A number of former football players from the area landed spots on the All-MIAA postseason team.
Park Hill graduate Parker Sampson was a second-team pick as kicker.
The Northwest Missouri State junior had a banner year for the MIAA co-champions.
Sampson hit 14 of 21 field goals this year and hit a long of 53 yards. He finished with 117 points, leading the Bearcats.
Sampson was named to the second-team all-region squad as well for the Division II regional finalists.
Missouri Western’s Tyler Baska was also third-team pick.
MISSOURI WESTERN ATHLETICS
Missouri Western defensive lineman Tyler Baska, a Park Hill South graduate, was on the All-MIAA third team this past fall.
The Park Hill South graduate was honored for his play on the defensive line. Baska had 41 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks and six quarterback hurries.
Platte County’s Michael Smith was an honorable mention pick for Lincoln, which returned to the MIAA this year. The former Buck Buchanan winner had 6.5 tackles for loss, 23 tackles, two quarterback hurries and three sacks for the Blue Tigers. Smith also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble from his defensive end spot.
Picking a college
Jay Elder, a senior at Park Hill, recently posted his commitment to play tennis at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan.
Elder visited Baker on Dec. 6 and chose to play for the Wildcats after considering Emporia State, Truman State and Saint Ambrose.
There were a few factors that drew Elder to Baker, a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The chance to be involved in Greek life and in athletics was a draw as many schools wouldn’t allow that.
“It allows me to get away from home but it’s not so far that I can only come home on long breaks, so if I need to go home for a weekend or a home-cooked meal, I can,” he said. “When touring the campus, it has that special ‘home’ feeling.”
The academic side of the college was just as important, as the average class size has a 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio. He plans to be a sociology major with a focus on criminal justice. He plans to then attend the Kansas City (Mo.) Police Academy after graduation. His goal since he was younger was to be a police officer and this semester he has had a chance to be an intern at the Riverside Police Department through the Park Hill professional studies program. He rode with officers, worked in dispatch and learned all aspects of a police department.
On the athletic side, Elder isn’t like most school’s top players that plays year round. He plays during the season and a few summer tournaments since he isn’t a member of a tennis club. He will get a chance to play year round for Baker.
MaxPreps All-State
MaxPreps released its Missouri All-State football team last month.
The player of the year is Joplin’s Isaiah Davis, who ran for 2,283 yards for the Class 6 runners-up.
The first team featured Platte County’s Grant Allen at kicker and Park Hill’s Johnny Wilson and Mikey Miles.
Allen was noted for his 13 field goals, including a long of 46. Wilson had 97 tackles, 28 TFL and 13 sacks and made the team as a defensive lineman, while Miles was listed as ‘all-purpose’ for 115 tackles, 21 TFL and three interceptions.
Platte County linebacker Garret Watson made the second team defense after racking up 17 TFL and 16 sacks for the Pirates.
All-State
A pair of West Platte players were named to the Missouri Volleyball Coaches Association’s all state team.
The Bluejays, who reached the district finals before falling to Bishop LeBlond, had Faith Stevens and Lexie Smither named to the all-state squad. Seven other schools had at least two players named to the squad, led by four from Advance. Santa Fe had three.
Stevens had 72 aces, 90 kills, 518 assists, 23 blocks and 258 digs. Smither finished with 20 aces, 180 kills, 53 assists, 13 blocks and 242 digs.
All three of the area’s larger schools had one all-state pick.
Platte County junior Bryn McGehe, a KU commit, landed a spot after having 287 assists, 27 aces, 233 digs and 216 kills.
Park Hill’s Kirsten Birmingham, a future Oklahoma Sooner, had 286 kills, 44 blocks, 285 digs and 28 aces.
Park Hill South senior Rachel Francis also made the all-state team. The future Southwest Baptist Bearcat had 263 kills, 68 blocks, 13 aces and 63 digs.
HAAC honors
A pair of former local players at Benedictine were named to the All-Heart of America Athletic Conference postseason football team.
West Platte product Brett Shepardson was named to the second team after the linebacker had 55 tackles, 15 TFL and a team-high 5 ½ sacks.
Quarterback Shaefer Schuetz, from Park Hill South, was an honorable mention pick. He threw for 1,692 yards and 11 touchdowns this year.
Benedictine was 8-3 this year and was No. 18 in the final NAIA Top 25 poll of the regular season.
Notes
Park Hill School District support staff member Eric Jones, a maintenance turf specialist, was recognized for his work on the Park Hill South High School baseball field by Sports Turf Managers Association. Jones has also won the award for his work on the Park Hill South softball field. An independent panel determines winners, which promotes safety and professionalism in sports field management. … Park Hill South’s Quentin Worley was named to the Greater Kansas City Cross Country Coaches Association’s All-Metro first team following him earning Class 4 all-state honors. As a team, the Panthers boys finished seventh among KC schools. … Former Northland Christian standout Rachel Sturdevant was named to the All-MIAA honorable mention team for her play at Northwest Missouri State. The sophomore outside hitter/return specialist was second on the team in digs with 312 and had a career-high 24 against Central Oklahoma earlier this year. … That wasn’t her only honor. The following week she was named to the MIAA scholar-athlete team for having a 3.80 GAP as a chemistry major, where athletes have to have a 3.5 GPA and have earned all-MIAA to be considered. … Park Hill South’s Maddie Kubicki was named the girls most outstanding wrestler at the KC Stampede last month.