelsey Wiseman, Monett—The Lady Cubs rolled to within one game of the Class 3 Final Four, due in large part to the contributions of Wiseman, who batted .455 with 22 RBI, 23 runs scored, and two homeruns last year. The senior first baseman, who was named 2ndTeam All-State in Class 3, also earned 1st-Team All-Region, 1st-Team All-District, and AllConference honors.
Ozark's Brittany Nimmo (Staff Photo)
Stockton's Neelly Gray (Photo courtesy of Stockton High School)
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Fall is here and, of course, football comes with it. Being an old-school guy, I love all the traditions that come with football. The sta-
the pre-game rituals, uniforms that have been around forever, fans that have been around as long as the uniforms, rivalries, announcers, players entering the stadium, all of it. I love it. Let me give you an example. As a Michigan fan, there is nothing better than sitting in Michigan Stadium (built in 1927) hearing the Michigan Marching Band (started in 1896) (written in 1898) as the football team (whose
only makes you feel joined with all of your fellow fans, it transports you back and links you to the history of the team. Pure magic. around that I enjoy is the pregame music. Where it used to be only the marching band played before the game, now virtually every game has some music played to entertain the fans, pump up the players, and just generally add to the atmosphere. The type of music varies wildly. South Carolina plays the theme from Metallica. Both get the crowds rocking in a big way. Fans have their own preferences for pregame music. Some want to hear music that want to be entertained. Different fans will want to hear classic or newer music. And there are always those who wish that they’d just turn the music off. All have their reasons, and for each one of them, their taste in music says something about them as a fan. Classic rock.
people, you are looking for a chance to show doesn’t mean you don’t like to revisit the good old days of fantastic victory parties. That is the distant past now, though, as you are much closer to your Metamucil days than your Mary Jane youth. Rap/hip hop. of songs that works really well to get people pumped up. But if you prefer something from this group, you’re probably looking to protect don’t want to be uncool. So what better way to do that then to groove along to a song with a good beat, and pointed lyrics that may or may not need to be censored in order to be played in public? Just know that while you’re doing your best to be chill, your lack of rhythm may betray you…which can end up with you going viral. Nobody wants that. Country. If you hear country music before a football people or less. But country can be surprisingly effective in setting the tone of a game. There are a number of country songs with rebellious And if it’s not one of those songs, just hearing about your dog dying when your wife leaves you after your mama’s funeral while you were in prison can tick off most people. Crowd participation. types of songs are best left until the game is in progress, you just can’t wait for the chance to get up, clap along, or shake a tail feather. Just give you a chance to move and show your stuff. These are also popular for warming up when the weather turns colder. Techno/Dance. anything by Daft Punk. Although some songs in this group can work in the pregame, you might just be attending for the social aspect
lane for you. But just because you’ve left your
44 OPI
taste. There are little kids and people with queasy stomachs in attendance. Metal. You’re at the game for the violence. You want to see your team hit somebody. Yes, you want them to win. But if they lose while delivering a number of bone crunching hits, you can live with that. You give much respect to anyone out. Classical/Instrumental. more thoughtful fan. That doesn’t mean you engage in philosophical debates before the game (not that there’s anything wrong with that). You just know that a good piece of classical or instrumental music can make a simple high school football game seem like an epic New rock. eration. You’re sick and tired of hearing that rock is dead. You know your bands can bring it as good as the old timers. And you know that your music will inspire your team to ultimate heights heretofore unknown. Your songs shall play, you will cheer with all your might, and also a better than average chance that you’re emo. Pop. got lost and ended up at the football field. enjoy some real music, and get ready for some football. Justin Bieber. You are not wanted here.