McDonald, neels win Central's top awards

Central seniors Megan McDonald and Darren Neels won the school's top athlete awards last week.

McDonald won the Darla Pannier award; Neels won the Lou Muegge award.

McDonald was a four-year letterwinner in basketball, soccer and softball.

"That's about as many as you can get," Central athletic director Darrick Smith said of McDonald's 12 varsity letters.

A pitcher, McDonald was all-sate in softball her senior season. Playing point guard in basketball, she was the SEMO Conference player of the year this past season. She will attend Southeast Missouri State University in the fall and play softball on a full scholarship

Neels was a starting lineman for three years, helping the Tigers to district titles each season. He was all-conference and all-district in football. He also was all-state in the discus his junior year, and he won the Class 4 District 1 title in the event on Saturday. Neels will attend Southeast on an academic scholarship and will try to join the football team as a walk-on.

Both McDonald and Neels belong to the National Honor Society.

The awards are based on citizenship, scholarship and athletics.

"They're two excellent athletes," Smith said. "They're epitome of what we want our student-athletes to be. They were good in the classroom and good on the field."

Kelly FCA chapter honors 3The Kelly High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes honored three spring sports athletes for sportsmanship, leadership and Christian attitude in practice, games or meets and school.

Track athletes Michael Glastetter and Rachel Kline and baseball player Trey Simmons were chosen for the awards.

Glastetter qualified for the Class 2 state meet in the high jump. He also ran the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters and a leg on the 1,600 relay at times this spring.

"He's got just about more guts than anybody I've ever seen," said Kelly track coach Marty Powers.

Kline competed in high jumps and sprints for the Kelly girls.

Simmons is the lone senior on the Kelly baseball team and a four-year member of the squad. Simmons is a pitcher and first baseman.

The athletes were honored Wednesday.

More girls district trackScott City standout Loren Groves will be joined by a few teammates Friday and Saturday for the Class 2 state meet in Jefferson City,

Groves, who won the discus with a throw of 153 feet 8 inches and also had three other wins in Saturday's district meet, will have teammates Angie Laxton (second in the 1,600 and 3,200), Christy Laxton (second in the 800) and Megan Eaton (second in the 400) joining her at state. Scott City also has district-winning entries for the 1,600 and 3,200 relays.

Scott City finished third in its district.

More boys district trackSaxony Lutheran, competing in its first district meet, had five state qualifiers for Class 1.

Most impressive was Brandon Etzold, who won the 3,200 meters and finished second in the 1,600 meters for Saxony. He was ran an interesting leg for Saxony Lutheran's runner-up 1,600-meter relay team with Grant Lehmann, Trey Maevers and Alex Jauch.

"His two-mile time was a personal record," Saxony coach Larry Cleair said of Etzold's 11-minute run in the 3,200. "He lost his shoe in the relay and still gained time. He ran a great 300 meters without his shoe. We're real proud of him.

"Grant is our anchor and he closed it out for us and did a great job."

Lehmann also gained individual honors, finishing second in the 400 dash; and Maevers was second in the high jump.

Tennis season endsThe Central tennis team saw its season end prematurely at the Class 2 district tournament it hosted.

The Tigers lost all four of their entries in the quarterfinal round -- the top two advance to state -- and came up short of sending the team to sectional by a narrow margin -- the fourth tiebreaker in the state book.

"It's the first time in several years we were unable to get anyone to state or qualify for sectionals," Central coach Bud Craven said. "You wish somebody would have qualified for state, but we had a solid season and we're very proud."