The 2025-2026 high school sports year in southwest Missouri will be celebrated again this summer, as the 14th annual Sports Commission Awards presented by Elliott Lodging are set for Tuesday, June 16 at one of the coolest venues in the Ozarks – the Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield.
The event is run by the Springfield Sports Commission in partnership with the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, marking their ninth year tag-teaming the ceremony. In essence, nearly 250 student-athletes and 10 teams will be recognized during a program that begins at 7 PM on June 16 at the Gillioz, 325 Park Central Square East.
Finalists for fall and winter sports were unveiled Thursday and can be found at sportscommissionawards.org and mosportshalloffame.com. Staff from both organizations will be in touch with athletic directors, coaches and parents.
Here’s a rundown:
- A total of 31 categories will feature the top athletes and teams from across southwest Missouri during the current school year, with each nominee chosen by a selection committee.
- A video announcing the finalists in each sport will be shown.
- Each winner in the various categories will receive a trophy honoring their achievements.
- The printed program will include athletes’ accomplishments.
- Tickets: Reserved tickets are $51.89, and premium seating up front is $111.35. A $3 preservation fee is included in the price of the ticket. Additionally, three sections of elite box seats are available as sponsorships – a four-seat box is $1,000 and includes a full-page ad in the printed program, while two six-seat boxes are $2,500 each and also include full-page ad in the printed program. Associate sponsors are $1,000, include a full-page ad and four seats. Numerous other sponsorships also are available, including congratulatory ads. Tickets can be ordered through sportscommissionawards.org.
- This year’s event does not feature a sit down meal. Complimentary beverages from Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling, as well as free snacks will be available. Hiland Dairy Foods ice cream will be available afterward. Downtown Springfield offers an array of dining options. Visit sportscommissionawards.org for a complete listing of pre-show dining options.
Athletes will be recognized in tennis, golf, swimming and diving, cross country, softball, soccer, volleyball, football, wrestling, basketball, track and field, and baseball. Sports offered to girls and boys are split into their respective categories.
Football has finalists for offensive skill positions, linebackers & defensive backs, and linemen. Wrestling will include lower weights and upper weights. A category for emerging sports will include bass fishing, bowling and esports Additionally, the SCAs will recognize the Spirit Awards featuring the top cheerleading team and dance squad.
Additionally, the Sports Commission Awards also will feature finalists for Teams of the Year and Athletes of the Year. The SCAs also will highlight Inspiration Awards.
For the third year, the Sports Commission Cup will be presented to the top athletics program in the area. The Cup recognizes the achievements of all MSHSAA sanctioned sports with a scoring system that awards points based on team success in the Championship.
All finalists are chosen by a selection committee. Spring sports will be announced in the coming weeks.
“We are excited to honor our area athletes in a unique setting at the historic Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield,” said Lance Kettering, Executive Director of the Springfield Sports Commission. “We think the venue will make for a stunning venue to recognize our athletes in a theatre-style setting. We are most grateful to our long-time title sponsor, Elliott Lodging, who has been our title sponsor since inception. It is also an honor to continue to work together with the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in honoring these athletes, who someday may become a Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Inductee!”
Rob Marsh, CEO & Executive Director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, emphasized the importance of high school sports.
“The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate high school athletes and teams who were among the best in southwest Missouri this past school year,” Marsh said. “We believe youth and high school sports are a great way to develop children and teens and ready them for the real world.”
SCA FINALISTS
FALL SPORTS
GIRLS TENNIS
Catherine Cunningham, Springfield Catholic
Kaylee Doran, Camdenton High School
Anilya Jones, Logan-Rogersville High School
Layla Masena, New Heights Christian Academy
Emily Peterson, Nixa High School
Elizabeth Smith, Monett High School
Brooklin Leggett & Brooke Jasperson, Carl Junction High School
Kami Bryan & Juillian Horner, Bolivar High School
BOYS SWIMMING
Carson Butler, Glendale High School
Kolton Evans, Nevada High School
Max German, Central High School
Owen Gray, Central High School
Christian Kropf, Ozark High School
Brayden Miao, Central High School
Caden Ogles, Logan-Rogersville High School
Will Wright, Carthage High School
GIRLS GOLF
Rylee Allred, Ash Grove High School
Page Bowman, Glendale High School
Delaney Daniels, Bolivar High School
Phoebe Lin, Central High School
Josey Roberts, Ozark High School
Emily Schubert, Mount Vernon High School
Grace Tiedemann, Springfield Catholic High School
CROSS COUNTRY-GIRLS
Katrina Cantwell, Fair Grove High School
Jayden Chambers, Norwood High School
Ava Doll, Joplin High School
Kaebrynn Gunter, West Plains High School
Brooke Hedger, Webb City High School
Sydney Lister, Ozark High School
Araceli Perez, Webb City High School
CROSS COUNTRY-BOYS
Gavin Blaine, Kickapoo High School
Lincoln Crews, Glendale High School
Kyle Hathcock – Springfield Catholic High School
Wyatt Klaiber, El Dorado Springs High School
Sinny Mendoza, Hollister High School
Reyes Martinez, Nixa High School
Kellen Robertson, School of the Ozarks
BOYS SOCCER
Tyler Fischer, Springfield Catholic High School
Matthew Gerety, Springfield Catholic High School
Matt Giglio, Bolivar High School
Riley Hensley, Logan-Rogersville High School
Tyler Holum, Springfield Catholic High School
Jase Jaeger, Glendale High School
Henry Laytham, Carthage High School
Conner Shaar, Nixa High School
Chandler Thurman, Glendale High School
Gage Weston, Glendale High School
SOFTBALL
Olivia Emery, Neosho High School
Kady Hunt, Carl Junction High School
KaMiah Johnson, Nixa High School
Autumn Kinnaird, Neosho High School
Peyton Lindstrom, Glendale High School
Liz Rhuems, Webb City High School
Ellie Shevey, Kickapoo High School
Aubrey Stoufer, Cassville High School
VOLLEYBALL
Bella Asante, Camdenton High School
Millie Bauer, Logan-Rogersville High School
Lucy Hafer, West Plains High School
Gwen Kubik, Nixa High School
Lexi Lindsey, Winona High School
Abby Morris, Willard High School
Audrey Mourey, New Covenant Academy
Tara Venable, Ozark High School
Taylor Williams, Winona High School
Taylor Wood, Nixa High School
FOOTBALL LINEMEN
Gavin Beachner, Carl Junction High School
Jackson Cantwell, Nixa High School
Landon Harper, Republic High School
Jackson Hunter, West Plains High School
MJ Marstolf, Carthage High School
Hayden Mays, Nixa High School
Jace Renfro, Seneca High School
FOOTBALL LINEBACKERS & DEFENSIVE BACKS
Landon Bland, Carthage High School
Jordan Brunnert, Carthage High School
Randy Flint, Nixa High School
Keiran Govan, Republic High School
Hunter Hanes, Seneca High School
Ryder Martin, McDonald County High School
Kaleb Norman, Republic High School
Bryson Witman, Hollister High School
FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE SKILL POSITIONS
Zane Browning, Carthage High School
Marcus Lopez-Durman, Carl Junction High School
Jayden McCaster, Nixa High School
Preston McCracken, Republic High School
Adam McKnight, Nixa High School
Roman Miller, Seneca High School
Brodie Probert, Seneca High School
Colton Roark, Cassville High School
GIRLS SWIMMING
Ava Brown, Republic High School
Jayli Cope, Glendale High School
Elsa Dogotch, Carl Junction High School
Roslyn Fiorino, West Plains High School
Mizzy Mizell, Lebanon High School
Elise Replogle, Republic High School
Grace Shaw, Ozark High School
GIRLS WRESTLING-LOWER WEIGHTS
Addison Harkins, Nixa High School
Bella Montez, Carl Junction High School
Carlynn Mynatt, Marshfield High School
Scout Puryear, Willard High School
Mabel Rogers, Republic High School
Aylssa Salamie, Branson High School
Millie Waterman, Republic High School
GIRLS WRESTLING-UPPER WEIGHTS
Kamryn Bourbon, Nixa High School
Emily Brixey, Willard High School
Addison Brown, Waynesville High School
Kaylee James, Carthage High School
Natalie Edmission, Nixa High School
Sophia Quinn, Lebanon High School
BOYS WRESTLING-LOWER WEIGHTS
Caden Groom, Seneca High School
Parker Hansen, Ozark High School
Brant Laughlin, Seneca High School
Camdon Kunkel, Carl Junction High School
Eli Manley, Seneca High School
BOYS WRESTLING-UPPER WEIGHTS
Marcus Lopez-Durman, Carl Junction High School
Jace Renfro, Seneca High School
Colton Roark, Cassville High School
D.J. Glidewell, Nevada High School
Bryson Whitman, Hollister High School
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Quinn Aldridge, Marshfield High School
Hailey Buckman, Logan-Rogersville High School
Ryleigh Davis, Thayer High School
Gillian Green, West Plains High School
Chloe Jones, Willow Springs High School
Elsie Larsen, Strafford High School
Kinley Larsen, Strafford High School
Anaya Perry, Kickapoo High School
Josie Salazar, Kickapoo High School
Peyton Ward, Marshfield High School
BOYS BASKETBALL
Jax Baxter, Stockton High School
Chase Branham, Logan-Rogersville High School
Colton Ingold, Bolivar High School
Kolby James, Willow Springs High School
Reese Kimrey, Kickapoo High School
Adam McKnight, Nixa High School
Titus Moore, Logan-Rogersville High School
Kylan Pickren, Ozark High School
Joell Rover, Glendale High School
Kyrese Simpson, Hillcrest High School