It was a year of ups, downs, championship dynasties and of course controversy. The Ozarks Sports Zone staff looks back on the biggest stories of the 2016 sports year. Check out our list and tell us what you think by visiting our Ozarks Sports Zone Facebook page or @OzarksOzone on Twitter. NOTE: this list is based on teams and athletes covered by the O-Zone and does not include professional teams such as the Royals, Cardinals, Chiefs, Rams and Blues.
1. Courtney’s Run to Rio – From Nixa High School cross country to U.S. Olympian, Courtney Frerichs represented the Ozarks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil like a true champion. After setting the NCAA steeplechase record in Lawrence, Kansas, Frerichs set her eyes on the U.S. Olympic trials in Oregon. She was thinking Olympics next time around. Instead, she was the second fastest American, becoming Nixa’s first Olympic athlete, and even making the finals where she finished 11th in the world. Now, Frerichs, who got married over the weekend, turns her attention to Tokyo where she’ll work for a spot on the Olympic podium.
2. Back to the Big Dance – Tyonna Snow, Kenzie Williams and Hillary Chvatal; the three seniors that led the Missouri State Lady Bears back to the NCAA tournament back in March. Coach Harper’s crew rolled through the Valley tournament, clinching their first NCAA trip in 10 years. Snow would earn Valley regular and postseason MVP honors. The 13-seed Lady Bears battled in the tourney opener, but ultimately fell to host Texas A&M, ending an impressive 24-win season.
3. Iron Cubs prevail – A season of destiny ended with an upset in the Class 3 state championship. Monett knocked off top ranked Maryville 27-18 for its first state title since 1977. Seniors Michael Branch, Ian Meyer, Alex Turner and company fought the bitter cold at Missouri State’s Plaster Stadium, pulling it out thanks to a trick play devised by the players simply called “Iron Bowl”.
4. Moore mows em down – After coming close in football and basketball, the Mountain Grove baseball team brought home the big trophy in O’Fallon. Senior lefty Alex Moore put the Panthers on his back pitching 10 innings over two days, allowing just one run while striking out 16. The future Missouri State Bear got the final 12 outs to hand Mtn Grove its first state title.
5. The QB Suspended – A fast start quickly turned to controversy for the Missouri State Bears. On the eve of the Kansas State game starting quarterback Breck Ruddick was suspended for allegedly beating a dog. The promising sophomore was suspended for the remainder of the season as the Bears limped to a 4-7 season. Ruddick received a $500 fine, community service, but remains on the MSU roster.
6. The start of a new dynasty – The Strafford girls brought home the program and school’s first state championship at Mizzou Arena in March. Freshman-phenom Hayley Frank led a roster that featured just two seniors as the Indians were clutch down the stretch, clawing out a four-point win over Saxony Lutheran in what could be the first of a string of championship moments. The Indians closed out the year by upsetting Mercer County (KY) to win the Pink Division championship at Drury’s O’Reilly Center.
7. T of C last second three – Better than 10,000 basketball fans crowed into JQH Arena to see two of the top high school programs in the nation. And a spectacular finish they got! With just :01 on the clock, Tyshon Alexander hit the shot of his life. Oak Hill Academy beat Sierra Canyon 49-48 for their second straight Tournament of Champions title, on their way to a 45-1 national championship season.
8. Bearcats roar – From perennial MIAA doormat to GLVC powerhouse, Coach Clardy’s SBU Bearcats experienced a breakout season that saw their first conference title, first top 25 ranking, first NCAA-II playoff appearance and an incredible 28 school records. The best part, they return 16 starters next season.
9. Pirate 4-peat – Make it four for the Crane girls! The Lady Pirates, and their six seniors, capped an incredible run with their fourth straight state title in late March, etching their name among the Show-Me State’s all-time greats. Not even an early-season injury to reigning Class 2 player of the year Emma Lander could stop this team, who also beat Class 3 state champ Strafford and Class 5 state champ Kickapoo.
10. M-I-Z, not your year – A tumultuous year at Mizzou would be an understatement. In August, Jim Sterk became the Tigers’ third full-time athletic director in just over a year. The former San Diego State AD inherited a bevy of issues including academic violations, a men’s basketball investigation, accusations of the softball coach, suspension of quarterback Maty Mauk, new president, new chancellor, new coaches all around and their highest profile programs at the bottom of the SEC. Things are looking up for 2017. That’s the only way to look.
11. Show-Me football history – The 2017 senior class at Lamar High School will graduate with a four-year record of 57-2. This past year, the venue may have changed (Plaster Stadium), but the Lamar Tigers still steamrolled through Class 2 to claim its sixth consecutive football title. Its the first time a Missouri school raised the trophy six-straight years, leaving Webb City and Valle Catholic’s five-consecutive titles good for second place.
12. Eagles soar – Hartville was building for a season like 2016 for a long time. The Eagles were a perfect 18-0 against fellow Class 2 schools, and rattled off 19-straight games at the end of the season for the school’s first state title. The seniors graduated with a four-year record of 103-15.
13. DGB to the City of Brotherly Love – One of the best athletes to come out of Springfield was on the move in 2016. After four touchdowns and 34 yards per game as a rookie in Tennessee, the Titans traded Dorial Green Beckham to Philadelphia. Despite a second straight season playing with a rookie quarterback, Dorial’s numbers have remained consistant as he’s the second leading receiver for the Eagles.
14. Who said they could beat the LADY Chiefs? – Speaking of undefeated Ozark Conference schools, the Kickapoo Lady Chiefs were a buzz saw in 2016. First, they went undefeated through the Ozark Conference schedule for their first conference title since 2011. Then, Kickapoo capped off a 29-3 season with its fourth state title since 2011.
15. Mauk’s “Record Breakers” – From four wins in 2015 to an undefeated Ozark Conference title in 2016, the Glendale Falcons made a huge jump this past fall, sweeping its way through to a district title. Even though their season ended in the Class 5 quarterfinal, it was still a huge success. Junior quarterback Alex Huston passed for a nation-best 6,100 passing yards and 76 touchdowns. Senior receiver Luke Montgomery had 1,800 receiving yards and 25 scores.
16. From Hog to Mustang – Knowing the numbers were stacked against him, Bolivar grad Rafe Peavey transferred before the season from Arkansas to Southern Methodist University.
Peavey had to sit out this past fall per rules, but finds himself competing in a numbers game again. He’ll be one of five quarterbacks in camp for the Mustangs next year. Meanwhile, the 7-6 Hogs finished its season with a 34-25 loss to Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl.
17. Voit blasts off! – Who says you can’t go home again? Former Missouri State catcher Luke Voit made the opening day roster for the Double-A Springfield Cardinals in 2016, playing in his old, college stadium. And the comfort showed, Voit hit .297 with 19 home runs and 74 RBIs but saved his best performance for the Texas League All Star game’s Home Run Derby at Hammons Field.
The 6’3″ righty wins the derby, and also helped the Cardinals reach the playoffs.
18. Conference shake-up – In 2016 we learned the high school conferences we know in southwest Missouri will change. In the spring, Joplin said it was leaving the Ozark Conference for the COC Large. Then in the summer, Springfield Central was tabbed to replace the Eagles in the Ozark Conference. Then finally, this past month, we found out the Big 8 is growing by 6 schools.
Marshfield, Rogersville, Reeds Spring, Hollister, and Springfield Catholic absorbed from the COC Small, and independant Nevada join the Big 8. Buffalo said it’s joining the new Ozarks Highlands conference to the north, but it leaves Bolivar without a home. The new re-alignment takes effect in 2018.
19. Hail to the Lady ‘Neers – In the spring, the Mount Vernon Mountaineers, in their fourth year of existence, put up a 25-7 season, culminating in the state title game. Senior Maddie Brown pitching a gem for the Lady Neers, a complete game, four-hit shutout over Crest Ridge as Mount Vernon did not give up a run all weekend at state. At the plate, the Mountaineers plated seven runs to bring home the program’s first state title.
20. Burger snubbed – In 2016, Hammons Field had the best burger in town. Bears 3rd baseman, Jake Burger just missed the Valley’s triple crown, leading the conference in RBIs with 72, and second in average hitting .349 and home runs clubbing 21 round trippers. Burger received 14 postseason collegiate honors, but the sophomore was snubbed from the Valley’s Player of the Year honors.
