The Springfield Sports Commission made public most finalists Wednesday in the Sports Commission Awards presented by Elliott Lodging, a ceremony that will honor the top high school athletes and teams from throughout southwest Missouri.
The event is set for 6 p.m. June 11 at the Oasis Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield. Sponsorship tables of eight are $350, while individual tickets are $30. The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, which is assisting the Springfield Sports Commission with the ceremony, is taking table and ticket orders at 417-889-3100. Numerous other sponsorships are available, including congratulatory ads.
More than 100 athletes and 30 area teams are finalists in 27 categories for player or team of the year in their respective sports. The finalists are listed below as well as online at www.mosportshalloffame.com.
“We are excited to continue this awards show because it recognizes outstanding athletes in southwest Missouri,” said Lance Kettering, Executive Director of the Springfield Sports Commission.
Previously known as the 1 Awards, the Sports Commission Awards were determined by a selection committee, which narrowed each category to five athletes, or six in some cases if one school was represented by two players.
Categories cover football, volleyball, wrestling, baseball and softball as well as sports offered to both boys and girls: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field. The evening will include the naming of the Boys Athlete of the Year, Girls Athlete of the Year, Boys Team of the Year and Girls Team of the Year in addition to Marching Band, Dance and Cheerleading Teams of the Year, respectively. The wild card category is Bass Fishing Team of the Year.
“High school athletics and activities make a difference in the lives of many. That is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is delighted to help the Springfield Sports Commission with this important event,” said Jerald Andrews, President & Executive Director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. “We hope all of southwest Missouri will support the Sports Commission Awards.”
Sports Commission Awards presented by Elliott Lodging
6 p.m. June 11
at Oasis Hotel & Convention Center, Springfield
FINALISTS
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Stephen Kielhofner, Springfield Catholic High School
Ryan Riddle, Webb City High School
Easton Sabala, Hermitage High School
Ben Stasney, West Plains High School
Mark Venable, Lamar High School
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Rachel Bagg, Reeds Spring
Kaylee Hatley, West Plains High School
Kelie Henderson, Bolivar High School
Ashley Knoll, El Dorado Springs High School
Cailee Lake, Liberal High School
FOOTBALL
T.W. Ayers, Lamar High School
John Berry, Lebanon High School
Will Boswell, Mount Vernon High School
Durand Henderson, Webb City High School
Alex Huston, Glendale High School
Cooper Lucas, Lamar High School
GIRLS GOLF
Zoe Brown, Purdy High School
Anna Iorio, Joplin High School
Kayla Pfitzner, Springfield Catholic High School
Jenna Teeter, Carl Junction
Amber Wilson, Camdenton High School
BOYS SOCCER
Jason Puente, Monett High School
Mitch Stephens, Glendale High School
Duece Vandaveer, Kickapoo High School
Dylan Brown, Republic High School
Kaueh Huttenlocher, Springfield Catholic High School
BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING
Ethan Bergmann, Rogersville High School
Daniel Brink, Nixa High School
Cole Earl, Glendale High School
Ben Hines, Nevada High School
Chris Weiss, Glendale High School
GIRLS TENNIS
Mattie Miles, Rogersville High School
Anna Rader, Springfield Catholic High School
Brooke Smith, Glendale High School
Coral Tracy, Kickapoo High School
Madison Woods & Macy Abernathy, Ozark High School
VOLLEYBALL
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
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cade Coffman, Mountain Grove High School
Tyem Freeman, Parkview High School
Monty Johal, Glendale High School
Quinn Nelson, Ozark High School
Logan Thomazin, Walnut Grove High School
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Kaylee DaMitz, Skyline High School
Alana Findley, Fair Grove High School
Hayley Frank, Strafford High School
Bayley Harman, Walnut Grove High School
Katie Scott, Carl Junction High School
GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING
Ashley Baldwin, Glendale High School
Mary Bean, Liberal High School
Maddie Duncan, Glendale High School
Cabrini Johnson, Rogersville High School
Molly Moore, Summit Prep Academy
Madeline Wilson, Carl Junction High School
WRESTLING
Joel Barrientos, Monett High School
Donovan Benetti, Nixa High School
Adrian Hitchcock, Neosho High School
Sean Sax, Waynesville High School
Jay Strausbaugh, Rogersville High School
BASEBALL
Forrest Barnes, Ozark High School
Brett Hammit, Nixa High School
Tyler Martin, Webb City High School
Garrett Rice, Willard High School
Wyatt Sparks, Aurora High School
SOFTBALL
Addie Darby, Webb City High School
Hallie Henderson, Purdy High School
Katie Kurima, Monett High School
Morgan Loggins, Waynesville High School
Zoey Mullings, Strafford High School
BOYS TENNIS
Gus Garcia, Joplin High School
Garrett Lewis, Joplin High School
Tanner Powley, Nixa High School
Jason Nayar, Springfield Catholic High School
Finn Wartick, Glendale High School
Matthew Zengel, Kickapoo High School
BOYS GOLF
Adam Cunnynham, 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
BOYS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Jace Gorn, Ozark High School
Tyson Riley, Springfield Catholic High School
Arkell Smith, Carthage High School
Logan Thomazin, Walnut Grove High School
Zeke Wall, Carl Junction High School
GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Paiton Acord, Parkview High School
Natalie Basham, Camdenton High School
Alana Findley, Fair Grove High School
Hayley Frank, Strafford High School
Macey Putt, Ozark High School
BEST CHEERLEADING SQUAD
Aurora High School
McDonald County High School
Republic High School
Seneca High School
Strafford High School
BEST MARCHING BAND
Pride of Aurora Houn’ Dawg Band
Kickapoo Golden Arrow Band
Neosho Wildcat Band
Nixa Crimson Corps Marching Band
Parkview Viking Band
WILDCARD—BEST BASS FISHING TEAM
Ryan Cameron & Tyler Ghan, Republic High School
Kade Houchin & Kaden Dawson, Republic High School
Andrew Johnson & John Hubbert, Bolivar High School
Dalton O’Dell & Eli Cook, Hartville High School
Devan Rathbun & Caleb Haines, Parkview High School
