News

Nearly 100 Missouri amateur athletes will be recognized during the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s upcoming Enshrinement presented by Killian Construction.

The ceremony is at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, and tickets remmain available. Call 417-889-3100.

High school and college — and other athletes — will be recognized for earning national recognition in the 2021 calendar year. Those attending will receive a plaque with their name engraved and will be introduced on stage during the ceremony.

SAAs for 2022 Enshrinement

BOLIVAR

Bill Roberts IV, Bolivar

U.S. Deaf Golf National Champion

Roberts won the national title in the senior division of the U.S. Deaf Golf Championships in June at Falconhead Golf Course in Austin, Texas. It was his ninth national title and second in the senior circuit.

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CENTRAL METHODIST

Stefano Camerlengo, Central Methodist University

NAIA Men’s Soccer First Team All-American

Camerlengo earned his NAIA First Team All-American honor in soccer in 2020 and 2021, with the 2020 season played in the spring of 2021. A goalkeeper, the Italy native started had 44 saves in the spring, when he was named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team. In the fall, he had a .035 goals-against average, all ranking him No. 3 or better in the nation. He yielded only six total goals and only two matches of allowing more than one goal.

Rob Ehlers, Central Methodist University

NAIA Ball Assistant Coach of the Year

Ehlers was named the 2021 NAIA Ball Assistant Coach of the Year. The Eagles had their best season in program history, finishing as the NAIA national runner-up in a 49-win season. They also won the Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season and postseason tournament.

Marcos German, Central Methodist University

NAIA Men’s Soccer First Team All-American

German earned NAIA First Team All-American honors in soccer after he captained the Eagles to a 22-1 record and fourth consecutive NAIA national semifinal appearance. In 21 starts, he scored eight goals and eight assists.

Kelli Gorman, Central Methodist University

NAIA Softball First Team All-American

Gorman earned NAIA First Team All-American honors in softball. A Foristell native, she led the nation in home runs (22), total bases (166) and RBI (82) and led the team with a .411 average and a single-season best 78 hits.

Sandra Jakobsen, Central Methodist University

NAIA Women’s Soccer First Team All-American

A sophomore, Jakobsen earned NAIA First Team All-American honors in women’s soccer after she scored six goals and had 18 assists, which was the fourth-best mark in the NAIA. The Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Year was also on the NAIA All-Tournament Team as Central Methodist reached the national semifinals.

Sergio Macias, Central Methodist University

NAIA Baseball First Team All-American

A senior from Texas, Macias earned NAIA Baseball First Team All-American honors, becoming only the second player in program history to earn such an honor. He led the Eagles in batting average (.420), hits (84), doubles (18) and RBI (72) and tied for the team lead in home runs (20), plus pitched 13.1 innings of relief.

Allessandro Salvadego, Central Methodist University

UCA NAIA Men’s Soccer First Team All-American

A native of Italy, Salvadego earned NAIA First Team All-American honors in soccer after setting the program’s single-season goals record (23), which was third-best in the nation. He also tied for the team lead with eight assists and totaled 51 points, which ranked him No. 1 in NAIA.

Andrea Villar, Central Methodist University

NAIA Women’s Soccer First Team All-American

Villar earned NAIA First Team All-American honors in women’s soccer after she tallied 29 goals and had eight assists for 22-win Central Methodist, which reached the national semifinals. The 29 goals are tied for third-most in program history in a single-season. She also was the NAIA National Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 28, and earned a spot on the NAIA All-Tournament Team.

Tom Irion, Central Methodist University

NAIA Men’s Soccer First Team All-American

A freshman, Irion earned NAIA First Team All-American honors for the 2020 season, played in the spring of 2021. The Germany native led the team with 11 goals scored and anchored the defensive backline to 12 shutouts, good for No. 2 in the nation.

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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI

Audrey Fisher, University of Central Missouri

AVCA & D2CCA Volleyball First Team All-American

A middle blocker, Fisher earned First Team All-American honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association as well as Division II Conference Commissioners Association. She paced the Jennies with a .370 attack percentage, compiling 381 kills on 870 attempts with 59 errors in 120 sets. She also had 23 block solos and 99 block assists, a team-best 31 service aces and 60 digs.

Mason Green, University of Central Missouri

D2CCA’s NCAA Division II Baseball First Team All-American

A pitcher, Green earned NCAA Division II First Team All-American honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association after helping the Mules to a national runner-up finish. He was 16-0 with a 2.32 earned run average in 104.2 innings. He struck out 123 and issued 26 walks and had a .188 batting average against.

Kassie Newsom, University of Central Missouri

USC & D2CCA Soccer First Team All-American

A former Lee’s Summit West High School standout, Newsom earned NCAA Division II First Team All-American honors from the United Soccer Coaches and the D-II Conference Commissioner’s Association. Her team-leading 19 goals were second-best in program history, and she had school records with 16 assists and 54 points.

Dusty Stroup, University of Central Missouri

ABCA & D2CCA NCAA Division II Baseball First Team All-American

A third baseman, Stroup earned NCAA Division II First Team All-American honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association and the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association. In leading the Mules to a national runner-up finish, he hit .385 with an MIAA-best 79 hits, 20 home runs and 63 RBI. He was the MIAA and Central Region Player of the Year.

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COLUMBIA COLLEGE

Antonio Aranda, Columbia College

NAIA Men’s Soccer All-Tournament Team

A midfielder, Aranda landed on the NAIA All-Tournament Team after Columbia reached the national semifinals. For the season, he played in 18 matches, making 13 starts, had 30 shots on goal and ultimately three assists and five points.

Carson Lindsey, Columbia College

NAIA Men’s Soccer First Team All-American

A sophomore defender and graduate of Park Hill South High School in Kansas City, Lindsey earned NAIA First Team All-American honors for the 2020 season, which was played in the spring of 2021. Lindsey helped the 16-win Cougars reach the national semifinals, contributed to a defense that had 10 shutouts and was the conference Player of the Year.

Kenny Piper, Columbia College

NAIA Baseball First Team All-American & ABCA Gold Glove

A senior catcher from Hazelwood Central High School, Piper earned NAIA First Team All-American honors and a Gold Glove from the American Baseball Coaches Association. In 2021, he hit .462 with 229 hits, 107 that went for extra bases – 39 home runs 56 doubles and 12 triples. He also had 181 RBI, scored 157 runs and had 24 stolen bases. Defensively, he threw out 61.4 percent of base runners, allowing only 29 steals in 78 attempts, and was an 18^th round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Lexi Dickerson, Columbia College

NFCA NAIA Division II Softball First Team All-American

Dickerson earned NAIA First Team All-American honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. A pitcher, she started 24 games and posted the fifth-lowest earned run average in the NAIA (1.03). She was 18-2 and struck out 163 batters in 142.1 innings in leading the team to the American Midwest Conference regular-season and postseason titles.

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CROWDER COLLEGE

Landrey Wilkerson, Crowder College

ABCA NJCAA Baseball First Team All-American

An outfielder, Wilkerson earned First Team All-American honors in the National Junior College Athletic Association by the American Baseball Coaches Association. In leading Crowder to the Juco World Series, he hit .360 with 20 home runs, 72 RBI, scored 73 runs and stole 12 bases.

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CULVER-STOCKTON

Andrew Rupcich, Culver-Stockton College

NAIA Football First Team All-American

A senior offensive lineman from Wonder Lake, Ill., Rupcich earned NAIA First Team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association and the Associated Press. He anchored an offensive line that helped Culver-Stockton total 158.2 yards rushing per game and 406.8 total yards a game during the regular season.

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DRURY UNIVERSITY

Nathan Bighetti, Drury University

NCAA Division II Swimming National Champion

Bighetti won the 200 backstroke national title at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships. He finished in a time of 1 minute, 43.51 seconds.

Bec Cross, Drury University

NCAA Division II Swimming National Champion

Cross won the women’s 400-yard individual medley and 200-yard breaststroke national titles at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships. She finished in 4 minutes, 14.19 seconds in the 400 – or 0.2 seconds better than the runner-up. In the 200, she finished in 2:13.5.

Amy Eagan, Drury University

NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year

Eagen guided the Drury Lady Panthers basketball team to the national championship game after being named the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. The team finished 24-2 in Eagan’s first season as Drury’s coach, with the Lady Panthers reaching their fifth consecutive Elite Eight.

Karol Ostrowski, Drury University

NCAA Division II Swimming National Champion

Ostrowski, a freshman from Poland, won the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle national titles at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships. He finished the 50 in 18.92 seconds and the 100 in 41.25 seconds to win by 0.62 seconds. His time in the 200 was 1:33.29.

Laura Pareja, Drury University

NCAA Division II Swimming National Champion

Pareja won the 100 backstroke national title at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships. She finished in 52.98 seconds, winning by 0.20 seconds against Rachel Massero of Queens.

Paige Robinson, Drury University

NCAA D-II Basketball Player of the Year & WBCA NCAA Division II First Team All-American

Robinson was the NCAA Division II Player of the Year in women’s basketball, and earned First Team All-American honors from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. She ranked 11^th nationally in scoring (21.1 points per game), and finished with 116 assists, 45 steals and 28 blocks.

Allison Weber, Drury University

NCAA Division II Swimming National Champion

A senior from Marshall High School, Weber won the women’s 1,000-yard freestyle national title at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships. She finished in 9:53.12, or more than two seconds better than the runner-up.

Drury University Bass Fishing Team

MLF Collegiate National Champion

Coached by Rick Emmitt (MSHOF 2021), Drury’s bass fishing team of Cole Breeden and Cameron Smith won the Major League Fishing Collegiate national championship. The duo’s haul totaled 41 pounds, 10 ounces – including 14.10 on the final day – to beat out 143 other boats.

Drury University Swimming Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay

NCAA Division II Swimming National Champion

The team of Alex Bowen, Kham Glass, Ahmed Wabby and Karol Ostrowksi led Drury’s 4×400 relay to the national title at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships. The team finished in 2:50.9.

Drury University Swimming Men’s 200 Yard Medley Relay

NCAA Division II Swimming National Champion

The 200 yard medley relay team of Nathan Bighetti, Dawid Nowodworski, Daracic Karacic and Alex Bowen won the national title at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships. The team finished in in 1:24.69.

Drury University Swimming Men’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay

The team of Karol Ostrowski, Kham Glass, Caleb Carlson and Alex Bowen won the men’s 200-yard freestyle relay national title at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships. The team finished in 1 minute, 16.9 seconds.

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FORT ZUMWALT HIGH SCHOOL

Karson Gibbs, Fort Zumwalt South High School

USC High School Boys Soccer First Team All-American

Gibbs led Fort Zumwalt South to its second consecutive Class 3 state championship and third of his career last spring. He was then named a High School First Team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches after he had 113 career goals, including the equalizer in the state final and a goal in the state semifinal.

Ryan Harvatin, Fort Zumwalt South High School

USC High School Boys Soccer First Team All-American

Harvatin earned High School First Team All-American honors from the United Soccer Coaches after leading Fort Zumwalt to the Class 3 state championship, its second consecutive. His penalty-kick goal in the 70^th minute was the game-winner in the finals. He had 20 goals and 17 assists, and was the Class 3 Player of the Year.

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JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL

Wil Essner, Jackson High School

USC High School Boys Soccer First Team All-American

A senior, Essner earned High School First Team All-American honors from the United Soccer Coaches in 2021. Essner, who led the team to the 2020 state title and the 2021 state runner-up, scored 32 goals and 61 assists during his career.

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JEFFERSON COLLEGE

Kristina Bettis, Jefferson College

NFCA NJCAA Softball First Team All-American

Bettis was the NJCAA Regional Pitcher of the Year and a First Team NJCAA All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The 6-foot-2 right-hander was 20-6 with 22 complete games, fired five no-hitters, struck out 302 batters in 167 innings, had a 1.17 ERA and signed with Drury University.

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LEE’S SUMMIT NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

Kinsey Fielder, Lee’s Summit North High School

NFCA Softball High School All-American

Fielder earned High School All-American honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in 2021. She hit better than .400 for Lee’s Summit North and had a 1.578 OPS (on-base and slugging percentage) and finished with 17 home run, second-most in MSHSAA history. She signed with the University of Washington.

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LINCOLN UNIVERSITY

Kizan David, Lincoln University

NCAA Division II Indoor Long Jump National Champion

Despite sitting in third place entering his final attempt, David won the long jump national title at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, as he went 25.13 feet and topped the runner-up by 1.64 feet.

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LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY

Abner Romero, Lindenwood University

NCAA Division II Wrestling National Champion

After transferring from Fresno (Calif.) City College in January 2020, Romero won the 174-pound weight class at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. He outscored his national tournament opponents by a core of 44-4.

Drew Seers, Lindenwood University

AFCA NCAA D-II Football First Team All-American

A senior linebacker from Parkway West High School, Seers earned NCAA Division II First Team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association and the Associated Press. He was a finalist for both the Harlon Hill Trophy and the Cliff Harris Award. He ranked in the top 10 in D-II with 10.9 tackles per game (131 total), 32 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and had five interceptions.

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MINERAL AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Malevy Leons, Mineral Area Community College

NABC NJCAA Division I Basketball First Team All-American

A 6-foot-9 center, Leons earned First Team All-American honors from the National Basketball Coaches Association, on its National Junior College Athletics Association team. He was the Region 16 Player of the Year after averaging 18.7 points and 9.5 rebounds a game, and then signed with Bradley University.

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MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

Jaylen Cowley, Missouri Baptist University

NAIA Football First Team All-American

A senior safety, Cowley earned NAIA First Team All-American honors. The former Raytown South High school standout led the Spartans with 79 tackles (49 solo), 0.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, forced a fumble, had an interception and four pass break-ups.

Sara Klunder, Missouri Baptist University

AVCA’s NAIA Volleyball Freshman of the Year

Klunder was the NAIA Volleyball Freshman of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association after the 2020 season (spring 2021). She had 145 kills and accounted for 181 points.

Ariana Macies, Missouri Baptist

NAIA Defender of the Year & First Team All-American

Macies was named the 2021 NAIA Defender of the Year. She recorded 87 digs this past season, for an average of 5.77 digs per set. The libero set a season-high with 34 against Ottawa (Kan.) University.

Kaleigh Ryan, Missouri Baptist University

NAIA Competitive Cheer All-American

A Eureka native, Ryan earned her second consecutive NAIA All-American honor in competitive cheer in 2021. She was the first in program history earn the honor.

Giovanna Tapigliani, Missouri Baptist University

NAIA Volleyball First Team All-American

Tapigliani earned NAIA First Team All-American honors after helping Missouri Baptist win two national titles in 2021 – the 2020 title (spring) and the 2021 title. In the 2021 season, she had a team-best 432 kills, a .353 hitting percentage, 198 digs, 87 blocks and team-best 39 service aces.

Manuela Vargas, Missouri Baptist University

NAIA Volleyball Setter of the Year, 2021 Tournament MVP & First Team All-American

Vargas was the 2021 NAIA Setter of the Year, the 2021 NAIA Tournament MVP and a First Team All-American after leading Missouri Baptist to the 2021 NAIA national title. She recorded 1,104 assists in 89 sets, for an average of 12.4 assists per year. That included a season-best 63 in the quarterfinals.

Missouri Baptist Women’s Volleyball Team

NAIA Volleyball 2020 & 2021 National Champion

Coached by Chris Nichols, Missouri Baptist’s volleyball team won the 2020 and 2021 NAIA national championships – both accomplished in 2021. The 2020 team beat Midland (Neb.) in five sets as the season was played in the spring semester. The 2021 title saw Missouri Baptist (33-2) beat No. 4 Park University in a five-set thriller (25-18, 20-25, 25-15, 14-25, 15-8).

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MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY

Rajindra Campbell, Missouri Southern State University

NCAA Division II National Field Athlete of the Year,  Outdoor Discus & Shot Put National Champion

A native of Jamaica, Campbell was the NCAA Division II National Field Athlete of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. He won the D-II national shot put title with a throw of 65 feet, 7 inches, or two inches better than the runner-up. He also won the discus national title with a throw of 183 feet, 8 inches.

Zach Parish, Missouri Southern State University

ABCA-Rawlings NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year

A left-hander, Parish was the NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year by both the American Baseball Coaches Association, Baseball Writers and Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association. He became D-II’s all-time leader in single-season strikeouts (136), giving him 488 for his career. He also had a 1.21 season earned run average, the best in program history.

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MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY

Kyle Hiebert, Missouri State University

USC NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer First Team All-American

A senior defender from Canada, Hiebert earned NCAA Division II First Team All-American honors after helping Missouri State to its third consecutive Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title. He appeared in 19 games, including 18 starts, and recorded a team-high 1,625 minutes. He had 10 shutouts and a.573 goals-against average, and scored three goals.

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MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE

Gianmarco Donnini, Missouri Valley College

NAIA Men’s Soccer All-Tournament Team, Most Outstanding Defensive Player

A senior defender, Donnini helped Missouri Valley College to the 2020 NAIA national title in men’s soccer, with the season played in the spring of 2021. He helped the team to seven shutouts

Kainan Dos Santos, Missouri Valley College

NAIA Men’s Soccer All-Tournament Team Most Outstanding Offensive Player

A sophomore forward from Brazil, Dos Santos had 18 goals and 43 points as Missouri Valley won theNational title in 2020, played in the spring of 2021. Both statistics led the Heart of America Athletic Conference, with the 18 games the most in a season in program history. He also was named to the All-Tournament Team and the Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

Luka Gluscevic, Missouri Valley College

USC NAIA Men’s Soccer 2020 Player of the Year, First Team All-American

A native of Serbia, Gluscevic was the NAIA Player of the Year in men’s soccer after leading Missouri Valley College to the 2020 national title, played in spring of 2021. He scored 29 total points, was eighth in goals and his 13 assists led all of NAIA. In the fall, he repeated as a NAIA First Team All-American from the United Soccer Coaches. The senior midfielder scored three goals and had five assists.

Rylee Mills, Missouri Valley College

NAIA Competitive Cheer All-American

A sophomore and graduate of Oak Grove High School, Mills earned NAIA First Team All-American honors in 2021. He helped Missouri Valley to a fourth-place finish at the national tournament.

Edil Salinas, Missouri Valley College

NAIA Men’s Competitive Cheer All-American

A freshman from Hawaii, Salinas earned NAIA First Team All-American honors in competitive cheer. The effort helped Missouri Valley place fourth at the national championships.

Miyu Shito, Missouri Valley College

NAIA Women’s Competitive Cheer All-American

A senior from Japan, Shito became Missouri Valley’s first back-to-back NAIA All-American in competitive cheer. She helped Missouri Valley finish fourth at the national championships.

Vladimir Simic, Missouri Valley College

NAIA Soccer Coach of the Year

Simi was named the NAIA Soccer Coach of the Year for the 2020 season, which was played in the spring of 2021. Missouri Valley beat Oklahoma Wesleyan 2-0 to win the NAIA national title and finished 18-4-2.

Alexsandar Trujic, Missouri Valley College

NAIA Soccer All-Tournament Team

A junior forward from Serbia, Trujic helped Missouri Valley win the 2020 national title in men’s soccer, as the season was played in the spring of 2021. He earned a spot on the NAIA All-Tournament Team had 11 assists I the season, including a key one in the national championship game.

Missouri Valley College Men’s Soccer Team

NAIA National Champion

Coached by Vladimir Simic, Missouri Valley won the NAIA men’s soccer national title in the 2020 season, played in the spring of 2021. The No. 4 Vikings beat No. 2 Oklahoma Wesleyan 2-0 in the finals. The team finished 18-4-2.

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MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

Sydni Hawkins, Missouri Western State University

NFCA NCAA Division II First Team All-American

A second baseman, Hawkins earned NCAA Division II First Team All-American honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She is the first Missouri Western player to receive such an honor since 2014. She had MIAA bests in batting average (.483), on-base percentage (.522) and runs scored (50). She also had team-bests in hits (70), home runs (7), doubles (11), total bases (104) and stolen bases (22). Her batting average broke a 17-year-old single-season record.

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NIXA

Jackson Cantwell, Nixa Junior High School

AAU National Junior Olympic Champion

Cantwell broke two national records in the discus and shot put for 13-year-olds — and won national titles – at the AAU Junior Olympics in August 2021. The Nixa Junior High School eighth-grader threw the discus 177 feet, 6 inches to beat the record by eight feet. In the shot put, his throw of 57 feet, 11 inches broke the national record by more than five feet and would have been good for third in the men’s 17-18 division.

Courtney Frerichs, Nixa

Olympic Silver Medalist, Steeplechase

A Nixa native, Frerichs earned an Olympic silver medal in the steeplechase at the Tokyo Olympics this past summer. She took the lead with 300 meters left nd ultimately finished in 0:04.79, the best Olympic performance by an American woman in that event.

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NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE

Ryan Hawkins, Northwest Missouri State University

NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player

Hawkins earned Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Division II Tournament after helping the Bearcats win the national title. For the season, he averaged a team-best 22.6 points a game and 8.8 rebounds a game, plus made 55 steals.

Trevor Hudgins, Northwest Missouri State University

NABC NCAA Division II Basketball Player of the Year, First Team All-American

The National Basketball Coaches Association named Hudgins the 2021 NCAA Division II Player of the Year, and he also earned the honor from the D-II Conference Commissioner’s Association. He led the Bearcats to the national title after averaging 19.8 points, had a total of 138 assists. Hudgins made 128 of his 142 free throws and was 90 of 177 from 3-point range.

Hiba Mahgoub, Northwest Missouri State University

NCAA Division II Outdoor Women’s 200 Meters National Champion

Mahgoub became Northwest Missouri’s first women’s outdoor national champion in school history, winning the 200 meters at the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships. She ran in 23.2 seconds, the 13^th-fastest time ever recorded at the event, men or women.

Ben McCollum, Northwest Missouri State University

NABC’s NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year

McCollum earned the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year award from the National Basketball Coaches Association. He led the Bearcats to a 28-2 season and the national title. It was the third consecutive national title for the Bearcats, who also were 31-1 in March 2020 when the pandemic led to the national tournament’s cancellation.

Sam Roberts, Northwest Missouri State University

NCAA Division II Football First Team All-American

A senior defensive lineman from Waynesville High School, Roberts was voted to the NCAA Division II First Team All-American team by the American Football Coaches Association. The winner of the Cliff Harris Award (best defensive player), Roberts led the team with 18 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 13 games and helped the Bearcats to a No. 2 national ranking in scoring defense (12.1 points allowed a game).

Northwest Missouri State Men’s Basketball Team

NCAA Division II National Champion

Coached by Ben McCollum, the 28-win Bearcats won their third consecutive NCAA Division II national championships, beating Texas A&M 80-54. Ryan Hawkins scored 31 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, and Wes Dreamer, Trevor Hudgins and Luke Waters added 19, 15 and 13 points, respectively. Northwest Missouri won its final three games by a total margin of 78 points – an Elite Eight record held since 1970 (75 points). The 26-point win also was the second-largest margin of victory in the championship game since North Carolina Central’s 27-point win 1989.

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PARK UNIVERSITY

Joao Friedrich, Park University

NAIA Men’s Volleyball All-Tournament Team

A native of Brazil, Friedrich earned All-Tournament Team honors at the NAIA Men’s Volleyball Tournament. For the season, he appeared in 87 sets over 27 matches in his opening season. He blasted 282 kills, secured 132 digs and had 51 blocks (eight solo).

Nada Meawad, Park University

NAIA Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year & First Team All-American

Meawad was the 2021 NAIA Player of the Year, Attacker of the Year and a First Team All-American. She recorded 595 kills for an average of 5.09 kills per set, including a season-high 58 kills against Providence (Mont.) in the national quarterfinals.

Mike Talamantes, Park University

NAIA Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year

Talamantes was voted the 2021 NAIA Coach of the Year after guiding Park to a 34-3 record and national runner-up finish. It was third time Park had advanced to the championship game under Talamantes, who is 342-59.

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ROCKHURST HIGH SCHOOL

Ryder Barrett, Rockhurst High School

USC High School Boys Soccer First Team All-American

Barrett earned High School Boys Soccer First Team All-American honors from the United Soccer Coaches. He also was the Class 4 Co-Offensive Player of the Year as he helped Rockhurst win the state title and finish 24-2.

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SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY

Simon Becher, Saint Louis University

UCA NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer First Team All-American

A forward from Connecticut, Becher earned NCAA Division I First Team All-American honors from the United Soccer Coaches, becoming the first Billken since 2014 to earn such an honor. The 2021 Atlantic 10 Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Becher ranked second in the NCAA with 38 points (14 goals, 10 assists) and was the only player in the NCAA with at least 10 goals and 10 assists.

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1. LOUIS

Bradley Beal, St. Louis

Olympic Gold Medalist, Men’s Basketball

A former standout at Chaminade Preparatory High School in St. Louis, Beal helped Team USA win the gold medal in 2021. He did not play in Tokyo due to COVID-19 concerns but, in six games leading up to the Olympics, he averaged 10.3 points and 4.3 rebounds.

Napheesa Collier, St. Louis

Olympic Gold Medalist, Women’s Basketball

Collier helped Team USA win the gold medal in women’s basketball at the Tokyo Olympics. The former standout from Incarnate Word Academy played in four games and averaged 1.3 points in six games.

Becky Sauerbrunn, St. Louis

Olympic Bronze Medalist, Women’s Soccer

A former standout at Ladue High School in St. Louis, Sauerbrunn was co-captain of the U.S. women’s soccer team which earned the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. She is a center back who plays professionally for the Portland Thorns FC of the National Women’s Soccer League.

Jayson Tatum, St. Louis

Olympic Gold Medalist, Men’s Basketball

A former standout at Chaminade Preparatory Academy in St. Louis, Tatum scored 19 points in 21 minutes and helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in August. He averaged 15.2 points in six Olympic games.

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1. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL

Stephen Saladin, St. Louis University High School

USC High School Boys Soccer All-American

Saladin earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches’ High School All-American team after he was the co-Offensive Player of the Year in Class 4. He scored 29 goals and 16 assists in leading the Junior Billkens to a 23-2-1 record and state runner-up finish.

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1. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Madelyn Barton, St. Louis Community College

UCA NAIA Women’s Soccer First Team All-American

A sophomore midfielder and Marquette High School graduate, Barton earned First Team All-American honors from the United Soccer Coaches in the 2021 season for the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division II. The All-Region Player of the Year helped lead the Archers to a second consecutive Region 16 title and to the national tournament.

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TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Hannah Belanger, Truman State University

WBCA NCAA Division II First Team All-American

A sophomore, Belanger earned NCAA Division II First Team All-American honors from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, becoming only the fourth Truman State player to do so in program history. She averaged 18.5 points a game, shooting 40.6 percent from 3-point range.

Cody Schrader, Truman State University

AFCA NCAA Division II Football First Team All-American

A sophomore from Lutheran South High School, Schrader was voted the nation’s top running back in hearing NCAA Division II First Team All-American honors. He led all of NCAA football in rushing yards (2,074) rushing yards per game (172.8) and rushing touchdowns (25).

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WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

Ryan Loutos, Washington University

ABCA NCAA Division III Baseball First Team All-American

A right-handed senior pitcher, Loutos earned NCAA Division II First Team All-American honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association and D3baseball.com. In his career, he appeared in 38 games, making 36 starts, and was 18-5 with two saves. His 287 strikeouts in 230 innings were third-most in program history, and he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Sergio Rivas, Washington University

USC NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer First Team All-American

 

A junior forward from Minnesota, Rivas earned NCAA Division III First Team All-American honors from the United Soccer Coaches – just the 16^th player in program history to earn All-American honors. He led the conference with 21 points, goals (8) and assists (5) and a .647 shots-on-goal percentage (27^th nationally).

Gabbie Cesarone, Washington University

UCA NCAA D-III First Team Soccer First Team All-American

Cesarone earned her second NCAA Division III First Team All-American honor in three years from the United Soccer Coaches. She started in 19 games, anchoring a defense that yielded only eight goals, pitched 10 shutouts and didn’t allow a multi-goal game. She scored three postseason goals and had three assists.

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WEBSTER UNIVERSITY

Matt Mulhearn, Webster University

ABCA-Rawlings NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year

A pitcher from Chicago, Mulhearn received the NCAA Division III Pitcher of the Year Award from the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings. He was 12-1 with a 0.90 earned run average in 13 starts, threw six complete games (three shutouts), struck out a school and conference-record 137 batters in 100 innings.

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INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FAIRS & EXPOSITIONS

Ozark Empire Fairgrounds & Events Center

IAFE National Honoree

The Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and Events Center won 27 awards, including 14 first-place honors, at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions conference. The OEFEC hosts more than 130 events annually, including the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s Enshrinement and its Women’s Sports, Baseball and Football Luncheons.

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TRAP SHOOTING

David Deitch, Tina

ATA Trap Shooting First Team All-American

Deitch, whose family lives in the Carroll County community of Tina, Deitch earned First Team All-American honors in the Sub-Veteran division of the Amateur Trapshooting Association nationals. Deitch finished with 1,864 points.

Gary Gooch

ATA Trap Shooting First Team All-American

Gooch earned First Team All-American honors in the Senior Veteran division of the Amateur Trapshooting Association nationals. He finished with 1,416 points.

Hunter Spruill, St. Louis

ATA Trap Shooting First Team All-American

A member of the Gateway Claybusters in the St. Louis area, Spruill earned First Team All-American honors in the Junior Gold division at the Amateur Trapshooting Association nationals. Spruill finished with 2,039 points in 2021.