High-school athletics make for well-rounded individuals

While some high-schoolers may spend the summer relaxing and enjoying some time away from school, most athletes are hard at work preparing for the upcoming season.

But before school is back in session, we have a few more people to honor as last season's standouts. Four more 2016 All-Missourian teams have been chosen: baseball, softball, girls soccer and track and field.

Those named to the All-Missourian Baseball team were Braden Cox, junior, Scott City; Jacquen Cummins, junior, Cape Girardeau Central; Austin Hicks, junior, Bell City; Ty Householder, senior, Kelly; Nathan Hurst, senior, Saxony Lutheran; Jarrett Newell, junior, Jackson; Cole Nichols, junior, Bell City; Drew Reischman, sophomore, Oran; Jordan Rellergert, senior, St. Vincent; Drew Short, senior, Scott City; Garrett Siebert, junior, Notre Dame; Landon Tenkhoff, freshman, Chaffee.

Those named to the All-Missourian softball team were Valerie Bahr, senior, Scott City; Leah Cauble, freshman, Oran; Kaileigh Dirden, fr., Scott City; Alexis Dock, senior, Kelly; Morgan Duschell, junior, Notre Dame; Madison Landeros, sophomore, Notre Dame; Mallorie Maintz, senior, Jackson; Grace Mirly, senior, Saxony Lutheran; Christina Scherer, senior, Notre Dame; Julia Sutterfield, senior, Chaffee; Sydney Walker, freshman, Chaffee; Sophie Wunderlich, junior, Jackson.

Those chosen for the All-Missourian girls soccer team were Kylie Bilek, senior, Perryville; Maddie Brune, senior, Saxony Lutheran; Megan Clippard, senior, Jackson; Corin Carroll, sophomore, St. Vincent; Tess Daniel, senior, Saxony Lutheran; Megan Heisserer, fr., Notre Dame; Faith Kapp, junior, St. Vincent; Grace Mirly, senior, Saxony Lutheran; Brianna Mueller, senior, Saxony Lutheran; Cassidi Tomsu, senior, Jackson; Lauren Welker, sophomore, Jackson; Logan Welker, senior, Saxony Lutheran.

And those named All-Missourian track and field were Chelsea Drum, senior, Jackson; Nicole Humphreys, junior, Jackson; Carli Knott, senior, Jackson; Katie Schumer, sophomore, Jackson; Alexus Walker, senior, Cape Girardeau Central; Cheyenne Wells, junior, Woodland; Maurice Davis, senior, Kelly; Rico Flye, senior, Cape Girardeau Central; Levi Krauss, senior, St. Vincent; Cole Schlief, senior, Woodland; Dakota Maddox, senior, Jackson; Logan Thomsen, junior, Woodland.

Playing sports takes more than just athletic ability. Also needed are the ability to put aside differences, to lift up teammates when they are down and to show sportsmanship. In addition, high-school athletes often are held to a high academic standard to ensure their education comes first. All of this culminates to create well-rounded adults.

Congratulations to these athletes and the schools they represent. We look forward to next season.