Semoball Awards fall sports finalists have been announced

The Semoball Awards finalists for fall sports were announced Monday morning on a selection show broadcast live on SEMO ESPN Radio and streamed on the Semoball.com Facebook page.

The finalists were selected by a sports panel made up of representatives from the Southeast Missourian, Standard Democrat, Dexter Statesman, Daily American Republic and Delta Dunklin Democrat.

The Semoball Awards, presented by Mercy Hospital Southeast, returns to LaCroix Church on July 12 for an in-person, first-class, unforgettable, red-carpet awards show featuring the presentation of 28 awards and recognition of the Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

The event features a celebrity keynote speaker with some of the biggest names in sports having made appearances. Previous speakers include: two-time ESPY winner Kyle Maynard, softball great Jennie Finch, NFL player and TV analyst Mark Schlereth, World Series MVP David Eckstein, WNBA player Lisa Leslie, former pitcher and current broadcaster Rick Horton, former MLB relief pitcher Andrew Miller, comedian Mike Goodwin and Kansas City Chiefs mascot Dan Meers.

The Semoball Awards are presented by Mercy Hospital Southeast and brought to you by official bank sponsor The Bank of Missouri and title sponsors SEMO ESPN Radio, the St. Louis Cardinals, rustmedia and your local newspaper.

"We're excited to kick off this year's selection of Semoball Awards finalists," said Lucas Presson, assistant publisher and general manager of the Southeast Missourian. "Southeast Missouri has some tremendous student-athletes doing tremendous things on the field and in the classroom. The Semoball Awards is a unique experience to celebrate those achievements with an unforgettable experience."

Presson also noted a word of thanks to this year's sponsors.

"We're thankful for our tremendous group of sponsors who make the Semoball Awards possible," Presson said. "These organizations represent the region well and are invested in the success of the region."

Fall highlights

The 2023 football season saw two teams finish in the state semifinals. St. Vincent won its first district championship in 14 years. The Indians were led by finalists Christian Schaaf, John Schwartz and Drake Robinson, who led the area with 173 tackles. Cape Central returned to the state semifinals behind the running back duo of finalists Zai'Aire Thomas and Keyshawn Boyd who set school records for rushing touchdowns (34) and yards (2,238) in a season.

Woodland boys' cross country won the Class 2 state championships, led by the brotherly duo of Calvin and Reed Layton, who also won the individual race. The Cardinals also finished second in the girls' state meet.

The volleyball season saw plenty of schools win district titles, but only one team finished on top of the mountain. Advance, led by Lexi Hoffman, won its second straight state championship. It was also the Hornets' fifth in the last six years.

Chaffee, led by an assortment of underclassmen, went all the way to the fall softball Class 2 championship game. The Red Devils came up short but their second-place finish is their highest in school history. The finalists for that sport will not be announced until the conclusion of the spring softball season.

Football-Offense

• Jamarion Smith, Portageville
• Keyshawn Boyd, Cape Central
• Zai'Aire Thomas, Cape Central
• Mark Panagos, Scott City
• Tyson Underwood, Scott City
• Jadis Jones, New Madrid County Central
• Adrian Fox, Jackson
• Connor Marcum, East Prairie
• Christian Schaaf, St. Vincent
• Kai Crowe, Jackson

Football-Defense

• Drake Robinson, St. Vincent
• Logan Hite, Poplar Bluff
• Mason Adams, Portageville
• Rhyder Williams, Dexter
• John Schwartz, St. Vincent
• Levi McKinnie, Chaffee
• Kaleb Huber, Perryville
• Reid Landers, Jackson
• Detravion Gorman, Sikeston
• Jason Jones, New Madrid County Central

Girls Golf

• Olivia Thetford, Poplar Bluff
• Grayson Maurer, Notre Dame
• Alana Gilbert, Jackson
• Elizabeth Barnette, Notre Dame
• Julia Schlitt, Jackson

Girls Tennis

• Bean & McAtee, Kennett/Holcomb
• Hillin & Haley, Saxony Lutheran
• Galati & Mungee, Notre Dame
• Christi Tejada, Kennett/Holcomb
• Kaitlyn Booker, Poplar Bluff

Boys Swimming

• Phineas Theall, Cape Central
• Wade LaValle, Jackson
• Kaiden Cracraft, Notre Dame
• Carson Todd, Poplar Bluff
• Thomas Hasz, Saxony Lutheran

Boys Cross Country

• Bryce Gentry, Jackson
• Reed Layton, Woodland
• Calvin Layton, Woodland
• Cameron Bell, Dexter
• Carter Hennemann, St. Vincent
• Jaxson Houf, Van Buren
• Brock Hobeck, Oak Ridge
• Jackson Unterreiner, St. Vincent
• Ty Wilson, Oak Ridge
• Ben Dowdy, Dexter

Girls Cross Country

• Lauren Eftink, Notre Dame
• Faith Rouggly, Woodland
• Katelyn Nichols, East Carter
• Aliyah Miller, East Carter
• Annika Barks, Jackson
• Presley Ridings, Woodland
• Myra Roth, Saxony Lutheran
• Ziah Been, Van Buren
• Lilly Coy, Notre Dame
• Logan Schiwitz, Scott City

Soccer

• Bryce Sides, Notre Dame
• Diego Chahin, Notre Dame
• Luke Eggemeyer, Saxony Lutheran
• Aden Garris, Perryville
• Aiden McMinn, Jackson
• Braden Thompson, Jackson
• Preston Schlichting, Cape Central
• Tristan Wiggins, Sikeston
• Colten Palma, Poplar Bluff
• P.J. Farmer, Sikeston

Volleyball

• Lexi Hoffman, Advance
• Reagan Howe, Oak Ridge
• Holland Guilliams, Jackson
• Emersyn Pitts, St. Vincent
• Bree Winchester, Clarkton
• Chloe Hendrix, Holcomb
• Jayla Weddington, Portageville
• Angela Dobbins, Malden
• Ramsey Spinks, Scott City
• Madison Jines, Bell City