Semoball Awards: Jackson’s Katie Waller wins Girls Basketball Athlete of the Year

After an impressive season on the court, Jackson’s Katie Waller was honored with the My Daddy’s Cheesecake Girls Basketball Athlete of the Year award at the 2023 Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH on Friday, July 14, at LaCroix Church in Cape Girardeau.

Waller and the Indians finished the season 21-8 and made a run to the Class 6 State Tournament.

Waller said she was shocked when she heard her name called as the winner.

“I was up against so many amazing athletes,” Waller said. “The competition was really strong. I was a nominee last year where I was a lot younger with less experience. To win is just so surreal to me and a huge honor.”

The field featured some of the top talent in the region and Waller said she’s “proud” of everyone who was nominated.

“It’s not something you should take lightly,” Waller said. “It just makes me feel really good to win this award.”

The senior campaign for Waller saw many successes, but she said her favorite of all of them was reaching 1,000 career points. She accomplished that feat on Feb. 16 against New Madrid County Central.

“It was such a major moment in my basketball career,” Waller said. “Being able to win districts with this team was really cool.”

Waller graduated from Jackson High School in May and she will not be continuing her basketball career. Instead, she will attend Southeast Missouri State University to pursue a degree in nursing.

While it hasn’t completely sunk in that her basketball career is over, Waller said later in the year it will.

“It has sunk in a little bit,” Waller said. “It will probably get worse as it goes on.”

Waller said there are countless things she will miss about being in the Indians’ program.

“I’ll really miss my teammates,” Waller said. “I’ll miss the feeling of the ball going through the net. That’s my favorite feeling in the world.”

The Indians will look to replace not only Waller’s scoring ability but also her defensive ability and leadership both on and off the court as they prepare for the 2023-24 season.