Strafford High School junior Hayley Frank and Carthage High School senior Arkell Smith are the 2017-2018 Athletes of the Year, while two state championship teams — Strafford High School Girls Basketball and Aurora High School Baseball – are your Teams of the Year in the Sports Commission Awards presented by Elliott Lodging.
The program drew a sold-out crowd of nearly 900 on Monday night to the Oasis Hotel & Convention Center as the Springfield Sports Commission, with the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame assisting, celebrated the past school year of athletics achievements. The night was emceed by Dan Lucy, the longtime Sports Director of KOLR 10 TV and part of the MSHOF’s Class of 2018.
“We were happy to recognize athletes from across southwest Missouri tonight,” said Lance Kettering, Executive Director of the Springfield Sports Commission. “As many of you know, this area loves sports and appreciates athletes who succeed the right way. It’s an honor to be honoring them.”
The top 123 athletes from southwest Missouri high schools as well as 26 teams – including band, cheerleading and dance – were recognized on stage as well as through a highlight video. There were 27 categories decided by a selection committee, which chose the top five athletes/teams in each category, or six if a school was represented by two individuals.
GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR — Hayley Frank, Strafford High School: Frank led the Strafford girls basketball and softball teams to state championships in 2018 – their third and second consecutive, respectively – and all after she finished 54th at the state golf tournament. She was named the Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year in basketball, also earning the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association’s vote for Class 3 Player of the Year and All-State. She averaged 24.9 points, 12.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 3.3 steals and 3 blocks a game, also earning First Team All-Mid-Lakes Conference. In softball, she played first base and was a big hitter in the Lady Indians’ lineup, batting .512 with 44 hits, including 19 for extra bases, and collected 36 RBI.
Other finalists: Paiton Acord, Parkview High School; Natalie Basham, Camdenton High School; Alana Findley, Fair Grove High School; Macey Putt, Ozark High School
BOYS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR — Arkell Smith, Carthage High School: Smith was among the most explosive all-around athletes in southwest Missouri this past school. In football, the wide receiver earned All-State and the Co-Offensive Player of the Year in the Region in addition to being a First Team All-Central Ozark Conference and All-District. He helped Carthage reach the Class 5 semifinals as he finished with 1,201 yards receiving, including 452 yards receiving. In basketball, he earned a spot on the All-Ozark Conference team, and played a big role in the Carthage boys track and field team winning the Class 4 state title, as Smith won the triple jump, placed fifth in the long jump, ran the third leg of the 4×200 relay (2nd place) and the winning 4×400 relay as the anchor.
Other finalists: Jace Gorn, Ozark High School; Tyson Riley, Springfield Catholic High School; Logan Thomazin, Walnut Grove High School; Zeke Wall, Carl Junction High School
GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR – Strafford High School Girls Basketball: The Strafford High School Lady Indians won a third consecutive Class 3 state basketball championship in March 2018, finishing 33-0 and extending their winning streak to 82 games – 20 consecutive wins shy of tying a state record long held by Marshfield. One of Strafford’s biggest challenges was Whitfield in the semifinals, as the Lady Indians trailed in the third quarter before surging to a 67-50 victory. Coach Steve Frank’s team then won the state title with a 77-36 win against California, completing a season in which the Lady Indians won by an average of 44.7 points a game. Hayley Frank and Kayley Frank earned All-State honors.
Other finalists: Bradleyville High School Girls Basketball, Glendale High School Girls Swimming & Diving, Monett High School Softball, Kickapoo High School Girls Basketball, Strafford High School Girls Basketball, Strafford High School Softball
BOYS TEAM OF THE YEAR – Aurora High School Baseball: What an incredible run it was this past spring for the Aurora Houn’ Dawgs as they repeated as Class 4 state baseball champions and had a flair for the dramatics. Austin Erickson fired a no-hitter, striking out 10, in the finale as Aurora finished 31-1. Its only loss this season was to Class 5 Willard. After winning the district tournament, the Houn’ Dawgs won games by scores of 6-5 in 10 innings, 1-0, 5-3 and then 2-0. In the semifinals, Wyatt Sparks struck out 13 batters and hit the tying home run. They also were ranked as high as No. 35 nationally by MaxPreps.
Other finalists: Aurora High School Baseball, Carthage High School Boys Track & Field, Lamar High School Boys Cross Country, Lamar High School Football, Walnut Grove Boys Basketball, Webb City High School Football
GIRLS TENNIS – Anna Rader, Springfield Catholic High School: Rader finished the 2017 season with a 38-2 record, the highest win total in the history of the Missouri State High School Activities Association. In fact she was 25-0 in the regular season. In singles competition in Class 1, she placed fifth at the state tournament and won the District 9 championship. Rader finished 132-8 in her career, winning her third Springfield Invitational.
Other finalists: Mattie Miles, Rogersville High School; Brooke Smith, Glendale High School; Coral Tracy, Kickapoo High School; Madison Woods & Macy Abernathy, Ozark High School
BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING – Ethan Bergmann, Rogersville High School: Talk about consistency. Bergmann was exactly that in the fall 2017 season and placed in the top six of four events at the Class 1 state meet – all after winning the 100 freestyle at the Central Ozark Conference Championships. At state, he was fourth in the 100 freestyle, sixth in the 200 freestyle and helped the 200 freestyle relay place third and the 400 freestyle relay finish fifth.
Other finalists: Daniel Brinck, Nixa High School; Cole Earl, Glendale High School; Ben Hines, Nevada High School; Chris Weiss, Glendale High School
GIRLS GOLF – Amber Wilson, Camdenton High School: Wilson delivered big all during the fall season, which culminated in a runner-up finish at the Class 2 state tournament. The All-State selection also won the district by 15 strokes and shot a 67 to win the sectional by eight strokes. She also won the MSU Relays, the Camdenton Invitational and the Helias Crusader Classic.
Other finalists: Zoe Brown, Purdy High School; Anna Iorio, Joplin High School; Kayla Pfitzner, Springfield Catholic High School; Jenna Teeter, Carl Junction High School
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY – Kelie Henderson, Bolivar High School: Henderson was the Class 3 Southwest Region Runner of the Year, First Team All-Southwest Region, the District 7 champion and was leading the state meet until just before a fall in the final stretch. The preseason No. 1 in Class 3, Henderson won the Central Ozark Conference Small Championships with a personal-best time of 18:23.67 in a season in which she also was seventh of 550 runners in the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. She also won the Bolivar and Hermitage invitationals and was second at the SWCCCA Richard Clark Invitational.
Other finalists: Rachel Bagg, Reeds Spring High School; Kaylee Hatley, West Plains High School; Ashley Knoll, El Dorado Springs High School; Cailee Lake, Liberal High School
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY – Ryan Riddle, Webb City High School: Riddle, a senior, was the Class 4 state runner-up, the Class 4 Southwest Region Runner of the Year and First Team Class 4 All-Southwest Region. He was the champion of the Central Ozark Conference Large meet as well as Class 4’s District 6 and Sectional 3 meets. Notably, Riddle was the runner-up, of 641 runners, in the Chile Pepper Classic in Fayetteville, Ark., and sixth of 299 runners in the Rim Rock Farm Cross Country Classic Gold Division in Lawrence, Kan. He also won the SWCCCA Richard Clark Invitational and was runner-up in the Green Division of the Missouri Southern Stampede.
Other finalists: Stephen Kielhofner, Springfield Catholic High School; Easton Sabala, Hermitage High School; Ben Stasney, West Plains High School; Mark Venable, Lamar High School
SOFTBALL – Morgan Loggins, Waynesville High School: Loggins earned First Team All-State, the Ozark Conference Player of the Year award and was First Team All-Region in the fall season. She set four Missouri state records in RBI in a season and game as well as slugging percentage and total bases. Those awards came on the heels of Loggins, a catcher, hitting .643 with 12 home runs, three triples, 13 doubles and 59 RBI, the second-highest total in MSHSAA single-season history, and a 1.298 slugging percentage. She also threw out 80 percent of base runners. The 12 home run set a Waynesville record. She has signed with Jefferson College.
Other finalists: Addie Darby, Webb City High School; Hallie Henderson, Purdy High School; Katie Kurima, Monett High School; Zoey Mullings, Strafford High School
BOYS SOCCER – Jason Puente, Monett High School: Puente earned a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Central team as a forward and was the Class 2 Offensive Player of the Year. He also was First Team All-State and the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association’s Class 2 Southeast/Central/Southwest Player of the Year and the MSCA All-Region Player of the Year. He scored 48 goals, giving him 137 career goals – third all-time in Missouri history.
Other finalists: Dylan Brown, Republic High School; Kaueh Huttenlocher, Springfield Catholic High School; Mitch Stephens, Glendale High School; Duece Vandaveer, Kickapoo High School
VOLLEYBALL – Chloe Rear, Strafford High School: Rear finished the 2017 season as the only player in the state with more than 300 kills (377) and more than 500 assists (513). Along the way, she earned her fourth Class 2 All-State honor and was named to Under Armour All-American list as an honorable mention. Additionally, the Missouri State University signee was a unanimous First Team All-Mid-Lakes Conference and led Strafford to the Final Four.
Other finalists: Birdie Hendrickson, Rogersville High School; Alana Findley, Fair Grove High School; Macey Putt, Ozark High School; Chloe Rear, Strafford High School; Leah Vokolek, Kickapoo High School
FOOTBALL – Will Boswell, Mount Vernon High School: Boswell led the Mount Vernon Mountaineers all the way to the Class 3 state championship game and was named the MFCA Class 2 Defensive Player of the Year in addition to MFA First Team All-State. A linebacker, he was the Class 3 Region Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Big 8 Conference after recording 240.5 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five interceptions, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two blocked kicks.
Other finalists: T.W. Ayers, Lamar High School; John Berry, Lebanon High School; Durand Henderson, Webb City High School; Alex Huston, Glendale High School; Cooper Lucas, Lamar High School
BEST MARCHING BAND – Kickapoo Golden Arrow Band: The Kickapoo Golden Arrow Band was among the best in southwest Missouri. It placed second overall in the Pride of the Ozarks Marching Invitational, won Outstanding Music and Outstanding Percussion Caption Awards at the Pride of the Ozarks and competed well in out-of-state competition. It was third overall at the Broken Arrow Invitational in Tulsa, Okla., where Kickapoo also tied for the Outstanding Music Peformance, and was ninth at the Renegade Review in Tulsa.
Other finalists: Pride of Aurora Houn’ Dawg Band; Neosho Wildcat Band; Nixa Crimson Corps Marching Band; Parkview Viking Band
GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING – Molly Moore, Summit Prep Academy: A senior, Moore won a state championship in the 100-yard backstroke after setting the Class 1 meet record in the preliminary with a time of 54.39 seconds. She also anchored Summit Prep’s two third-place freestyle relay teams – the 200-yard and 400-yard events. She has signed with the University of Arkansas.
Other finalists: Ashley Baldwin, Glendale High School; Mary Bean, Liberal High School; Maddie Duncan, Glendale High School; Cabrini Johnson, Rogersville High School; Chloe Nelson, Ozark High School; Olivia Stoneman, Nixa High School; Madeline Wilson, Carl Junction High School
WRESTLING – Adrian Hitchcock, Neosho High School: The Neosho Wildcats have been one of the most successful wrestling programs in the state over the past decade, and Hitchock is a big reason why. He earned his second consecutive state championship in Class 3 this past season, doing so in the heavyweight division (285 pounds) despite wrestling as more of a 200-pounder, and helped Neosho nearly win another state title. He finished 51-2, winning a district championship, and has signed with Lindenwood University.
Other finalists: Joel Barrientos, Monett High School; Donovan Benetti, Nixa High School; Sean Sax, Waynesville High School; Jay Strausbaugh, Rogersville High School
GIRLS BASKETBALL – Hayley Frank, Strafford High School: Frank, a junior center, led Strafford to its third consecutive Class 3 state championship. The program is 82-0 in the run, and it’s no wonder Frank has earned all kinds of accolades – the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association’s Class 3 Player of the Year and All-State honors, the Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year and was First Team All-Mid-Lakes Conference. She averaged 24.9 points, 12.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 3.3 steals and 3 blocks per game and has verbally committed to Mizzou.
Other finalists: Kaylee DaMitz, Skyline High School; Alana Findley, Fair Grove High School; Bayley Harman, Walnut Grove High School; Katie Scott, Carl Junction High School
BOYS BASKETBALL – Monty Johal, Glendale High School: In a city that has produced several prolific scorers, Johal became the latest to take over the scoring mantel in the history of Springfield Public Schools. He scored more than 2,500 points in his career, averaging 28.8 points, 3.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds a game for Glendale this past season. Along the way, the senior earned Class 5 All-State honors, was the Ozark Conference Player of the Year and was named to the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions’ All-Tournament team.
Other finalists: Cade Coffman, Mountain Grove High School; Tyem Freeman, Parkview High School; Quinn Nelson, Ozark High School; Logan Thomazin, Walnut Grove High School
BEST DANCE TEAM – Glendale Crimson Girls Dance: Tryouts already have been held for next season’s Glendale Crimson Dance Team, which will have a tough act to follow. The 2017-2018 squad placed second in Dance and second in Mix at the Missouri Dance Team Championships and placed fourth overall in 4A. That Sugar Bears Invitational at Missouri State University, the Crimson placed first in the 3A/4A division of Dance, and then placed second in 3A/4A in Mix.
Other finalists: Bolivar High School Elektra Blue, Kickapoo High School Golden Girls, Willard High School Tigerettes
BEST CHEERLEADING SQUAD – Seneca Varsity Cheer: The trophy cases at Seneca High School probably are crowded these days, especially after the success this past year of the Seneca Cheerleading Squad. Simply put, Seneca was one of the best, winning a state championship in the Class 2 Large Division of the 2017 Missouri Cheerleading Association State Championships. It also won the Class 2 Small Division of the Southwest Regionals.
Other finalists: Aurora High School, McDonald County High School, Republic High School, Strafford High School
BOYS TENNIS — Garrett Lewis, Joplin High School: Lewis was unbeatable during the regular season in leading Joplin to a district title in team competition. Lewis added district and sectional titles in individual postseason action, en route to a fourth-place finish in the Class 2 state singles tournament. For the season, the Eagle team captain compiled a 30-2 record in singles and a 27-1 mark in doubles play. It marked the best single season win percentage in program history, and Lewis’ 30 wins were two short of breaking the single season record for singles wins in school history.
Other finalists: Gus Garcia, Joplin High School; Jason Nayar, Springfield Catholic High School; Tanner Powley, Nixa High School; Finn Wartick, Glendale High School; Matthew Zengel, Kickapoo High School
BOYS GOLF – Dawson Meek, Glendale High School: Meek has spent the past couple of summers on the Texas Tour ratcheting up his game, and it paid off in the spring of 2018. He placed third at the Class 4 state tournament as he fired a 70-74 144 at Swope Memorial Golf Course in Kansas City. Meek also won the Class 4 sectional, leading Glendale to the sectional team championship, and tied for fourth at the District 5 Tournament and placed third at the Ozark Conference Tournament.
Other finalists: Adam Cunnyngham, Galena High School; Cooper Hess, Lebanon High School; Dawson Meek, Glendale High School; Lucas Ogden, Glendale High School; Presten Richardson, Miller High School; Logan Smith, Kickapoo High School
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD — Kylie Meier, Camdenton High School: Meier went out in style for the school year as she came away from the MSHSAA Track & Field Championships with four All-State finishes in Class 4. She won two events, the 300 meter hurdles and the 100 meter hurdles, and was part of a pair of second-place relay teams, the 4×200 and 4×400. In the 300 hurdles, she finished in 43.15 seconds, winning the event for the third time in as many seasons. She went 14.89 in the 100 hurdles.
Other finalists: Natalie Basham, Camdenton High School; Katie French, Carl Junction High School; Madison Hicks, Crane High School; Elaina Roeder, Central High School; Jaden Wiley, Kickapoo High School
BOYS TRACK & FIELD – Nate Swadley, Willard High School: Nate Swadley, Willard High School: Swadley is one of those traditional high school athletes – a football lineman in the fall, a thrower on the track team in the spring. He delivered big in the Class 4 of the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships, winning the discus and shot put. His discus throw traveled 189 feet, 3 inches, while his shot put was measured at 59 feet, 5.75 inches. He qualified for state in the javelin and, had he won the event, Swadley would have been the first athlete in Missouri history to sweep the discus, shot put and javelin events.
Other finalists: Arkell Smith, Carthage High School; Ryan Riddle, Webb City High School; Ben Stasney, West Plains High School; Weston Wendt, Carl Junction High School
GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Jadyn Easley, Ozark High School: Easley has carved out quite a career already. Her 2018 season featured 33 goals and 18 assists on a team that finished second in the Ozark Conference and reached a Class 4 district championship game. Easley was voted First Team All-Ozark Conference and All-District in her third year on varsity and has committed to play soccer at the University of Missouri.
Other finalists: Chloe Cash, Nixa High School; Brinn Cooper, Springfield Catholic High School; Lilly Simphaly-Ragsdale, Kickapoo High School; McKenzie Duncan, Branson High School