Todd, Zgaynor are PB Athletes of the Month for November

There’s no greater feeling for a student-athlete than being recognized for their outstanding work ethic and achievements.

The Mules Booster Club recently named Kennedy Zgaynor and Carson Todd of Poplar Bluff High School the November Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.

Each month, the Mules Booster Club selects two athletes who have most effectively demonstrated their abilities in the classroom, in their conduct and in teamwork, and both athletes have exemplified it perfectly.

Todd, a senior swimmer, has broken four individual school records this season, including the 50 and 100 freestyle during the COMO Invitational in Columbia and the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke during the Springfield Invitational.

He has also broken three school records as a member of the 200 medley relay and the 200 and 400 freestyle relay. Todd is the first boys swim athlete to qualify for state in four individual events and three relays. In the classroom, he is ranked among the top 30 of his class, with a weighted grade-point average of 4.0.

Poplar Bluff swim coach Kyler Sowell said he couldn’t ask for a better player to win this accolade than Todd.

“As a team captain, he constantly inspires and unites his teammates, leading through words and actions,” Sowell said. “Carson consistently goes above and beyond, dedicating countless hours to training and overcoming challenges with unwavering determination.”

Sowell added Todd is an outstanding athlete, a symbol of leadership, a paragon of hard work and a quality individual who enriches the lives of those around him.

While Todd was breaking records in the pool, Zgaynor portrayed some solid play on the softball field for the Lady Mules.

Zgaynor led offensively during the current season with a .421 batting average, .515 on-base percentage, .754 slugging percent and 1.269 on-base + slugging (OPS). She connected for eight doubles, three home runs, 12 extra-base hits, 43 total bases, a 98.25% contact percentage and the fewest number of strikeouts with only one.

She also led the team in every defensive category, including 74 total chances, a .973 fielding percentage, 69 putouts, three assists and four double plays. Similar to her hard work in the field, Zgaynor has done the same in the classroom by maintaining an 11.0 GPA this semester.

“She has worked through adversity and continued to perform in high-level coursework in class,” Poplar Bluff softball coach Aaron Duncan said. “She played in two fewer games than her teammates but still led the team in each defensive category and nearly every offensive category as well. She’s very consistent on the field with her above-average play and kept a calm demeanor in the dugout."

Duncan said besides making difficult plays at shortstop and being a very tough out at the plate, Zgaynor is the ideal role model for student-athletes and someone every coach wants on their team.