Author: perry@perryphillipsinsurance.com

   

The number six story takes us to Hollister.  2023 saw the end of the high school career of one the of most accomplished athletes in Hollister High School History.  

   Whether it was basketball of golf, Garrett Snyder knew how to put the ball in the hole.  His senior campaign on the hardwood saw him become the schools all-time leading scorer passing the 1500 point mark along the way.  He was named All-State for his accomplishments.

   When time on the hardwood was done, he made his way to the links.  And, once again was one of the best in Southwest Missouri.  He was a multi-time state qualifier.  

  Luckily he has not gone far as he is currently playing basketball for Steve Shepherd at College of the Ozarks.

 

   It was another great year for Forsyth Baseball.  The Panthers won 20 games on the season that saw them win their District Tournament and advance to the State Playoffs.

   The Panthers were exceptionally good in May.   Forsyth won their first  eight games of the month, not losing until they fell to Licking in the State Quarterfinals.   That Licking team would go on the win the State Title.

     My number eight story takes us to College of the Ozarks.  

  The start of this school year saw the Cats and Lady Cats return to the NAIA and the Lady Cat Volleyball team took advantage of the opportunity and qualified for the National Championships.  

  It was also a year that saw coach Stacy Muckenthaler pick up win #200.  Thats a huge milestone for the coach, in her tenth year leading the program.

 

   My #9 Story takes us to Reeds Spring Football.  Chris Daniels had a night for the ages when the Wolves visited Marshfield.  

  The senior running back had eclipsed 200 yards by the half and had the single game school rushing record well within his sights.  By the time the game came to an end he had obliterated the old mark.  His line for the night:  34 carries 373 yards and 3TDs and to be honest, he could have had more…  Best of all the Wolves got a 63-44 win on the night.

  In all the offense garnered 465 yards on the ground scoring 5 TDs, they threw for another 202 yards and 4 more scores.  667 yards of total offense.

   Time again for my top ten local sports stories of 2023…  

 For #10, we go to Branson.   What a fall it has been for Dane Efird.  The junior multi-sport star displayed his golden leg on both the football field and the soccer pitch.  

On the football field he drilled a 51-yard Field Goal against State Runner Up Republic and he hit the overtime field goal vs Glendale that sent the Pirates to the District Semifinals.  For his success he was named All-Conference, All Distict, All-Area, All- Ozarks, and first team All-State.  

  As if that was not enough, he is one of the leaders of the Branson Soccer team as well.  Yes, the sports take place simultaneously.  But, that does not seem to bother the very busy, Efird.

  On the pitch he was just as dominate.  Earning All-Conference, All-Region, and All-District recognition

    Its National Signing period, the time that high school athletes that are going to compete at the next level, put pen to paper and pledge themselves to a school of higher learning.  For a Reeds Spring Volleyballer that means heading to Ft Scott, Kansas.

    Yesterday afternoon, Hannah Rogers signed a National Letter of Intent to take her volleyball talents to Ft Scott Community College.  Surrounded by family and friends, the Lady Wolves all-time assists leader made it official.  She helped lead a Lady Wolf team that won 13 matches this past season including a victory in the opening round of District Play.

HannahRogersSign  (click on link to hear interview with Rogers)

  FSCC is part of the NJCAA and competes in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.

 

  Blandy Burrell owns every passing record possible at Reeds Spring high school and continues to add those totals each week.  The senior quarterback has added another honor to his resume.  The Big 8 East Coaches have selected him as the Offensive Player of the Year.  Its the second consecutive year the Burrell has received the award.

Wolves and Tigers named All-Conference

REEDS SPRING

Blandy Burrell  1st Team Quarterback

James Dowdy  1st Team Receiver and 1st Team Defensive Back

Sebastian Michaud 1st Team Tackle and 2nd Team Linebacker

Spencer Michaud 1st Team Defensive Tackle and 2nd Team Guard

Lucas Wattenbarger 1st Team Defensive End HM Tackle

Chris Daniels 2nd Team Running Back

Miguel Campos 2nd Team Kicker

Dan Fliflet  2nd Team Tight End 2nd Team Linebacker

Jaden Turner HM Center

Nathan Mitchell  HM receiver

Jace Bolin  HM Running Back

Zach Preston HM Defensive Back

HOLLISTER

Noah Richardson 1st Team Tight End 1st Team Defensive Tackle

Tyler Carpenter HM Guard

Zech Honey HM Running Back

Johan Charlton HM Linebacker

Bryson Whitman HM Defensive Back HM Returner

    Wolves and Tigers will enter District Playoffs this Friday Night.  Reeds Spring will host East Newton while Hollister will travel to Mt Vernon.

    What a crazy few weeks it has been.  Now that the final shoe has dropped and the formation of the Ozark Mountain Conference has been announced I feel I can finally comment.  I will always error on the side of caution and “be late” reporting things if I learn them in confidence or in my role of being on the school board.  

   But, things will certain look different on the areas Sports Scene next year.  Reeds Spring and Hollister will be joined by Springfield Catholic as new members of the Mid-Lakes Conference.  That league currently consists of Forsyth, Fair Grove, Strafford, Clever, and Skyline.  This will be an extremely competitive league for both the Wolves and Tigers and will cut down on travel significantly.  As I stated in the original press release:

“The Mid-Lakes Conference offers an athletic environment that will challenge our athletes, showcase their talents, and provide valuable life lessons on and off the field,” said Reeds Spring School Board President Perry Phillips. “This will also reduce our travel time to and from games, which benefits our students and their families. We have enjoyed our time in the Big 8 Conference and the relationships we have developed.  Though we may no longer be in the same league, we hope some of those connections will continue for years.”

  The rest of the puzzle was made public this morning as the Ozark Mountain Conference announced its founding members would include: Branson, Bolivar, Logan-Rogersville, Marshfield, West Plains, and Carl Junction.   The Piratres, Liberators, Wildcats, and Blue Jays were all members of the Central Ozark Conference for years.  Log-Rog and Marshfield have most recently been part of the Big 8 East.

  For now it looks like the Big 8 will go back to a single division and have 9 teams.

   One of the things to look forward to locally is that the already intense rivalry between Forsyth and Hollister will now be taken up a notch, now that they are in the same league.  And, they will have a chance to meet on the Football field for the first time.  That will be a hot ticket.

  I personally look forward to some of the matchups we will see in the new league…  It will be a very competitive football league, baseball will be extremely solid.  You wont find a better girls basketball conference anywhere, and boys basketball is stacked with quality programs.  I could go on, but you get the idea, there are some exciting challenges ahead.

 

     Another Basketball season in the books for our area teams.  Some memorable performances by some special student athletes made it another incredible year.     I have made my annual selections.  As always, this is done in fun.  Never meaning to slight anyone and is completely done by the eye test, as I don’t go back and look at stats.  Here are my choices, congrats to all:

 

                                                                                   Girls                                     Boys

 

Youngin of the Year(frosh/soph)        KAYLEE WILSON              TANNER BAIRD                   

 

Keep an Eye On                              KYLIE FITZWATER                     JADEN TURNER          

 

My Final Shot                                  KAYLEE WILSON                      GARRETT SNYDER

 

Best Floor General:                   SAVANAH KOEN                              LOGAN ISBELL                         

 

Underrated:                                HAILEY HOBBS                                      JACE CULVER

 

Straight out Player                      TAYLOR FOSTER                                  RYDER BLEVINS

 

Defend 2 win                              RYLIE HAGSTON                                  MALACHI HENRY

 

Not About Me                           MACY SANDERS                                   GARRETT SNYDER

6^TH MAN                                        LINDSAY ESSARY                              ETHAN WRIGHT 

Coach of the Year                      JEFF DISHMAN                                     PETE LEONARD

     

Player of the Year                     SAMANTHA GEORGE                         GARRETT SNYDER                    

 

   Whether its football, basketball, or baseball.  If you have attended a Hollister game in the past four years you know the name.  And while he has been an important asset on the Gridiron and on the court, the baseball field is where Ethan Wright thrives.

    On Wednesday he signed a National Letter of Intent to further his baseball and academic careers at Oklahoma Wesleyan in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  College of the Ozarks fans know the school well.  For years they are rivals in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference.  

  Wright has been a vital part of Hollister baseball and its recent success.  During their Final Four run he was unexpectedly thrown into duty, first as a Catcher and finally settling at first base.  Last year he moved back behind the plate, after the graduation of Cole Jones.  And a lot is expected out to Wright and the Tigers this spring as well.

WrightInt  Click on Link to hear my interview with Ethan