Jackson, ND soccer players selected all-state

Jackson senior Molly Hartmann earned Class 2 first-team all-state honors for the third straight season as the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association recently released its all-state list.

Hartmann led the area in scoring, as Jackson won its fourth straight district title this season. According to unofficial statistics, Hartmann finished with 30 goals and 20 assists. With her 30 goals, Hartmann moved into third-place on the state career goals list with 132.

Hartmann will continue her soccer career at St. Louis University.

Her sister, Lucy Hartmann, a junior defender for Jackson, was selected second-team all-state. Lucy Hartmann had four goals during her junior season.

Jackson finished 15th in the final top 15 poll.

Notre Dame also landed two players on the Class 1 all-state squad. Senior midfielder Lauren Mehner made first-team, while sophomore forward Meridith Medlin made second-team. Mehner had 12 goals and four assists, while Medlin had 12 goals and 11 assists.

Notre Dame was ranked 10th in the final top 10 poll.

Area rodeo athletes to compete in national finals

Delta and Advance will each send two rodeo athletes to the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo., which begins July 18.

Top four finishers in events at the state finals qualified for the national event.

Marty Berry, a 2005 graduate, and Beth Griffin will represent Advance. Berry was the cutting champion at the Missouri High School State Rodeo Finals in Columbia, Mo., June 16 to 18.

Griffin will compete in pole bending, an event she won in Columbia, and barrel racing.

Brent Menz, who recently signed to compete for the University of Tennessee-Martin's rodeo team, and Jerry Seabaugh will represent Delta.

Menz was the All-Around Cowboy for 2004-2005 after winning the bullriding competition, along with second-place finishes in team roping and steer wrestling and third-place finishes in calf roping and saddle bronc at the state rodeo finals.

Jerry Seabaugh will compete in bullriding.

In all, there will be more than 1,600 students competing from 38 states, four Canadian provinces, as well as Australia.

Wrestling state championships to change sites

The state wrestling finals are following the example of basketball and will move to Mizzou Arena for the upcoming season.

More space was needed with the addition of a fourth class last season. The state wrestling championships had been held at the Hearnes Center the past 31 years.

The move to Mizzou Arena might be temporary, with only a one-year deal in place.

The championship is scheduled for Feb. 16 to 18.

Volleyball adds libero position for upcoming season

High school volleyball in Missouri will usher in a new rule change this year with the addition of the libero position, which is used at the college level.

The libero position is a defensive position which is signified by the use of a distinct, contrasting jersey. The use of a libero is optional.