Eagle Ridge continues to expand athletics

Eagle Ridge Christian School may not be a part of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, but that has not limited it from trying to build a strong and diverse athletics program.

For the first time next year, Eagle Ridge will offer boys soccer in the fall, as well as baseball and possibly fast-pitch softball or soccer for girls in the spring.

Athletic director Tony Hammack said he's excited to see the athletics program grow, and feels it will really benefit the school.

"You give people more choices," he said. "With offering multiple sports that will help our sports program. It just helps everything. It helps the school for enrollment, and it gives us more diversity."

With an enrollment of about 40 to 50 students in grades 9 through 12, Eagle Ridge will likely use some junior high students for the soccer team. While a coach for the team has not yet been chosen, the team will likely play games against some St. Louis teams, as well as rival New Salem Baptist in Marble Hill, Mo.

"The kids are real excited about it," Hammack said of the soccer program. "We have a lot of kids that played through CAYSA and in Jackson."

With volleyball and boys and girls basketball already established, Eagle Ridge should have a sport available for each genre at all times next year. This past spring, Eagle Ridge offered co-ed softball and had good participation.

"I'm really excited about our program," Hammack said. "It's an excellent program."

While the number of sports at Eagle Ridge has grown, unfortunately its scheduling options have not. A proposal which would have allowed non-MSHSAA schools to play MSHSAA schools barely failed to pass at the annual MSHSAA spring election.

"I was kind of hoping that would pass to give us more options," Hammack said.

As for becoming a MSHSAA member, Hammack said a boost in the schools enrollment would probably rekindle a move in that direction.

Soccer honors announced Notre Dame's girls soccer team made its second straight trip to the final four this season and the post-season recognition is starting to fall its way.

Lauren Mehner received all-region player of the year after leading the Bulldogs in scoring. Notre Dame swept the other all-region awards: Sierra Ellis received offensive player of the year; Kristen Boos earned defensive player of the year; Katie Palmer was selected goalkeeper of the year; and Jeff Worley was named coach of the year.

Other all-region Bulldogs included Emily Buehrle, Megan Holloway, Amanda Dirnberger and Jesse Westrich. St. Vincent had a pair of all-region players in Whitney Guth and Theresa Mattingly. Perryville was represented by Ashly Hadler, Amber Hacker and Chris Schremp.

Notre Dame also dominated the all-district list, with eight first-team members. Ellis, Boos, Buehrle, Holloway, Palmer, Mehner, Dirnberger and Westrich all made the first team. Hacker, Schremp and Hadler once again represented Perryville, while Guth and Mattingly made the first team for St. Vincent.

All-district baseball announced

Notre Dame placed two players on the all-district baseball team which was recently announced.

Matt Wulfers and Lee Essner made the all-district team. Shaun Roth of Perryville also made the team.