She once found a 1989 penny, slipped it into one of her shoes and, well, if that was a good-luck charm, maybe more folks should try it. After all, Shelley Seider Davis became a star in track & field for Rich Hill High School in the early 2000s, winning nine individual state championships and leading the program to two team state titles.
Now her career is being remembered by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Davis will be among nine who will receive a Wynn Award during the Women’s Sports Luncheon sponsored by the Bee Payne-Stewart Foundation and presented by Central Bank/Central Trust. The event is set for 11 a.m. March 28 at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield. For tickets or to support Davis in some way, call 417-889-3100.
“My parents (Marlon and Cindy) instilled in me a very good work ethic early on and taught me that things don’t come easy in life and hard work pays off,” Davis said. “I was driven to compete with the older girls in my area at a young age and that pushed me to work hard and helped me achieve success early in my career.”
Her award also will be presented on a day featuring the inductions of the Diamond High School Volleyball Program, swimmer Michelle Langsford Dickemann, longtime volleyball coach Ann Luetkemeyer Gulshen, college basketball assistant Lynnette Robinson, track & field and cross country coach Patty Vavra and the MSSU Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country Programs. Jacquie Dowdy will receive the President’s Award.
The Wynn Awards are named in honor of Dr. Mary Jo Wynn, the pioneer of women’s athletics at Missouri State University, a 1999 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee and 2014 Missouri Sports Legend. The awards are presented to former high school, college and pro athletes for their contributions in athletics.
Davis won her nine state championships in the early 2000s and led Rich Hill to state championships in 2003 and 2004. In fact, as a junior in 2003, she became only the 10th girl in history to win four or more events at the Missouri High School State Track & Field Championships. It was her mom who found a penny on the ground during her sophomore year and gave it to Davis, who put it in one of her shoes every race thereafter.
“My favorite memories would include my junior year going to the state meet not knowing how our team would do. Two other girls, Katrina Schapeler and Ashley Entriken, and I had a very good weekend,” Davis said. “I will always remember Coach (Brian) Thomas and Coach Charlie Kellogg sitting in the bleachers keeping their own team score and telling us girls we had chance at winning the whole thing. Each of the girls contributed to winning the state championship that year. It was great.
“The next year we came back and defended our title as state champions,” Davis added. “I will always remember my first gold medal in long jump as a freshman, too.”
Specifically, Davis was a three-time state champion in both the 300-meter low hurdles and long jump, plus a two-time champion in the 100 meters and also a champion in the 200 meters. Davis went on to Pittsburg State University, where she was All-MIAA in the 400 meters in 2006 and still ranks in the top 10 in school history in the indoor & outdoor 400.
“Coach Thomas was by far my biggest mentor,” Davis said. “He pushed me and challenged me to become the best athlete and competitor I could be. He was also vital in helping control my nerves during competitions. He also cared for me as a person and not just an athlete. Even though we don’t see each other often, we still have a close bond.”
Other Wynn Award recipients will be swimmer Brianne McGuirk Madura (Missouri State University), The Opfer Sisters (Lorin Fiehler, Alix and Kasey) of Glendale High School Soccer, track and field’s Brenda Hayes Raynor (Branson High School/Missouri State University), track and field’s Trudi Spain (Missouri State University), Dana Ozbun Stillwagon (Doniphan High School/Southwest Baptist University) and volleyball’s Bri Walsh (Clever High School/MSU-West Plains/Evangel University).
These days, Davis is married to Matt Davis, a football and wrestling coach at Adrian High School, and the couple has two children. She also co-owns Davis Duo Design, a salon in Appleton City.
“I’ve always enjoyed running and racing people ever since I was a little kid,” Davis said. “I started track in the eighth grade and experienced success and that motivated me to work harder and set higher goals for myself.”
