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TRACK & FIELD: Area athletes shine at East Newton Relays

 

GRANBY, Mo. — East Newton’s boys and Cassville’s girls captured the team championships at the East Newton Relays on Thursday.

The East Newton boys compiled 143 points and McDonald County was second with 123.

Cassville’s girls had 142 points, with McDonald County second with 118.5. 

College Heights and Seneca also had athletes competing. 

 

BOYS HIGHLIGHTS

Winning individual events for the Patriots were Gabe Bergen (110 hurdles, 300 H), Chase Sorrell (1600, 3200), Kelton Sorrell (800), Michael Crowe (high jump) and Nathan Evey (pole vault). East Newton also won the 4×800 and 4×400 relays.

McDonald County’s winners were Esteban Martinez-Olvera (200), Logan Harriman (discus), Andrew Moritz (javelin) and Joshua Pacheco (long jump). Pacheco was the runner-up in three other events, the 100, 200 and triple jump.

Also finishing second for the Mustangs were Junior Eliam (discus), Morgan Grider (shot put) and Ricardo Salas (javelin).

For College Heights, Ethan Ukena placed third in the triple jump, Caleb Quade took fourth in the 800 and was fifth in the high jump, Matt Williams finished fifth in the 100 and sixth in the 200 and Colsen Dickens took sixth in the 800.

The Cougars took second in two relays, the 4×100 and the 4×200.

Other event winners were Diamond’s Chase Housh (100, 400), Cassville’s Bradan Dickinson (shot put) and Aurora’s Daunte Floyd (triple jump).

 

GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS

Cassville’s individual champs were Jadyn Williams-Reed (400), Jolie Evans (800), Dakotah Anderson (3200), Riley Morris (discus) and Annie Moore (pole vault).

McDonald County’s Sosha Howard took first in both the triple jump (9.91m) and the long jump (4.80 meters), while Analisa Ramirez won the javelin (34.9 meters), with teammate Mariana Salas second. 

Also for the Mustangs, Lacey Nix was the runner-up in the pole vault, Mikala McCrory was third in the 800, Corina Holland took third in the 200 and Jada Alfaro placed third in the shot put.

For the College Heights girls, Lauren Ukena finished second in the 200-meter dash, placed third in the 300 hurdles and was fourth in the 100. Emily Winters placed fifth in the 400.

Jasper’s Crystal Smith won four events, the 100-meter dash, the 100 hurdles, the 300 hurdles and the high jump.

Other event winners were Aurora’s Destiny Jaramillo (1600) and Pierce City’s Sadie Bennett (shot put).

Seneca’s Isabella Renfro was the runner-up in the shot put, while Rylee Darnell took second in the high jump and Katelyn Fyock was third in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump.

FULL RESULTS: EN Relays 2022 – Complete Results (Raw) (milesplit.com)

NEOSHO HOLIDAY CLASSIC: Neosho cruises past Cassville to open NHC with win

NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho opened the game with Cassville on a large scoring run and played with that momentum the rest of the way en route to a 67-40 win in the opening round of Black Bracket play in the 2021 Neosho Holiday Classic on Tuesday.

“I think we play pretty well when we get ahead because we play stout defense and try to suffocate teams as best we can,” Neosho coach Zane Culp said. “When we play with a lead, we can kind of do some different things—play different guys and stay fresh. It was good to get out to a hot start … jump on top of it and finish it out.”

Neosho (6-2) dominated the turnover battle, 24-10, and used takeaways for a 29-1 advantage in points off turnovers. Neosho also shot 43 percent from the field in the win and converted seven times from the perimeter. 

K’dyn Waters attacks the basket in Neosho’s win over Cassville in the opening round of the Neosho Holiday Classic on Tuesday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.

K’dyn Waters, who was honored before the game after entering the 1,000-point scoring club in Neosho’s 66-36 win over Seneca on Dec. 18, finished with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting. He had three rebounds, two assists and a steal.

“He is obviously a great player and we don’t even have to talk about that because he shows it every night,” Culp said. “But he is also a great kid, a great man. He is super polite, is nice to everyone and gets along with his teammates, his teachers and his coaches. He is just a joy to be around and you couldn’t ask for a better move-in (player).”

Carter Baslee added 11 points and five rebounds for Neosho, while Jared Siler finished with 10 points and three boards. Isaiah Green and Kael Smith each finished with seven points. Green added six rebounds, five assists and six steals.

Jonathan Dunbar finished the game with 12 points, four rebounds and four blocks to lead Cassville. Aidan Cook and Timothy Hudson each finished with six points.

The host Wildcats, playing in just their second home game of the season, kicked off the Holiday Classic in a big way, pushing their way to a 15-2 advantage over the first four minutes of action. Waters led the way in the opening surge with eight points, while Smith also knocked down a 3-pointer.

“That was really big,” Culp said of the run. “We hit a couple of 3s and we were getting some steals and runouts. When you jump on a team 15-2, you are usually sitting pretty good if you keep scoring, and we did.”

Neosho pushed its lead to 22-5 late in the first quarter on a Siler 3-pointer.

Isaiah Green scores on the break in Neosho’s win over Cassville in the opening round of the Neosho Holiday Classic on Tuesday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.

NHS continued with the momentum into the second quarter, pushing the lead to 20 with 1:30 when Baslee converted inside to make the score 34-14.

“It doesn’t happen very often, but if you can put doubt in a team’s mind in the first half, you are usually in a pretty good spot,” Culp said. “We just kept putting it on them and we weren’t satisfied with a 15-2 run. That was big for us.”

Neosho took a 35-17 advantage into the intermission, but Cassville showed signs of life early in the third quarter, using a 6-2 run to trim the lead down to 14. But Neosho responded to the adversity by outscoring Cassville 14-6 through the rest of the quarter, building an insurmountable cushion for the final eight minutes of play.

“If you are going to beat the good teams, you can’t have long lulls in your game,” Culp said of his team’s ability to stave off Cassville early in the third. “We just reset and made sure the next few possessions really mattered.”

Neosho advances to play Huntsville in the Black Bracket semifinals at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, while Cassville takes on Monett at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the junior high.

GIRLS STATE GOLF: Carthage’s Bryant takes 10th to highlight local golfers as state wraps

NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — Carthage senior Hailey Bryant wrapped up her final tournament as a Tiger with a 10th place finish at the Class 3 state tournament on Tuesday at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club to highlight a bevy of local competitors in action.

Bryant closed her high school career with an 85 on Tuesday to finish the two-day state tournament with an 82-85—167 to finish in 10th place, earning all-state honors in the process.

Springfield Catholic’s Regan Zibilski carded a second-round 73 to couple with her opening round 66 to take medalist honors with a 139. Father Tolton Regional Catholic’s Audrey Rischer (71-74—145) took second, while Springfield Catholic’s Lyla Louderbaugh (77-72—149) and Kyleigh Pfitzner (76-78—154) placed third and fourth. Smith-Cotton’s Kiser Pannier wrapped the top-five scoring with a 79-76—155. Also earning all-state was Webster Groves’ Jenna Clark (sixth; 77-80—757), FTRC’s Katherine Ryan (seventh; 82-81—163), Rolla’s Abby Hobbs (tied for eighth; 81-83—164) and Parkway West’s Kylie Secrest (tied for eighth; 77-87—164).

Also competing locally, Webb City’s Sydney French finished in a tie for 51st after scoring a second-day 103 to fish with a 202. Laya McAllister matched her first-day score on Day 2 with a 103 to finish in 61st with a 206, Sophia Coulson scored a 108 to finish in 75th with a 218 for the Cardinals.

Carthage’s Ava Lacey closed her second round with a 106 to finish in a tie for 62nd with a 208.

 

NEVADA’S CAMERON TAKES FOURTH

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Nevada freshman Emree Cameron ended her first high school state tournament on a high note, earning a fourth-place finish at the Class 2 girls state tournament on Tuesday at the Columbia Country Club.

Cameron matched her opening-round 80 with another 80 on the second day to close with a 160 to earn all-state honors.

Marshfield’s Marlene Edgeman shot a 79 on the second day to take medalist honors with a 72-79—151, while Osage’s Hanna Maschhoff (74-81—155) took second and Westminster Christian Academy’s Elizabeth Johnson (80-77—157) took third.

Cassville’s Avery Chappell earned all-state honors after tying for 10th place with an 87-84—171. Alyzea Myers finished in 78th place for the Wildcats after shooting a 128-125—253. Monett’s Claire Nation placed in a tie for 56th with a 101-114—215, while Seneca’s Britany Adcock placed 61st with a 111-109—220. Madison Babbitt took 64th for the Indians with a 118-107—225. 

Nevada’s Kate Pennington (114-113—227) tied for 65th, while Paige Hertzberg (114-119—233) tied for 72nd and Riley Severance (120-121—241) took 76th. 

 

KILLINGSWORTH TAKES SEVENTH

BOLIVAR, Mo. — Mount Vernon’s Kenadi Killingsworth finished in seventh place in the Class 1 girls state golf tournament on Tuesday at Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club.

Killingsworth shot a 97 on the second day after scoring a 93 in the opening round to close with a 190. 

New Covenant’s Savannah Thessing took medalist honors after shooting a two-day 86-86—172.

GIRLS STATE GOLF: Carthage’s Hailey Bryant relaxed and ready for rare fourth trip to state

It is a rare feat to make four appearances at the state tournament, but that is exactly what Carthage senior Hailey Bryant is doing when she gets her opening round underway on Monday morning at the 2021 Class 3 girls golf state tournament at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club.

“I am very excited,” Bryant said. “Heading to the state tournament my freshman year, I was so nervous and I felt all of this pressure. Now, I just feel very excited and ready to go.

Carthage senior Hailey Bryant will play in the fourth girls state golf tournament of her career starting Monday morning at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club. Bryant won multiple events this season, including the Central Ozark Conference Championship, and never finished lower than third place during in a regular season tournament. Photo by Israel Perez.

“It is setting in a little now that this is my senior season and my high school golf career is almost over. I know, especially on that second day, it is going to hit me those last few holes. This is where I need to show all of my abilities as much as I can.”

Of course, with this being her fourth time taking part in the state tournament, including an eighth-overall finish a year ago, Bryant has picked up some wisdom along the way. Not only does she feel her game is ready to go for the two-day tournament, her mindset is in the right place as well.

“I think (the last three state tournaments) have shown me that it’s just an end-of-the-year tournament,” Bryant said with a smile. “There is no pressure. I am just here to show I can play and put up a score that I can be proud of. … Obviously, when I first get there, I will probably be nervous. My mindset right now is very relaxed.” 

Bryant has good reason to be confident heading into the state tournament, particularly when you look at the results she posted in her final year as a Tiger. Bryant won the Papa John’s Classic as well as the Carl Junction Invitational, while taking second in the Seneca Invitational, eCarthage Invitational and Nevada Tigers Invitational. Bryant also added a third-place finish in the Joplin Invitational before going on to take first place in the Central Ozark Conference Championship with a 42-41—83.

In fact, the only time Bryant didn’t finish third or better this season was the Class 3 District 3 meet, where she finished fifth overall to earn all-district honors and punch her ticket to the state meet.

“Throughout the season, all of the tournaments have helped shape my mindset,” Bryant said. “They just show you that even at a big tournament like this, I might go out and hit a couple of bad shots but I can still put up a really good score at any time. It is very simple. It’s golf. It might not always be consistent, but you can get through it if you just keep a positive mindset.”

And while Bryant has grown accustomed to the grind of the two-day tournament, she won’t be alone on the course in her final run as a Tiger.  Fellow Carthage golfer Ava Lacey also qualified for the state tournament, and Bryant is grouped up with a friendly face for her 8:48 a.m. tee time on Monday—Webb City golfer Laya McAllister, one of three Cardinals who qualified for the state tournament, with Grain Valley’s Mallory Crane filling out the threesome.

“I am playing with (Laya) from Webb, and I am really good friends with her and we have played together since my freshman year. I could not be more excited,” Bryant said. “I love that about golf. I feel like the girls I have met understand this sport in a way a lot of teenage girls do not. 

Carthage senior Hailey Bryant works on her putting during practice on the Thursday leading up to the Class 3 girls state golf championship. Photo by Israel Perez.

“And I love knowing that there is a sophomore from our team going, too. That is fantastic. Knowing after I graduate that our team will have someone coming back with state experience, I love that for them. I am excited to see all of them there and it will make the experience so much more fun.”

Webb City’s Sydney French and Sophia Coulson are also participating in the Class 3 state tournament. 

OTHER AREA GOLFERS TAKING PART IN STATE

Nevada freshman Emree Cameron finished in first place individually as the Tigers finished in second place as a team at the Class 2 District 3 tournament at Cassville Golf Club to qualify for the Class 2 state tournament, which will be held Oct. 18-19 at the Columbia Country Club.  

Cameron scored a 6-over-par 78 to claim the district championship by two strokes, which was Cameron’s fifth individual tournament championship this season. Nevada’s Paige Hertzberg, Katie Pennington and Riley Severance will join Cameron.

Cassville’s Avery Chappell and Alyzea Myers will also play in the state tournament, as will Monett’s Claire Nation and Seneca’s Britany Adcock and Madison Babbitt.