OPI

the top

GUESS

high school sports movies20Oillustratedzark

#12School Ties

“it’s a story no one would have guessed.” - Republic’s dylan bekemeier, on WINNING class 3 state medalist honors

tiger title

including

may-june 2012

statechampshit the

wayFAIR

pg 28

pg 38

pg 30

pg 34 AGAINpg 32

OPIOPI

Family Pass Available – $69 99 for mom, dad,and all the kids 17 & under.

417.335.8080 • JimStafford.com • 3440 W Hwy 76 • Branson MO 65616

00121 STAF Ozarks Prep Full 3/2/11 10:02 AM Page 1

DL

DISABLEDDDLLLISTWhat types of sports injuries are most com-

mon? Are there differences between the most common types of injuries in children and adults?

The most common type of sports injuries are overuse injuries and strains or sprains. Overuse injuries occur when repetitive activities place too much stress on tendons and bones without an adequate period of recovery. With adequate recovery time, the body typically is able to heal damaged tissues. With the current trend of chil-dren and young adults training and competing year around in a single sport, compounding stress to tendons and bones from repetitive activity ulti-mately leads to an injury that causes an athlete to seek medical attention. Strains and sprains, unlike overuse injuries, tend to occur more suddenly but still involve muscles, tendons and bones.

The most common injuries that I see in the of-fice and in the training room are ankle sprains/strains, knee pain (typically from either a condi-tion called patellofemoral pain syndrome or pa-tellar tendinosis), low back pain, elbow pain (typ-ically from tennis or golfer’s elbow), and shoulder injuries. Although the most common injuries may affect the same joints in children and adults, the reason or cause of the pain can be very differ-ent because children’s cartilage is still develop-ing and their growth plates are still open among other things. As a result, the stresses to the body that children experience during sports or activi-ties often affect them differently. For example, hip pain in a child who has not yet reached puberty may be secondary to disrupted blood flow to the upper part of the thigh bone where as in an older child, it may be the result of slippage of the growth plate in the hip. In a young adult, the pain may be from a stress fracture (a kind of fracture that occurs from overuse) and in an older adult, the pain may be from arthritic changes. Although each patient may present with hip pain, each can have a very different reason for the pain, which would require very different management and treatment.

What can you do to prevent sports injuries? Are there precautions parents can take to help pre-vent injuries in their children?

I believe that one of the best things a person can do is to maintain a good base of fitness throughout the year and to avoid abruptly starting a new routine or making significant changes to an already existing routine. Following the “rule of 10%” provides a good general guideline to pre-vent overuse injuries in all ages. The rule suggests that total training (duration, intensity, duration or any combination of these) should not increase more than 10% over a period of time. For ex-ample, if you walk 20 miles every week, it would probably be safe to increase to 22 miles the fol-lowing week if you want to increase your mileage but keep the same pace.

I also strongly advocate well defined periods of rest between set periods of training and to use the down time to cross train (i.e.—taking part in oth-er sports or activities that use and stress different muscles, tendons and bones). There is a reason that all professional sports (MLB, NFL, etc.) have an off season; no one can go 100% in a sport year around without risking injury or reducing their performance. Also, cross training allows a person to maintain a baseline of fitness while reducing the stress to tendons and bones that occur from repetitive activities.

With regards to children, I believe that early sport specialization should be avoided; the focus again should be on general fitness and having fun without too much emphasis on winning. Other guidelines to follow would be to ensure that a child is adequately prepared to play a sport (in other words taking part in activities that are ap-propriate for their age, ability levels and physical characteristics), to use properly fitting and main-tained equipment, to provide adequate supervi-sion of sports/activities by qualified adults, and to avoid overtraining.

Are there certain types of activities in which injuries are more likely to occur? Are there cer-tain times of year when injuries are more likely to occur?

Injuries can occur with any activity in which a person is not adequately prepared to participate. If somebody has spent their spring on the couch watching baseball on TV and then suddenly be-comes inspired to join a local baseball league, mentally they may be prepared to go nine in-nings, steal home or hit the winning home run, but their body on the other hand may argue oth-erwise (and more often than not, win the argu-ment). The point is that you have to plan ahead and prepare adequately and gradually, and be realistic about the level of fitness you are starting from. A person who has been active year around will be able to reach a higher level of activity sooner than someone who has basically taken an entire season completely off. Also, someone who has cross-trained in different activities will more easily adapt to a new activity than someone who has only played a specific sport year round.

This being said, I believe we do tend to see an increase in certain injuries in some sports or activities secondary to this “too much too soon” phenomenon. For instance, in the spring, many people often suddenly become inspired to go from “puff and fluff” to “buff and tough,” often with unintended, painful consequences. This also occurs to a degree with the start of any organized sports season. For example, in college football, athletes who have spent their summer lying by the pool or on the beach have a difficult time ad-justing to the intense training schedule of two-a-day practices with the start of school. Again, the

emphasis should be on year around generalized fitness.

Has the incidence of sports injuries changed over the years?

There does seem to be an increasing trend in the number of younger athletes who are devel-oping overuse injuries. This can be attributed in part, perhaps, to the overall growing number and participation in youth sports across the country, as well as the increasing numbers of school and club programs, summer sport camps and com-petitive leagues. However, there is data to suggest that the increasing numbers of overuse injuries that are occurring in younger and younger ath-letes may also be related to the fact that children today seem to be specializing in one sport at an earlier and earlier age, as well as now training year around. Gone are the days when a kid used to take part in one sport in the fall, another in the spring and perhaps even a third in the summer. The demand to succeed, which I feel is often in part driven by the media coverage of competi-tions as well as the tremendous salaries that a select few athletes command, pressures athletes to train harder and longer hoping to achieve the celebrity status that only a few athletes will ever achieve but all believe they are capable of (in-cluding some parents and coaches).

Do people always recognize when they are in-jured while playing a sport?

No, not always. Without proper medical train-ing, people may either not know what symptoms to even look for with a particular injury (i.e.—a stress fracture of the back or hip from overuse) or they may misinterpret symptoms that they do recognize and chalk it up to something else (“I thought the pain in my knee was just from getting older.”). That is why I believe a person trained and qualified in sports medicine is a valuable asset in helping to accurately recognize, interpret, diag-nose and manage the wide variety of injuries a person or athlete can sustain while taking part in physical activities or participating in sports.

What types of treatments are available for sports injuries?

There is a tremendous variety of treatments available depending on the nature of the injury. It can range from as simple as adjusting an already existing training program to basic physical thera-py (such as adding particular stretching/strength-ening exercises) to using different modalities such as bracing, ultrasound, or injections, to ultimately surgery involving state of the art techniques such as arthroscopy and so forth. A physician trained in sports medicine would be more aware of the great variety of techniques, methods and equip-ment available, but would also better understand which intervention would be most appropriate and effective to use and when.

Dr. J.P. SimanisM.D., MPH, MSPH

Citizens Memorial Healthcare

CMH WALK-IN CLINIC

Open Daily - 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. 2230 S. Springfield 417-777-4800

The CMH Walk-In Clinic provides convenient and quick care for people of all ages who have a sudden illness or minor injury and who need to be treated right away. No appointments are necessary. The clinic is staffed by licensed nurse practitioners and offers X-ray and laboratory services on site. The CMH Walk-in Clinic is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The CMH Walk-In Clinic is located at 2230 S. Springfield in the Railway Station, Bolivar. For more information, call the clinic at 417-777-4800.

On the

On the

Hermitage417-745-2300

Willard417-742-1110

Republic417-732-6407

Greenfield417-637-2663

Lamar417-682-6100

Stockton417-276-6500

Bolivar417-777-8473

16

ReflectionsSalon & Spa

800 East Aldrich, Suite CBolivar, MO 65613417.326.6100

Our staff is waiting to serve you!

M/F 8:00-6:00T/W/Th 8:00-8:00Sat 8:00-12:30

WHERE THE

andplay TRAINTOP PLAYERS

BASEBALL IS A GAME OF NUMBERS2001207

40301473

establishedcollege signeesMLB draft picksprofessional coaches and instructorsindoor batting cagesindoor pitching moundsmajor league players

Balls-N-Strikes Bolivar (417) 777-2287

Balls-N-Strikes Nixa (417) 725-8000

www.midwestnationals.org

Balls-N-Strikes Springfield (417) 866-8200

OPIOPI

Family Pass Available – $69 99 for mom, dad,and all the kids 17 & under.

417.335.8080 • JimStafford.com • 3440 W Hwy 76 • Branson MO 65616

00121 STAF Ozarks Prep Full 3/2/11 10:02 AM Page 1

DL

DISABLEDDDLLLISTWhat types of sports injuries are most com-

mon? Are there differences between the most common types of injuries in children and adults?

The most common type of sports injuries are overuse injuries and strains or sprains. Overuse injuries occur when repetitive activities place too much stress on tendons and bones without an adequate period of recovery. With adequate recovery time, the body typically is able to heal damaged tissues. With the current trend of chil-dren and young adults training and competing year around in a single sport, compounding stress to tendons and bones from repetitive activity ulti-mately leads to an injury that causes an athlete to seek medical attention. Strains and sprains, unlike overuse injuries, tend to occur more suddenly but still involve muscles, tendons and bones.

The most common injuries that I see in the of-fice and in the training room are ankle sprains/strains, knee pain (typically from either a condi-tion called patellofemoral pain syndrome or pa-tellar tendinosis), low back pain, elbow pain (typ-ically from tennis or golfer’s elbow), and shoulder injuries. Although the most common injuries may affect the same joints in children and adults, the reason or cause of the pain can be very differ-ent because children’s cartilage is still develop-ing and their growth plates are still open among other things. As a result, the stresses to the body that children experience during sports or activi-ties often affect them differently. For example, hip pain in a child who has not yet reached puberty may be secondary to disrupted blood flow to the upper part of the thigh bone where as in an older child, it may be the result of slippage of the growth plate in the hip. In a young adult, the pain may be from a stress fracture (a kind of fracture that occurs from overuse) and in an older adult, the pain may be from arthritic changes. Although each patient may present with hip pain, each can have a very different reason for the pain, which would require very different management and treatment.

What can you do to prevent sports injuries? Are there precautions parents can take to help pre-vent injuries in their children?

I believe that one of the best things a person can do is to maintain a good base of fitness throughout the year and to avoid abruptly starting a new routine or making significant changes to an already existing routine. Following the “rule of 10%” provides a good general guideline to pre-vent overuse injuries in all ages. The rule suggests that total training (duration, intensity, duration or any combination of these) should not increase more than 10% over a period of time. For ex-ample, if you walk 20 miles every week, it would probably be safe to increase to 22 miles the fol-lowing week if you want to increase your mileage but keep the same pace.

I also strongly advocate well defined periods of rest between set periods of training and to use the down time to cross train (i.e.—taking part in oth-er sports or activities that use and stress different muscles, tendons and bones). There is a reason that all professional sports (MLB, NFL, etc.) have an off season; no one can go 100% in a sport year around without risking injury or reducing their performance. Also, cross training allows a person to maintain a baseline of fitness while reducing the stress to tendons and bones that occur from repetitive activities.

With regards to children, I believe that early sport specialization should be avoided; the focus again should be on general fitness and having fun without too much emphasis on winning. Other guidelines to follow would be to ensure that a child is adequately prepared to play a sport (in other words taking part in activities that are ap-propriate for their age, ability levels and physical characteristics), to use properly fitting and main-tained equipment, to provide adequate supervi-sion of sports/activities by qualified adults, and to avoid overtraining.

Are there certain types of activities in which injuries are more likely to occur? Are there cer-tain times of year when injuries are more likely to occur?

Injuries can occur with any activity in which a person is not adequately prepared to participate. If somebody has spent their spring on the couch watching baseball on TV and then suddenly be-comes inspired to join a local baseball league, mentally they may be prepared to go nine in-nings, steal home or hit the winning home run, but their body on the other hand may argue oth-erwise (and more often than not, win the argu-ment). The point is that you have to plan ahead and prepare adequately and gradually, and be realistic about the level of fitness you are starting from. A person who has been active year around will be able to reach a higher level of activity sooner than someone who has basically taken an entire season completely off. Also, someone who has cross-trained in different activities will more easily adapt to a new activity than someone who has only played a specific sport year round.

This being said, I believe we do tend to see an increase in certain injuries in some sports or activities secondary to this “too much too soon” phenomenon. For instance, in the spring, many people often suddenly become inspired to go from “puff and fluff” to “buff and tough,” often with unintended, painful consequences. This also occurs to a degree with the start of any organized sports season. For example, in college football, athletes who have spent their summer lying by the pool or on the beach have a difficult time ad-justing to the intense training schedule of two-a-day practices with the start of school. Again, the

emphasis should be on year around generalized fitness.

Has the incidence of sports injuries changed over the years?

There does seem to be an increasing trend in the number of younger athletes who are devel-oping overuse injuries. This can be attributed in part, perhaps, to the overall growing number and participation in youth sports across the country, as well as the increasing numbers of school and club programs, summer sport camps and com-petitive leagues. However, there is data to suggest that the increasing numbers of overuse injuries that are occurring in younger and younger ath-letes may also be related to the fact that children today seem to be specializing in one sport at an earlier and earlier age, as well as now training year around. Gone are the days when a kid used to take part in one sport in the fall, another in the spring and perhaps even a third in the summer. The demand to succeed, which I feel is often in part driven by the media coverage of competi-tions as well as the tremendous salaries that a select few athletes command, pressures athletes to train harder and longer hoping to achieve the celebrity status that only a few athletes will ever achieve but all believe they are capable of (in-cluding some parents and coaches).

Do people always recognize when they are in-jured while playing a sport?

No, not always. Without proper medical train-ing, people may either not know what symptoms to even look for with a particular injury (i.e.—a stress fracture of the back or hip from overuse) or they may misinterpret symptoms that they do recognize and chalk it up to something else (“I thought the pain in my knee was just from getting older.”). That is why I believe a person trained and qualified in sports medicine is a valuable asset in helping to accurately recognize, interpret, diag-nose and manage the wide variety of injuries a person or athlete can sustain while taking part in physical activities or participating in sports.

What types of treatments are available for sports injuries?

There is a tremendous variety of treatments available depending on the nature of the injury. It can range from as simple as adjusting an already existing training program to basic physical thera-py (such as adding particular stretching/strength-ening exercises) to using different modalities such as bracing, ultrasound, or injections, to ultimately surgery involving state of the art techniques such as arthroscopy and so forth. A physician trained in sports medicine would be more aware of the great variety of techniques, methods and equip-ment available, but would also better understand which intervention would be most appropriate and effective to use and when.

Dr. J.P. SimanisM.D., MPH, MSPH

Citizens Memorial Healthcare

CMH WALK-IN CLINIC

Open Daily - 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. 2230 S. Springfield 417-777-4800

The CMH Walk-In Clinic provides convenient and quick care for people of all ages who have a sudden illness or minor injury and who need to be treated right away. No appointments are necessary. The clinic is staffed by licensed nurse practitioners and offers X-ray and laboratory services on site. The CMH Walk-in Clinic is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The CMH Walk-In Clinic is located at 2230 S. Springfield in the Railway Station, Bolivar. For more information, call the clinic at 417-777-4800.

On the

On the

Hermitage417-745-2300

Willard417-742-1110

Republic417-732-6407

Greenfield417-637-2663

Lamar417-682-6100

Stockton417-276-6500

Bolivar417-777-8473

16

ReflectionsSalon & Spa

800 East Aldrich, Suite CBolivar, MO 65613417.326.6100

Our staff is waiting to serve you!

M/F 8:00-6:00T/W/Th 8:00-8:00Sat 8:00-12:30

WHERE THE

andplay TRAINTOP PLAYERS

BASEBALL IS A GAME OF NUMBERS200120740301473

establishedcollege signeesMLB draft picksprofessional coaches and instructorsindoor batting cagesindoor pitching moundsmajor league players

Balls-N-Strikes Bolivar (417) 777-2287

Balls-N-Strikes Nixa (417) 725-8000

www.midwestnationals.org

Balls-N-Strikes Springfield (417) 866-8200

OPI

Private Golf Course

18 Hole Championship CourseMulligans Bar & Grill (Open to the public)Excellent Practice FacilitiesSwimming Pool

Outstanding Membership Offerings. Inquire today about the 2012 Membership Drive.

417.326.7456 (ext. 21)www.siloridgecc.com

OPI

Private Golf Course

18 Hole Championship CourseMulligans Bar & Grill (Open to the public)Excellent Practice FacilitiesSwimming Pool

Outstanding Membership Offerings. Inquire today about the 2012 Membership Drive.

417.326.7456 (ext. 21)www.siloridgecc.com

OPI

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LETTERfrom the

eeLL Editor-In-Chief

Oillustratedzark

PWP r a i r i e Wa r b l e rPubl ishing, LLC

Publisher/Editor-In-ChiefByron Shive

Art DirectorTy DeClue

Contributing Writers

Contributing PhotographersChris Auckley, LA Breedlove Photog-raphy, Dakota Motley, Chuck Nickle Photography

On the Cover

Ozark Preps Illustrated (OPI) is published monthly by Prai-rie Warbler Publishing LLC. Reproductions in whole or in part without permission are prohibited. OPI is not responsible for the return of unsolicited artwork, photography, or manu-scripts, and will not be responsible for holding fees or similiar charges. All digital submissions and correspondence will be become property of OPI.

Editorial DisclaimerAll rights reserved. For editorial matters, please contact the edi-tors. The views of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the policies of OPI, nor that of the publisher.

Advertising DisclaimerAll rights reserved. The views and opinions of OPI advertisers do not reflect those of OPI.

OPI has a clear committment to inviting and publishing cor-rections of fact and clarifying errors of context. Corrections of errors and mistakes are a necessity in obtaining credibility in the magazine.

EDITOR

P.O. Box 777Bolivar, MO 65613

417.770.0003

PrinterShweiki Media4954 Space Center DriveSan Antonio, TX 78218www.shweiki.com

bshive@ozarkpreps.com

Howard BellKen “Joboo” PollreiszDr. J.P. Simanis

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Republic’s Dylan Bekemeier reacts after sinking a 60-foot birdie putt on the next-to-last hole of the 2012 MSHSAA Class 3 Boys Golf State Championships on May 15. The birdie put an exclamation point on Bekemeier’s state championship. (Staff Photo)

Well, another school year has come to a close, and the 2011-12 academic year was a banner period for Ozark prep sports. The list of exceptional individual efforts, instant classic games, memorable performances, etc., is long and distinguished, and there are simply not enough pages in the magazine to recognize each. Suffice it to say, though, the past year has been a great time to be a high school sports fan in Southwest Missouri!

This year has seen several Ozark teams and individual athletes win state championships. Congratulations to the following teams and athletes on achieving the pinnacle of success in their respective sports: Logan-Rogersville football, Springfield Catholic boys soccer, Glendale swimmers Jack and Luke Snow and Gretchen Stein, Repub-lic girls basketball, Mt. Vernon girls basketball, Billings boys basketball, and wrestlers Christian Adams (Willard) Gareth Behr (Bolivar), Jonathon Inman (Branson), Joe Velliquette (Nixa), and Joe Zimmer (Logan-Rogersville).

The spring sports season has recently wound up, with yet more state champions from the Ozarks. Republic’s Dylan Bekemeier was not likely on the short list of pre-tournament guesses as to who would win state medal-ist honors at the MSHSAA Class 3 Boys Golf Championships, but “Guess Again” (p. 32) chronicles the Tiger sophomore’s state title-winning performance. With only five state qualifiers, the Stockton girls track and field team also was probably looked past prior to the girls Class 2 State track & field meet, but after scoring points in every event in which they were entered, the Lady Tigers brought home a state championship, which is featured in “Tiger Title” (p. 28). Several other student-athletes registered state championship-winning performances on the track and in the field events, and their accomplishments are commemorated with a photo spread beginning on p. 30.

Monett’s Jacob Fair is one of the most talented and accomplished golfers on the national junior circuit. Fair, who recently graduated as the valedictorian of his class, is off to the University of Missouri in the fall on a golf schol-arship. Do not be surprised, though, to see Fair playing professionally at some point in the future. His remark-able story is chronicled in “Hit the FAIRway” (p. 34).

What are the greatest high school sports movies of all-time? “Hoosiers?” “Friday Night Lights?” I offer my own personal list of the Top 20 high school sports movies, which begins on p. 38. The thing about any “Top-whatever” list is that it is entirely subjective, meaning that my opinion as to the best high school sports movies will most likely be different than another person’s opinion. My main criteria for the list is that either the subject matter of the movie was a high school sport, or that high school sports were a major part of the plot. My list is obviously influenced by my age, since there are several movies from the 1980s and early ‘90s on the list. Let the debate begin…

I also want to personally thank Glendale head baseball coach Howard Bell for taking the time to write the “Chalk Talk” column for this issue. As many of you are aware, Coach Bell has been fighting ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, for some time now. Coach Bell has been an inspiration to many over the years through his teaching and coaching, and I know that he has made a major impact on many young students and athletes in his tenure. Please take time to read his column on fighting adversity. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your fam-ily, Coach!

Finally, this will be the last issue of Ozark Preps Illustrated until the fall. We will unveil the August-September issue sometime around Labor Day after the 2012-13 school year has begun. There will then be an issue every other month for a total of six issues annually. Hopefully, the 2012-13 Ozarks prep sports scene will be just as exciting as this past year. (I have no doubt that it will be!)

Enjoy your summer and, as always, thank you for reading Ozark Preps Illustrated!

Dear Readers,

CHECK US OUT ONLINE

4

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28

30

32

34

Chalk Talk

Tiger Title

State Champs

Guess Again

End Zone

Milestones

STARTING LINEUP

Byron Shive

Ozark Preps Illustrated (OPI) is published monthly by Prai-rie Warbler Publishing LLC. Reproductions in whole or in part without permission are prohibited. OPI is not responsible for the return of unsolicited artwork, photography, or manu-scripts, and will not be responsible for holding fees or similiar charges. All digital submissions and correspondence will be become property of OPI.

Editorial DisclaimerAll rights reserved. For editorial matters, please contact the edi-tors. The views of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the policies of OPI, nor that of the publisher.

Advertising DisclaimerAll rights reserved. The views and opinions of OPI advertisers do not reflect those of OPI.

OPI has a clear committment to inviting and publishing cor-rections of fact and clarifying errors of context. Corrections of errors and mistakes are a necessity in obtaining credibility in the magazine.

Shweiki Media4954 Space Center DriveSan Antonio, TX 78218www.shweiki.com

612

44

5

Hit the FAIRway

featuring

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Randy DaledvLaRue Design & Print Services

38 Top 20 High School Sports Movies

Despite having just five State qualifiers, the Stockton Lady Tigers track & field team was nearly flawless in capturing a Class 2 state championship

Several area athletes captured State track & field titles, including Ash Grove’s Karter Moran, Glendale’s Spencer Haik, Hollister’s Jordan Britton, Parkview’s Quintin Smith, and Parkview’s 4x100 relay team

Republic’s Dylan Bekemeier may not have been a pre-tourney favorite, but that did not stop him from winning Class 3 state medalist honors

Monett’s Jacob Fair is one of the top junior circuit golfers in the country, but Fair is as successful in the game of life as he is the game of golf

What is the best high school sports movie of all-time? Here is one man’s opinion of the best of the best. Let the debate begin...

Glendale head baseball coach Howard Bell, who is battling ALS, writes about fighting adversity

Photo Finish16

On The DL14

Time Out15Dr. J.P. Simanis writes about a FAST cure for tendon pain

“Joboo” has a solution for what he considers to be some “head scratching” coaching changes

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BASEBALLChaz Alderson, Ozark—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (P)Sawyer Alderson, Ozark—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (OF)Aaron Alexander, Sparta—HM All-SWCL (UT)Logan Allred, Ash Grove—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (DH)Tyler Aschwege, Galena—2nd-Team All-SWCL (IF)Justin Atchison, Willard—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (OF)Josh Baker, Stockton—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF); 1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (P)Carlin Ballay, Monett—1st-Team All-Big 8 (UT)Brayton Ballenger, Catholic—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (IF)Aaron Bates, Glendale—HM All-Ozark Conference (P); Class 4 2nd-Team All-District 11 (IF)Brandon Bates, Spokane—2nd-Team All-SWCL (IF)

Talon Bates, Fair Grove—HM All-Mid-Lakes (UT)Daniel Batt, Branson—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (C)Howard Bell, Glendale— Class 4 District 11 Coach of the Year; Ozark Conference Honorary Coach of the YearDevon Bennett, Purdy—HM All-Ozark 7Brandon Bishop, Skyline—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Zach Boeding, Kickapoo—HM All-Ozark Conference (P)Justus Boever, Logan-Rogersville—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (UT)Chase Briscoe, Hillcrest—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (OF)Weston Buchanan, Hillcrest—HM All-Ozark Conference (IF)Josh Bunselmeyer, Glendale—Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (IF)Dalton Burke, Nixa—Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (P)Josh Bunselmeyer, Glendale—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (IF)Jordan Burnett, Clever—HM All-SWCL (P)Anthony Caenepeel, Willard—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (P)Elliot Carlew, Glendale—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (OF)Mitch Carriger, Parkview—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (P)

John Cavness, Cassville—1st-Team All-Big 8 (P); 2nd-Team All-Big 8 (1B)Stephen Chavez, Ash Grove—HM All-Mid-Lakes (C)CLEVER—3rd-place (Class 2); Section-al Champion; District 11 ChampionRanger Curtis, Clever—1st-Team All-SWCL (IF)Wyatt Dampier, Skyline—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Taylor Darting, Forsyth—1st-Team All-SWCL (OF)Billy Dees, Forsyth—2nd-Team All-SWCL (P)Patrick Dickens, Republic—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (OF)Calvin Dryer, Buffalo—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (IF)Austin Elam, Marionville—HM All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Austin Essick, Billings—1st-Team All-SWCL (C)Josh Evans, Pleasant Hope—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Josh Ewing, Stockton—HM All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Jesse Fisher, Hollister—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (IF)Kolby Follis, Bolivar—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (OF)Matt Futrell, Hillcrest—HM All-Ozark Conference (P)Alex Gerleman, Buffalo—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (IF)Josh Gronvold, Reeds Spring—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (OF)Evan Gruener, Logan-Rogersville—COC (Small) Player of the Year; 1st-Team All-COC (Small) (OF)Caleb Hall, Kickapoo—Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (C)Chandler Hall, Kickapoo—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (IF); Class 4 2nd-Team All-District 11 (IF)Cody Hall, Purdy—Ozark 7 Confer-ence Co-Player of the Year; 1st-Team All-Ozark 7Austin Hancock, Purdy—1st-Team All-Ozark 7Jerrod Harmon, Fair Grove—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (C)Dakota Haugsted, Pleasant Hope—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (P)Zach Herman, Logan-Rogersville—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (IF)Jordan Hicks, Parkview—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (IF)Brennan Holt, Skyline—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF); 1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (P)Tyler Horn, Blue Eye—2nd-Team All-SWCL (IF)Joshua Hughes, Purdy—Ozark 7 Conference Coach of the YearDerek Hurst, Forsyth—1st-Team All-SWCL (IF)Connor Jenisch, Billings—1st-Team All-SWCL (P)Josh Jenkins, Sparta—1st-Team All-SWCL (IF)Jordan Johanson, Pleasant Hope—HM All-Mid-Lakes (IF)

Craig Johnson, Stockton—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (C)Spencer Johnson, Parkview—Ozark Conference Player of the Year; 1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (OF); Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (OF)Chase Johnston, Mt. Vernon—2nd-Team All-Big 8 (SS)Aaron Jones, Pleasant Hope—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Jacob Karlson, Nixa—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (OF); Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (DH)Dayton Karr, Logan-Rogersville—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (IF)Jay Kaufman, Forsyth—1st-Team All-SWCL (IF)Blade Keller, Nixa—Class 4 2nd-Team All-District 11 (P)Andrew Kendrick, Parkview—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (1B); Class 4 2nd-Team All-District 11 (IF)Brody Kern, Kickapoo—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (UT)Justin King, Logan-Rogersville—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (P)Garrett Kirk, Cassville—HM All-Big 8 (OF)Hunter Kniepfel, Kickapoo—HM All-Ozark Conference (IF)Josh Lachnit, Glendale—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (P); Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (P)Kyle Lafferty, Sparta—2nd-Team All-SWCL (OF)Cody Lee, Mt. Vernon—1st-Team All-Big 8 (1B); 2nd-Team All-Big 8 (P)Kong Lee, Exeter—1st-Team All-Ozark 7Austin Lenox, Aurora—1st-Team All-Big 8 (2B)Deric Link, Fair Grove—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF); 2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (P)LOGAN-ROGERSVILLE—Class 3 State Quarterfinalist; Sectional Champion; District 11 ChampionAthan Lummis, Nixa—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (P); Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (P)Cody Lumpkin, Crane—2nd-Team All-SWCL (C)Nicholas Lytle, Hollister—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (OF)Ben Makala, Cassville—2nd-Team All-Big 8 (P)Derek Malcom, Marionville—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Wayne Manier, Parkview—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (DH); 2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (P); Class 4 2nd-Team All-District 11 (DH)Tyler Martin, Clever—1st-Team All-SWCL (OF)Dylan May, Galena—2nd-Team All-SWCL (IF)Tanner May, Galena—2nd-Team All-SWCL (OF)Lucas McDannold, Reeds Spring—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (C)Cody McGuire, Buffalo—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (C)

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Ryan Melton, Skyline—HM All-Mid-Lakes (P)Landon Metcalf, Marionville—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Chad Miller, Nixa—Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (P)Clayton Miller, Bolivar—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (IF)Austin Mooney, Blue Eye—HM All-SWCL (UT)Cody Mooneyham, Ash Grove—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Taylor Mooneyham, Ash Grove—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Cody Moore, Billings—1st-Team All-SWCL (IF)Cody Mountain, Skyline—HM All-Mid-Lakes (OF)MT. VERNON—Class 3 District 12 ChampionJason Myers, Bolivar—HM All-COC (Small) (C/P)Kreg Myers, Cassville—1st-Team All-Big 8 (OF)Tyler Nemmers, Parkview—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (IF); Class 4 2nd-Team All-District 11 (UT)Ricky Nichols, Cassville—1st-Team All-Big 8 (SS)Tanner Nickels, Ozark—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (IF)Seth Nilges, Forsyth—2nd-Team All-SWCL (P)NIXA—Class 4 District 11 ChampionParker O’Dell, Branson—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (OF); Class 4 2nd-Team All-District 11 (OF)James Oslica, Ozark—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (C); Class 4 2nd-Team All-District 11 (C)Jed Owen, Willard—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (IF)Sawyer Padgett, Fair Grove—HM All-Mid-Lakes (DH)Michael Parrish, Stockton—HM All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Alex Pate, Forsyth—2nd-Team All-SWCL (C)Aarron Patton, Monett—HM All-Big 8 (P)Luke Paulik, Billings—2nd-Team All-SWCL (IF)Austin Payne, Ash Grove—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (P); HM All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Evan Payne, Glendale—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (OF); Class 4 2nd-Team All-District 11 (OF)J.D. Payne, Nixa—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (IF); Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (IF)David Pennewell, Clever—1st-Team All-SWCL (P)Travis Pennewell, Clever—HM All-SWCL (OF)Sam Perez, Branson—COC (Large) Pitcher of the Year; 1st-Team All-COC (Large) (P); Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (P)Dallas Peterson, Aurora—HM All-Big 8 (UT)Skylar Phillips, Mt. Vernon—HM All-Big 8 (3B)Zane Phillips, Mt. Vernon—2nd-Team All-Big 8 (OF)Chaz Price, Strafford—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Dillon Rapp, Marionville—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (DH)Austin Reaves, Willard—2nd-Team All-

COC (Large) (P)Danny Richardson, Catholic—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (IF)Ryan Rippee, Kickapoo—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (P/OF); Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (OF); 2nd-Team All-District (P)Mac Roach, Mt. Vernon—2nd-Team All-Big 8 (C)Jarod Robillard, Nixa—Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (IF)Trey Rose, Cassville—Big 8 Conference Player of the Year; 1st-Team All-Big 8 (C)Landan Ruff, Parkview—HM All-Ozark Conference (OF)Ethan Schlesener, Logan-Rogersville—HM All-COC (Small) (C/P)Austin Schweiss, Nixa—Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (OF)Brandon Seely, Branson—Class 4 2nd-Team All-District 11 (IF)Dylan Sekscinski, Crane—2nd-Team All-SWCL (P)Colin Shaughnessy, Catholic—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (OF)Jacob Shipman, Sparta—1st-Team All-SWCL (P)Jacob Shoemaker, Strafford—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (UT); 1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (P)Kyler Shoff, Mt. Vernon—HM All-Big 8 (OF)Chase Simmerman, Ash Grove—HM All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Levi Skinner, Hillcrest—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (P/1B); Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (UT); 2nd-Team All-District 11 (IF)Nathan Smith, Billings—1st-Team All-SWCL (OF)Justin Snider, Clever—SWCL Coach of the YearAlex Stephens, Branson—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (P)Ashton Stephens, Blue Eye—1st-Team All-SWCL (OF)Wyatt Stephens, Galena—2nd-Team All-SWCL (UT)Ryan Stevens, Kickapoo—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (IF)Reese Stevenson, Purdy—1st-Team All-Ozark 7Justin Stockam, Kickapoo—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (P)STOCKTON—Class 2 District 13 ChampionColten Stringer, Exeter—HM All-Ozark 7Nathan Strobel, Republic—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (P)Lawfton Summers, Marshfield—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (OF)Dominic Swillum, Mt. Vernon—HM All-Big 8 (DH)Josh Swindle, Sparta—HM All-SWCL (C)Brad Taylor, Stockton—HM All-Mid-Lakes (UT)Brady Taylor, Strafford—HM All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Cameron Terry, Purdy—1st-Team All-Ozark 7Aaron Thompson, Glendale—HM All-Ozark Conference (P)John Thompson, Parkview—Ozark Conference Coach of the YearCody Tolleson, Kickapoo—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (OF)Austin Tribby, Catholic—COC (Small)

Pitcher of the Year; 1st-Team All-COC (Small) (P)Lane Truman, Billings—2nd-Team All-SWCL (OF)Phil Valence, Clever—2nd-Team All-SWCL (IF)Jacob Wade, Strafford—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Lee Wagner, Marshfield—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (P)Cole Walden, Crane—2nd-Team All-SWCL (OF)Bryce Walker, Marionville—HM All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Colby Walker, Stockton—HM All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Keevin Walker, Purdy—HM All-Ozark 7Ricky Ward, Branson—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (OF); Class 4 2nd-Team All-District 11 (OF)Weston Warren, Glendale—HM All-Ozark Conference (IF)WEAUBLEAU—Class 1 State Quarter-finalist; Sectional Champion; District 8 ChampionSeth Wheeler, Ozark—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (OF)Tyler Whiteis, Branson—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (IF); Class 4 1st-Team All-District 11 (IF)WILLARD—4th-Place (Class 4); Sec-tional Champion; District 12 ChampionBryce Wilson, Clever—1st-Team All-SWCL (UT)Sean Winder, Fair Grove—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Kyle Wood, Cassville—Big 8 Confer-ence Coach of the YearKaz Woodward, Reeds Spring—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (P)Chance Wolfe, Clever—SWCL Most Valuable Player; 1st-Team All-SWCL (C)Jack Wolfe, Catholic—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (IF)Garrett Woods, Republic—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (IF)Zach Yarberry, Strafford—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF); HM All-Mid-Lakes (P)Joe Young, Logan-Rogersville—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (OF)Jon Zanaboni, Marionville—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (P); 2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (UT)

BOYS GOLFCaleb Abalos, Hillcrest—Class 3 Sec-tional Qualifier; All-District 6Tyler Aldridge, Marshfield—Class 3 Sectional Qualifier; All-District 5Beau Allen, Republic—Class 3 Sec-tional Qualifier; All-District 6Nick Allison, El Dorado Springs—Class 2 Sectional QualifierBryan Beckwith, Monett—Class 3 Sectional QualifierDylan Bekemeier, Republic—Class 3 STATE CHAMPION; Sectional Quali-fier; All-District 6BOLIVAR—Class 3 9th-Place; District 5 ChampionNicklaus Carley, Branson—Class 4 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierLorenzo Catapang, Catholic—Class 2 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierBrian Cauldwell, Glendale—Class 4 Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Canyon Clevenger, Crane—Class 1 Sectional Qualifier; All-District 5

Devon Colegrove, Nixa—Class 4 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierJosh Condren, Bolivar—Class 3 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierGarrett Craig, Monett—Class 3 Sec-tional QualifierTaylor Dade, Kickapoo—Class 4 Sec-tional QualifierKyle Davidson, Purdy—Class 1 Sec-tional QualifierDallas Dean, Catholic—Class 2 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Brock Derrick, Fair Grove—Class 2 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Ryan Eady, Nixa—Class 4 State Quali-fier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Parker Eckerson, Nixa—Class 4 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Jacob Fair, Monett—Class 3 T-12th-Place, ALL-STATE; Sectional 3 Medalist; District 6 Co-Medalist; All-District 6Marshall Faulkner, Willard—Class 4 Sectional QualifierJordan Fronabarger, Aurora—Class 3 Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6John Fuchs, Kickapoo—Class 4 Sec-tional Qualifier; All-District 6Michael Gibson, Branson—Class 4 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierFranklin Gonzalez, El Dorado Springs—Class 2 Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Nick Gori, Catholic—Class 2 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierAndrew Gunnett, Billings—Class 1 Sectional QualifierDavid Harris, Bolivar—Class 3 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierPalmer Harrison, Kickapoo—Class 4 Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Alex Haworth, Purdy—Class 1 Sec-tional Qualifier; All-District 5Jared Holmes, Willard—Class 4 Sec-tional Qualifier; All-District 6Chad Hopper, Billings—Class 1 Sec-tional QualifierWyatt Humble, Logan-Rogersville—Class 3 State Qualifier; Sectional Quali-fier; All-District 6Austin Hunter, El Dorado Springs—Class 2 Sectional QualifierTaylor Hurd, Glendale—Class 4 Sec-tional Qualifier; All-District 6Tripper Jensen, Mt. Vernon—Class 2 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Nicholas Jeter, Nixa—Class 4 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Tyler Johnson, Catholic—Class 2 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Christian Kay, Mt. Vernon—Class 2 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierDevan Keeler, Purdy—Class 1 Sectional Qualifier; All-District 5Mitchell Kiser, Kickapoo—Class 4 Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Nic Lacey, Bolivar—Class 3 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierJeremy Liss, Nixa—Class 4 State Quali-fier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6LOGAN-ROGERSVILLE—Class 3 4th-Place; Sectional 3 Champion; District 6 ChampionGarrett Lombas, Marion C. Early—Class 1 Sectional Qualifier

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Robert Mahaffey, Jr., Logan-Rogersville—Class 3 T-12th-Place, ALL-STATE; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Clayton Moles, Marshfield—Class 3 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 5MT. VERNON—Class 2 3rd-Place; Sectional 3 Champion; District 6 ChampionSean Mulkey, Ash Grove—Class 2 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Garen Nelson, Purdy—Class 1 Sec-tional Qualifier; All-District 5NIXA—Class 4 9th-Place; District 6 ChampionAlex O’Brien, Ash Grove—Class 2 Sectional QualifierAlec Palen, Logan-Rogersville—Class 3 T-4th-Place, ALL-STATE; Sectional Qualifier; District 6 Co-Medalist; All-District 6Turner Paydon, Forsyth—Class 2 Sectional QualifierAdam Pipenhagen, Marion C. Early—Class 1 State Qualifier; Sectional

Qualifier; All-District 5Pierce Pittman, Republic—Class 3 Sectional QualifierJ.P. Presko, Strafford—Class 2 Sec-tional Qualifier; All-District 5Korey Pryer, Mt. Vernon—Class 2 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6PURDY—Class 1 District 5 ChampionDavid Rhoden, Mt. Vernon—Class 2 T-15th-Place, ALL-STATE; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Brenan Rigby, Logan-Rogersville—Class 3 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierPhillip Roller, Purdy—Class 1 T-15th-Place, ALL-STATE; Sectional Qualifier; District 5 Medalist; All-District 5Anthony Schreier, Hollister—Class 2 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 5Grant Seifried, Aurora—Class 3 Sec-tional Qualifier; All-District 6Bradley Shove, Strafford—Class 2 Sectional QualifierParker Skinner, Cassville—Class 3 Sectional QualifierZach Smith, Fair Grove—Class 2 Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6SPRINGFIELD CATHOLIC—Class 2 5th-PlaceHaden Stevens, Bolivar—Class 3 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 5Trevor Sturges, Kickapoo—Class 4 Sectional QualifierPreston Thomas, Logan-Rogersville—Class 3 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierTravis Thompson, Monett—Class 3 Sectional QualifierTyler Tran, Bolivar—Class 3 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 5Baron Weaver, Glendale—Class 4 Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Tyler Webb, Monett—Class 3 Sec-tional QualifierBrandon Webster, Greenwood—Class 1 Sectional QualifierRyan West, Buffalo—Class 3 Sectional QualifierAustin White, Strafford—Class 2

Sectional QualifierEvan White, Cassville—Class 3 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Andrew Whitlock, El Do-rado Springs—Class 2 State Qualifier; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Jordan Williams, Central—Class 4 State Qualifier; Sectional QualifierGrant Williamson, Willard—Class 4 Sectional QualifierBenjamin Wiles, Catholic—Class 2 T-13th-Place, ALL-STATE; Sectional Qualifier; All-District 6Eric Wilmoth, Mt. Ver-non—Class 2 5th-Place, ALL-STATE; Sectional Qualifier; District 6 Medalist; All-District 6Blake Woods, Hollister—Class 2 Sectional Qualifier

BOYS TENNISBradford Barnhardt, Nixa—Class 2 District 11 doubles champion (w/Spencer Hamilton)Kyle Bolton, Bolivar—Class 1 State doubles qualifier (w/Trevor Sparks)James Borges, Forsyth—Class 1 State singles qualifierBRANSON—Class 2 District 11 ChampionDalton Brown, Mt. Vernon—Class 1 District 11 singles championRyan Bunselmeyer, Central—3rd-place, Class 2 State doubles; District 12 doubles champion (w/Devin Cavero)Devan Cavero, Central—3rd-place, Class 2 State doubles; District 12 doubles champion (w/Ryan Bunsel-meyer)Jadyn Cearnal, Branson—Class 2 District 11 singles championJarod Davis, Mt. Vernon—Class 1 State doubles qualifier (w/Brett Dorrance)Brett Dorrance, Mt. Vernon—Class 1 State doubles qualifier (w/Jarod Davis)Connor Frazier, Greenwood—3rd-place, Class 1 State doubles; District 10 doubles champion (w/William Sistrunk)GLENDALE—Class 2 Sectional cham-pion; District 10 championGREENWOOD—Class 1 Sectional champion; District 10 championSpencer Hamilton, Nixa—Class 2 Dis-trict 11 doubles champion (w/Bradford Barnhardt)Luke Hansen, Glendale—Class 2 State doubles qualifier; District 10 doubles champion (w/John Nahon)Clint Jung, Springfield Catholic—Class 1 State singles qualifier; District 10 singles championMicah Klousia, Glendale—Class 2 State singles quarterfinalist; District 10 singles championGregory Alexander Ledger, Central—Class 2 State singles qualifierJohn Nahon, Glendale—Class 2 State doubles qualifier; District 10 doubles champion (w/Luke Hansen)William Sistrunk, Greenwood—3rd-place, Class 1 State doubles; District 10 doubles champion (w/Connor Frazier)Trevor Sparks, Bolivar—Class 1 State doubles qualifier (w/Kyle Bolton)

BOYS TRACKCLASS 1Daniel Baird, New Covenant Academy—3rd-place (400m dash); ALL-STATEBrendan Black, Greenfield—3rd-place (200m dash); ALL-STATEBritton Black, Greenfield—6th-place (100m dash); ALL-STATE; State Quali-fier (200m dash)Jacob Brown, Humansville—7th-place (1600m run); ALL-STATEDaniel Dopp, New Covenant Acad-emy—State Qualifier (400m dash)GREENFIELD—3rd-place, 4x200 relay (Brendan Black, Austin Marshall, Tyler Boyd, Britton Black); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier, 4x100 relay (Brendan Black, Austin Marshall, Tyler Boyd, Britton Black)Austin Marshall, Greenfield—State Qualifier (long jump)OSCEOLA—State Qualifier, 4x100 relay (Jacob Murray, Thane Sommer,

Driston Self, Jacob Stewart)Dakota Shoemaker, Humansville—3rd-place (1600m run); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier (3200m run)

CLASS 2Blake Alexander, Strafford—4th-place (110m hurdles); ALL-STATE; 7th-place (300m hurdles); ALL-STATELogan Allred, Ash Grove—6th-place (200m dash); ALL-STATE; 7th-place (100m dash); ALL-STATEKris Battey, Stockton—6th-place (pole vault); ALL-STATEJordan Britton, Hollister—STATE CHAMPION (long jump); ALL-STATE; STATE CHAMPION (triple jump); ALL-STATECody Canote, Hollister—7th-place (pole vault); ALL-STATENic Cashio, Ash Grove—4th-place (discus); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier (shot put)Thomas Chabrecek, Crane—State Qualifier (1600m run; 3200m run)Colton Coffey, Skyline—State Qualifier (100m dash)Trevor Foster, Fair Grove—7th-place (long jump); ALL-STATE; 7th-place (triple jump); ALL-STATEDalton Freeze, Stockton—3rd-place (high jump); ALL-STATE; 3rd-place (200m dash); ALL-STATE; 6th-place (100m dash); ALL-STATEHOLLISTER—T-8th-place overallZach Kellner, Strafford—State Quali-fier (3200m run)Jacob Loveland, Sparta—4th-place (800m run); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier (400m dash)Karter Moran, Ash Grove—STATE CHAMPION (high jump); ALL-STATEDustin Pate, Stockton—State Qualifier (triple jump)Jake Quinn, Strafford—State Qualifier (pole vault)SKYLINE—State Qualifier, 4x200 relay (Josh Brown, Chance Kelley, Jared Freddie, Colton Coffey); State Qualifier, 4x100 relay (Josh Brown, Troy Gentry, Jared Freddie, Colton Coffey); State Qualifier, 4x400 relay (Josh Brown, Logan Bryan, Chance Kelley, Travis Timmerman)SPARTA—State Qualifier, 4x800 relay (Landon Grimes, Dakota Johnson, Traven Eaton, Jacob Loveland)STOCKTON—State Qualifier, 4x800 relay (Dustin Pate, Michael Bolek, Austin Culbertson, Tommy Garcia)Ryan White, Marionville—State Quali-fier (pole vault)Michael Willbanks, Marionville—2nd-place (high jump); ALL-STATE

CLASS 3Aaron Allen, Bolivar—State Qualifier (pole vault)Aaron Allphin, Reeds Spring—7th-place (high jump); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier (triple jump)BOLIVAR—State Qualifier, 4x400 relay (Will Thomas, Ryan Kulju, Haryl Starkey, David Harris)Cole Burchfield, Marshfield—7th-place (800m run); ALL-STATEDylan Cole, Logan-Rogersville—State Qualifier (100m dash)Evan Craig, Catholic—State Qualifier (1600m run)

Kickapoo’s Jade Raynor (Staff Photo)

Bolivar’s Mariah Roberts (L) and Marshfield’s Danielle Coffman (#19) (Staff Photo)

OPI

Nic Mertz417-886-0151 (main) 417-839-9818 (cell)417-886-1932 (fax) nic@dingsnthings.com www.dingsnthings.com1912 South Stewart Avenue Springfield, MO 65804

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Austin Craven, Hillcrest—5th-place (3200m run); ALL-STATEDallas Duncan, Catholic—State Quali-fier (200m dash)Jesse Edwards, Logan-Rogersville—State Qualifier (3200m run)Cody Frana, Cassville—5th-place (300m hurdles); ALL-STATE; 8th-place (110m hurdles); ALL-STATERyan Kulju, Bolivar—4th-place (300m hurdles); ALL-STATEJosh Lannum, Cassville—State Qualifier (shot put)LOGAN-ROGERSVILLE—7th-place, 4x100 relay (Cody Chaney, Lance Littlewood, Brock Buzbee, Dylan Cole); ALL-STATEManny Ofori-Yeboah, Bolivar—State Qualifier (high jump, 110m hurdles)Chris Renteria, Monett—State Qualifier (1600m run)SPRINGFIELD CATHOLIC—State Qualifier, 4x800 relay (Kirk Kaczmarek, Nick Wiegers, James Glover, Evan Craig); State Qualifier, 4x200 relay (Dal-las Duncan, Nick Wiegers, Lee Viorel, Mitch Moncada); State Qualifier, 4x100 relay (Dallas Duncan, Antonio Panetta, Lee Viorel, Mitch Moncada); State Qualifier, 4x400 relay (Dallas Duncan, Nick Wiegers, Kirk Kaczmarek, Mitch Moncada)Haryl Starkey, Bolivar—8th-place (400m dash); ALL-STATERyan Way, Republic—7th-place (3200m run); ALL-STATE; State Quali-fier (1600m run)Dylan Weber, Reeds Spring—State Qualifier (110m hurdles)Nick Wiegers, Springfield Catholic—7th-place (triple jump); ALL-STATEShane Williams, Mt. Vernon—3rd-place (high jump); ALL-STATE; 5th-place (triple jump); ALL-STATE; 5th-place (long jump); ALL-STATEDonnie Wise, Buffalo—State Qualifier (3200m run)Brad Wolf, Bolivar—State Qualifier (100m dash)

CLASS 4Daniel Anderson, Ozark—5th-place (400m dash); ALL-STATERyan Berg, Nixa—3rd-place (pole vault); ALL-STATENakoah Brown, Nixa—5th-place (high jump); ALL-STATEDean Deetz, Nixa—State Qualifier (100m dash)Brady Fitch, Willard—State Qualifier (shot put)Skyler Frazier, Willard—5th-place (discus); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier (shot put)A.J. Green, Parkview—State Qualifier (long jump)Spencer Haik, Glendale—STATE CHAMPION (1600m run); ALL-STATE; 8th-place (800m run); ALL-STATEChristopher Hargrove, Parkview—State Qualifier (200m dash)Daniel Horne, Willard—State Qualifier (high jump)Keaton Knudsen, Branson—State Qualifier (triple jump)Chris Mooneyham, Glendale—State Qualifier (3200m run)NIXA—State Qualifier, 4x100 relay (Kevin Shrauger, Alec Murphy, Brady Adams, Dean Deetz)

OZARK—7th-place, 4x400 relay (Dan-iel Anderson, Hunter Tremain, Kramer Patterson, Skyler Verfurth); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier, 4x800 relay (Ian Rogers, Travis Furtkamp, Daniel Anderson, Kyler Haumann)PARKVIEW—STATE CHAMPION, 4x100 relay (A.J. Green, Quintin Smith, Myron Willis, Christopher Hargrove); ALL-STATE; 6th-place, 4x200 relay (A.J. Green, Quintin Smith, Myron Willis, Christopher Hargrove); ALL-STATEKramer Patterson, Ozark—6th-place (300m hurdles); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier (110m hurdles)Cole Phillips, Nixa—State Qualifier (pole vault)Quintin Smith, Parkview—STATE CHAMPION (200m dash); ALL-STATE; 8th-place (100m dash); ALL-STATESkyler Verfurth, Ozark—State Qualifier (400m dash)Zach Wuest, Branson—8th-place (pole vault); ALL-STATE

GIRLS SOCCERBekah Bade, Catholic—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (D)Brittany Baker, Kickapoo—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (D); Class 3 1st-Team All-District 11 (D)Allie Banasik, Catholic—1st-Team All-

COC (Small) (F)Mikaela Branson, Ozark—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (GK); Class 3 HM All-District 11 (GK)Molly Brewer, Glendale—Ozark Conference Player of the Year; 1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (F); Class 3 District 11 Offensive Player of the Year; 1st-Team All-District (F)Keisha Burns, Ozark—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (D); Class 3 1st-Team All-District 11 (D)Rebecca Burton, Glendale—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (D); Class 3 2nd-Team All-District 11 (D)Linessa Campbell, Logan-Rogersville—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (GK)Sierra Casagrand, Republic—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (F)CENTRAL—Class 3 District 12 Cham-pionEmma Chilton, Parkview—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (MF)Kelsie Cleeton, Hillcrest—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (MF)Natalie Closser, Kickapoo—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (D); Class 3 2nd-Team All-District 11 (MF)Danielle Coffman, Marshfield—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (MF)Macie Cotter, Willard—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (MF)

Emily Courtney, Parkview—HM All-Ozark Conference (MF)Crystal Crawford, Logan-Rogersville—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (MF)Morgan Davidson, Ozark—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (F); Class 3 1st-Team All-District 11 (F)Payton DeHart, Nixa—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (F); Class 3 1st-Team All-District 11 (F)Kenzie Dunaway, Kickapoo—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (MF); Class 3 1st-Team All-District 11 (MF)Katie Etter, Kickapoo—Class 3 HM All-District 11 (D)Raina Feckovic, Logan-Rogersville—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (D)Leslie Fenton, Republic—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (D)Amanda Fox, Kickapoo—Class 3 HM All-District 11 (MF)Alyson Galler, Nixa—Class 3 HM All-District 11 (F)Kyrsten Gies, Ozark—Class 3 HM All-District 11 (MF)Kami Giese, Branson—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (D); Class 3 HM All-District 11 (D)GLENDALE—4th-Place (Class 3); Sec-tional Champion; District 11 ChampionMegan Goetzinger, Catholic—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (GK)

Nixa’s Nakoah Brown (Staff Photo)

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Abby Greene, Glendale—HM All-Ozark Conference (D); Class 3 HM All-District 11 (D)Amy Greene, Parkview—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (D)Connor Guy, Catholic—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (D)Elizabeth Harris, Bolivar—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (D)Haley Harrison, Hillcrest—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (F)Ashton Hedgpeth, Ozark—Class 3 HM All-District 11 (D)Amanda Hinkle, Branson—HM All-COC (Large) (D); Class 3 HM All-District 11 (D)Lydia Holtmann, Catholic—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (MF)Jordyn Hoskins, Nixa—Class 3 HM All-District 11 (MF)Hayley Hunter, Ozark—Class 3 2nd-Team All-District 11 (MF)Sammy Jacobson, Bolivar—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (GK)Brittany Kirkpatrick, Nixa—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (D); Class 3 2nd-Team All-District 11 (D)Ali Lacker, Ozark—HM All-COC (Large) (MF); Class 3 2nd-Team All-District 11 (MF)Kendra Lierz, Glendale—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (GK); Class 3 District 11 Keeper of the Year; 1st-Team All-District (GK)Sarah Magana, Bolivar—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (F)Sara Marcotte, Republic—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (F)Kristen Meinert, Logan-Rogersville—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (D)Miriam Melugin, Kickapoo—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (MF); Class 3 1st-Team All-District 11 (MF)Samantha Minor, Republic—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (MF)Lauren Moats, Nixa—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (MF); Class 3 1st-Team All-District 11 (MF)Alix Opfer, Glendale—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (MF); Class 3 District 11 Player of the Year; 1st-Team All-District (MF)

Kasey Shea Opfer—1st-Team All-Ozark Conference (D); Class 3 1st-Team All-District 11 (D)Nicole Ortega, Catholic—1st-Team All-COC (Small) (F)Dylan Owens, Willard—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (F)Lindsay Owens, Willard—HM All-COC (Large) (MF)Casey Perez, Branson—Class 3 HM All-District 11 (D)Bailey Pesek, Nixa—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (MF); Class 3 2nd-Team All-District 11 (MF)Sarah Powell, Glendale—Class 3 HM All-District 11 (F)Drianna Raff, Glendale—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (F); Class 3 1st-Team All-District 11 (F)REPUBLIC—Class 2 District 11 ChampionMcKenzie Robbins, Glendale—HM All-Ozark Conference (MF)Mariah Roberts, Bolivar—2nd-Team All-COC (Small) (MF)Jeff Rogers, Glendale—Ozark Con-ference Coach of the Year; Class 3 District 11 Coach of the YearAmanda Snider, Republic—HM All-COC (Large) (GK)SPRINGFIELD CATHOLIC—3rd-Place (Class 1); Sectional Champion; District 12 ChampionSarah Kate Sprouse, Glendale—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (D); Class 3 2nd-Team All-District 11 (D)Lexi Stagner, Nixa—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (GK); Class 3 2nd-Team All-District 11 (GK)Abby Sugrue, Ozark—Class 3 2nd-Team All-District 11 (F)Emily Taylor, Ozark—2nd-Team All-COC (Large) (MF); Class 3 1st-Team All-District 11 (MF)Shalynn Thomas, Nixa—Class 3 HM All-District 11 (F)Paige Townsend, Nixa—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (MF); Class 3 1st-Team All-District 11 (MF)Abby Turnbull, Nixa—1st-Team All-COC (Large) (D); Class 3 District 11 Defensive Player of the Year; 1st-Team All-District (D)Courtney Wampler, Glendale—HM All-Ozark Conference (MF); Class 3 HM All-District 11 (MF)Casey Weitzel, Kickapoo—HM All-Ozark Conference (F); Class 3 2nd-Team All-District 11 (F)Kelsey Williams, Hillcrest—HM All-Ozark Conference (MF)Allison Yoakam, Glendale—2nd-Team All-Ozark Conference (MF); Class 3 2nd-Team All-District 11 (MF)

GIRLS TRACKCLASS 1Kellie Bays, Humansville—2nd-place (discus); ALL-STATEKaylee Carney, Osceola—State Quali-fier (100m hurdles)Michelle Dopp, New Covenant Acad-emy—State Qualifier (200m dash; 400m dash)Katy Hensley, Halfway—State Quali-fier (800m run)Sarah Kurpjuweit, Humansville—8th-place (3200m run); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier (1600m run)Emily Lippa, Osceola—State Qualifier (100m dash; 200m dash)

Andrea Mason, Greenfield—T-5th-place (high jump); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier (long jump)Kala Svendsen, Everton—State Quali-fier (100m dash)

CLASS 2Taylor Alumbaugh, El Dorado Springs—5th-place (high jump); ALL-STATE; 5th-place (400m dash); ALL-STATE; 6th-place (200m dash); ALL-STATEHalee Cashio, Ash Grove—State Qualifier (shot put)Kailey Chapman, Spokane—4th-place (300m hurdles); ALL-STATE; 5th-place (100m hurdles); ALL-STATEJenna Clements, Strafford—5th-place (triple jump); ALL-STATE; 7th-place (100m hurdles); ALL-STATEEmilyn Dearman, Stockton—STATE CHAMPION (300m hurdles); ALL-STATE; 2nd-place (100m hurdles); ALL-STATE; 7th-place (400m dash); ALL-STATEEL DORADO SPRINGS—State Qualifier, 4x800 relay (Elizabeth Clark, Rachel Bush, Hannah Bruggeman, Kate Sibley); State Qualifier, 4x400 relay (Emily Carver, Rachel Bush, Kate Sibley, Taylor Alumbaugh)Brandy Estell, Miller—State Qualifier (triple jump)FAIR GROVE—State Qualifier, 4x100 relay (Dominique Knight, Mikayla Buckner, Dani Kepler, Deambra Pilkinton)Catherine Herd, Hollister—8th-place (discus); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier (shot put)HOLLISTER—State Qualifier, 4x200 relay (Hailey Engel, Taylor Pierce, Han-nah Smith, Karley Wade)Lindsey Hutchinson, Strafford—State Qualifier (3200m run)Kristen Keene, Ash Grove—6th-place (pole vault); ALL-STATETaylor Pierce, Hollister—State Quali-fier (high jump; long jump)Deambra Pilkinton, Fair Grove—State Qualifier (200m dash)Josie Pyle, Stockton—5th-place (800m run); ALL-STATEKatie Skelton, Ash Grove—8th-place (shot put); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier (discus)Rebecca Sledge, Spokane—2nd-place (long jump); ALL-STATE; 3rd-place (triple jump); ALL-STATEHannah Smith, Hollister—6th-place (long jump); ALL-STATE; State Qualifier (100m dash)SPOKANE—T-12th-place overallSTOCKTON—STATE CHAMPIONS; 2nd-place, 4x800 relay (Alexis Smith, Rachel Wheeler, Arnica Zitting, Josie Pyle); ALL-STATE; 4th-place, 4x400 relay (Josie Pyle, Alexis Smith, Rachel Wheeler, Emilyn Dearman); ALL-STATESTRAFFORD—State Qualifier, 4x800 relay (Lindsey Hutchinson, Ashley Wilks, Brooklan Davis, Katlyn Hatz)Megan Wahlquist, Fair Grove—8th-place (300m hurdles); ALL-STATERachel Wheeler, Stockton—4th-place (1600m run); ALL-STATEHannah Wisdom, Skyline—3rd-place (100m dash); ALL-STATE; 5th-place (200m dash); ALL-STATEArnica Zitting, Stockton—5th-place

(3200m run); ALL-STATE

CLASS 3Sam Akromis, Reeds Spring—State Qualifier (high jump)BOLIVAR—State Qualifier, 4x800 re-lay (Ashley Lawson, Jessica Cox, Cora Butcher-Spellman, Sierra Wells); State Qualifier, 4x200 relay (Daiwa Emmert, Randi Handcock, Madison Campbell, Faith Harris)Calisa Brooks, Cassville—State Quali-fier (100m dash)CASSVILLE—State Qualifier, 4x100 relay (Calisa Brooks, Jade Hollway, Danielle Pianalto, Katie Sewell)Hayley Chapman, Buffalo—State Qualifier (3200m run)Jessica Cox, Bolivar—State Qualifier (3200m run)Faith Harris, Bolivar—State Qualifier (triple jump)Sarah Kreul, Republic—State Qualifier (discus)Ashley Lawson, Bolivar—State Quali-fier (1600m run)LOGAN-ROGERSVILLE—State Quali-fier, 4x400 relay (Danae Cole, Ashlynn Garner, Kayla Reuter, Samantha Stiles)REEDS SPRING—State Qualifier, 4x400 relay (Rebecca Meats, Chey-enne Randle, Danielle Curnes, Sam Akromis)Erin Roebuck, Catholic—State Quali-fier (200m dash)Ashley Runyan, Marshfield—State Qualifier (3200m run)SPRINGFIELD CATHOLIC—State Qualifier, 4x200 relay (Sarah Winton, Rachel Prather, Michelle Jarek, Erin Roebuck)Erica Tucker, Aurora—State Qualifier (800m run)Sierra Wells, Bolivar—State Qualifier (800m run)

CLASS 4Ellyn Atkinson, Glendale—6th-place (3200m run); ALL-STATEBRANSON—State Qualifier, 4x800 relay (Jessie Barton, Sara Shaw, Brigette Caruthers, Ashley Shockey)Michaela Dapprich, Branson—2nd-place (discus); ALL-STATE; State Quali-fier (shot put)Moriah Dapprich, Branson—State Qualifier (discus)Samantha Dexter, Ozark—State Qualifier (200m dash, 400m dash)Lucy Givens, Branson—6th-place (pole vault); ALL-STATEGLENDALE—State Qualifier, 4x200 relay (Alyssa Ballard, Megan Deines, Kim Deines, Julia Wells); State Quali-fier, 4x400 relay (Kim Deines, Megan Deines, Alyssa Ballard, Ashleigh Teter)Bailey Hession, Willard—State Quali-fier (1600m run)Elise Monroe, Glendale—State Quali-fier (long jump)OZARK—State Qualifier, 4x800 relay (Nikki Keeter, Lauren Doran, Courtney Clancy, Paiton Fritsche); State Qualifier, 4x400 relay (Samantha Dexter, Angela Presnell, Ivy Reynolds, Nikki Keeter)Jade Raynor, Kickapoo—State Quali-fier (800m run)Megan Wickersham, Nixa—3rd-place (pole vault); ALL-STATEStaci Wickersham, Nixa—State Quali-fier (pole vault)

Marshfield’s Clayton Moles (Staff Photo)

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Kaylee Williams, Willard—State Quali-fier (discus, shot put)

SPRING SOFTBALLKendra Awicky, Clever—2nd-Team All-SWCL (OF)Kaitlyn Berry, Forsyth—SWCL Co-Most Valuable Player; 1st-Team All-SWCL (UT)Grant Boyer, Forsyth—SWCL Coach of the YearKatie Burrow, Forsyth—2nd-Team All-SWCL (IF)Maddye Campbell, Blue Eye—1st-Team All-SWCL (IF)Danielle Carl, Crane—1st-Team All-SWCL (OF)Katie Deal, Forsyth—1st-Team All-SWCL (C)Sydney Evans, Crane—HM All-SWCL (C)Olivia Fabro, Billings—1st-Team All-SWCL (P)Jordan Farmer, Clever—1st-Team All-SWCL (UT)Bailey Ghan, Clever—2nd-Team All-SWCL (OF)Adrian Gibbs, Forsyth—1st-Team All-SWCL (OF)Brittany Groves, Billings—1st-Team All-SWCL (IF)Mikalah Hardcastle, Sparta—1st-Team All-SWCL (IF)Destinee Harris, Crane—2nd-Team All-SWCL (IF)Alyssa Jasper, Forsyth—SWCL Co-Most Valuable Player; 1st-Team All-SWCL (P)Taylor Johnson, Sparta—1st-Team All-SWCL (UT)Kortney Kuda, Sparta—1st-Team All-SWCL (P)Taylor Loveland, Sparta—2nd-Team All-SWCL (IF)Amber Lund, Forsyth—2nd-Team All-SWCL (P)Lexi Manley, Spokane—1st-Team All-SWCL (IF)Tara Randles, Billings—1st-Team All-SWCL (OF)Samantha Retell, Forsyth—1st-Team All-SWCL (IF)Ellen Reusch, Blue Eye—1st-Team All-SWCL (OF)Haylee Schaumann, Billings—1st-Team All-SWCL (UT)Sierra Snowden, Blue Eye—1st-Team All-SWCL (P)Abby Twigg, Clever—2nd-Team All-SWCL (IF)Reanna Wilson, Clever—2nd-Team All-SWCL (C)Meranda Workman, Sparta—2nd-Team All-SWCL (OF)

MISCELLANEOUS• Humansville senior Kellie Bays earned All-State honors at the 38th MSHSAA Class 1 Girls State Track & Field Championships with a school record throw of 117 feet 9 inches in the discus. Bays’ state runner-up finish is the highest finish ever by a Lady Tiger at the State meet.• In only its sixth year of competition, the Branson boys tennis rewrote the school record book this spring. The Pirates, who captured the COC (Large Division) championship this season, also captured their first District title with a 5-2 win over Nixa. Branson

won a school record eight dual matches this season, as well as tourna-ment titles at Districts and the Panther Classic at Forsyth.• Skyline baseball coach Jim Brown retired this season after a 28-year career at the helm of the Tigers. Brown, who will continue in his duties as Sky-line’s Athletic Director, posted a career record of 359-217.• The Central girls soccer team captured the school’s first-ever District soccer title in dramatic fashion with a come-from-behind, 3-2 double overtime victory over Willard on May 17 at Junge Stadium in Joplin. Trailing 2-0, the Lady Bulldogs rallied behind sophomore Aspen Hawkins’ hat trick. Hawkins’ third goal came in sudden death in the second overtime, sending Central to the Sectional round.• Greenwood senior Sara Cook set a school record for career goals with 60. Cook, a four-time All-District honoree, recorded a pair of hat tricks this sea-son, and also finished her career with 47 assists.• Glendale’s Spencer Haik finished his track and field season in style with a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP performance in the boys Class 4 1600-meter run at the MSHSAA Class 4 Boys Track & Field Championships on May 26 at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jeffer-son City. The sophomore, who also garnered All-State recognition with an 8th-place finish in the 800-meter run, won the 1600-meter run with a school record time of 4:15.11, shaving five seconds off his own previous mark.• Central soccer player Aspen Hawkins set the school record for goals in a season with 31 this year. The sophomore’s hat trick in the District championship game gave the Lady Bulldogs their first-ever District title. Hawkins’ third goal of the game came in sudden death in the second over-time of the Lady Bulldogs’ thrilling 3-2 victory over Willard.• Parkview head cross country coach and assistant track coach Dan Hay won the Veteran’s Division (ages 50+) of the 116th Annual Boston Marathon on Apr. 16. Running in extreme 80+ degree temperatures, Hay crossed the tape in 2 hours 44 minutes and 30 seconds. Hay’s time also placed him 130th overall in a field comprised of many of the world’s best marathon runners.• Branson senior wrestler Jonathon Inman, who posted a 47-1 record this season en route to a Class 3 state championship at 182 pounds, was named an ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN by the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA). Inman, who will wrestle collegiately at Fort Hays State after posting a 149-29 career record for the Pirates, earned the prestigious honor after posting a 4.2 GPA and scoring a 29 on his ACT. Inman and the other 119 All-American honorees will be permanently rec-ognized in the National High School Sports Hall of Fame Museum in Easton, Pennsylvania.• Parkview standout Spencer Johnson completed one of the most decorated careers in the annals of Missouri high

school baseball this spring. The Mis-souri State signee hit 39 homeruns in his career, the second highest career total in state history. Johnson also finished his career as the school record holder in several categories, including home runs (39), hits (125), RBIs (130), walks (79), batting average (.455), and runs scored (124). • Humansville’s Sarah Kurpjuweit earned All-State honors at the 38th MSHSAA Class 1 Girls State Track & Field Championships with an 8th-place finish in a school record time of 12:45.37 in the 3200-meter run.• The Nixa boys track team captured the COC (Large) championship this season, while several athletes posted school record performances. Cole Phillips, a State qualifier, recorded a school record in the pole vault with a height of 15 feet 10 1/2 inches, while Taylor Stephen set a school record in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:57.90. In addition, the 4x800 meter relay team of Marcus Johnson, Shane Luper, Brandon Martin and Taylor Stephen set the school mark with a time of 8:09.99.• The Parkview baseball team captured the Ozark Conference championship this season for the first time in 43 years, and just the second time in school history. The Vikings’ 16 wins set a new school record, while head coach John Thompson picked up his 50th career win en route to Ozark Conference Coach of the Year honors.• Marion C. Early senior golfer Adam Pipenhagen capped off his standout prep career with his second State-qual-ifying effort after a 2nd-place Sectional finish individually. Pipenhagen was the District medalist, and also took home top individual honors at the Buffalo Tournament.• In just the second year of the program’s existence, the Republic girls soccer team captured the Class 2 Dis-trict 11 championship with a 1-0 win over Logan-Rogersville on May 18. The Lady Tigers finished their season at 16-10 with a loss to Warrensburg in the Sectional round.• Purdy’s Addy Roller finished her standout basketball career as Missouri’s all-time leader in three-pointers made in a season (120), a career (319), and per-game average (2.75). Roller, who

will play collegiately at Wayne State College next year, also is the Lady Eagles’ all-time leading scorer with 2,392 points. • Humansville’s Dakota Shoemaker continues to etch his name in the annals of the Tiger record book. The se-nior posted school records this season in the 1600-meter run (4:36) and the 3200-meter run (9:54). Shoemaker’s school record 1600-meter time came at the MSHSAA Class 1 Boys State Track & Field Championships, where he earned All-State honors with a 3rd-place finish. Shoemaker also captured District and Sectional titles in the 3200 meters, and finished as the runner-up at those meets in the 1600-meter run.• The Skyline pitching staff posted some notable performances this season on the mound. Sophomore Ryan Melton tossed a no-hitter against Cole Camp on May 10, while Brennan Holt was a strikeout machine on the bump this season. The senior recorded five games of 10+ strikeouts this season, including 11 and 13 versus Weaubleau (Mar. 26 and Apr. 7, respectively), 13 against Ash Grove (Apr. 24), 15 versus Wheatland (May 9), and 11 K’s versus Stockton on May 14. In addition, senior Brandon Bishop recorded 15 strikeouts against Osceola on Mar. 27, and another 10 K’s against Hermitage on Apr. 27.• Billings head baseball coach Allen Stolte recorded the 100th victory of his career with a victory over Southwest on Apr. 13.• Nixa’s Megan Wickersham and Staci Wickersham, junior twins, both broke the old school record of 10’6” in the pole vault this season. Staci vaulted 11’0”, while Megan is the current re-cord holder at 11’8”. Both sisters quali-fied for the Class 4 State meet, where Megan garnered All-State honors with a 3rd-place finish.• Sparta head baseball coach Michael Willis picked up the 100th win of his career this spring for the Trojans.

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As has been the case for the past five months, I was surprised and honored to be asked to write this column. The time I sup-pose is right, given the fact that this is my last year to coach in the Glendale High School baseball program, but that isn’t a story. Who really wants to hear about my nearly 30 years of coaching high school baseball at Glendale?

My wife, Kim, said I needed a subject and the first thing that came to mind was adversity. “Adversity” is defined as “a state, condition or instance of serious or contin-ued difficulty.” I am facing adversity in my life right now dealing with my diagnosis of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Everyone faces adversity in their lives. Teams face adversity also. I could go back to every team I have ever coached and name the adversity we faced that particular year. (And my wife is saying…sure you can, but you can’t even remember my birthday!)

When a member of a team faces adversity it affects the entire team. We will have big and small adversities in our lives. Perhaps it is the death of a teammate, a teammate

fighting cancer, the death of a parent/grand-parent or sibling. Maybe it was something not so tragic like an injury or injuries. Maybe we didn’t have any pitching that season or maybe we had plenty of good pitching but not many hitters.

Any team could huddle up and the coach could ask each player what adversity he/she was dealing with that day and every-one would have something different to say. The point is every person and every team will face adversity. The question is how we choose to respond or react to it. Will we throw in the towel and give up or will we fight to overcome the roadblocks placed in our lives?

I would like to think that every player that has passed through the Glendale baseball program believes that they are capable of overcoming any obstacle that life throws their way, that there isn’t anything they can-not achieve through persistence and hard work. It is my hope that they have learned through being a part of a team the impor-tance of giving and taking, to compromise, to care deeply about others, to work as team and not an individual, and to know the

exhilaration of a big win and the heartache of a close loss.

These are real life lessons. High school sports are the perfect opportunity to learn and experience them. Every day we have the choice to be a positive or negative person. Choose to see the positive in the hard times.

To paraphrase Lou Gehrig, I consider my-self the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I feel the same as the great Lou Gehrig, I am one lucky man to have been a part of base-ball my entire life and to have been able to play for amazing coaches and then to coach so many talented young men (and women).

Choose to make a difference in your life and the life of others. Choose to be the best you can be and take advantage of the life lessons that are learned through participat-ing in high school sports and being part of a team. I will always feel part of every team I have played on and coached. Overcome the adversity in your life and be stronger for having participated and fighting through the adversity.

Borrowing from Lou Gehrig again…so I close by saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for.

CTCHALKTALK

Howard BellHead Coach, Glendale Baseball

OPI

Hillcrest’s Dorial Green-Beckham (Photo by Brenda Putman)

OZARK—Class 4 District 11 ChampionBryanna Parham, Reeds Spring— All-District; 2nd-Team All-COC SmallTristia Patton, Bolivar—Class 3 2nd-Team All-Region (P); 1st-Team All-COC SmallPLEASANT HOPE—Class 2 State Runner-up; Sectional Champion; District 11 ChampionJosie Pyle, Stockton—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Shelby Quick, Strafford—Class 3 2nd-Team All-Region (OF); 1st-Team All-Mid-LakesRaigan Ratliff, Monett—Class 3 1st-Team All-Region (OF)REEDS SPRING—Class 3 District 10 ChampionSam Retherford, Reeds Spring—All-DistrictHailey Richardson, Pleasant Hope—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Calie Sare, Pleasant Hope—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Taylor Sechler, Bolivar—2nd-Team All-COC SmallJordan Shewmaker, Buffalo—1st-Team All-COC SmallSarah Siegismund, Pleasant Hope—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Lakin Simmerman, Ash Grove—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (P)Kerry Ann Sipes, Logan-Rogers-ville—2nd-Team All-COC SmallKatie Skelton, Ash Grove—Honor-able Mention All-Mid-Lakes (C)Adrianna Soriano, Monett—Class 3 2nd-Team All-Region (C)Kayleen Stevens, Reeds Spring—All-DistrictHalie Steward, Stockton—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (C)Balie Stime, Marionville—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (C)Andrea Studer, Reeds Spring—Class 3 1st-Team All-Region (P); All-District; 1st-Team All-COC SmallAnna Swift, Ash Grove—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (UT)

Katelyn Triplett, Strafford—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)WALNUT GROVE—Class 1 Dis-trict 3 ChampionRachel Wheeler, Stockton—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Keeli Wilkerson, Skyline—Honor-able Mention All-Mid-Lakes (IF)WILLARD—Class 4 District 10 ChampionHannah Wisdom, Skyline—Honor-able Mention All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Ashton Worth, Marshfield—Class 3 2nd-Team All-Region (P); COC Small Co-Player of the YearWhitney Wright, Marionville—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)

VOLLEYBALLBILLINGS—Class 1 District 7 ChampionCLEVER—Class 2 Final Four; Sectional Champion; District 10 ChampionEL DORADO SPRINGS—Class 2 12 District ChampionGREENFIELD—Class 1 District 8 ChampionOSCEOLA—Class 1 District 10 ChampionOZARK—Class 4 Final Four; Sectional Champion; District 11 ChampionREPUBLIC—Class 4 District 12 ChampionSPARTA—Class 1 District 6 Cham-pionSTRAFFORD—Class 2 District 9 Champion

MISCELLANEOUS• Hillcrest standout wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham continues to pile up numbers for the Hornets. In Hillcrest’s 35-7 Class 4 District 10-clinching victory over Repub-lic on Oct. 27, the senior caught 11 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns in the game, which allowed Green-Beckham to set the NATIONAL RECORD for career

receiving yards. Heading into the state playoffs, Green-Beckham had 276 career catches for 6,209 yards and 69 touchdowns. As if setting a national record was not enough, Green-Beckham also broke his own STATE SINGLE SEASON RECORD for receiving yards after compiling 1,986 yards on 98 catches and 21 touch-downs in 2011. Green-Beckham now owns the three highest single season receiving yards totals in state history.• Willard volleyball coach Jamalee Hancock earned her 300th career coaching victory on Sept. 10 at the Lori Endicott In-vitational, where the Lady Tigers notched a 3rd-place finish. Hancock, who is currently in her 12th season at the helm at Willard, has a 319-93-28 career record.• Bolivar football coach Lance Roweton earned his 100th career victory after the Liberators’ 41-6 victory over Logan-Rogersville on Oct. 7 at Southwest Baptist University.• Republic softball coach Mike Thorne was induct-ed into the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame on July 30. Thorne retired at the end of this season with a career record of 336-147 in 19 seasons of coaching. Thorne guided the Lady Tigers to back-to-back Final Four appear-ances in 2008 and 2009.• Glendale’s Trevor Vaughn broke a STATE RECORD and tied a

NATIONAL RECORD with three kick returns for touchdowns in the Falcon’s season-opening 50-37 victory over Joplin on Aug. 26. The senior had four kick returns for 287 yards and three touchdowns, and 435 all-purpose yards, which also included a 49-yard halfback pass for a touchdown.

OPI

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Hillcrest’s Dorial Green-Beckham (Photo by Brenda Putman)

OZARK—Class 4 District 11 ChampionBryanna Parham, Reeds Spring— All-District; 2nd-Team All-COC SmallTristia Patton, Bolivar—Class 3 2nd-Team All-Region (P); 1st-Team All-COC SmallPLEASANT HOPE—Class 2 State Runner-up; Sectional Champion; District 11 ChampionJosie Pyle, Stockton—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Shelby Quick, Strafford—Class 3 2nd-Team All-Region (OF); 1st-Team All-Mid-LakesRaigan Ratliff, Monett—Class 3 1st-Team All-Region (OF)REEDS SPRING—Class 3 District 10 ChampionSam Retherford, Reeds Spring—All-DistrictHailey Richardson, Pleasant Hope—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Calie Sare, Pleasant Hope—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Taylor Sechler, Bolivar—2nd-Team All-COC SmallJordan Shewmaker, Buffalo—1st-Team All-COC SmallSarah Siegismund, Pleasant Hope—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Lakin Simmerman, Ash Grove—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (P)Kerry Ann Sipes, Logan-Rogers-ville—2nd-Team All-COC SmallKatie Skelton, Ash Grove—Honor-able Mention All-Mid-Lakes (C)Adrianna Soriano, Monett—Class 3 2nd-Team All-Region (C)Kayleen Stevens, Reeds Spring—All-DistrictHalie Steward, Stockton—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (C)Balie Stime, Marionville—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (C)Andrea Studer, Reeds Spring—Class 3 1st-Team All-Region (P); All-District; 1st-Team All-COC SmallAnna Swift, Ash Grove—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (UT)

Katelyn Triplett, Strafford—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (IF)WALNUT GROVE—Class 1 Dis-trict 3 ChampionRachel Wheeler, Stockton—2nd-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)Keeli Wilkerson, Skyline—Honor-able Mention All-Mid-Lakes (IF)WILLARD—Class 4 District 10 ChampionHannah Wisdom, Skyline—Honor-able Mention All-Mid-Lakes (IF)Ashton Worth, Marshfield—Class 3 2nd-Team All-Region (P); COC Small Co-Player of the YearWhitney Wright, Marionville—1st-Team All-Mid-Lakes (OF)

VOLLEYBALLBILLINGS—Class 1 District 7 ChampionCLEVER—Class 2 Final Four; Sectional Champion; District 10 ChampionEL DORADO SPRINGS—Class 2 12 District ChampionGREENFIELD—Class 1 District 8 ChampionOSCEOLA—Class 1 District 10 ChampionOZARK—Class 4 Final Four; Sectional Champion; District 11 ChampionREPUBLIC—Class 4 District 12 ChampionSPARTA—Class 1 District 6 Cham-pionSTRAFFORD—Class 2 District 9 Champion

MISCELLANEOUS• Hillcrest standout wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham continues to pile up numbers for the Hornets. In Hillcrest’s 35-7 Class 4 District 10-clinching victory over Repub-lic on Oct. 27, the senior caught 11 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns in the game, which allowed Green-Beckham to set the NATIONAL RECORD for career

receiving yards. Heading into the state playoffs, Green-Beckham had 276 career catches for 6,209 yards and 69 touchdowns. As if setting a national record was not enough, Green-Beckham also broke his own STATE SINGLE SEASON RECORD for receiving yards after compiling 1,986 yards on 98 catches and 21 touch-downs in 2011. Green-Beckham now owns the three highest single season receiving yards totals in state history.• Willard volleyball coach Jamalee Hancock earned her 300th career coaching victory on Sept. 10 at the Lori Endicott In-vitational, where the Lady Tigers notched a 3rd-place finish. Hancock, who is currently in her 12th season at the helm at Willard, has a 319-93-28 career record.• Bolivar football coach Lance Roweton earned his 100th career victory after the Liberators’ 41-6 victory over Logan-Rogersville on Oct. 7 at Southwest Baptist University.• Republic softball coach Mike Thorne was induct-ed into the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame on July 30. Thorne retired at the end of this season with a career record of 336-147 in 19 seasons of coaching. Thorne guided the Lady Tigers to back-to-back Final Four appear-ances in 2008 and 2009.• Glendale’s Trevor Vaughn broke a STATE RECORD and tied a

NATIONAL RECORD with three kick returns for touchdowns in the Falcon’s season-opening 50-37 victory over Joplin on Aug. 26. The senior had four kick returns for 287 yards and three touchdowns, and 435 all-purpose yards, which also included a 49-yard halfback pass for a touchdown.

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OPI12

One Step at a TimeWalking with a pedometer makes it easier

to stay on a healthy path

I return from my morning walk and pick up the newspaper: “Baby boomers losing battle of the bulge,” the headline glares at me. “Tell me about it,” I mutter. At age 47, with a slowing metabolism, I have to move more and eat less to maintain fitness. I glance at my little low-tech fitness friend clipped to my pants—my pedometer. It shows 3,919 steps. A good start to the day.

“Walking is a wonderful way to improve one’s health and physical fitness,” says Juris Simanis, M.D., board certified physician with CMH Sports and Occupational Medicine Clinic. “You are going to get a lot of benefit by doing 30 minutes of brisk walking most days of the week.”

Just how much benefit? Here are the high-lights for your heart: lower blood pressure levels, lower heart-disease risk, lower risk for blood clots, and increased levels of the heart-protective cholesterol called HDL.

At work, I avoid parking close to the entrance. That’s 560 extra steps a day. Later, I walk to Starbucks instead of drive: 1,800 steps (and one decaf, no cream or sugar, please). How would I know all this without my pedom-eter? Simply and accurately, it shows progress toward my walking goal.

Pedometers are proven motivators, says Mark Fenton, author of “The Complete Guide to Walking for Health, Weight Loss and Fitness” and host of America’s Walking on PBS. People who wear pedometers take about 2,500 more steps a day, one study found. (A mile is about 2,000 steps.)

To get started, here’s all you need, Fenton says: a pedometer, a pencil and some paper.

How to Choose Your New Walking PartnerPedometer prices and functions vary, so

check online reviews. Fenton recommends a basic, easy-to-use pedometer in the $20 range. Just use it to count steps, he says. Don’t obsess over steps per mile, calories expended or even distance. Clip the pedometer to the waist of your pants so that it’s in line with your knee and not off to the side.

A yield sign: Although most people can simply start walking, Simanis says to see a doc-tor if during walking you start to feel shortness of breath or notice an irregular heartbeat or chest pain. And anyone with high-risk factors for heart problems should check in with a phy-sician before undertaking strenuous exercise.

“See a doctor if you begin experiencing knee, ankle or other joint pain that contin-ues or even worsens,” says Simanis. “I would expect some sore muscle/joints initially for people who are sedentary and then decide to increase their physical activity. However, this should gradually improve and resolve as they get used to the increased level of activity. Pain should not continue to persist and may be a sign of other medical conditions that may need to be addressed or treated.”

Find Your Baseline, Then Boost By 20%You first need to know your current activity

level. For a week, wear your pedometer each day from rising to going to bed. “Do what you normally do. This is very important,” Fenton says. Keep a log of your daily steps. At the end of the week, divide the total steps by seven. This is your baseline.

Now boost that total by 20 percent in week two. For example, if your baseline is 4,000, then aim for 4,800 steps in week two. Take that total and increase it 20 percent in week three (5,760 steps in the example), and so on until

you average 10,000 steps a day, which meets the national activity guidelines. The walk must be brisk. “Walk like you’ve got someplace to go,” Simanis says.

To reach your goal, look for “conscious exercise” opportunities, Fenton says, especially foregoing a car when possible. Some ideas to add steps to your day:

• Take public transportation and get off a stop or two early.

• Walk or ride a bike to do errands (and to help count “steps” while bicycling, tie your pedometer to your shoelaces).

• Instead of driving kids to school, walk with them.

• Volunteer at a dog shelter and walk the pooches.

• Do your own yard work and wash your own car.

Keep Working at ItIt’s one of those days. I skip my walk and sit

at my computer all day. In the evening, I flop on the couch. My pedometer tells no lies: only 4,570 steps all day.

“People think they are furiously busy,” says Fenton. “But what are they doing? Sitting at a computer, in a meeting. That’s what a pedometer shines a light on.” In a 2010 study, Americans averaged 5,117 steps a day, several thousand fewer than adults in Australia (9,695), Japan (7,168) and Switzerland (9,650).

My commitment renewed, the next day I mow the back lawn after work. My trusty pedometer shows 3,477 steps. My heart is pumping! Gotta keep moving. My heart is counting on it.

2 for 1For every 60 minutes of vigorous exercise,

your life span may increase by two hours.

LLDDOn the

DISABLEDLIST Dr. J.P. Simanis

M.D., MPH, MSPH, FAAFP

On the

Members of the Republic cheerleading squad get the Tiger faithful fired up during pregame player introductions prior to Republic’s 62-32 victory over Fair Grove in the Gold Division quarterfinals of the 66th Annual Blue & Gold Tournament on Dec. 27 at JQH Arena. Those pictured include Britteney Taylor (top/flyer) and bases Trinity Minshall, Brittney Owrey and Ericka Dye. (Staff Photo)

Cassville senior cheerleader Adrianna Fine leads the Wildcat crowd in a cheer in Cassville’s 58-52 loss to Carl Junction on Jan. 6. (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography)

Tendons allow your joints to move. Walk-ing, sitting down, reaching, even driving, are activities that are controlled by your joints and thus your tendons. Because tendons are so flexible, we often don’t consider the importance they have in our daily activities, until we feel pain.

As a physician, I have the opportunity to see patients who are active and have developed chronic overuse injuries. With chronic overuse injuries, patients typically experience tendon pain in upper and/or lower limbs, which may prevent them from engaging in activities previously performed with ease.

Often, the first suggestions to alleviate a patient’s tendon pain include rest and limited use of the affected limb until the pain subsides. However, not all patients are cre-ated equal. Some require the use of prescrip-

tion medication to alleviate the pain, as well as temporary bracing and physical therapy, until their tendon injury heals on its own.

For other patients who’ve exhausted the typical treatments of rest, relaxation, pre-scription medication, bracing and physical therapy, improvement in pain and hope for a normal, active lifestyle may seem futile. Those types of patients are candidates for PRP injections, which we talked about a few months ago, or possibly a new procedure called FAST.

FAST, also known as Focused Aspiration of Scar Tissue, is a minimally invasive proce-dure, performed in a matter of 15 minutes. The diseased, damaged portion of the tendon causing pain may be accurately identified via ultrasound, similar to viewing a baby in the womb. Once the damaged portion of the tendon is identified via ultrasound, a small

ultrasonic needle approximately the size of a toothpick is guided into the tendon by the ultrasound. Then, the debridement begins—the diseased tendon is removed and the undamaged portion of the tendon is allowed to heal on its own.

Patients of FAST only require a local anesthetic and are fully awake throughout the course of the procedure. Minimal pain is involved; most patients feel slight pressure at the site during the procedure, and the open-ing is closed using only a Band-Aid. Patients who have undergone the FAST procedure have been found to recover much more quickly (generally a few days to a few weeks) than those who opt for the typical invasive surgical procedure.

If you’re ready to get back to a healthy, active lifestyle, please contact my office at (417) 777-6161 to schedule an evaluation.

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OPI12

One Step at a TimeWalking with a pedometer makes it easier

to stay on a healthy path

I return from my morning walk and pick up the newspaper: “Baby boomers losing battle of the bulge,” the headline glares at me. “Tell me about it,” I mutter. At age 47, with a slowing metabolism, I have to move more and eat less to maintain fitness. I glance at my little low-tech fitness friend clipped to my pants—my pedometer. It shows 3,919 steps. A good start to the day.

“Walking is a wonderful way to improve one’s health and physical fitness,” says Juris Simanis, M.D., board certified physician with CMH Sports and Occupational Medicine Clinic. “You are going to get a lot of benefit by doing 30 minutes of brisk walking most days of the week.”

Just how much benefit? Here are the high-lights for your heart: lower blood pressure levels, lower heart-disease risk, lower risk for blood clots, and increased levels of the heart-protective cholesterol called HDL.

At work, I avoid parking close to the entrance. That’s 560 extra steps a day. Later, I walk to Starbucks instead of drive: 1,800 steps (and one decaf, no cream or sugar, please). How would I know all this without my pedom-eter? Simply and accurately, it shows progress toward my walking goal.

Pedometers are proven motivators, says Mark Fenton, author of “The Complete Guide to Walking for Health, Weight Loss and Fitness” and host of America’s Walking on PBS. People who wear pedometers take about 2,500 more steps a day, one study found. (A mile is about 2,000 steps.)

To get started, here’s all you need, Fenton says: a pedometer, a pencil and some paper.

How to Choose Your New Walking PartnerPedometer prices and functions vary, so

check online reviews. Fenton recommends a basic, easy-to-use pedometer in the $20 range. Just use it to count steps, he says. Don’t obsess over steps per mile, calories expended or even distance. Clip the pedometer to the waist of your pants so that it’s in line with your knee and not off to the side.

A yield sign: Although most people can simply start walking, Simanis says to see a doc-tor if during walking you start to feel shortness of breath or notice an irregular heartbeat or chest pain. And anyone with high-risk factors for heart problems should check in with a phy-sician before undertaking strenuous exercise.

“See a doctor if you begin experiencing knee, ankle or other joint pain that contin-ues or even worsens,” says Simanis. “I would expect some sore muscle/joints initially for people who are sedentary and then decide to increase their physical activity. However, this should gradually improve and resolve as they get used to the increased level of activity. Pain should not continue to persist and may be a sign of other medical conditions that may need to be addressed or treated.”

Find Your Baseline, Then Boost By 20%You first need to know your current activity

level. For a week, wear your pedometer each day from rising to going to bed. “Do what you normally do. This is very important,” Fenton says. Keep a log of your daily steps. At the end of the week, divide the total steps by seven. This is your baseline.

Now boost that total by 20 percent in week two. For example, if your baseline is 4,000, then aim for 4,800 steps in week two. Take that total and increase it 20 percent in week three (5,760 steps in the example), and so on until

you average 10,000 steps a day, which meets the national activity guidelines. The walk must be brisk. “Walk like you’ve got someplace to go,” Simanis says.

To reach your goal, look for “conscious exercise” opportunities, Fenton says, especially foregoing a car when possible. Some ideas to add steps to your day:

• Take public transportation and get off a stop or two early.

• Walk or ride a bike to do errands (and to help count “steps” while bicycling, tie your pedometer to your shoelaces).

• Instead of driving kids to school, walk with them.

• Volunteer at a dog shelter and walk the pooches.

• Do your own yard work and wash your own car.

Keep Working at ItIt’s one of those days. I skip my walk and sit

at my computer all day. In the evening, I flop on the couch. My pedometer tells no lies: only 4,570 steps all day.

“People think they are furiously busy,” says Fenton. “But what are they doing? Sitting at a computer, in a meeting. That’s what a pedometer shines a light on.” In a 2010 study, Americans averaged 5,117 steps a day, several thousand fewer than adults in Australia (9,695), Japan (7,168) and Switzerland (9,650).

My commitment renewed, the next day I mow the back lawn after work. My trusty pedometer shows 3,477 steps. My heart is pumping! Gotta keep moving. My heart is counting on it.

2 for 1For every 60 minutes of vigorous exercise,

your life span may increase by two hours.

LLDDOn the

DISABLEDLIST Dr. J.P. Simanis

M.D., MPH, MSPH, FAAFP

On the

Members of the Republic cheerleading squad get the Tiger faithful fired up during pregame player introductions prior to Republic’s 62-32 victory over Fair Grove in the Gold Division quarterfinals of the 66th Annual Blue & Gold Tournament on Dec. 27 at JQH Arena. Those pictured include Britteney Taylor (top/flyer) and bases Trinity Minshall, Brittney Owrey and Ericka Dye. (Staff Photo)

Cassville senior cheerleader Adrianna Fine leads the Wildcat crowd in a cheer in Cassville’s 58-52 loss to Carl Junction on Jan. 6. (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography)

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15

OPI

Branson pitcher Sam Perez (#16) throws to teammate Lake Keller at first base in a pick-off attempt of Glen-dale’s Camp Carter in #6-seeded Glendale’s 10-9 upset victory over the top-seeded Pirates in the Class 4 District 11 semifinals on May 14 at Nixa Junior High School. (Staff Photo)

Central’s Jordan Williams tees off on the #10 hole at Mill-wood Golf & Racquet Club on May 2 during Class 4 Sectional play. Williams qualified for the MSHSAA Boys Class 4 State Championships on May 14-15 at Silo Ridge Country Club in Bolivar. (Staff Photo)

Mt. Vernon’s Eric Wilmoth hits his approach shot on the #9 hole at Twin Oaks Country Club during Day 2 action at the 2012 MSHSAA Boys Class 2 Golf Championships on May 15. Wilmoth shot a two-day total of 151 to earn All-State honors with a 5th-place individual finish. The Mt’neers finished in 3rd-place overall as a team. (Staff Photo)

OPI

Branson pitcher Sam Perez (#16) throws to teammate Lake Keller at first base in a pick-off attempt of Glen-dale’s Camp Carter in #6-seeded Glendale’s 10-9 upset victory over the top-seeded Pirates in the Class 4 District 11 semifinals on May 14 at Nixa Junior High School. (Staff Photo)

Mt. Vernon’s Eric Wilmoth hits his approach shot on the #9 hole at Twin Oaks Country Club during Day 2 action at the 2012 MSHSAA Boys Class 2 Golf Championships on May 15. Wilmoth shot a two-day total of 151 to earn All-State honors with a 5th-place individual finish. The Mt’neers finished in 3rd-place overall as a team. (Staff Photo)

Cassville’s Ben Makala (#10) is in a pickle, as Reeds Springs’ Kaz Woodward (with ball) has him in a rundown in the teams’ match-up on Mar. 27. The Wolves’ Dean Rogers (L) and Coleman Douglas look on, ready to step in if needed. (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography)

Marionville’s Michael Willbanks competes in the high jump at the Aldo Sebben Relays on Apr. 24 at Missouri State University. Willbanks qualified for the 2012 MSHSAA Boys Class 2 State Track & Field Championships, where he earned All-State honors by finishing as the state runner-up in the event. (Staff Photo)

OPI

Marshfield’s Cole Burchfield leads the pack on lap one of his preliminary heat in the 800-meter run at the 2012 MSHSAA Class 3 Boys Track & Field Championships on May 25 at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City. Burchfield qualified for the finals on May 26, where he earned All-State honors with a 7th-place finish. (Staff Photo)

Greenwood’s Connor Frazier returns a shot during his #1 singles match against his Thomas Jefferson Independent School opponent during Sectional action on May 19 at Logan-Rogersville High School. Frazier and the Bluejays advanced to the state quarterfinals with a 5-1 victory before losing to Warrensburg. Frazier teamed with Wil-liam Sistrunk to finish in 3rd-place in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Doubles Tournament. (Staff Photo)

Cassville’s Danielle Pianalto competes in a relay event at the Cassville Invitational on Apr. 19. (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography)

OPI

Willard’s Cole Teaford slides into second base with a sto-len base in the Tigers’ thrilling 16-15 loss to Liberty in the 3rd-place game of the MSHSAA Class 4 Baseball Cham-pionships on June 2 at Meador Park. (Photo courtesy of Lori Breedlove, LA Breedlove Photography)

Monett southpaw Carlin Ballay hurls a pitch to the plate in the Cubs’ match-up with rival Cassville on Apr. 17. (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography)

OPI

Parkview’s A.J. Green (L) slows up after handing the baton to Quintin Smith (R) for the second leg of the preliminaries of the boys 4x200 meter relay at the 2012 MSHSAA Class 4 Boys Track & Field Championships on May 25 at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City. The Viking quartet of Green, Smith, Myron Willis, and Christopher Hargrove advanced to the finals on May 26, and earned All-State honors with a 6th-place finish. (Staff Photo)

Monett’s Zach Swearingen splashes sand as he finishes his long jump attempt at the Cassville Invitational on Apr. 19. (Photo courtesy of Chuck Nickle Photography)

Fair Grove’s Brock Der-rick hits his approach shot on the #17 hole at Twin Oaks Country Club during the final round of the 2012 MSHSAA Boys Class 2 State Champion-ships on May 15. (Staff Photo)

OPI

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Strafford’s Jenna Clements competes in the triple jump at the 2012 MSHSAA Class 2 Girls Track & Field Championships on May 18 at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City. Clements earned All-State honors with a 5th-place finish. (Staff Photo)

OPI

Ozark’s Abaigeal Sugrue (#11) battles Nixa’s Brittany Kirkpatrick (#5) for the ball in the Lady Eagles’ 4-0 victory over the Lady Tigers in Class 4 District 11 semifinal action on May 14 at the Cooper Sports Complex. (Staff Photo)

Everton’s Kala Svendsen (L) and Osceola’s Emily Lippa (R) compete in the 100-meter dash prelims at the girls Class 1 State meet on May 18 in Jefferson City. (Staff Photo)

Branson’s Michaela Dapprich competes in the preliminary round of the shot put at the 2012 MSHSAA Class 4 Girls Track & Field Championships on May 25 at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City. Dapprich did not qualify for the finals in the shot put, but did earn All-State honors the following day with a state runner-up finish in the discus. (Staff Photo)

Republic’s Ryan Way (#269) and Hillcrest’s Austin Craven (#131) sprint to the finish af-ter eight grueling laps in the sweltering heat of the 3200-meter run at the Class 3 State meet on May 25 in Jefferson City. Both Way (7th-place) and Craven (5th-place) earned All-State honors. (Staff Photo)

Reeds Spring’s Dylan Weber (L) and Cassville’s Cody Frana (R) compete in the 110-meter high hurdles at the Cassville Invite on Apr. 19. Both were Class 3 state qualifiers in the event.

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Everton’s Kala Svendsen (L) and Osceola’s Emily Lippa (R) compete in the 100-meter dash prelims at the girls Class 1 State meet on May 18 in Jefferson City. (Staff Photo)

Clever catcher Chance Wolfe (L) awaits the pitch from Bluejay ace David Pennewell in the first inning of Clever’s 3-1 victory over Summit Christian in the 3rd-place game of the 2012 MSHSAA Class 2 State Baseball Championships on May 31 at Meador Park. It was the Bluejays’ second-straight 3rd-place finish. (Staff Photo)

Republic’s Ryan Way (#269) and Hillcrest’s Austin Craven (#131) sprint to the finish af-ter eight grueling laps in the sweltering heat of the 3200-meter run at the Class 3 State meet on May 25 in Jefferson City. Both Way (7th-place) and Craven (5th-place) earned All-State honors. (Staff Photo)

Glendale’s Molly Brewer (#6) launches a header as Kickapoo’s Casey Weitzel (#7) looks on in the Lady Falcons’ 1-0 victory over the Lady Chiefs in Class 4 District 11 semifinal action on May 14 at the Cooper Sports Complex. The Lady Falcons would later advance to the Class 4 Final Four where Glendale fin-ished in 4th-place. (Staff Photo)

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Parkview standout Spencer Johnson follows through on a homerun in the seventh inning of the Vikings’ win over Bolivar on May 10. The dinger was one of 39 career homers for Johnson, the second highest total ever in state history. (Staff Photo)

Mt. Vernon’s Shane Williams leaps through the air in the finals of the triple jump at the 2012 MSHSAA Class 3 Boys Track & Field Championships on May 25 at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City. Williams earned All-State honors in three separate events, including the high jump (3rd-place), triple jump (5th-place), and long jump (5th-place). (Staff Photo)

Skyline’s Colton Coffey (L), Ash Grove’s Logan Allred (#340), and Stockton’s Dalton Freeze (R) compete in a preliminary heat of the boys 100-meter dash at the 2012 MSHSAA Class 2 Boys Track & Field Championships on May 18 at Dwight T. Reed Sta-dium in Jefferson City. Both Allred (7th-place) and Freeze (6th-place) earned All-State honors after reaching the finals. (Staff Photo)

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Bolivar’s Haden Stevens chips out of a greenside bunker on the #1 hole at Rivercut Municipal Golf Course during Day 1 action on May 14 at the 2012 MSHSAA Class 3 Boys Golf Championships. Stevens led the Liberators to their first-ever State appearance. (Staff Photo)

Sparta’s Jacob Loveland competes in a prelimi-nary heat of the 400-me-ter dash at the boys Class 2 State meet on May 18. Loveland garnered All-State honors in the 800-meter run with a 4th-place finish. (Staff Photo)

Springfield Catholic’s Lydia Holtmann (R) dribbles past a Liberty (Mt. View) defender in the Lady Irish’s 5-0 victory in the Sectional round of the Class 1 state tournament. Catholic advanced to its third-straight Final Four, but was unable to win its third-straight state championship, as the Lady Irish finished in 3rd-place. (Staff Photo)

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PF PFwww.whiteriver.org

Learn the basic strength and conditioning training techniques to maximize your abilities and improve your athletic performance.

Camp is held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week.

$45 per student For more information and to register, call 417/236-2480.

June 13-30Monett South Park: 10:30 a.m.Republic Community Center: 9 a.m.Mt. Vernon Jr. High School: 1 p.m., 2 p.m. or 3 p.m.

July 11-28Monett South Park: 9 a.m., 10 a.m. or 11 a.m.Aurora High School: 1 p.m., 2 p.m. or 3 p.m.

coxhealth.com

Cox Monett

2011 Speed and Conditioning Campfor grades 5–12

Kickapoo’s Stefan Herron (L) makes the ex-change with teammate Cody Anderson (R) after the first leg of the 4x200 meter relay at the All-City Relays on Mar. 31 at JFK Stadium. (Staff Photo)

Marion C. Early shortstop Brandon Martinsen applies the tag to Dadeville’s Zane Medley, who was caught stealing in the third inning of the Panthers’ 10-0 victory on Apr. 8 in the finals of the Halfway bracket of the Halfway/Wheatland Tournament. Morrisville’s Dustin Hargus (#2) watches the play unfold from his second base position. (Staff Photo)

Bolivar base runner Kolby Follis (L) and Stockton shortstop Robbe Ewing (R) react to a pop-fly on the infield during the Liberators’ thrilling 7-5 come-from-behind victory in eight innings over the Tigers in round robin play of the Buf-falo/Bolivar Tournament on Mar. 22 at Bolivar High School. (Staff Photo)

Springfield Catholic’s Will Hennessey smashes a return as doubles partner Noah Chanliangco looks on in the Fightin’ Irish’s 5-3 upset of top-seeded Bolivar in the semifinals of Class 1 District 10 on May 8. (Staff Photo)

Logan-Rogersville’s Evan Gruener (#15) slides safely into home to tie the game 5-5 in the top of the sixth inning of the Wildcats’ thrilling, come-from-behind 8-5 eight inning Sectional victory over Mt. Vernon on May 22 at the Spirit of ’76 Complex in Mt. Vernon. (Staff Photo)

Pleasant Hope catcher Jacob Gettle makes a sliding stop of a pitch in the Pirates’ 9-5 loss to Marion C. Early in Class 2 District 13 semifinal action on May 14. (Staff Photo)

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PF PFwww.whiteriver.org

Learn the basic strength and conditioning training techniques to maximize your abilities and improve your athletic performance.

Camp is held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week.

$45 per student For more information and to register, call 417/236-2480.

June 13-30Monett South Park: 10:30 a.m.Republic Community Center: 9 a.m.Mt. Vernon Jr. High School: 1 p.m., 2 p.m. or 3 p.m.

July 11-28Monett South Park: 9 a.m., 10 a.m. or 11 a.m.Aurora High School: 1 p.m., 2 p.m. or 3 p.m.

coxhealth.com

Cox Monett

2011 Speed and Conditioning Campfor grades 5–12

Kickapoo’s Stefan Herron (L) makes the ex-change with teammate Cody Anderson (R) after the first leg of the 4x200 meter relay at the All-City Relays on Mar. 31 at JFK Stadium. (Staff Photo)

Marion C. Early shortstop Brandon Martinsen applies the tag to Dadeville’s Zane Medley, who was caught stealing in the third inning of the Panthers’ 10-0 victory on Apr. 8 in the finals of the Halfway bracket of the Halfway/Wheatland Tournament. Morrisville’s Dustin Hargus (#2) watches the play unfold from his second base position. (Staff Photo)

Bolivar base runner Kolby Follis (L) and Stockton shortstop Robbe Ewing (R) react to a pop-fly on the infield during the Liberators’ thrilling 7-5 come-from-behind victory in eight innings over the Tigers in round robin play of the Buf-falo/Bolivar Tournament on Mar. 22 at Bolivar High School. (Staff Photo)

Billings’ Austin Essick (#4) follows through on a hit in the Wildcats’ heartbreaking 16-15 loss to Ash Grove on May 2 at Hammons Field. In all, the teams combined for 32 hits in the slugfest. (Staff Photo)

Crane’s Casey Smith hurls a pitch to the plate in the Pirates’ loss to Final Four-bound Clever in the Class 2 District 11 opener for both teams on May 12 at Clever. (Staff Photo)

Pleasant Hope catcher Jacob Gettle makes a sliding stop of a pitch in the Pirates’ 9-5 loss to Marion C. Early in Class 2 District 13 semifinal action on May 14. (Staff Photo)

Weaubleau’s Matthew Goehrig (L) awaits the pitch in the Tigers’ 6-5 eight inning victory over Liberal in Class 1 Sectional action on May 21. Weaubleau’s season ended in the state quarterfinals with a loss to eventual state runner-up Norwood. (Photo by Dakota Motley)

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The numbers are simple (and impres-sive): 5 student-athletes; 8 events; 8 All-State performances; 46 points; 1 individual state champion; 1 team state championship.

Going into the MSHSAA Girls Class 2 State Track & Field Championships May 18-19 at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City, the odds did not appear very strong for the Stockton Lady Tigers to win a state championship. On paper, it was simply a numbers thing, meaning that several schools had a lot more State qualifiers on hand com-pared to Stockton’s five qualifiers.

However, the Lady Tigers proved that quality is more important than quantity, as Stockton reached the podium in every event in which it was entered, which included six individual events and two relays. When the dust settled, the Lady Tigers were state

champions with a two-day total of 46 points, besting second-place Monroe City’s 39.

In fact, Stockton’s performance was so dominating that the Lady Tigers had already secured the state championship before their final two events were even run. “I knew going in that our girls had a very legitimate shot of taking the team title,” said head coach T.Jay Sanderson. “But I was actually more surprised than I thought I would be, only because I saw that we basically had it wrapped up before the 3200 (meter run) and 4x400 relay were even run.”

“I couldn’t believe that the Stockton girls had just won a state championship, because we only had five girls versus all the other teams with ten or so,” said junior Emilyn Dearman, who spearheaded the Stockton juggernaut by having a hand in 25 of the

team’s 46 points.Junior Rachel Wheeler got the Lady

Tigers on the scoreboard on the first day of competition with a 4th-place finish in the 1600-meter run. Entering the final lap, Wheeler was running mid-pack, but had a strong final stretch in which she passed several runners, leaning forward at the finish to best a pair of competitors. The 4th-place finish was good for five team points.

“My goal for the 1600 was to pick up as many points as possible for the team,” said Wheeler, who garnered All-State recogni-tion, which is awarded to the top eight places in each event. “I was in 9th-place heading into the last lap, but I knew I was all right. I still was feeling really great, and my last lap is always strong.”

“Rachel’s race set the tone for the whole meet,” said Sanderson. “I don’t believe she could have run a much better race, and it’s not very often you can say that. The first thing she wanted to know was how many points she got for the team. She could’ve cared less about any personal honors. As a coach, I teared up as I saw how selfless she was and much she cared about her team.”

The first day of the two-day State competi-tion is primarily comprised of preliminary heats, in which athletes and relay teams qualify for the finals on the second day of competition. The first day does include some point-producing events, primarily in the field events and distance races. The key for the first day is to qualify in as many events as possible for the ultra-important second day of the meet.

Dearman advanced to the finals in three separate individual events, while junior Josie Pyle finished as the runner-up in her 800-meter run heat. In addition, the 4x400 meter relay team of Pyle, sophomore Alexis Smith, Wheeler, and Dearman posted the fourth fastest preliminary time to advance.

After Day 1, Stockton stood in 12th-place as a team, but had advanced to the finals in every single event in which it was entered. The Lady Tigers were in position to do some great things on the final day of competition, and their coach knew it.

“I sat down on Friday night and scribbled down on paper the teams I thought would be in contention and what they had go-ing into Saturday,” said Sanderson. “After piecing it all together, I knew we’d be in contention to win. But in the end, I knew the girls were ready to go, and we were just going out to do our best and let the cards fall where they may.”

On Saturday, the cards began falling im-mediately for Stockton, as the Lady Tigers’ 4x800 meter relay team of Smith, Wheeler, freshman Arnica Zitting, and Pyle kicked off a string of All-State performances for Stock-ton with a state runner-up finish in the first event of the day. The 4x800 team had been building momentum all season, and had posted its fastest time of the year the week before State in blowing away the field at Sectionals. The runner-up finish added eight points to the team total, as the Lady Tigers were a mere four-tenths of a second from

TigertitleBy byron shive

With the girls Class 2 state championship already secured, Stockton’s Rachel Wheeler hands the baton to Emilyn Dearman for the anchor leg of the 4x400 meter relay on May 19 at the 2012 MSHSAA Girls Class 2 State Track & Field Championships in Jefferson City. The Lady Tigers scored 46 team points to win its second girls track title in school history. (Photo courtesy of Chris Auckley, motrackfanatic.blogspot.com)

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winning the race.“For a while, we were in first place, and

we were more than close to winning it, but I think there’s a reason we didn’t,” said Zit-ting. “God opened up a different first-place for us, and we were all part of that one.”

Dearman was next up, competing in the first of three individual events and one relay event on the day in the finals of the 100-me-ter high hurdles. The junior standout was a favorite in the event, but finished as the state runner-up by just two-hundredths of a second. Despite the disappointing second-place finish, Dearman added another eight points to Stockton’s growing total.

“She was disappointed for sure, because she wanted to win” said Sanderson of Dear-man’s runner-up finish. “She needed some time to stew over the .02 second defeat, which was fine with me.”

Dearman got a little over two hours of “stewing” time and rest before pulling out a double duty, back-to-back effort in the finals of the 400-meter dash and 300-meter low hurdles, respectively. “The 400 isn’t really my event, but I did have, I guess, steam to let off,” said Dearman. “However, most of that was being saved for the 300 hurdles, because that was the race I wanted to win really bad. The 400 was hard both physically and mentally, because I didn’t know how much I would need for the race afterwards and how much to put in the race before.”

Dearman finished in 7th-place in the 800-meter run, earning Stockton another two points. Less than a half hour later, she was back on the track for the 300-meter low hurdles, an event in which Dearman was undefeated on the year. She shaved nearly a full second off her prelim time, and posted a 45.99 to win a state championship in her signature event. The 10 points she earned with her state championship performance raised Stockton’s team total to 33, including 20 contributed directly by Dearman.

“Going into State, we knew Emilyn was going to be a key piece to our success as a team,” said Sanderson. “All year long, she’s been consistent at scoring nearly 40 points every meet. She is one of the toughest and strong-willed athletes I know. Making All-State in all four events, with two of them being back-to-back, is an amazing feat that very few would ever be able to pull off.”

“Before every race she runs, I pray for Emilyn and the race she is about to run,” said Pyle. “And before every race, I let Emilyn know just how beastly she is. She’s a stud! We are very lucky to have her on our team.”

Pyle was about to contribute some individual points to the team total herself, as the finals of the 800-meter run followed Dearman’s state title in the 300-meter hurdles. Pyle had already accomplished one of her personal goals for State by setting a personal best time of 2:21.19 in the 800 in the preliminaries, and was guaranteed of accomplishing a second goal by garnering All-State honors as one of the eight finalists. She proceeded to finish in 5th-place, which was good for another four team points.

“I feel like I ran my hardest,” said Pyle. “I

didn’t run my fastest 800 time of the year, but I couldn’t have ran any better than what I did.”

Zitting was next up in her individual event—the 3200-meter run, which would be comprised of eight grueling laps in the sweltering humidity and heat. “Before the 3200-meter run, I told Coach Sanderson that I was worried about the heat, and told him not to expect a new school record. I really doubted myself, but he just laughed and told me to calm down. While running it, I was so grateful for the “misters” they had at the 200 mark. It wasn’t until after the race that I realized I felt really good running those eight laps.”

It also felt good to garner All-State honors while also contributing another four points to Stockton’s team total, which effectively sealed the state championship for the Lady Tigers. Zitting had set a personal goal of breaking 12 minutes in the race, and crossed the line in 11:53.20.

“Once that goal was set, I knew she was going to do it,” said Wheeler of Zitting’s 3200-meter run. “She is the strongest person I know. Arnica has more determination than anyone. She went a whole year without eating ice cream, just to say that she did it. Once she sets her mind to something, there is nothing that can stop her.”

Mathematically, Stockton had already won the Class 2 state title prior to the run-ning of the final event of the State meet: the 4x400 meter relay. However, while the coaches and others in attendance may have been aware of this, the Lady Tigers were not. “I don’t think any of us knew we were in the lead, but our thoughts were to run hard and make Coach proud,” said Smith.

“Apparently, we had first-place secured before we ran the 4x4,” said Wheeler. “But our coach did not let us in on that little piece of information.”

Despite being tired and fatigued at the end of a hot day of competition, the 4x400 team of Pyle, Smith, Wheeler, and Dearman crossed the line in 4:09.29, which was good for 4th-place and another five team points.

“I think I did my best in both relay races,”

said Smith. “I pushed when I needed and ran through the heat. I wasn’t thinking any-thing in particular…just get a good hand-off and run my hardest.”

Stockton had captured the Class 2 girls state championship by running a near flaw-less State meet. “My first thought was, ‘Holy cow! We just won State with five girls!’” said Smith. “I think that it’s pretty cool to be able to say that I’m part of the best girls track team in the state of Missouri in Class 2.”

The state championship was Stockton’s second girls track and field title, with the first one a Class 2A title in 1983. “After it has sunk in a little bit, I still can’t believe we won State,” said Dearman. “Twenty-nine years later and being the second girls team to get our picture on the wall. All the hard work pays off in the end.”

“They are a coach’s dream,” said Sander-son of the Lady Tigers. “First and foremost, they have such great character and personal-ity. Then you mix that in with a determina-tion and drive that surpasses all others and you’ve got yourself an amazing team. The girls all know their roles as an individual and as a team member, and the fact that they are accountable to keep up their roles daily is a testament to the team’s success.”

One thing is certain: regardless of how many State qualifiers the Lady Tigers have next season, Stockton will not enter the State meet under the radar. Zitting will be missed after she moves away to St. Louis this summer, but the other four State qualifiers will return next spring. “We’ll be hoping for more of the same as we experienced in 2012,” said Sanderson. “I’m excited to also see who else will step up next year and distinguish themselves as a contender on the State level. I’m already looking forward to next year.”

Pump the brakes, Coach, because the track in Jefferson City is just now cooling off from the scorching heat that beat down on the 2012 State meet. Next year will be here soon enough. For the time being, the Stockton Lady Tigers can bask in the glow of being the 2012 Class 2 girls track and field state champions.

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STATEKARTER MORANAsh GroveHigh Jump

parkview4x100 meter relay

With the state championship secured, Ash Grove’s Karter Moran makes a final attempt at increasing his state title-winning height, as the Pirate senior won top honors in the high jump on May 18 at the 2012 MSHSAA Boys Class 2 State Track & Field Championships with a winning jump of 6 feet 7 inches. Mo-ran bested Marionville’s Michael Willbanks by one inch to earn the state championship. (Staff Photo)

Glendale’s Spencer Haik leads the pack down the final stretch of the boys 1600-meter run on May 26 at the 2012 MSHSAA Boys Class 4 State Track & Field Cham-pionships. Haik crossed the line in 4:15.11, as only .47 of a second separated 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place. Haik also captured All-State honors in the 800-meter run with an 8th-place finish. (Photo courtesy of Chris Auckley, motrackfanatic.blogspot.com)

After posting the fastest time of the 4x100 meter relay preliminary heats on Day 1, Parkview picked up on Day 2 where it left off the day before by blowing away the field to capture state championship hon-ors on May 26 at the 2012 MSHSAA Boys Class 4 State Track & Field Championships. A.J. Green got the Vikings started before handing the baton to speedster Quintin Smith for the second leg. Smith raced around the corner to hand the baton to Myron Willis, who handed the lead to anchorman Christopher Hargrove. In the photo above left, Quintin Smith hands the baton to Myron Willis for the third leg during the Vikings’ preliminary heat. (Staff Photo) Above right, Christopher Hargrove brings it home for Parkview in the finals. (Photo courtesy of Chris Auckley, motrackfanatic.blogspot.com)

spencer haikglendale1600-meter run

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STATE champs

jordan brittonhollistertriple jump / long jump

quintin smithparkview200-meter dash

Hollister’s Jordan Britton had about as good a final State meet as is possible. The Tiger senior captured not one, but two state champion-ships during his visit to the 2012 MSHSAA Boys Class 2 State Track & Field Championships in Jefferson City. On Day 1 of the meet (May 18), Britton captured top honors in the long jump with a leap of 21-10.75. On May 19, Britton returned to the runway to earn another visit to the top step of the podium with a bound of 43-06.50. (Staff Photo)

After running the second leg of Parkview’s state championship 4x100 meter relay team earlier in the day, the Vikings’ Quintin Smith made his second trip to the top of the podium after the 200-meter dash finals. Smith crossed the line with a time of 21.50, narrowly besting Ruskin’s Edwin Stewart and his 21.55, on May 26 at the 2012 MSH-SAA Boys Class 4 State Track & Field Championships. (Photo courtesy of Chris Auckley, motrackfanatic.blogspot.com)

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eading into the boys Class 3 state golf tournament May 14-15 at Rivercut Municipal Golf Course, there were a lot of pre-tournament favorites to take home state medalist honors. Republic sophomore Dylan Beke-meier was not atop many (if any) of those pre-tournament lists of potential medalists.

However, Bekemeier found himself just two shots off the lead after Day 1 of competition. Playing in the next-to-last group on Day 2, the sophomore shot a blistering 4-under 68 to run away with individual state champi-onship honors—a full five strokes ahead of a pair of second-place fin-ishers. “It’s a story no one would have guessed,” said Bekemeier of his state championship.

By Byron Shive

Republic’s Dylan Bekemeier putts from the fringe on the final hole of the 2012 MSHSAA Class 3 Boys Golf State Championships. Bekemeier shot a 4-under 68 on the final day of competition to capture state medalist honors. (Staff Photo)

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Guess again, though, as Bekemeier was in control from tee-to-green throughout the final day of competition, and only missed three fairways off the tee the entire final round. In fact, Bekemeier birdied four of the first six holes and played even par the rest of the round to post the 68—his personal best at Rivercut.

Bekemeier’s state championship is even more remarkable when you consider that he missed qualifying for State last season as a freshman, albeit by just one stroke. The disappointment of not advancing to State served as fuel for Bekemeier throughout this season, which saw him earn medalist honors at multiple tournaments.

“After State (last year), people would ask me how I did at State, and it killed me to tell them I didn’t make it,” said Bekemeier. “I wanted to go out this season and prove that I had the potential to do well.”

Prior to this season, Bekemeier had one goal in mind: advance to the State tourna-ment. The sophomore accomplished that goal with a tie for sixth-place in the Section-al round. Bekemeier shot a 72 on the first day of State competition, one of five golfers to finish at even par for the round. Pembroke Hill’s Gordon Hamilton was the first day leader at 70, while Westminster Christian Academy’s Kevin VandeKamp was in second at 71.

“I was very happy with where I was at,” said Bekemeier of round one. “I wanted to get All-State (awarded to the top 15 golfers after Day 2), and I ended up two behind the leader. I thought I could go out, shoot a good round and have a chance to win it.”

On Day 2, the nerves were working over-time on the first tee box. “I wanted to hit a good tee shot and get the nerves out of the way,” said Bekemeier, who found the fairway with his first shot of the round. “I hit a good approach shot and then sank a 25-footer for birdie. I kind of knew at that point that things were going to go my way for the day.”

Bekemeier proceeded to birdie holes 3, 5, and 6, and one-putted the first six greens. On the fourth hole, Bekemeier hooked his drive left into deep rough. However, he ex-ecuted a huge flop shot over a tree, and then got up-and-down to save par.

Bekemeier knew that he was in con-tention, but with no leaderboards on the course, he had no way of knowing what scores were being posted by the other golf-ers not in his group. When he stepped to the #17 tee box, a 219-yard downhill par 3, Bekemeier stood at three-under for the round.

“I thought it would be pretty difficult to win it,” said Bekemeier of his State medalist chances. “I thought another player would come in with a good round.” Bekemeier’s tee shot found the green, but he was still about 60 feet short of the hole, with a double-breaker putt upcoming.

Bekemeier lined up the putt, and gave it a healthy tap toward the hole. The ball rolled and rolled, and as it neared the cup, Beke-meier raised his arms in celebration. He had

just sunk a 60-foot bomb on the next-to-last hole of the State tournament, a birdie which moved him back to four-under for the round. Following a routine par on the potentially treacherous 18th hole, Bekemeier’s round of 68 was in the books.

After signing his scorecard, Bekemeier knew he was the low man out of the golfers who had finished their rounds, but there was still one group left to finish, including Day 1 leaders Hamilton and VandeKamp, as well as a pair of golfers who had matched Bekemeier’s Day 1 total of 72. As the final grouping completed 18, and made their way to the scorer’s tent, Bekemeier went into surveillance mode.

“I was trying to eavesdrop on the other coaches on what other scores were be-ing posted,” said Bekemeier. “The only one I didn’t know about was VandeKamp. His score was the last one read, of course, which only added to the suspense. I heard him say he shot a 37 on the front, so I knew I was ahead of him.

“When he said he shot a 40 on the back, I just grabbed my bag and started walking toward the tunnel,” added Bekemeier. “My mom came up and said, ‘Well, how’d you do?’ I said, ‘I just won State!’ We hugged and both of us started crying.”

“I’m very excited for Dylan,” said Re-public head coach Ben Wolfinbarger. “He played tremendous both days. After last sea-son, his goal was to make it to State, so he was just happy to be there. Going into the second day, I just told him to go out relaxed, because he had already accomplished his goal. Everything else was just a bonus. I reminded him to commit to all of his shots.”

Bekemeier, who is the first State medalist in the school’s history, is quick to acknowl-edge Wolfinbarger’s role in keeping him re-laxed. “I definitely have to thank my coach, because he really helped me out a lot,” said Bekemeier. “I get into trouble when my swing gets quick, and he always tells me to slow my swing down and stay smooth. He’s always telling me to commit to my shot. He kept telling me that it’s just another tourna-ment and to just go out and have fun.”

“Dylan is very solid tee-to-green,” said Wolfinbarger, who is in his first year as Republic’s golf coach. “He hits the ball a mile and he’s very accurate with his shots. Dylan’s a competitor. He’s also an outstand-ing basketball player, and he knows how to compete. He didn’t back down at all.”

Although Bekemeier is a two-sport standout, there is no question as to which of the two sports is his first love. “I like golf better, because you don’t have to run,” joked Bekemeier, who got his first set of metal clubs around age 5. However, he did not get serious about golf until around age 10 or 11. “I’d say that since I was 12, that I probably play golf about five times a week,” said the 2012 Class 3 state champion.

Republic’s home course is Island Green Golf Club, but Bekemeier was very familiar with Rivercut, and estimated that he had played the course close to 10 times in the

past year. The familiarity with the course came in handy during the State tournament.

“It gave me a huge advantage,” said Bekemeier. “There are a lot of spots on that course where you have to hit a certain shot. Maybe it’s a short iron into the green, or you have to be in a certain part of the fairway for the best approach shot. It helped a lot knowing those details.”

It is every golfer’s dream to be “in the zone” the way Bekemeier was on Day 2 of the State tournament. “I hit my driver well all tournament,” said Bekemeier. “When you’re in the zone like that, it feels like it just happens, almost like I’m someone else. When you’re that concentrated, you’re only focused on executing your next shot.”

Bekemeier, who has played in Missouri Junior Golf Association and American Junior Golf Association tournaments, has dreams of playing collegiately for a Division I program. His goal is to earn a scholarship to the University of Missouri, and his State tournament play certainly opened some eyes, including his own.

Bekemeier played the final round of State in the same group as Monett’s Jacob Fair, who has signed to play at Mizzou next season. Bekemeier beat Fair by nine strokes in the final round, which “shows me that I have the potential to be competitive (at Miz-zou),” he said.

Dylan Bekemeier may not have been a pre-tournament favorite this season, but earning state medalist honors as a sopho-more means that his name will definitely be mentioned next season as a threat to earn back-to-back State medalist honors.

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Republic’s Dylan Bekemeier lines up a 60-foot birdie putt on the #17 hole at Rivercut Municipal Golf Course on May 15 during final round action of the Class 3 state tournament. Bekemeier drained the putt to put an exclamation point on his state championship. (Staff Photo)

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Monett’s Jacob Fair tees off on the #9 hole at Rivercut Municipal Golf Course on Day 1 of the 2012 MSHSAA Class 3 Boys Golf State Championships. Fair, who will attend the University of Missouri on a golf scholarship in the fall, earned his third-straight All-State honor by finishing in 12th-place. (Staff Photo)

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When Monett’s Jacob Fair began high school four years ago, he set two goals for himself: 1.) capture State medalist honors in golf; and 2.) be the valedictorian of the Class of 2012. Fair finished his prep career as a four-time Class 3 State qualifier, and came oh-so-close to reaching one of his goals with a state runner-up finish in 2011—just one stroke in back of state champion Ryan Zech of Kearney. On May 20, though, Fair deliv-ered a valedictorian speech to Monett High School’s graduating class.

“I managed to get valedictorian, which is probably the more important one,” said Fair, who with the exception of one A-minus earned straight A’s throughout his entire 13 years of school. “I’ve always been very scholarly, but I wanted a state championship really bad.”

Fair entered the 2012 MSHSAA Class 3 Boys Golf State Championships on May 14-15 at Rivercut Municipal Golf Course as a pre-tournament favorite. A first round score of even-par 72 left Fair in a five-way tie for third—just two strokes off the Day 1 lead. However, after a disappointing second round, Fair finished in a tie for 12th-place. However, it was Fair’s third-straight All-State performance (after last season’s state runner-up finish and a 5th-place finish as a sophomore).

“I was a little disappointed,” said Fair of his final State tournament. “I told my family that I’d rather finish 12th, though, than in second again. That would have hurt a little more.”

“He (Jacob) would admit that he didn’t play well (during the final round of State),” said Jacob’s father, Rick Fair. “He has high expectations for himself. That’s life, though, and another lesson he has learned. I’m extremely proud of the way he handled (the final round). He’s a gracious loser, and a humble winner.”

Despite the disappointing State finish, Ja-cob has a bright future on the golf course. In fact, Jacob’s talent and potential have earned him a scholarship to the University of Mis-souri, where he will join the Tiger golf team in the fall. Jacob, who committed to Mizzou last July, chose the Tigers over Wichita State, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Auburn.

Ryan Zech, the Kearney golfer who beat Jacob by a stroke at the 2011 state tourna-ment, just completed his freshman season at Mizzou and played an indirect role in con-vincing Jacob to pick the Tigers for college. “I hadn’t really given Mizzou much thought,” said Jacob. “I grew up a Razorback fan, so I never thought of becoming a Tiger. Ryan told me that Mizzou had everything he was look-ing for…and it was close to home. It kind of just hit me.

“I loved the campus and was very im-pressed with the athletic facilities,” added Jacob. “Coach (Mark) Leroux was down-to-earth and straightforward with me. I thought about it and prayed about it. No other place felt like home, a place where I would fit in as much and be comfortable.”

“It’s well deserved,” said Jacob’s proud fa-ther. “He has worked hard on the golf course

and in the classroom. He’s put the time in and now he’s seeing the fruits. I’m grateful to Coach Leroux for seeing Jacob’s skill. Jacob will be able to use his skills to get a good education. It’s a super opportunity.”

“I’m a little nervous, because it’s a lot of pressure,” said Jacob’s equally-proud mother, Christy Long. “College is filled with pressure as it is, and then when you add a sport, it adds even more pressure. But he can handle it.”

At some point in the not-too-distant future, Jacob has aspirations of reaching the profes-sional golf ranks. “Hopefully, I can play well in college and then make it on the Nation-wide Tour and work my way up,” said Jacob, who is already setting more lofty goals to pursue.

“Jacob has always been very motivated in anything he does,” said Long. “If he sets a goal, he sets it high, and he will do any-thing to achieve it. He’s a very determined person.”

Jacob has already etched his name among the nation’s elite junior golfers. As of May 24, Jacob was ranked #30 nationally in the Polo Golf Rankings, which is the proprietary system used by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) to identify and rank the top junior golfers who have competed in the premier junior golf tournaments throughout the country.

A year ago, Jacob was tied for 557th in the national rankings, but a standout tourna-ment season last summer and fall against the nation’s elite junior golfers saw Jacob’s stock rise in a hurry. In all, Jacob competed in eight different tournaments from June to November.

Jacob began last summer with a runner-up finish at the AJGA Junior at Quad Cities, and followed that up with runner-up finishes a month later at the Huntsville Junior in Ala-bama and the Lockton Kansas City Junior at Oakwood Country Club. Jacob’s performanc-es resulted in a swift rise up the rankings, which in turn resulted in an invite to the prestigious, invitation-only Junior PLAYERS Championship in August, which is played annually at the iconic TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Limited to just the top 75 junior golfers in the world, the Junior PLAYERS is arguably the preeminent junior golf tournament on the circuit. According to Jacob, he originally barely made the tournament as an alternate. However, that did not stop him from finish-ing in 7th-place overall, aided by a blistering final round 3-under 69.

Jacob’s finish at Sawgrass enabled him to get into more invitational tournaments, including the Polo Junior Golf Classic, which was played just before Thanksgiving in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The format of the Polo Classic entailed two regular rounds of 18 holes, at which point the field of 90 was cut to 32 for match play. Prior to the tourna-ment, Mizzou golf coach Mark Leroux told Jacob, “There’s no pressure on you, but if you qualify for match play, you’ll be the first Mizzou golfer to do so.”

Jacob will be able to head to Colum-

bia this fall with “bragging rights” on his future Tiger teammates then. Jacob stood in 14th-place overall after the first two rounds, thereby advancing to match play.

The extensive tournament schedule meant extensive travel for the Fair family. “It’s been hectic and extensive, but it’s also been fun,” said Long. “Jacob has gotten the opportunity to play on some really nice courses that the PGA players play on.

“Jacob has sacrificed a lot of summers with his friends and part-time jobs,” added Long. “Golf has pretty much been his life. We’ve also given up summer vacations as a family to travel and play golf. We’ve had fun, though!”

Jacob, who is one of only a handful of golfers to ever win both the Missouri Junior Match-Play Championship and the Missouri Junior Amateur Championship, also picked up a couple of prestigious honors off the course last summer. His academic achieve-ment and tournament success resulted in Jacob being one of just 24 junior golfers to be named as an HP Scholastic Junior All-American. To be eligible for this honor, candidates must place in the top-10 of an AJGA Open or Invitational, at which point the final selections are based on GPA, class rank, leadership skills, aptitude test scores (i.e.—ACT/SAT), community service, and writing ability. In addition, Jacob was named a 2nd-Team Rolex Junior All-American.

Jacob’s community service work has resulted in thousands of dollars being raised for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., as well as for Relay for Life. Eleven years ago, Jacob’s little brother, Isaac, was diagnosed with leukemia. Isaac underwent nearly three years of intense che-motherapy at St. Jude’s, as well as a myriad of other treatments. Isaac, who just com-pleted his freshman year at Monett, has been cancer free for three years and is, thankfully, doing well now.

“No matter what happens, or happened, throughout chemo, Isaac always thought about other people,” said Jacob. “He never complained. That’s just the way he is. He made us all better people. He showed us how to give.”

Jacob has used his golfing talent as a means to raise money for cancer research. The past two summers, Jacob has partici-pated in the Birdies for Charity program, in which Jacob has received monetary pledges for each birdie he scores in tournament com-petition. In 2010, Jacob raised over $4,000 for St. Jude’s, while last summer, he raised nearly $2,000 for the Fair family Relay for Life team.

The Fair family has had its own Relay for Life team for the past 11 years, and has hosted a golf tournament the past few years as a fundraiser. The 2012 “Inspired By Isaac” Golf Fore Life Tournament will be on July 21 at Windmill Ridge Golf Course in Monett. The tournament is a three-man scramble format, and includes prizes for the top three teams in each flight.

During the tournament, Jacob raises even more money by hitting drives for teams on a

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particular hole for a donation. Last year, he raised an additional $400 for Relay for Life by splitting the fairway for teams willing to pony up a donation.

“It goes back to Jacob’s generosity and willingness to help others,” said Rick Fair of his son’s charity work. “(Isaac’s diag-nosis) was a very traumatic time and it affected all of us. Jacob sees the need for his brother, and he sees the greater need and appreciation for St. Jude’s. He’s doing something for someone else.”

Jacob has been playing golf almost since he was old enough to hold a club. “His dad put a club in his hand when he was about 3-years old,” said Long. “It’s some-thing they can do together. He’s loved it from the very beginning. He has a lot of natural talent and feel for the game.”

“It originated with my dad,” said Jacob of his passion for the game. “He didn’t play much golf growing up. He was more of a baseball guy. He had hopes of one day sharing the game of golf as a father-son, so he got me started early. I can remember whacking plastic balls around the house at an early age. I loved golf from the very beginning.”

Jacob, who also played basketball four years at Monett, is drawn by the individu-ality of golf. “I love the individuality of it,” he said. “There’s no one else to blame but yourself, but also no one else you have to rely. It’s not that I’m not a team guy. I’m a good team player, because I really work at it. With golf, for the most part though, I’m in control.”

PGA Tour legend Jack Nicklaus is famous for saying that “the game of golf is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physi-cal,” but Jacob believes his apportionment of percentages are a little different. “I’d

venture to say that I’m more of a 20-80 right now,” he said. “As the years have gone on and I’ve faced stronger competi-tion, that mental game becomes even more of a factor. When you’re going from a (round of) 100 to a 90, it’s not as hard as going from a 72 to a 69. That’s where the mental game becomes really important, as you get higher up in competition.”

Jacob has never had a true swing coach. Instead, he and his dad have “worked on some things.” Hours and hours of hitting golf balls have developed muscle memory and consistency—two key factors in the success of any golfer.

“I feel like every time I go out to the course that my swing is going to be there,” said Jacob. “The two things that I have to concentrate on are whether my putts are going in and how I manage the golf course.”

With regard to golf course manage-ment, the “main thing is weighing risk and reward,” said Jacob. “You have to consider things like how the course is set up, wind direction, and pin location. The key is playing to your strengths and hitting the club you are most comfortable with.

“Scores can affect course management, too,” added Jacob. “Knowing where you are at within the tournament can change how you weigh the risk-reward.”

After just four years of high school, Ja-cob Fair already has an impressive resume, be it academically or on the golf course. However, this is just the beginning for the determined goal-setter, as future success awaits.

“The most important thing, and the thing I’m most proud of, is not Jacob’s success on the golf course,” said Rick Fair. “It’s how thoughtful and generous he is, and how he cares about others. No matter what Jacob chooses to do, he will be suc-cessful. It doesn’t matter if it’s on a golf course or in a board room. I’ve told Jacob to be mindful and thankful for the op-portunity he has been given, because not everyone gets these opportunities. Don’t take it for granted and don’t waste it.

“It all goes back to ‘how do you handle yourself?’” added Rick. “How do you handle success and adversity? I’m happy and excited for Jacob. I can see him being where he wants to be in five to 10 years. He has the skill to be a professional golfer if that’s what he decides he wants to do. Jacob has the drive and I think you’ll see him in the professional ranks. He has that kind of drive and skill. But he’s a good per-son and I’m very proud of him as a human being and who he has become.”

After a standout prep career on the links, and an ongoing presence on the national junior circuit, Jacob Fair will now take his game to the collegiate ranks. Jacob also has set a goal for making the professional ranks at some point in the future, too.

Playing golf professionally is certainly a lofty goal. However, just ask the Monett Class of 2012 about Jacob Fair and his ability to reach his goals.

Monett’s Jacob Fair chips toward the hole on the par-3 #15 hole at Rivercut Municipal Golf Course during Day 2 action on May 15 at the 2012 MSHSAA Class 3 Boys Golf State Championships. As of May 24, Fair was ranked #30 nationally in the AJGA Polo Golf Rankings. (Staff Photo)

Monett’s Jacob Fair hits his approach shot on the #18 hole at Rivercut Municipal Golf Course on May 15 during the final round of the Class 3 state tournament. (Staff Photo)

GOLF FORE LIFE“Inspired By Isaac”

3-Man Scramble Golf TournamentSaturday, July 21, 2012

Windmill Ridge Golf CourseMonett, Missouri

Shotgun start at 8:00 AM w $120.00/team + $10.00 cart feesNumber of flights will depend on number of entries

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Traffic Law • Criminal Defense • Employment Law • Elder LawProbate • Banking Law • Bankruptcy

Celebrating 100 years1912 - 2012

GOLF FORE LIFE

4th Annual

“Inspired By Isaac”

3-Man Scramble Golf Tournament

All Proceeds will benefit the Relay for Life Team of

“Inspired By Isaac”

Saturday, July 21, 2012Windmill Ridge Golf Course

Monett, Missouri

Shotgun start at 8:00 AM w $120.00/team + $10.00 cart feesNumber of flights will depend on number of entries

For more information or to register, contact:w Mike Knight - (417) 235-6076w Danny Long - (417) 235-1648 OR (417) 489-1581w Ben Rosebaugh - (417) 669-1673w Windmill Ridge - (417) 235-6076

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REMEMBER THE TITANS

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

“If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don’t care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book we’re gonna be winners.” (Coach Norman Dale)

“This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fight-ing the same fight that we are still fighting among ourselves today. This green field right here, painted red, bubblin’ with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family. You listen, and you take a lesson from the dead. If we don’t come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don’t care if you like each other of not, but you will respect each other. And maybe...I don’t know, maybe we’ll learn to play this game like men.” (Coach Herman Boone)

“Being perfect is not about that scoreboard out there. It’s not about winning. It’s about you and your relationship with yourself, your family and your friends. Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn’t let them down because you told them the truth. And that truth is you did everything you could. There wasn’t one more thing you could’ve done. Can you live in that moment as best you can, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, with joy in your heart? If you can do that gentle-men—you’re perfect!” (Coach Gary Gaines)

My top choice is a no-brainer, especially since I am originally from Indiana, and since “Hoosiers” is based on the true story of “The Milan Miracle.” In the 1954 Indiana state championship game, Bobby Plump of tiny Milan High (enrollment: 161) hit a last-second shot to beat powerhouse Muncie Central. In the movie, after being banned from coaching in the college ranks, Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) takes the only job he can find as the new head basketball coach at tiny Hickory High in rural Indiana. His emphasis on fundamentals and defense alienates the team and town…until standout Jimmy Chitwood agrees to play for the team—but only if Coach Dale is still the coach. Of course, the team starts to win game after game, culminating in a trip to the state finals, played at the iconic Butler Fieldhouse. Who can forget Coach Dale pulling out the tape measure after the team enters the cavernous fieldhouse for the first time? Or Chitwood telling Coach Dale, “I’ll make it,” after the coach had drawn up a last-second play that used Chitwood as a decoy? “Hoosiers” is regularly at the top of any “Best Sports Movies” list, and has reached iconic status. On another personal note, when Hickory plays in the Regional finals, my high school’s fight song (“Hail To Southport”) is played by the opposing team’s pep band.

Another movie based on a true story, “Remember the Titans” chronicles the story of the newly-integrated T.C. Williams High School football team in 1971 in Alexandria, Virginia. In one of his best-ever performances, Denzel Washington portrays Herman Boone, a successful black head coach who is taking over for equally successful (yet ousted) white former head coach, Bill Yoast (Will Patton). Yoast is prepared to find another job elsewhere, but stays on as Boone’s assistant after the white players on the team threaten to sit out the season unless Yoast coaches. In the early stages of the movie, there is plenty of racial tension, from Boone and Yoast to the black and white players on the team to the town itself. However, throughout a grueling training camp and season, the players bond and unite and learn that teamwork is color blind. In particular, the bond formed between Julius Campbell and Gerry Bertier—the team’s standout black and white linebackers, respectively—is the catalyst for the tearing down of racial barriers.

Based on H.G. Bissinger’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, “Friday Night Lights” chronicles one season of the Permian Panthers amid the unrealistic expectations and boiler room pressure that is Texas high school football. From the start of practice to the final play in the Astrodome, “Friday Night Lights” is outstanding in how it portrays the “win at all costs” mentality of the town of Odessa, the hero status of the star players, and the camaraderie and bond that the players experience throughout the season. From the bravado of tailback Boo-bie Miles to the quiet confidence of quarterback Mike Winchell, the characters are fantastic. Billy Bob Thornton is also outstanding as head coach Gary Gaines. Simply put, it is a great sports movie! Bonus points awarded for spawning a TV show of the same name, one of the most underrated TV shows of all-time and another personal favorite. (“Clears eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!”)

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COACH CARTER

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HOOP DREAMS

Beth: “You’re changing that boy’s life.” Leigh Anne Tuohy: “No. He’s changing mine.”

“You really need to consider the message you’re sending these boys by ending the lockout. It’s the same message that we as a culture send to our professional athletes; and that is that they are above the law. If these boys cannot honor the simple rules of a basketball contract, how long do you think it will be before they’re out there breaking the law? I played ball here at Richmond High 30 years ago. It was the same thing then; some of my teammates went to prison, some of them even ended up dead. If you vote to end the lockout, you won’t have to terminate me; I’ll quit.” (Coach Ken Carter)

Durham Manager Mac: “Jimmy, I just got off the phone with the big club. They’re calling up Brooks.” Jim Morris: “That’s great. He won’t be back.” Durham Manager Mac: “He respects you, and I think you ought to be the one to tell him. Being that you’re going, too.”

“That’s why when somebody say, ‘when you get to the NBA, don’t forget about me,’ and that stuff. Well, I should’ve said to them, ‘if I don’t make it, don’t you forget about me.’” (William Gates)

Any sports movie that my wife loves has got to make this list, but “The Blind Side” would have made it regardless of my wife’s opinion. In yet another sports movie based on real life events (see a theme here?), “The Blind Side” dramatizes the real life story of Michael Oher, a very large black kid from a broken home who is taken in by the Tuohy family, a wealthy white family that lives in the ritzier part of Memphis. Although shy and non-engaging at first, Oher eventually responds to the love and support offered by the Tuohys, especially that of family matri-arch Leigh Anne Tuohy (played exceptionally well by Sandra Bullock, who garnered an Academy Award for her performance). Oher goes out for the football team, and through hard work and tutoring provided by the Tuohys, he earns a scholarship to play Division I football at ‘Ole Miss. Oher is eventually drafted in the first round by the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, where he remains a starter on the offensive line. A very inspirational movie!

It seems that real life provides the best plot-lines for sports movies. Based on true events, “Coach Carter” features head coach Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson), who accepts the head basketball coaching position at his old high school and promptly sets about to make changes in his players’ attitudes and academic achievement, typified by written contracts signed by each player. On the court, the team gets off to an undefeated start, but when Coach Carter learns that his players are failing academically, he takes the drastic step of cancelling all team activities until the players’ academic standing improves. This is a great movie about setting core principles and sticking to them—regardless of how hot the heat gets and how much opposition one encounters.

Yet another sports movie based on a true story, Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) is a chemistry teacher and baseball coach of the Big Lake High Owls in small town Texas. Morris, whose big league career aspirations were derailed by injuries, can still bring the heat, as discovered by the team’s catcher after practice one day. The team offers Morris a deal: if the Owls win the District championship and advance to the state playoffs, the 39-year-old Morris will try out for a big league team. Morris reluctantly accepts and the team goes on a winning streak. After the team wins a District title, Morris upholds his end of the bargain by attending a try-out with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. After hitting 98 MPH on the radar gun, Morris is signed to a minor league contract and eventually gets his cup of coffee with the big league team. Another very inspirational movie!

The first high school sports documentary to make the list, “Hoop Dreams” follows a pair of inner-city Chicago basketball players, Arthur Agee and William Gates, as they pursue their dreams of becoming basketball super-stars. The film follows Agee and Gates throughout their high school years and provides a gritty look at inner-city life and the socioeconomic pressures faced by students such as the two protagonists in the film. By the film’s end, you feel you know Agee and Gates intimately and are rooting for their success as if it were your own.

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FACING THE GIANTS

UNDEFEATED

THE BOYS OF FALL

“You’re not God, Nickerson. You’re just a typing teacher.” (Stefen Djordjevic)

“I want God to bless this team so much people will talk about what He did. But it means we gotta give Him our best in every area. And if we win, we praise Him. And if we lose, we praise Him. Either way we honor Him with our actions and our attitudes. So I’m askin’ you...what are you living for? I resolve to give God everything I’ve got, then I’ll leave the results up to Him. I want to know if you’ll join me.” (Coach Grant Taylor)

“Let’s see here…starting right guard shot, no longer in school; starting will linebacker shot, no longer in school. Two players fighting right in front of the coach, starting center arrested. Most coaches, that would be pretty much a career’s worth of crap to deal with. I think that sums up the last two weeks for me.” (Coach Bill Courtney)

“Yeah football’s different, and so you can’t coach people to get ready to play football by ridin’ around in an air conditioned car eatin’ Twinkies. You can’t do that. You gotta suck it up, you gotta get ready to bend your knees, and have a flat back and keep your head up when it’s a thousand degrees and you feel like you’re gonna die. And drive yourself, so that you knock that guy in the end zone. And there’s not an easy way, or a nice way, or a polite way to teach that. That’s football and that’s life.” (Coach Bill Curry)

Before Tom Cruise became the eccentric, couch-jumping Hollywood superstar he is today—and even before he was Maverick “buzzing the tower” in “Top Gun”—he was Stefen Djordjevic, a talented high school cornerback with dreams of parlaying his football talent into a ticket out of his dying Pennsylvania steel town. However, Coach Nickerson (Craig T. Nelson)—himself looking for a way out of town—stands in Djordjevic’s way. Nearly every high school football movie features a conflict between a talented player and an overbearing coach, and “All the Right Moves” is no different. Great watch if you have never seen it.

This movie is not a big budget Hollywood production featuring talented and seasoned actors. The acting is, admittedly, not very good, so there was never a possibility of Best Actor Academy Award consideration. How-ever, the underlying theme of this movie—faith, fears and football—makes “Facing the Giants” one of the more inspirational movies on this list. Facing his own professional and personal “giants,” head coach Grant Taylor (Alex Kendrick) turns to God and his faith to challenge his underachieving team to face its greatest challenges and ac-complish the seemingly impossible. The “death crawl” scene, in which Coach Taylor challenges team leader Brock Kelly to carry a teammate on his back as he crawls the length of the field, is one of the best motivational scenes of all time. (“Your very best! Don’t quit on me! Keep driving! It’s all heart from here!”)

The only Academy Award-winning film on this list (2012 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature), “Undefeated” profiles the football program at Manassas High in Memphis, Tennessee, and specifically its 2009 season. In the 110-year history of the program, the Tigers had never won a playoff game, and even had a nearly 14-year stretch in which Manassas did not win a single game. Enter volunteer head coach Bill Courtney, a white businessman who sets about to change the losing culture and endless cycle of poverty, crime, and lack of opportunity afforded his all-black players. A powerful, engaging and memorable watch!

Less than an hour long, this documentary film from executive producer and country music superstar Kenny Chesney brings back many memories. “The Boys of Fall” features game footage from various high schools around the country, as well as youth football games. The best part of the film, though, are the interviews conducted with past and present football greats and coaches, as these men reminisce about what playing high school football has meant to them over the years. It is not possible for anyone who has ever played high school football to watch “The Boys of Fall” and not want to strap the pads on for just one more game!

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POWER, PASSION & GLORY

VARSITY BLUES

TOUCHBACK

“You used me to play football. I’ll use you to get into Harvard.” (David Green)

“You hit them people in the shins. The tackle in the shins. They should have blood oozin’ right there from all the bark you’re knockin’ off their leg. That ain’t dirty football, that’s just football. You hit the guy before he hits you.” (Coach Butch Ford)

“Playing football at West Canaan may have been the opportunity of your lifetime, but I don’t want your life!” (Jonathan Moxon)

“If you wanna change things so badly, maybe you never wanted them in the first place.” (Macy)

Set in the 1950s, “School Ties” features a cast bound for future Hollywood stardom (including Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Chris O’Donnell) in this movie that focused on anti-Semitism at a 1950s New England prep school. David Green (Fraser) is a supremely gifted quarterback from a blue collar background who is accepted at St. Matthew’s Academy, one of the top private prep schools in the country. The school is using his football talents to boost its football program and to help defeat its arch-rival, while Green is using St. Matthew’s as a ticket to Harvard. All is well until Green’s Jewish faith is used against him by a jealous teammate. “School Ties” sheds light on the issue of religious inequality, as well as the pressures of a blue collar outcast trying to climb the rungs of social status to gain acceptance by the privileged and elite.

I love a good sports movie, but personally, a good documentary about actual real life sporting events is even bet-ter! And “Power, Passion & Glory” is one of the best! There are a seemingly endless number of high school sports documentaries, but alas, none that I am aware of which feature my alma mater. I do have an indirect tie to “Power, Passion & Glory,” though, since it features the alma mater of Clint Mitchell, a good friend and the Sports Editor of The Marshfield Mail. “PPG” (as the film is affectionately referred to by Mitchell, a former Celina Bobcat player) focuses on the 2002 season of the Celina Bobcats, who became the winningest team in Texas high school football history during that campaign. Celina entered the 2002 season on a 57-game winning streak that included four straight 2A state championships. However, prior to the start of the season, longtime head coach G.A. Moore left Celina to coach the Bobcats’ arch-rival Pilot Point. In addition, Celina was bumped up from 2A to the 3A division, where Celina immediately was the smallest school playing against some of the best teams in the state. The result is a heart-stopping portrayal of a team and town and the team’s quest to defend its championship pedigree. New head coach Butch Ford steals the show with his unique Texas expressions and passionate pre-game and halftime speeches. With a plot that even Hollywood could not have scripted, “Power, Passion & Glory” is a must-watch for any high school sports fan!

High school football in Texas is apparently a pressure cooker of unrealizable expectations, as this is the third en-try on the list featuring a Texas high school football team that carries the weight of its town identity when it takes the field each Friday night in the fall. Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight) is the overbearing head coach of the fictional West Canaan Coyotes, a perennial state powerhouse. When standout starting quarterback Lance Harbor (Paul Walker) goes down with a season-ending injury, Kilmer must rely on backup QB Jonathan Moxon (James Van Der Beek), whose uninspired approach to the game is in direct conflict with Kilmer’s “win-at-all-costs” mentality.

Admittedly, I have not actually seen this movie, since it just recently debuted with a limited national release. Therefore, based on the trailer alone, I have ranked “Touchback” in the middle of my “Top 20,” meaning that after I get a chance to see the movie, it could be ranked higher, lower, or not at all. Here is a summary of the plot: Scott Murphy (Brian Presley), one of the top football players in the country, suffered a career-ending injury on the game-winning play of his high school career. Now fifteen years later, Murphy is a down-on-his-luck small town farmer struggling to make ends meet. What might have been? Unexpectedly (and unexplainably), Murphy is sent back in time to relive the events leading up to his injury. Will Murphy decide that he wants the life he has, or will we change history? Kurt Russell stars as Murphy’s head coach.

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HE GOT GAME

VISION QUEST

GRIDIRON GANG

THE BEST OF TIMES

“Basketball is like poetry in motion, cross the guy to the left, take him back to the right, he’s fallin’ back, then just ‘J’ right in his face. Then you look at him and say, ‘What?’” (Jesus Shuttles-worth)

Shute: “Think you’ll make the weight?”Louden: “I don’t know. I hope so.”Shute: “I hope so, too.”

“You’re a tough kid, Willie, but you give up on yourself way too easy. You’re a good football player, too. I think you may even be great. And I’m gonna push you until we find out.” (Coach Sean Porter)

“Half these people came here tonight, Jack, to watch you catch the ball. The other half came to see you drop it. You drop that (darn) thing again, Jack, your life is over.” (Reno Hightower)

Who knew an NBA star could act? NBA superstar Ray Allen is outstanding in his first-ever acting role as Jesus Shuttlesworth, the nation’s most sought after basketball recruit. His father, Jake (Denzel Washington), is serving a life sentence for murdering Jesus’ mother. However, Jake is released on parole with one condition—convince Jesus (in just one week) to sign with Big State, the governor’s alma mater.

This isn’t your typical 1980s coming-of-age high school flick. For his senior year, high school wrestler Louden Swain (Matthew Modine) decides that he wants more out of life than what his father has achieved. Swain wants to make his mark in life, and that mark will be defeating Brian Shute, the baddest wrestler in the state who has never been beaten in his high school career. The problem is that Swain will have to drop two weight classes to wrestle Shute. Swain’s father is not supportive of his wrestling, and his coach is against the drop in weight classes. Can Swain drop the weight in time and, if so, will his body be able to handle the stress of losing so much weight in such a short time? Great soundtrack, by the way.

Another movie based on the true story of juvenile detention camp probation officer Sean Porter (Dwayne John-son), who forms a football team at Camp Kilpatrick as a way to counteract the high repeat offender rate of the teenage felons under his charge. Porter believes that through the game of football, the inmates will learn the life qualities of responsibility and teamwork, which will enable them to succeed in life for the first time. However, Porter must get the players to relinquish their gang affiliations in order to become a team.

Technically, this is not a high school sports movie, but the plot of the movie qualifies it for this list. Jack Dundee (Robin Williams) is a thirty-something banker who still thinks about the perfect pass that he dropped back in high school that would have enabled Taft High to defeat arch-rival Bakersfield. The pass was thrown by his now down-on-his luck friend Reno Hightower (Kurt Russell), the team’s star quarterback back in the day. The game ended in a tie, and Dundee now wants to replay the game, but has trouble convincing Hightower and the other players to make it happen. Eventually, after Dundee resorts to some secret hijinks, the game does in fact take place. Although an unheralded movie at the time, “The Best of Times” resonates with anyone who has ever wanted to go back and relive the glory days just one more time.

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karate kidDaniel: “Hey, what kind of belt do you have?” Miyagi: “Canvas. JC Penney, $3.98. You like?” Daniel: [laughs] “No, I meant...” Miyagi: “In Okinawa, belt mean no need rope to hold up pants.” [laughs; then, seriously] Miyagi: “Daniel-san...” [taps his head] Miyagi: “Karate here.” [taps his heart] Miyagi: “Karate here.” [points to his belt] Miyagi: “Karate never here. Understand?”

Okay, so karate is not technically a high school sport…but it is a sport, and Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) was in high school. After moving from New Jersey to a new school in California, Larusso is bullied by members of the Cobra Kai, the top karate dojo in the area. Larusso convinces the apartment handyman, Mr. Miyagi (the late Pat Morita), to teach him karate, and Mr. Miyagi convinces the sinister Cobra Kai sensei to leave Larusso alone until the All-Valley Karate Championships. At first, Larusso balks at Mr. Miyagi’s non-traditional training meth-ods (“Wax on! Wax off!”), but eventually learns that Miyagi’s Yoda-esque techniques actually work. Memorable scenes include catching a fly with a pair of chopsticks (“beginner luck”), going to a Halloween party dressed as a shower, and of course, the crane kick.20

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Each school year, certain stories grab the headlines. State championships, great play-ers, classic games, record chases. There’s always something. One item that also gets people’s interest is a coaching change. Who is retiring, resigning, or even getting fired? With all the changes that take place every season, there are always a few coaching moves that have some folks scratching their heads. But 2012 will be forever in many people’s memories as the year of the great coaching apocalypse.

It’s not like we haven’t had some other shockers recently. In 2008, Nixa dumped girls basketball coach Randy Towe, while Morrisville ousted both basketball coaches and their softball coach in a power play. In 2010, Miller showed a pair of Final Four coaches the door in Ryan Stokes and Bran-don Weiss. But the number of high profile coaches meeting an early end this season is unprecedented. Gary Murphy at Marshfield, Rob Guerin at Crane, Paul Dudley at Leba-non, and on and on. Others sensed they were on the outs and found different jobs before it was too late. Combine that with the normal coaching movements, and we haven’t seen carnage like this in the coach-ing ranks in quite some time.

So what to do? Should anything be done at all? There never will be a 100% solution and the majority of coaching changes go off with little or no controversy. But the number of controversial ones is on the rise. Can we reverse the trend? Let’s take a look at the parties involved and see if we can make any difference for the good of mankind. Or at least coach and kid kind.

First are the coaches themselves, who in most cases are teachers and should be evaluated on that primarily as we are trying to educate our kids. Many school boards will say they are paying attention to them as teachers. In most of the high profile cases this year, the coaches were allowed to keep their teaching positions. But that is akin to cutting a worker’s hours in half. It says you’re welcome to stay, but we really wish you’d leave. Personally I think coaches should be valued based on the effect they have on their players. Are they making them better people? But what do I know.

Each coach has a style that is theirs.

While changes can be made and even styles changed in extreme cases, that’s pretty much who they are. Some are more flexible than others which is a big advantage. But for the most part you get what you see. They should be allowed to do what they think needs to be done to have a positive effect on their athletes and win games. Yes, some coaches don’t need to be in the profession, just like every other job out there. But they often take too much of the blame for bad results when in reality, they have bad materials to work with.

The stalwarts in this process are supposed to be school administrators. They are to direct the school board according to what is best for the school and students with-out regard to outside influences, personal preference, prejudice, or even their own employment. Know many administrators like that? Me neither. Mainly because they have to be very concerned about their own employment, or in some cases don’t have the integrity to look past personal feelings to see the big picture. This one is pretty simple. School boards need to let them do their job the right way, and administrators need to do them that way. Next.

That brings us to the school boards themselves. An entire book of woes can be listed here. Members who are elected because they own the local convenience store. Or they happen to be the son-in-law of the school board president. Or the former head cheerleader. Let’s think about this for a minute. Even the smallest school systems in Missouri are basically multi-million dollar enterprises with annual budgets that exceed seven figures. “It’s not that hard to balance a budget,” you say. Check the personal finances of 100 random people and tell me if you really believe that. Do you really want someone who had to cheat to get a ‘C’ in high school math making decisions with that much of your cash? Or having a hand in the development of your child? If you’ve already said ‘Yes’ to both of those questions, then you need to move to Clayton, Georgia, right now. That’s where they filmed “Deliverance” and you will be happier there.

Those of you that are still with me, here are a couple of suggestions to thin the herd of wanna-be school board members.

First, since the government likes to force standardized testing on the schools, how about a standardized test for school board members? It would measure intelligence, fis-cal knowledge and responsibility, and moral integrity. Anyone who doesn’t pass can’t be a candidate. If a community can’t find enough qualified people to fill board posi-tions, a statewide school board composed of elected, qualified representatives from each area of the state can be used.

Too extreme? Then continue current practices, but set some other standards with regard to hiring and firing of coaches. Any member who is closely related (par-ent, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle) to a current high school or junior high athlete must withdraw from any debate or vote pertaining to the hiring or firing of a coach. This could result in everyone having to with-draw, though, making it not a very practical solution. We could try mandatory service on the school boards. All eligible voters in the school district could take the test above, and all who pass would then be placed in a random drawing to determine who serves. Or we could just let the people deal with school board members who show extreme stupidity, but that is often after the damage is already done. The only thing we can be sure of with school boards comes from the great Mark Twain: “God made the Idiot for prac-tice, and then He made the School Board.”

And that brings us to the people of a school district. Parents, family, voters, boosters, and all other citizens. They are the ones who should support and hold the school board accountable, who are sup-posed to hold the administrators account-able (while allowing them to do their jobs), who in turn are responsible for overseeing the coaches, who tend to taking care of their students and players. But often times it is from within this group of everyday citizens that school board members, administrators, and coaches find the pressures to take irra-tional actions coming from. The people need to be rational and supportive, yet observant and publicly vocal in the correct forum when they have concerns. Unfortunately the chances of that happening are about the same as Nikki Minaj joining a convent in Siberia. So get that test ready.

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EEZZKen “Joboo” Pollreisz

ozarkssports.net

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