CENTRAL HONORS ITS TOP ATHLETES

When a female athlete begins her athletic career at Cape Central High School, the name and story of Darla Pannier is likely mentioned to the youngster.

Nicole Thiele knows all about Pannier and Tuesday night during the Central all-school recognition banquet at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, Thiele received two awards in Pannier's honor.

Thiele, an exceptional four-sport athlete for the Lady Tigers, won a $1,000 scholarship in Pannier's name and the Darla Pannier Award given to the female athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of citizenship, scholarship and athletics.

Pannier, who starred for the Lady Tigers basketball team from 1985-88, died in a 1989 car accident.

"The Darla Pannier Award means very much to me," said Thiele. "I've read about her and watched her play. I just think she's the greatest. This award is what I've been aiming for since I've been at Central."

Thiele, who starred for Central in softball, basketball, track and soccer, earned a basketball scholarship to John A. Logan Junior College and hopes to be playing Division I in a few years.

"I'd love to go to a Division I school anywhere," Thiele said. "I was aiming for SEMO, but if I get a better offer (somewhere else) then I'll be very happy too."

Thiele also won the first ever St. Francis Medical Center/Southeast Missouri State University Award as the top female athlete in the area.

Ben Chisman was a surprise winner of the Lou W. Muegge Award which goes to the top male athlete. Chisman, a three-sport standout in track, cross country and swimming, was flattered an individual sport athlete won the award.

"I had no idea I was going to get such a big honor," Chisman said. "Typically individual sport athletes don't get this. I think the last winner from an individual sport was five years ago, so this is a big change and big honor."

Chisman plans to study engineering at Ole Miss University and walk on to the cross country program.

Elizabeth Kunz earned the female scholar-athlete award for her dedication in the classroom and in athletics. Kunz earned a perfect 11.0 GPA in her four years at Central while participating in basketball and track.

"It was hard to balance them both but I don't think I could have done well in one without the other," said Kunz. "I always wanted to do well in my athletics to make sure I was a well-rounded person. I didn't want to just be known for my brain."

Kunz, an all-state high jumper, hopes to keep her scholar-athlete description at the University of Missouri. Kunz, who earned an academic scholarship, plans to join the track team at Mizzou.

Jeremy Driskell, a senior member of the Central tennis team, won the male scholar-athlete award. After receiving a "B" in English as a freshman, Driskell never faltered again in the classroom to record a 10.9348 GPA.

"I don't like English," joked Driskell. "After that I really worked hard and ended up with the top GPA of a male that played a sport."

Driskell, who also carries a 197 average in bowling, will study chemistry at Truman State University in Kirksville.