The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame ushered in its Class of 2024 on Sunday, and it featured a National Basketball Association player, a National Football League Super Bowl lineman and a Major League Baseball pitcher.
The Springfield Enshrinement presented by Wilson Logistics drew a crowd of 1,000 to the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds for a ceremony which also generated associate sponsor support from Advertising Plus, the Bee Payne-Stewart Foundation, Byran Properties, Great Southern Bank, Hiland Dairy Foods and Hillyard, Inc.
Additionally, the Hall of Fame recognized Hamra Enterprises with the John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award, bestowed the President’s Award on auctioneer David Coutchie and presented the Voice of the Missouri State Bears, Art Hains, with the Inspiration Award. The Hall of Fame also will donate a portion of proceeds to Special Olympics Missouri and the Ozarks Regional YMCA.
“This was just a fun and rewarding enshrinement for us,” said Byron Shive, CEO and Executive Director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. “It was great to be able to relive so many historic moments and accomplishments of some of Missouri’s best, and we hope that in some way it inspired future generations to go achieve greatness. Plus, with the Hall of Fame’s new charitable initiative and being able to recognize the great work of the Ozarks Regional YMCA and Special Olympics Missouri, it was just a very rewarding day for us.”
The Class of 2024 is as follows:
- Anthony Tolliver – Kickapoo High School & National Basketball Association
- Justin Britt – Lebanon High School, University of Missouri & National Football League
- Lucas Harrell – Ozark High School & Major League Baseball
- Bob Belote – Director of Springfield-Greene County Park Board
- Steve Boyce – High School Swim Coach
- Lindsey Hunter James – University of Missouri Volleyball Player
- 2003-2006 Kickapoo High School Boys Basketball Era
- Tom Ladd – Sports Radio Broadcasting
- Jennifer Drum McClaflin – Smith-Cotton H.S. & University of Central Missouri Track & Field
- Jim Raynor – Sports Medicine
- Scott Sifferman – Cycling
- Tammy Williams – Osceola H.S., Northwestern University & U.S. Olympic Softball Player
- 1988-1995 Warsaw High School Football Era
- Paula Wohnhas Wiedemann – Missouri State-West Plains Volleyball
- Hamra Enterprises – John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award
- David Coutchie – President’s Award
- Art Hains – Inspiration Award
Additionally, the Hall of Fame recognized the Wynn Awards presented by the Bee Payne-Stewart Foundation, which recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of women’s sports. The awards are named after the late Dr. Mary Jo Wynn, the pioneer of women’s athletics at Missouri State University who was honored as a Missouri Sports Legend in 2014.
The Wynn Award recipients were Sherri Gentry Gula (Camdenton High School/University of Missouri), longtime basketball coach Shelly Jones (Parkview & Marshfield high schools, Drury & Southwest Baptist universities), Lindsey Markworth (Lexington High School/Mizzou), Abby Spieler (California High School/Mizzou), and amateur golfer Regina Townes (Parkview High School).
Anthony Tolliver – Kickapoo High School/Creighton University/NBA
A 2003 Kickapoo High School graduate, Tolliver helped the Chiefs to the 2003 Class 5 state championship, a 30-1 record and No. 12 national ranking in USA Today. He averaged 15.2 points and 6.5 rebounds that season and was named All-State by both the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and the state sportswriters and sportscasters’ group. At Creighton, he was a three-year starter in a career that covered 124 games. He scored 1,004 points and grabbed 603 rebounds. In his time, the Bluejays advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2007 after winning the Missouri Valley Conference. The team also played in the 2004 and 2006 National Invitation Tournament. He was twice an All-Valley honoree. Following graduation in 2007, he played in the National Basketball Association for 13 seasons, with 11 teams. He played his rookie year with the San Antonio Spurs and then went on to play for the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers. He played in over 700 NBA games, scored more than 4,400 points and grabbed more than 2,400 rebounds. Four teams reached the playoffs.
Justin Britt – Football
Britt played for the Lebanon Yellowjackets, earning All-State honors in football as an offensive tackle and defensive lineman while also going 46-0 as a senior in 2009 en route to winning the state championship. At the University of Missouri, he was a four-year starter in football, and earned First Team All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2013. He played on Mizzou’s first SEC East championship team and also played in the 2010 Insight Bowl, 2011 Independence Bowl and the 2014 Cotton Bowl. He was a second-round selection by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2014 National Football League Draft and spent eight seasons in the NFL – six years with the Seahawks and then two more with the Houston Texans. Britt was a starter throughout his six-year career with the Seahawks; beginning as a rookie right tackle on an NFC Championship-winning team that reached the Super Bowl. He moved to left guard in his second season and, in 2016, switched to center. He was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate in 2016. Britt missed only two games in his first five seasons before a knee injury cut short his 2019 season. Overall, he played in 112 games, including seven playoff games, starting all but one, playing a total of 6,425 snaps throughout his career.
Lucas Harrell – Baseball
Harrell starred at Ozark High School, pitching the Tigers to the Class 3 state championship in 2004. Weeks later, he was drafted in the fourth round by the Chicago White Sox and eventually made his big-league debut on July 30, 2010. Harrell then pitched seven seasons in the big leagues, with the White Sox (2010-2011), Houston Astros (2011-2014), the Atlanta Braves (2016), the Texas Rangers (2016) and Toronto Blue Jays (2017). He pitched 455 innings, striking out 310 batters, and won 21 games. He was an 11-game winner for the Astros in 2012, starting 32 games and pitching almost 194 innings. That season, he struck out 140 batters and issued 78 walks. He led the team in innings pitched, strikeouts, wins and least home runs allowed. Because of his 57.2 percent ground-ball percentage, FanGraphs once dubbed him the “Astros Sinkerballer Supreme.” Harrell later pitched in Korea.
Bob Belote – Springfield-Greene County Park Board
Belote recently announced his retirement from the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, where he worked for 20 years – including as Parks Director since 2012. Mainly, he oversaw a system featuring 105 parks, trails and recreational facilities. He previously served as assistant director and Superintendent of Recreation. A 1981 Kickapoo High School graduate, Belote was the fourth Parks Director in the past 70 years, and his accomplishments have been enormous. He led the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Park Board (2013) and Dickerson Park Zoo (2023). He also steered the Park Board to CAPRA national accreditation (2016 & 2021) as it was ranked among the top 2 percent of Parks and Recreation in the country. Belote oversaw team operations of the Springfield Lasers, a World TeamTennis franchise that won the King Cup in 2018 and 2019. During his tenure, the Park Board hosted numerous MSHSAA state championships in tennis, softball, golf, baseball and soccer. He also helped orchestrate $27 million in renovations of the Cooper Sports Complex that led to new turf facilities for soccer, softball and baseball. He also worked in partnership with Drury University on a new turf baseball field for Meador Park. Belote also was recognized as a Kansas City Chiefs “Hometown Hero” during the 2022-2023 season for Community Public Service contributions. Under his leadership, the Park Board was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
Steve Boyce – High School Swim Coach
Boyce is in his 24th year of coaching high school swimming. He has led nine teams to state championships. Those cover the Parkway South boys (1999, 2000, 2001), the Glendale girls (2013, 2014, 2018), and the Glendale boys (2019, 2020, 2021). Overall, his teams have had 19 top four finishes at the state meet, including state runner-up places with the Parkway South boys in 2002, Glendale girls in 2012 and 2015, and Glendale boys in 2010 and 2018. Boyce is currently the head coach for Glendale, Ozark and Republic, as well as the head track and field coach at Glendale. Overall, he has coached 43 state champions – 26 in individual events, and 17 in the relays, with his athletes taking 237 All-State honors, which are awarded to the top eight finishers in each event. His coaching tenure includes Tulsa Union High School in Oklahoma and Parkview High School in Springfield. He is a graduate of Eisenhower High School in Lawton, Okla., where he earned All-State in swimming during his final three years. He later graduated from Drury University, earning All-American in his three final seasons, when he helped the team to NAIA national titles and was part of seven relay national championship teams.
Lindsey Hunter James – University of Missouri Volleyball Player
Mizzou’s Volleyball Tigers were 90-33 during James’ four seasons (2002-2005), and she was Mizzou’s first First Team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The All-American honor came after she directed an offensive attack that hit a school-record .299. James led the Big 12 Conference in assists each of her four years, becoming the first to lead the league for four years in any category. She was a three-time First Team All-Big 12 selection and AVCA All-Central Region selection. At the end of her career, she ranked sixth in NCAA history for assists per game (13.73), and her total of 6,096 career assists was 15th-most in NCAA history. She later played for USA Volleyball and was on the bronze medal-winning team in the 2007 Pan American Games. James was voted by Tiger fans as the Mizzou Women’s Athlete of the Decade for the 2000s. A former standout at Papillion-LaVista High School in Nebraska, she later worked for Mizzou’s Total Person Program and, from 2011 to 2015, was an assistant coach for the Mizzou volleyball team, with the 2013 team winning the Southeastern Conference. She currently is a senior loan officer with Veterans United Home Loans in Yukon, Okla.
2003-2006 Kickapoo High School Boys Basketball Era
Coached by Roy Green (MSHOF 2010), the Kickapoo boys basketball teams from 2003 to 2006 had one of the best runs in Show-Me State history. Overall, the Chiefs won the Class 5 state championship in 2003, reached the state quarterfinals in 2004, placed third in 2005 and were awarded the 2006 state title. They were 112-12 in the era. The 2003 team (30-1) was ranked in the top 21 in the country by various outlets, including No. 12 by USA Today. Its only loss was to Memphis White Station in the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions but, ultimately, the team beat Raytown South 65-42 in the Class 5 championship game. The 2004 team (24-6), after a challenging midseason stretch, including in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, reeled off 11 consecutive wins before reaching the state quarterfinals. The 2005 team (30-1) won the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions and later suffered a state semifinal loss to Vashon. The 2006 team reached the Class 5 state championship game and finished 28-4, with MSHSAA awarding Kickapoo the state title after Vashon was forced to vacate it. All-State players in the era were Anthony Tolliver, Deven Mitchell, Spencer Laurie, Shane Laure, Tyler Laurie and Kyle Kirk. Spencer was 2003 Mr. Show-Me Basketball, and Shane Laurie was the MVP of the Tournament of Champions.
Tom Ladd – Sports Radio
Ladd has worked in radio in Missouri since 1989, and in Springfield since 1995. He has been the longtime Voice of the Missouri State Lady Bears basketball team. In Springfield, he worked for Meyer Communications and now for Zimmer Communications after it purchased Meyer. Ladd has called 12 different NCAA Tournament teams, including the 2001 Lady Bears’ Final Four season, as well as two Sweet Sixteen teams and the WNIT Championship. His tenure included calling Lady Bears’ Jackie Stiles becoming the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball history. Overall, he has called nearly 1,000 games for Missouri State in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, soccer, volleyball and baseball on radio and TV. He won the Missouri Broadcasters Association’s top play-by-play announcer award in 2001 and 2022. A 1981 graduate of Triad High School in Illinois, where he was a three-sport athlete, Ladd started his radio career in Sparta, Ill., and then worked for KTJJ/KREI in Farmington, Mo. He was the voice for Mineral Area College Cardinals basketball and baseball, and twice won the Missouri Broadcasters Association’s play-by-play honor. Ladd later called Drury basketball in 2006 and 2007. He returned to Meyer Communications in 2008.
Jennifer Drum McClaflin – Sedalia Smith-Cotton High School/University of Central Missouri
McClaflin was a four-time All-State medalist at Sedalia Smith-Cotton High School, including a two-time state champion in the high jump (1999, 2000). Her 5-foot-9 inch leap in 2000 set a state record that lasted until 2017, and she also placed second in the event in 1998 and 2001. Turns out, she was just getting warmed up. McClaflin initially attended Drake University in Iowa and then became one of the best in NCAA Division II at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. She was a two-time national champion in the indoor high jump (2004, 2005) and a six-time All-American. She was a three-time indoor All-American (2004, 2005, 2006) and a three-time outdoor All-American (2004, 2005, 2006). She set the UCM high jump record in 2004 with a jump of 5-11 ¼, which remained the record for another 11 seasons. She also set the UCM outdoor record in the event with a 5-9 ¼ jump, which has since been tied twice and broken three other times. McClaflin has since been inducted into the Smith-Cotton Athletics Hall of Fame and the UCM Athletics Hall of Fame. She lives in Basehor, Kan., and works for the U.S. Department of Education.
Jim Raynor – Sports Medicine
Raynor worked nearly 30 years for Mercy Sports Medicine, first as the Director of HealthTracks Sports Training from 1995 to 2005 and then as Administrative Director from 2005 to 2023. In his time with Mercy Sports Medicine, he was primarily responsible for overseeing operations, growing market share and service, and increasing visibility of the Mercy Sports Medicine program. He oversaw the strategic planning, budgeting and policy development and implementation, and developed and monitored key performance indicators that produced efficient and effective results. The company expanded by partnering with local high schools and colleges to be their sports medicine provider, and also greatly into the St. Louis market. He also served on the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Anti-Doping Agency from 1995 to 2004, and worked the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. He taught a sports medicine and athletic training course at Missouri State from 1995 to 2003, and served on MSU’s graduate program committee from 2008 to 2023. Additionally, he was on the MSHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee from 2013-2023, and its co-chair in the final eight years of that stretch. Raynor served on the American Academy of Pediatrics Sports Medicine Committee from 2004 to 2008. He served on numerous other committees for other organizations through the years. A New York native, Raynor attended Evangel University and Missouri State University, as well as the University of Oklahoma, where he was part of the Sooners’ 1994 national championship team.
Scott Sifferman – Cyclist
A 1972 Mount Vernon High School graduate, Sifferman is an accomplished cyclist. He has won six national Time Trial Championships and holds the national 5K Time Trial record of 5:52.25, which is the fastest for all age groups and all categories. He has 87 state championship medals and 13 Missouri state champions jerseys. He also has been in the top five of National USA Cycling four times and is one of the few sponsored amateurs by Trek Bicycle as one of its “Great Athletes.” He has the record for the fastest amateur 100-mile bike ride, and worked with teammates to finish 100 miles in 3 hours, 40 minutes, or a better than 25 mph pace. A few of his wins include the Missouri State USA Cycling Time Trial Championships (12 times), the Missouri USA Cycling Road Race Championship, the Tour of Hermann (2010, 2011, 2012 and overall Omnium champion in 2010), the 5K & 10 Time Trials for the Missouri State Senior Games (9 times), the 2010 Branson High Road Time Trial (2010), the Truman Cup Time Trial (2020) and the Buckner Burn Time Trial (2010). Sifferman, a four-year football letterman at Mount Vernon, graduated from the University of Missouri in 1976, earned a master’s degree in 1977 and a juris doctorate degree from Missouri-Kansas City in 1980. He retired in early 2023 after 33 years as the circuit court judge in Lawrence County.
1988-1995 Warsaw High School Football Era
Coach by Randy Morrow (MSHOF 2011), the Warsaw Wildcats enjoyed quite a run in football from 1988 to 1995, winning two state championships, earning a state runner-up finish, and reaching four other state semifinal games. The era began with state semifinal berths in the first two years, followed by a state championship in 1990, a sectional appearance in 1991, and then the state semifinals in 1992. The 1993 team won it all, while the 1994 team finished as a runner-up before the 1995 advanced to the state semifinals. The 1989 team lost to John Burroughs, the eventual champion. The next season, Warsaw exacted revenge, beating Burroughs 13-7 in the semifinals before winning the state title in a 42-7 rout of South Shelby. The 1993 team won state by beating Lutheran North 13-12, with Warsaw almost pulling a repeat the next year before suffering an 18-13 setback to Monroe City in the state finals. Overall, the Wildcats filled 23 slots on All-State lists during the era. It was quite a turnaround for a program that, in 1986, finished 1-9.
Paula Wohnhas Wiedemann – Missouri State-West Plains Volleyball Coach
Wiedemann retired in March 2023 after 26 seasons on the Missouri State-West Plains volleyball coaching staff, with 14 years as head coach. She was a part of an overall 835-286 record, with a 324-167 record as head coach. She helped the Grizzlies to 19 region championships and 18 NJCAA Tournament appearances – with eight teams finishing in the top four, including back-to-back third-place finishes her final two seasons. She helped develop 43 All-Americans, 133 All-Region players and 61 Academic All-Americans. Wiedemann served in leadership roles as the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Two-Year College Board representative, the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association President, the NJCAA Women’s Assistant Region Director, and on NJCAA committees for DI Volleyball and Beach Volleyball & Awards. Wiedemann played for Drury University, becoming the first player to receive NAIA All-American honors (1987, 1988). She left Drury ranked first in career kills and career digs. She played professionally in 1998 for the Kansas City Lightning of the National Volleyball Association and was a two-time All-American in 1997 & 1998 at the USAV national tournaments. She began coaching club volleyball for Springfield Juniors in 1988 and has been involved with club teams in the Springfield and West Plains areas for the past 35 years.
Tammy Williams – Softball
Williams was a standout at Osceola High School before going on to play for Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and then playing for the U.S. Olympic team. She was a four-year MVP of her high school team, leading Osceola in batting average, earned run average and fielding percentage all four seasons. She led the team to a perfect season in 2002 as it won the state title. Overall, she earned 12 varsity letters in four sports (volleyball, track and basketball were the others). Williams then played shortstop at Northwestern, where she was the program’s first four-time All-American and was a three-time First Team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Twice she earned Big 10 Player of the Year. After her final season in 2009 at Northwestern, she was one of six players in NCAA Division I history with more runs scored than games played in her career (235 runs, 232 games). She holds four Northwestern records, including in home runs (57). Williams later was a second-round draft pick of the National Professional Fastpitch senior draft by the Chicago Bandits, and then was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year top 10 finalist. She then played on USA Softball’s Pan-American qualifier.
Inspiration Award – Art Hains
What a comeback story! That’s what we love about sports, whether it’s a player, team or coach. In this instance, it’s one of the folks who make sports all the more fun. The inaugural Inspiration Award will go to Art Hains (MSHOF 2019), who rallied this past year after a long battle after suffering from a severe case of West Nile virus. The Voice of the Missouri State Bears in football, basketball and baseball – and the studio host for Kansas City Chiefs broadcasts – was stricken on Sept. 17, 2022 and nearly died. He suffered paralysis, respiratory challenges and at times long odds for survival. Those close to Hains provided social media updates periodically and then, this past summer, word spread that he may be returning to the booth – and he did. Hains returned as the pregame and postgame host for Chiefs Radio Network in August and then broadcast four home football games this past fall. He also once again is broadcasting Bears basketball games. Hains began calling Bears games in 1977, spent a few years in the mid-1980s covering the Pony Express of Southern Methodist University football along with the Dallas Cowboys before returning to Springfield.
President’s Award – David Coutchie
The President’s Award is bestowed on individuals who champion the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and sports in the state in general. Coutchie has done just that since 2010. The owner of Advantage Auction, which specializes in real estate and estates, Coutchie has enhanced the Hall of Fame by working auctions pro bono. That’s led to hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for the Hall of Fame, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that, throughout its 29-year history, has not applied for state or federal funding. Coutchie has appeared at luncheons, the Hall of Fame’s summer party, and the Stan Musial Hall of Fame Championship presented by Landau Pontoons, as well as the Golf Ball Charity Auction – an auction for the charities of the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper. Sports has long been important to Coutchie. A student-athlete at Seymour High School from 1996 to 2000, Coutchie earned All-State honors five times – three times in Class 1 in golf (1998, 1999, 2000) and twice in basketball in Class 2 (1999 and 2000). He ended his career with nearly 2,200 points and was one of only two unanimous selections to the Class 2 All-State team. He later played basketball and golf at Southwest Baptist University from 2000 to 2004.
Hamra Enterprises – John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award
Led by Sam & June Hamra and the Hamra Family, Hamra Enterprises has long supported charitable causes across the Ozarks. That’s why it is receiving the John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award, which is bestowed on an organization that champions the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and sports in general in the Show-Me State. Hamra Enterprises has been a longtime sponsor of the Hall of Fame, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that, throughout its 29-year history, has not applied for state or federal funding. Instead, the Hall of Fame relies on the generosity of private donations, sponsorships, auctions and events such as induction ceremonies, golf tournaments and a sporting clays classic. Hamra saw to it that Wendy’s became a charter member of the Hall of Fame when it opened a new facility in Springfield in 1994 and stepped up as a corporate sponsor immediately. The company’s support has enhanced the growth of the Hall of Fame, as the Hamra Family threw its support behind just about every event put on by the Hall of Fame. Additionally, the family took the lead on two larger-than-life statues on the Hall of Fame’s Legends Walkway – Missouri coach Norm Stewart, and Bill Virdon’s catch in the 1960 World Series. Hamra Enterprises also has been a sponsor of the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper, which has gifted more than $20.5 million to charities since 1990. Additionally, Hamra has long supported the University of Missouri and Missouri State University athletics programs. Wendy’s is now run by president Mike Hamra.
About Special Olympics Missouri
The mission of Special Olympics Missouri is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Thousands of athletes participate in 13 Olympic-type sports throughout the state, providing people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with their fellow athletes, their family and friends and communities across Missouri.
About the Ozarks Regional YMCA
Established in 1888, the Ozarks Regional YMCA has six family centers – the Pat Jones YMCA in Springfield, the Ozark Mountain Family YMCA in Hollister, the Monett Area YMCA, the Cassville YMCA, the Dallas County Area YMCA in Buffalo and the Lebanon Family YMCA. It provides opportunities for the community to learn, grow and thrive through comprehensive programming in areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
WYNN AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE BEE PAYNE-STEWART FOUNDATION
Sherri Gentry Gula – Camdenton High School/University of Missouri
Gula was a three-sport athlete at Camdenton High School from 1982 to 1986, earning All-State honors in all three. She was a First Team All-State volleyball selection in the fall of 1985. Her success led to a scholarship to the University of Missouri, where she played volleyball from 1986 to 1991. Gula led the team in hitting percentage in 1989 and 1990, and kills and digs in 1989. She received a degree in physical therapy and has worked in the Kansas City area the past 32 years. She also is an adjunct faculty at Rockhurst University and a faculty with a post professional with a continuing education company.
Shelly Jones – Basketball Coach
Jones has accumulated more than 300 wins as a head coach, including at Parkview High School (134-37) and then Marshfield High School. At Parkview, she led the Lady Vikings to runner-up finishes in the Ozark Conference and Class 4 district play three consecutive years. Sixteen players earned college scholarships. At Marshfield, she led the Lady Jays to the Final Four in 2014. Overall, 21 athletes earned college scholarships. Additionally, Jones was an assistant at Southwest Baptist University in 2006 and 2007, and then spent six seasons as the top assistant at Drury University. At Drury from the fall of 2007 to the spring of 2013, her recruiting enhanced the Lady Panthers’ Great Lakes Valley Conference championships and NCAA Division II Tournament berths. Jones is a 1985 graduate of Christian County High School in Kentucky, where she played basketball and tennis, and later was honored among the Top 100 athletes for Western Kentucky in 2000. She is 1991 graduate of Austin Peay State University, having played two years at Paducah (Ky.) Community College and then at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.
Lindsey Markworth – Lexington High School/University of Missouri
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Markworth was a four-time state shot put champion at Lexington High School. At one point, she held the state shot put record. Additionally, she won two state championships in the discus, in 2000 and 2001. She also competed three summers in AAU, qualifying for the national meet every year and winning the national title in discus in 2001 for her age group. Her success certainly caught the eyes of college recruiters, and she ultimately chose the University of Missouri, where for several years she held several top-10 throws. She won the Kansas Relays in discus in 2003, was a three-time qualifier in discus for the Midwest Regional Championship and had four top eight finishes at the Big 12 Conference Track & Field Championships, including fourth in the shot put in the indoor shot put in 2005. She competes in the masters track & field events, and was the national discus champion for the women’s 35-39 age group, and second in both shot put and discus. She has coached high school track & field for 18 years, including from 2008 to 2018 at Warrensburg High School and is now at Fort Osage.
Abby Spieler – California High School/University of Missouri
At California High School, Spieler was a four-time All-State golfer, winning the state championship twice (2003 & 2005). She won numerous meets and earned All-District honors each year. She capped off her senior season with a 2-under par district championship win, a state championship victory, and led the Lady Pintos to a fifth-place team finish in the state tournament. Spieler then played golf at the University of Missouri. She was also a decorated point guard in high school, earning all-conference and All-District selections all four years and was a two-time selection to the All-State team. Spieler scored more than 1,000 career points, with the Lady Pintos earning a third-place finish in 2004. Spieler still holds team records for assists, free throws, and free throw percentage in a game, season and career. Spieler, who graduated summa cum laude from Mizzou in 2010 and Mizzou School of Law in 2013, is currently the CEO of Missouri State Employees Retirement System in Jefferson City.
Regina Townes – Golf
Townes has been around the game of golf since growing up in Springfield and, for more than 30 years, has championed the sport in several ways. A Parkview High School graduate, she served on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Women’s Golf Association from 1989 to 1993, working as vice president in the first few years before being promoted to president. Townes also has played competitively, as she was a co-medalist of the Missouri Women’s Golf Association Championship in 1992. She also was a member of the Joplin Horton Smith Cup Team from 1987 to 2004. Nine times she won the Briarbrook Country Club Women’s Championship, the Joplin City Championship twice, and the Tri-State once. She has since been inducted into the Joplin Golf Hall of Fame. Townes also is a member of SWAG, the Springfield Women’s Ambassadors of Golf organization that promotes the sport to women. She currently is a realtor with AMAX Real Estate in Springfield.