Athletes steal the show: thanks to all involved in Semoball Awards

We were honored and pleased to host the Sixth Annual Semoball Awards show Saturday night, recognizing the best of the best high school athletes from all across the Southeast Missouri region.

Semoball.com is a regional sports website that involves sports journalists from several Rust Communications properties, from Perryville south to the Bootheel. The show was our way of putting a spotlight on the talent, hard work, sportsmanship, determination and academics of these young men and women.

Hayti's Ivory Winters and Notre Dame's Megan Heisserer won the top awards for Male and Female Athlete of the Year.

St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Rick Horton gave an inspiring speech, telling athletes everyone has gifts, but in athletics there is always a team of people who help them make the most of that talent and there needs to be a spirit of gratitude with success.

"Our effort is not only just about success," Horton said. "We're celebrating success here, but I believe God has gifted us to care about something deeper." Dreams, visions and choices were his three major points.

We hope all the athletes and coaches enjoyed the show. We love putting on the event for the athletes, and deeply appreciate all the sponsors who allow it to happen, especially presenting sponsor SoutheastHEALTH and titled sponsors: The Bank of Missouri (Official Bank Sponsor), SEMO ESPN Radio, the St. Louis Cardinals and rustmedia.

Thanks to everyone who made the Semoball Awards Show a success. And congrats to all the winners.

Semoball Awards recipients:

• Football Offense, Ivory Winters, Hayti
• Football Defense, Corbin Strong, Dexter
• Boys Cross Country, Blake Morris, Notre Dame
• Girls Cross Country, Kennedy Bauer, Jackson
• Volleyball, Roz Schrader, Advance
• Boys Soccer, Tommy Taylor, Notre Dame
• Girls Soccer, Megan Heisserer, Notre Dame
• Boys Swimming, Daniel Seabaugh, Cape Central
• Girls Swimming, Faith Littleton, Jackson
• Girls Tennis, Sydni McAtee, Kennett
• Boys Tennis, Ben Stewart, Poplar Bluff
• Boys Basketball, Dominique Hardimon, Poplar Bluff
• Girls Basketball, Leah Cauble, Oran
• Wrestling, Travis Waldner, Dexter
• Baseball, Cameron Brewer, Ellington
• Boys Track and Field, Jackson Rinehart, Jackson
• Girls Track and Field, Riley Burger, Notre Dame,
• Golf, Case Englehart, Jackson
• Softball, Kaileigh Dirden, Scott City
• Coach of the Year, Jake Hime, Ellington
• Comeback Player of the Year, Scout Pettit, Jackson
• Best in Sportsmanship, Sikeston Football
• Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Andrew West, Notre Dame
• Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Megan Heisserer, Notre Dame
• Male Athlete of the Year, Ivory Winters, Hayti
• Female Athlete of the Year, Megan Heisserer, Notre Dame