SportsJuly 9, 2016
Athletes, coaches honored during Third Annual Semoball Awards
Another year, another enchanting evening at Southeast Missouri's premier sports awards show. The top student-athletes from 57 high schools across the region came together for the Third Annual Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH on Saturday at Southeast Missouri State's River Campus, as Malden's Nick Thompson and Dexter's Makayla Waldner took home the top individual honors...
Another year, another enchanting evening at Southeast Missouri's premier sports awards show.
The top student-athletes from 57 high schools across the region came together for the Third Annual Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH on Saturday at Southeast Missouri State's River Campus, as Malden's Nick Thompson and Dexter's Makayla Waldner took home the top individual honors.
Thompson, who was a finalist for three different categories, was selected as the Male Athlete of the Year presented by SoutheastHEALTH. He was named the Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year after wrapping up his senior season with a pair of individual state titles in the shot put and discus at the Class 2 state meet. The Southeast Missouri State football signee was also the first player to be named a finalist in both football categories.
"I wasn't expecting this," Thompson said. "It's a humbling experience to get this award. I'm excited and grateful for it."
Waldner stood out on the track en route to being named the Female Athlete of the Year presented by SoutheastHEALTH. She took home honors as the Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year following a senior season in which she placed first at the Class 3 state meet in the 300-meter hurdles and finished third in the long jump and 100 hurdles. On top of that, Waldner earned a scholarship to play Division-I soccer with Mississippi State next season.
"I'm definitely stoked about it," said Waldner, who wasn't on hand to accept the award but watched the show through FaceTime with her mother, Kim. "I kind of wished I would've been able to walk across the stage and receive it, but I feel like after all my hard work this year, it paid off."
Cape Girardeau Central's Al Young became a two-time Football Offense Athlete of the Year. The standout wide receiver concluded a prolific senior year with 1,764 yards from scrimmage and 27 touchdowns on 153 touches, leading the Tigers to their third straight final four appearance. Young was last year's Male Athlete of the Year and will continue his playing career at Southeast.
"It means a lot," Young said. "Going into it, I had some tough competition. ... It's pretty tough to come out with this as a senior, and it feels great."
Steven Haley of Poplar Bluff was named the My Daddy's Cheesecake Football Defense Athlete of the Year after amassing a single-season school record 153 tackles -- 23 for loss -- as a starting linebacker for the Mules. Haley won the Moore Trophy, which is given annually to the top defensive player in the SEMO Conference, and will play at the college level for Southwest Baptist.
"These are the top athletes in Southeast Missouri. It's an honor to even be put up there with those names, especially to be picked out of all of them," Haley said. "I put in the work, but they all did, too, so it's a great honor, a great privilege to be here. And I thank God every day for it."
Saxony Lutheran's Brianna Mueller picked up her second straight award for Girls Basketball Athlete of the Year. She averaged 16.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game and shot 43 percent from 3-point range and 81 percent from the charity stripe in leading the Crusaders to a runner-up finish in Class 3. Mueller was the Female Athlete of the Year last year and has signed to play college basketball at Lindenwood University-Belleville.
"The feeling's still amazing," Mueller said. "I wasn't expecting it, and it's just such an honor. ... There's no words to describe it. I think it's a great way to end my career at Saxony, something cool to honor my school with and my coach."
Fred Thatch from Sikeston took home the top honors as the Crader Distributing and your local STIHL dealers Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year. The 6-foot-3 Thatch averaged a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds per game during a sophomore season in which the Bulldogs reached the Class 4 final four. He shot 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from long range and was named the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 4 Player of the Year.
The Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year went to St. Vincent's Levi Krauss, who concluded his final varsity season with a third-place finish in 17 minues, 3.11 seconds at the Class 1 state meet. Krauss was also a district champion with a time of 17:01 and was a finalist for Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.
"I'm so glad that I could get it done this year. ... It's great," Krauss said. "It's a nice way to end a senior year."
Carli Knott from Jackson was tabbed the Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year following an all-state finish in her senior season at the Class 4 state meet, placing eighth in 19:02.89. Knott finished sixth at sectionals (19:23.74) and was a district champion with a time of 19:16.81.
"I'm happy about it, just because it's a good way to end my senior year," said Knott, who's signed to compete at the college level next year with Southeast. "... I'm pretty happy about it."
The award for Golf Athlete of the Year went to Advance's Brian Whitson, who shot a 4-over 75 to finish second at an abbreviated Class 1 state meet. Whitson, who was also a starter on the Hornets' district champion basketball team, fired a 75 to be named the individual medalist in the small-school division at the SEMO Conference Tournament.
"This is my third year, and it's the first time I've won it," Whitson said. "When that screen goes across and says 'golf finalists,' it gets your heart pumping. My heart's pumping hard right now, and it's just an amazing feeling."
Portageville's Taylor Tiffany once again turned heads in the circle en route to being named the Softball Athlete of the Year for a second consecutive season. As a senior, Tiffany broke her own single-season strikeout record with 404, becoming the only pitcher in state history to top 400 strikeouts. She had a 25-4 record in the fall with a 0.42 ERA and only 21 walked batters. Her .421 batting average led the Bulldogs, who finished third in Class 2.
"I was nervous coming in," Tiffany said. "My heart's still pumping right now because this year there was a lot of good competition, but last year there was, too. It's awesome just to feel that and just know that all my hard work has paid off again this year."
Kameron Misner of Poplar Bluff batted .413 in his final high school season and picked up the award for the Ford & Sons Funeral Home Baseball Athlete of the Year. The SEMO Conference Player of the Year and Missouri signee had an on-base percentage of .542 with 25 RBIs, 36 runs scored and 29 stolen bases before being drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft on June 11. On the mound, we was 4-2 with 48 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.48.
Following a senior year in which she was named SEMO Conference Player of the Year, Notre Dame's Abbie McAlister tacked on an award for Volleyball Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1 middle blocker set a single-season school record with 493 kills. She also added 183 digs and 52 aces in leading Notre Dame to 32-4-2 record and a Class 3 District 1 championship.
"It feels amazing," McAlister said. "I was sitting there, and my heart was thumping really hard. When they said my name, I was like, 'That's a great accomplishment.' It feels good because all the finalists were really good."
Central's Brogan Davis earned a second straight award for the Boys Swimming Athlete of the Year. He concluded his sophomore season at the state meet by leading the way on the Tigers' 200 medley relay, which set a new state record with a first-place finish of 1:35.13. He also took second at state in the 100 butterfly (49.64) and fourth in the 100 backstroke (51.41), guiding the Tigers to a third-place finish in the team standings.
"It's pretty awesome," Davis said. "It's just really cool to win it two times. Hopefully I can go for three next year."
Taylor Norwood from Poplar Bluff wrapped up a productive sophomore campaign by being named the Girls Swimming Athlete of the Year. Norwood became the first swimmer to qualify for state in each individual event and was the MVP of the Show-Me Conference Championship. She placed seventh at the state meet in both the 200 individual medley (2:09.73) and the 200 butterfly (58.12).
"I'm just so happy to even be here," Norwood said. "The atmosphere here is just amazing. I've trained really hard this year, and I really just wanted this award. So I'm happy."
Jackson's Jake Byrd claimed honors for the Wrestling Athlete of the Year after placing fourth at the Class 4 State Championships. The 126-pounder was also a conference champion during a senior year in which he finished with a 52-7 record. Byrd will continue his wrestling career at the next level with Drury College.
"I was kind of astonished, to be honest, since [teammate] Carson [McCord] was in his third time coming back," Byrd said. "We were all pretty even, all the finalists, so it just came down to whatever the pick was."
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The Girls Soccer Athlete of the Year was Saxony Lutheran's Maddie Brune, who scored the lone goal that gave the Crusaders their second straight Class 1 state crown. The standout midfielder finished her senior year with 18 goals and 17 assists en route to being named the Class 1 Player of the Year. She'll continue playing at the Division-I level with Troy University.
"This is the first time that I've been able to be a part of the Semoball Awards," said Brune, who tore her medial collateral ligament early in the season a year ago. "Just to come back from that injury and win this means the world to me."
Another star midfielder was named the Boys Soccer Athlete of the Year, as Perryville's Kyle Wood became the third straight Pirate to win the award. Wood, a Jefferson College signee, earned honors as the conference player of the year and was a first team all-state selection following a senior year that included 15 goals and 13 assists. Perryville finished runner-up in Class 2.
"It's an amazing experience," Wood said. "The season's been over for about six to eight months, and to still be getting awards for that is remarkable."
Hadley Hilburn from Kennett concluded an impressive junior year with a 23-4 record en route to being named the Girls Tennis Athlete of the Year. Hilburn, the Indians' No. 1 singles player, is a three-time district champion and has qualified for state in as many years. She upended fellow finalist Carly Hopkins of Notre Dame in two of their three matches this season.
"I'm just really excited," Hilburn said. "I've come here every year with my hopes up. I was excited this year to be here, but I was like, 'Am I going to win?' Whenever they called my name, I was very excited."
Poplar Bluff's Humza Siddiqui garnered the award for the Blattner Endodontic Care Boys Tennis Athlete of the Year, finishing his junior year with a 12-9 record in singles play. Despite late-season injuries, Siddiqui went 2-2 in the postseason and was a singles champion at the Poplar Bluff Invitational.
"I wasn't expecting it at all, I really wasn't," Siddiqui said. "It feels really good. It's good to go on stage in front of everybody and be recognized. It's hard work paying off."
Legendary Scott County Central basketball coach Ronnie Cookson was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Cookson won more than 700 games during his coaching career, which spans more than four decades at SCC. He led the Braves to a state-record 15 state titles while also upstarting the girls program, leading them to seven state championships.
"I know I sound like an ol' country boy, but I can't help it," Cookson said. "I appreciate it. I want to thank my wife and especially my brother, which got us started coaching over at Advance, and I really enjoyed it. And he helped me a lot."
Another longtime basketball coach nabbed the SEMO ESPN Coach of the Year, as Keenan Buchanan of Gideon picked up the award. Despite a midseason health scare, Buchanan led the Bulldogs' boys basketball team to its first appearance in the final four in addition to serving as the school's principal, athletic director and baseball coach. Gideon finished third in Class 1.
"It's all about the team," Buchanan said. "I had great athletes, good kids. They worked hard all year and were dedicated, and they showed up every time we had practice. You're only as good as your kids are, and I had a great bunch of kids this year, a very special year for us."
Poplar Bluff's Shelbey Johnson was named the St. Louis Cardinals Comeback Athlete of the Year after missing almost all of the 2015 season due to bleeding on her brain. She returned as a sophomore in the spring to set single-season school records in both goals and assists while guiding the Mules to a district title.
"It means a lot because coming back from that, I didn't think I'd have as good of a season as I had this year," Johnson said. "I hope next year I can have just as good of a season."
Tyler Battles of Bloomfield took home the Athlon Sports Best in Sportsmanship award. The school's first four-sport athlete, Battles epitomized sportsmanship following a game against Campbell, during which he was manhandled and fouled but approached the players responsible after the game to shake hands and graciously accept an apology. Battles was also the student body president and an academic standout.
"It's pretty exciting," Battles said. "I didn't think I was going to get it. There were a bunch of great contestants there for sportsmanship, and I'm really honored to be picked for this."
Perryville's Emma Nelson scored a 36 on her ACT, graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was her class salutatorian en route to garnering honors as the First Midwest Bank Female Scholar Athlete. An accomplished violinist and saxophonist, Nelson was a three-sport athlete for the Pirates, captaining the soccer and softball teams and earning all-district nods in both. She'll attend college at the University of Chicago.
"It's incredible," Nelson said. "It's just one last thing to add on to the list of high school accolades, and it's an amazing opportunity."
Graduating as his class valedictorian with an 11.5 GPA on an 11-point scale, Bell City's Peyton Maddox took home honors as the First Midwest Bank Male Scholar Athlete. Maddox was a key contributor on three Cubs teams, including the baseball team that won its second straight state title, and was a member of a number of student organizations. He plans to major in business management while playing baseball at Crowley's Ridge College.
"It feels amazing," Maddox said. "It feels like my heart's about to beat out of my chest right now."
A runner-up finish in football, a third-place finish in softball and Thompson's two individual state titles propelled Malden to its first Semoball Cup. The Green Wave finished with 170.67 points, overtaking Bell City in second (136.53), Saxony in third (126.06) and two-time defending Cup winner Notre Dame in fourth (120.17) in the standings.
The Semoball Cup is awarded to the school with the most outstanding sports program based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams, plus bonus points for advancing in postseason play for both teams and individuals. The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields, making it possible for both large and small schools to compete together.
"To me, it all starts in the weight room," said Malden football coach Joel Wyatt, who accepted the award alongside several athletes from the school. "That's the one thing we kind of hang our hat on is just being a blue-collar school and going to work every day in the weight room. I tell our kids, 'That's the difference-maker.' We're not going to take any days off in there, even on game days.
"That goes for the girls, too. They've bought into it, and that's really been the key to our success. It starts right there in the weight room."
The rustmedia Best Fans award was won by Bloomfield, which edged out Sikeston in the fan voting. Noah Vandiver, who represented the Wildcats as a finalist in boys basketball, was on hand to accept the award.
"The fans stuck by us all year," said Vandiver, whose boys basketball team reached the Class 2 final four. "The last two years, we haven't done so good, but they stuck with us. We had a great run in basketball this year and went to state. They all came out to Columbia to watch us play. We went all the way up to Farmington and saw all that purple, and it felt like a home game to us."
ESPN contributor Mark Schlereth delivered an inspiring keynote speech, one that struck a chord with Semoball Awards event manager Lucas Presson.
"It was just a fantastic night," Presson said. "Mark Schlereth had an awesome message, a message about not giving up. ... I think that's a message that a lot of athletes need to hear and a lot of grown-ups need to hear that despite challenges, you've got to push through them."
Presson was also extremely pleased with the contributions from the event's numerous sponsors, all of which make the awards show possible.
"Thanks to our sponsors that make this possible," Presson said. "I can't say enough about them. A night like this doesn't happen without fantastic sponsors, including our presenting sponsor SoutheastHEALTH and all the others that make this possible -- First Midwest Bank, Athlon Sports, SEMO ESPN Radio, rustmedia, the St. Louis Cardinals and so many more.
"I think the athletes are really enjoying this night. They're taking it in even a little more before they leave. It just goes to show you that it's a great show that recognizes the best of the best."
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