Student-athletes from across Southeast Missouri were recognized for their outstanding achievements Saturday night at the region's premier sports award show.
More than 150 athletes from 57 area high schools were on hand for the Fifth Annual Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH at the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall on Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. They saw awards handed out in 25 different categories, with Charleston's Jeremy Tucker and Jenny Morey of Van Buren earning the top individual honors to end the night.
Tucker was named Male Athlete of the Year presented by SoutheastHEALTH after a stellar senior year. The My Daddy's Cheesecake Football Defense Player of the Year was also a finalist in boys track and field and was a starter on the Blue Jays' boys basketball team, which finished second in Class 3. He finished third in the Class 3 high jump this past spring and claimed a district title in the high jump. Tucker also helped engineer a turnaround season for the football program and will continue his career at Southeast Missouri State this fall.
"Out of all my awards, I think this one tops it off right here," Tucker said.
"It's just, man, it's been a wild ride really from the start of my high school career to now. It's been an exhilarating experience. I'm proud to say I'm a Blue Jay to end it all.
"I'm more proud just to bring this back to my school, and my town."
Morey did it all for the Bulldogs, playing four sports and earning Female Athlete of the Year presented by SoutheastHEALTH. She earned a Semoball Awards finalist nod in girls cross country after finishing fourth at the Class 1 state championship meet and batted .477 with 40 runs scored for a 19-7 softball team that reached the district championship.
She was a defensive leader for a 20-6 basketball team and was third in the 800-meter race at the Class 1 track and field state championship this spring. She finished with eight all-state selections in various sports throughout her high school career.
"My heart was racing so bad," Morey said. I could cry."
"It's just amazing. I've worked so hard, like all my accomplishments, eight all-states is almost unheard of in a high school career. I can't even talk right now."
The first award of the night went to Fred Thatch as the Sikeston star became a three-time Crader Distributing and your local STIHL dealers Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year. The Class 4 Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year capped off his high school career by leading the Bulldogs to fourth place in the state and nearly averaged a double-double with 21.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He also chipped in 4.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game while shooting 41 percent from the field.
Thatch, who missed about a month this season with a foot injury, finishes his Bulldogs career with the most points, rebounds and assists in school history. He will continue his basketball career at Saint Louis University.
On the gridiron, Jackson quarterback Cooper Callis was tabbed as the Orthopedic Center of St. Louis Football Football Offense Athlete of the Year. The Carr Trophy Winner put up eye-popping numbers his senior campaign, etching his name into the state record book.
Callis threw for 3,807 yards (sixth in state history) and 56 touchdowns (fourth) while completing 280 passes (sixth). Callis had several Division I offers but went the JUCO route and will play for Pearl River Community College in Mississippi this fall.
"It was great," Callis said. "I've always said this. There's great athletes, offensively and defensively, but just around this region, there's great athletes, and I'm up against great competition. So it was a good honor."
Tucker was the My Daddy's Cheesecake Football Defense Athlete of the Year after racking up 143 tackles, including 28 for a loss, from his linebacker spot. The Derland Moore Award winner also had five sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception, leading Charleston to its first winning season since 2012.
"It was nice seeing us, my football team in high school, just come along and just build up," Tucker said. "We started from nothing. My first two years of high school we were 0-10 both years, and then my junior (year) we started building up, building up. We got stronger, we got faster in the weight room, and then it all came together my senior year."
Bloomfield junior Bailey Below's took home top honors as the My Daddy's Cheesecake Volleyball Athlete of the Year. The middle hitter contributed on both offense and defense for the Class 2 quarterfinalists, racking up 337 kills and 135 blocks. The Stoddard County Activities Association Co-Player of the Year added 186 digs and 57 aces.
"I was very surprised. It was definitely a surprise," Below said. "I was very excited too, though. It was good."
Dee Triplett led Malden baseball to a Class 3 state championship and in the process earned the title Orthopedic Center of St. Louis Baseball Athlete of the Year. The senior batted .506 with 30 RBIs, 42 runs scored and a 1.497 OBS (on-base plus slugging percentage). He had 13 doubles and six home runs and provided a steady presence on the mound for the Green Wave, going 7-2 with a 1.99 ERA.
"Since baseball season started this was like one of my goals, to get to this point, but I didn't really think I was going to get it," Triplett said. "It was kind of hard to believe."
Senior Paige Eddington put together a stellar season and powered the Doniphan to breakout season en route to being named Crader Distributing and your local STIHL dealers Softball Athlete of the Year. Eddington, a first-time finalist, batted .641 with 62 RBIs and 76 runs scored, both tops in Southeast Missouri, as the Donettes advanced to Class 2 sectional. She added 17 doubles, six triples and 14 home runs while swiping 43 bases.
"My heart is racing right now, like I didn't expect it all all," Eddington said. "This is my first year, but it's amazing. I don't even know how to explain it right now. My heart is just absolutely going crazy."
Dexter's Chaylea Mosby was the SEMO Conference Player of the Year and a Class 4 all-state selection. Now she can added one more accolade: Girls Basketball Athlete of the Year. Mosby was everywhere for the Bearcats, averaging 26 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game from her guard position. She also knocked down 46 percent of her 3-pointers as Dexter advanced to the Class 4 quarterfinals.
"It's amazing because there are a lot of girls that deserve this and to hear your name called is just a great feeling," Mosby said.
Saxony Lutheran's Caleb Cornelius won a Class 2 state championship, along with conference and district titles, and is now the Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year. After earning a nod as a Semoball Awards finalist last year, Cornelius improved as a junior, winning the state meet in 16 minutes, 22.50 seconds.
"It's an honor to be awarded the Semoball (Athlete of the Year). ... It's nice to have that award," Cornelius said. "But it's like any other award really."
On the girls side, Kennedy Bauer from Jackson was tabbed as the Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year, thanks to a first-place finish in the SEMO Conference North meet and all-state honors at the Class 4 state meet. Bauer was 18th at the state championship and runner-up in the District 1 meet.
"I'm just really, really happy," Bauer said. "I feel like all my hard work has paid off."
Notre Dame's Sarah Bell repeated as the Golf Athlete of the Year after cruising to a second consecutive Class 1 girls state championship to cap off her high school career. Bell shot 2 under at the state championship, winning by five strokes and leading the Bulldogs to a second consecutive team title. Despite missing part of the season with a back injury, Bell won the district tournament and finished second at sectionals. She will continue her career at Oral Roberts University.
"It still gives me goosebumps when I get called out," Bell said. "It's still an awesome opportunity to be able to hear that. It felt the same as last year. It was nice."
Travis Waldner capped a breakout sophomore campaign for Dexter by being named the Wrestling Athlete of the Year. The 126-pound force went 45-5, finishing third at the Class 2 state championship. During the regular season, he was first in his weight class at the SEMO Conference Tournament and came in second at the Tiger Classic.
"It finally paid off because I didn't get the finish that I wanted at state," Waldner. "So this is nice."
Jackson swept the soccer awards as Lauren Welker earned the title Girls Soccer Athlete of the Year after spearheading a historic season for the Indians, who reached the final four for the first time in program history. The forward, who will play at Southeast Missouri State this fall, scored 21 goals and added 19 assists as the focal point of the Indians' attack. She was a Class 4 first team all-state selection.
"It was pretty cool, definitely wasn't expecting it," Welker said. "It was just awesome that a lot of hard work that was put into the season paid off."
Desmond Morris was named the Boys Soccer Athlete of the Year, scoring 30 goals and adding 10 assists from the midfield as Jackson won a fourth consecutive SEMO Conference title and second straight Class 4 District 1 championship. The multi-sport athlete was honorable mention Class 4 all-state and earned all-region and all-district accolades.
"It feels good," Morris said. "After a crazy senior year and coming to this already having all those great memories of soccer season and winning this just to cap it off feels great."
Notre Dame's Riley Burger completed an extraordinary comeback to be named Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. After earning a triple jump state championship as a freshman, Burger did not jump during the regular season but returned in time to dominate throughout the postseason. She won district and sectional titles in the triple jump before defending her Class 4 crown with a leap of 39 feet, 6.5 inches. She was also a district champ in the long jump, finishing fourth at that event in state, and helped the Bulldogs' 1,600-meter relay team to an all-state finish.
"Really I wasn't expecting anything," Burger said. "I was just excited when they called my name. My heart kind of stopped for a second. I was like, 'Really?' But yeah, I'm so excited about it."
Trevor Lukefahr made history this spring, becoming the first St. Vincent track and field state champion. That was enough to earn the title Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Lukefahr, who also starred for the Indians boys basketball team, won a Class 2 state title in the 400 with a time of 49.94 seconds and was third in the 200. He also won two district titles and one sectional crown.
"It feels surreal honestly," Lukefahr said. "This is my first time ever being here so to win it my first time, it's something different."
Cape Girardeau Central's Brogan Davis capped off his high school career by becoming a three-time Boys Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year. Davis won four gold medals at the Class 1 state meet and was named Meet MVP as the Tigers won back-to-back state titles. The All-American won state titles in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 butterfly along with two relay first-place finishes and will continue swimming at Auburn University.
"It's pretty good to definitely have it back in my hands kind of deal after the first two years, missed out on it last year, but good to be back for this year," Davis said. "Trained hard for that, so definitely feels good."
On the girls side another familiar face was honored as Taylor Norwood of Poplar Bluff was tabbed as the Girls Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year for the third straight year. The four-time finalist won two individual conference titles, en route to earning SEMO Conference MVP for the fourth straight season.
She also earned two top-five finishes at the Class 2 state meet and will swim at Maryville University.
"It feels good. I'm happy I was able to come back for a fourth year," Norwood said. "With this being my third one, I'm just happy to be here and happy be around the environment."
Sikeston's Brett Johnson excelled on the court his senior season and was named the Boys Tennis Athlete of the Year. Johnson won the singles title at the inaugural SEMO Conference Tournament, beating Poplar Bluff's Ben Stewart in the final, and claimed a Class 1 District 1 singles title as well.
"It was a great feeling," Johnson said. "It was just such a close competition between me and Ben Stewart. We both had great seasons. Whoever would have won -- I'm happy it was me -- but I would have been glad for him too."
Grace Powderly of Notre Dame lost just once in the regular season, finishing with a record of 18-1. The senior won conference and district championships and advanced to the elite eight at the Class 1 state tournament.
"It feels good to just finish and close the deal and close the season especially my senior year with this," Powderly said. "It's nice to see my hard work from four years really paid off."
A longtime servant for Cape Central athletics known simply as "Coach", Terry Kitchen was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. The legendary Cape Central High School baseball coach has been a teacher, athletic director and of course, coach, in the Cape Girardeau School District for the last four decades.
Kitchen, a 1970 graduate of Central High School, set the high school's record for winning percentage (.769) and also coached football at the junior high. The outdoor athletic facilities at the junior high school bear his name, and despite battling pancreatic cancer, he plans on working for the school district for the foreseeable future.
After receiving a standing ovation Kitchen delivered a rousing speech. He was then given another standing ovation when he finished his speech.
"It was such a big honor, that's the thing," Kitchen said.
"To see so many of your friends here, and your coaches and some of your players here, and to be representing Cape Girardeau Public Schools, gosh what an honor. And to say I don't love being a Tiger, gosh, I love being a Tiger."
After leading Cape Central boys swimming and diving to back-to-back state championships, Dayna Powell was tabbed as the SEMO ESPN Coach of the Year. Powell also coached the girls team to a second straight conference title and an 11th-place finish at state and is synonymous with swimming in Cape Girardeau. She has helped mold the Tigers into a regional, and state, swimming power. The longtime coach also made history, becoming the first female winner.
"I keep saying this is really about so many people," Powell said. "I feel like the spotlight is on me, but the only reason it is is because ... of what the boys have done, what Jason at [River City Aquatics] has done, what the families have done, bringing all these boys and girls together.
"It's great, but it definitely represents everybody, definitely not just me. It's great for Cape Central. It's great for swimming. It's awesome to have all five boys (nominees) and two out of the five girls (nominees), that was really great."
Logan Bell has been beset by injuries during his Poplar
Bluff career, but he preserved and in the process earned the St. Louis Cardinals Comeback Athlete of the Year award. Bell, a finalist last year after overcoming an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury to earn a silver medal in track and field last year, suffered another ACL injury this year. The Mules senior quarterback returned in time to win a district title in javelin and finish ninth at state despite suffering an elbow injury.
He will continue his javelin career at Missouri State this fall, where he hopes he can avoid injuries.
"It's nice. Hopefully I can stay healthy for once," Bell said. "I haven't had a healthy season since freshman year. It's been awhile. I'm injury-prone I guess."
Laurel Mueller was a four-sport athlete at Saxony Lutheran, excelling in volleyball, soccer, basketball and track and field, and a stellar student in the classroom. Thanks to those achievements, Mueller is The Bank of Missouri Female Scholar Athlete. Mueller finished high school with a 3.99 GPA and participated in National Honor Society along with her involvement in sports.
"Honestly, it was a surreal moment," Mueller said. "There were so many contestants, I didn't really imagine that I could possibly be able to do this. I'm so honored to get this."
A Semoball Awards finalist in boys cross country and boys track and field who earned academic all-state honors, Jackson's Ean Buffington was named The Bank of Missouri Male Scholar Athlete. Buffington finished in the top 10 percent of his class thanks to a 4.23 GPA and was student body president, Fellowship of Christian Athletes president and a member of the National Honor Society.
"It's incredible," Buffington said. "My grandpa has always told me that academics is the thing that really matters and really that's what takes me into my future. I'm really excited.
"God has been really good, and I'm extremely blessed."
Charleston boys basketball came up just short of a Class 3 state title, falling in the championship, but one of their best moves came off the court, earning the Blue Jays the Best in Sportsmanship award.
After Saxony Lutheran's Nathan Ruark suffered a lacerated spleen in a sectional contest between the two teams, Charleston players surprised him while he was at home on bed rest. The players came by to check on him and present him with a basketball signed by members of the team.
Tucker accepted the award on behalf of the Charleston program.
"Down in Charleston, we're real blue-collar, but down in that game, when it happened, we felt horrible. We never expected something like that to happen," Tucker said. "The team as a whole, we decided to give back and tell him it was an accident, like 'Hey we didn't mean it.'
"It all came through in the end. He accepted our apology, and we became friends."
Neelyville won a state title in girls basketball this winter and now takes home another prize, the Best Fans award. Neelyville garnered 88.1 percent of the votes during the final round of balloting in May.
"We make them travel pretty far for us and stuff," said Neelyville girls basketball coach Becky Hale said. "They just really stick with us the whole year, and they really gave us the push to go as far as we did."
Malden claimed its second Semoball Cup in the last three years, edging the holders Notre Dame. Along with its baseball state championship, Malden won three district titles and its 74.52 winning percentage was second-best out of 57 schools. The win continues the dominance of Malden and Notre Dame, who have combined to win all five Semoball Cup.
"I think it shows the tradition we've established at our school," Malden senior Jackson Wilson said. "We take pride in our athletics and put a lot of heart into everything we do."
Former college, professional and Olympic women's basketball star Lisa Leslie held a question-and-answer session with the audience. Leslie starred for University of Southern California and WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks and is the U.S.A.'s all-time leader in points, rebounds and blocks.
After the final award of the night was handed out to Charleston's Tucke, all the student-athletes were invited up to the stage for their moment in the spotlight.
An appropriate ending to a night of recognition.