Author: perry@perryphillipsinsurance.com

When talking about the most dominate sports program in the area the past few years, it is one that doesn’t get a lot of press.  We have had teams have success for a year or two but when it gets down to it, nothing currently compares to the Blue Eye Cross-Country Programs.

The Blue Eye Girls have a State Championship, A State Runners-Up, and a State Sixth place finish.  The Boys have a fifth and two State Runners-Up finishes in that same time period.

And, neither team looks to have any fall back this year.  On the girls side: Riley Arnold will be looking to move into rarified air.  She will be gunning for her Fourth Consecutive Individual Cross-Country State Championship.  She will likely be joined by her twin sister, Avery, who finished second in 2018 and 2019, before missing last season with an injury.  Three time All-Stater Braylynn Siercks is also back.  In fact, the entire Varsity team from last year will be back for the Lady Bulldogs

For the Boys: Ryan Cardenzana leads the way.  He finished fourth at the State Meet, last year after a third place finish in 2019.  Jadon Weaver returns as well, as do all seven of the Bulldogs Varsity Members.

The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs will open their season by running in the SouthWest Missouri Cross-Country Coaches Meet on Sep 04th.  There will be plenty of chances to see them run in the area.  They will be taking part in meets at Branson and Hollister, as well as hosting the SWCL Meet.

You can’t blame Coach Jacob Thompson-Krug if he is a little excited about this season.

This is an article that I have put off writing.  Really, there is not a good reason.  I guess there is a small part of me that thought, maybe if I didn’t write about it, then maybe it wouldn’t happen or perhaps he would change his mind.

Sometime in the next few weeks, Chris Funk will coach his last game as the leader of the Reeds Spring baseball program.  This winter, Funk made the decision to step down, as head baseball coach, effective the end of this season.  He will remain a teacher in the district.

Coach Funk knew I would hear about it quickly.  Being on the Board of Education, his resignation would show up in board business.  However, he wanted to make sure I heard from him instead of my board packet, and he called me.  That is how Chris is.  Over the years I have broadcast countless Wolves baseball games.. And there has not been one single time that Coach Funk did not come up to me and thank me for being there.  That is not necessary but that is Chris Funk.

Coaches around the area have the upmost respect for Coach Funk.  “You always know that a Funk coached team is going to do things right” said one coach.  Another, “I have received some recognition over the years, and I have been blessed, but I tell you truly, if Chris Funk had the constant influx of talent that I have had, there is no telling what all he could do.”

Josh Cherry, a former player, said ” Coach Funk was always intense and in tune with the game, no matter the score.  He was able  to connect with his players on a personal level and impact their lives off the field as much as on it.”

Anyone that has heard me speak knows that I love to win, but more than that I love to see growth in our students.  To me, one of the most important things a coach can do is help our students become better citizens off the field.  If they can help them become better husbands and fathers in the future. its hard to think of a much more crucial task.  Chris Funk has done that for the last 18 years.

There are a lot of memories of Coach Funk led teams at Reeds Spring.  One of my favorites is actually a game they lost.  District Championship game at Mt Vernon.  It was an extra inning thriller that had twist and turns though out the afternoon and into the evening.  It capped off a very emotional week in which the Wolves had lost one of their own.  But, as much as anytime it showed the Pack coming together as one.  It showed an important leader in front of it all.

The Program is going to be fine.  We are lucky to have Jason Reinsch coming in to take over.  He will do a great job and I do look forward to working with him.  And, its not like Coach Funk is going anywhere, he will still be a Wolf.  But, things will no doubt be different.  There is only ONE Chris Funk, and I will miss seeing that dude in the dugout.

To Amanda, Macie, and Tate:  Thanks for sharing him with us.

                          Here are my choices for the 2020-2021 Perry Awards.  A reminder that these come from the eye test only.  I do not use stats or anything “solid” to help.  Also, keep in mind that I do see some teams more than others.  That could be an advantage or a detriment.  Its all in fun, anyway.  It was a fun year.  So happy to see the kids compete, with all that has been going on.          There are a few players that I would like to have included, a couple that could have easily been named in more than one category.  But, in the end, this is what I settled on…  Thank everyone for another great year.                                 

                                                                                             Girls                                     Boys

 

Youngin of the Year(frosh/soph)       SAVANAH KOEN-FOR          GARRETT SNYDER-HOLLISTER                   

 

Keep an Eye On                          MACKENZIE HAMILTON-HOL        PILOT ASCONE-BRANSON          

 

My Final Shot                                    BUG BAILEY-HOLLISTER            TY COOPER-REEDS SPRING

 

Best Floor General:                           RILEY ARNONLD-BE                   COLE JONES-HOLLISTER

 

Underrated:                                    KYLA WAREN-BE                       TANNER HIRSCHI-REEDS SPRING 

 

Straight out Player                      SCARLETT TEXEIRA-FOR              KYLE SCHARBROUGH-BRANSON

 

Defend 2 win                                   AVERY ARNOLD-BE                       BRADY PETERSON-HOLLISTER              

 

Not About Me                           TRINITY SULLINGER-FOR                         ISAIAH MITCHELL-BE

 

Coach of the Year                           KEN ELFRINK                                           PETE LEONARD

 

Player of the Year                    BUG BAILEY-HOLLISTER                         JOSH BARLOW-HOLLISTER                    

With the close nit group of seniors at Hollister High School, it was only fitting that three of them share a special day.  Konner Hatfield, Cole Jones, and Colby Teaster signed their respective National Letters of Intent to make their college choices official.

Hatfield has chosen to play football at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.  While many thought the guy, thought of as perhaps, the best outfielder in the area would pick baseball, its the gridiron that is the choice for Hatfield.

HatfieldSigning (press link for interview with Konner)

Hatfield was not the only one that surprised me with the sport he chose.  Back at the start of basketball season, I made the remark that Jones would be singing a LOI sometime this winter.  Well I got that right, but I also remarked that he had to decide which BASEBALL program he wanted to be a part of.  The Tiger Guard has decided that he wants his basketball career to continue and he will be heading to Lindenwood University to do just that.  The leadership skills and work ethic of Jones make him one special dude…

JonesSigning  (click link for interview with Cole)

Teaster did not surprise with the sport he chose, although, he is a multi sport athlete as well.  The College of the Ozarks is his choice to further his baseball and academic careers.  Coach Neil Richardson is getting a good one.  Great baseball IQ  and a willingness to do what is needed make Teaster a great get for the Bobcats…..

TeasterSigning  (click link to hear interview with Colby)

In all a great day for Hollister.  Three athletes that have meant a lot in bringing the Athletic Programs to where they are today.

It takes a special kind of dude to want to wrestle.  Its one of those sports, that if you have tried it, there is not middle ground.  You either love it or you hate it.  I am one of the former.  Its some serious stuff in Oklahoma, where I grew up.  I still remember the days of wearing trash bags to cut weight.  There was nothing like being on the mat… ONE on ONE.

Tonight’s lone inductee is definitely, one that loved it.  Not only Loved it, he excelled in it.  He is among the most accomplished to ever put on a Reeds Spring singlet.

Zach Kearney, was a 130 lbs freshman.  Wrestling was in his blood.  His dad, and assistant coach, Dan, worked with him from a young age.  I remember visiting their home, years ago, and seeing the “wrestling room”.  Dan, himself, was a successful grappler, having placed at State, as a prep wrestler in Iowa, where Wrestling is a way of life.  And although Zach, had success early, he even was a state qualifier as a sophomore,  it was his Junior year that saw him skyrocket.  He had transformed his body and was now wrestling in the 220 lbs class.

He was not just wrestling, he was excelling.  He was 43-2 going into the State Tournament.  After two pins and a medical forfeit victory he defeated his Kyle Cook, from Boonville, 5-4 to take the state championship.  He jumped into his fathers arms in celebration.

A year later, he was back to defend his crown.  Again, he had only been defeated twice in the entire season.  This time he was even more dominant.  No one went the distance with him at the State Tournament.

He became the only back to back Champion in school history.  And to this day, stands as the only Reeds Spring athlete to have a pair of Individual State Titles.

It took a Major Pandemic to Keep Lance Gosch from being the Top Story of 2020.  But as is the case with news around the world, the number one sports story of 2020, on my countdown is COVID-19.

The effects of this pandemic has been more than we could ever imagine.  From my sports standpoint, it started with the Show-Me Showdown.  Blue Eye’s girls had qualified for the state equivalent of the Final Four.  And, although their semi-final was played, it was in front of an extremely limited crowd at the Hammons Student Center.  Their third place game was cancelled and the following week, the whole Final Four for Big Schools was called off.

College of the Ozarks men and women had both qualified for the NAIA Championships… Day One of opening round games was played…  Day two… NOPE (the real possibility of a National Championship for the Lady Cats, taken way, as well as their streak of winning at least 30 games.  They finish with 29)

Then came the news of the cancellation of Spring Sports, all together.  No baseball, no track, golf, or tennis.

Summer workouts were limited.  New Coaches missed much needed time with their teams.

Fall, saw the return of sports but it was still not the same.  Protocols differed from county to county, town to town, and school to school.  You wondered each week, if a game was going to be played.  If a game was played would you be playing the team you expected to play.  Would fans be allowed, if so, how many?  Would all your players be eligible, your coaches?

And now we are seeing much the same with winter sports.

Covid-19 has changed the way we do things.  Some temporarily, but somethings may be permanent.

One thing is for sure…  2020 will never be forgotten.

Happy New Year everyone…  May 2021 bring a return to normalcy and most of all may God Bless You and Yours.

Thanks for Reading..

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