Breaking: Semoball Awards fall sports finalists 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."

Guests take photos with the Semoball Awards signage at the 2023 event held at La Croix Church. This year's show will be held Friday, July 12. Tony Capobianco ~ Southeast Missourian

__Fall highlights__

The 2023 football season saw two teams finish in the state semifinals. St. Vincent won their 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

__Boy’s 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

PJ 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