Nearly 200 student-athletes and 10 teams from southwest Missouri high schools will be honored this summer during the 12th annual Sports Commission Awards. Sponsored by Elliott Lodging, the ceremony is set for Tuesday, June 18 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the awards show to begin at 7 p.m.
The Springfield Sports Commission and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame announced the awards ceremony Friday, with the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame assisting for a seventh consecutive year. Finalists for fall and winter sports can now be found at www.mosportshalloffame.com.
Here’s a rundown:
A total of 34 categories will feature the top athletes and teams from across southwest Missouri during the 2023-2024 school year, with each nominee chosen by a selection committee.
A video celebrating the success of each athlete in each sport will be shown during the evening, with finalists introduced on stage and a winner of that category announced shortly thereafter.
The printed program will include athletes’ bios detailing their accomplishments of the past school year.
Each individual finalist in attendance will be given a commemorative keepsake.
Each winner in the various categories will receive a trophy honoring their achievements.
Athletes will be recognized in tennis, golf, swimming and diving, cross country, softball, soccer, volleyball, football, wrestling, basketball, track and field, and baseball. Sports offered to girls and boys are split into their respective categories.
Football has finalists for offensive skill positions, linebackers & defensive backs, and linemen. Wrestling will include lower weights and upper weights. A category for emerging sports will include bass fishing, bowling, esports, stunt, target shooting and boys volleyball. Additionally, the SCAs will recognize the Spirit Awards featuring the top marching band, cheerleading team and dance squad.
Additionally, the Sports Commission Awards also will feature finalists for boys and girls Teams of the Year and Athletes of the Year, along with Performance of the Year. The SCAs also will highlight Inspiration Awards.
All finalists for fall and winter sports are chosen by a selection committee. Spring sports to be announced in the coming weeks.
Tables of eight are $400, while individual tickets are $50 in advance, or $60 at the door. Numerous sponsorships also are available, as well as associate sponsorships and congratulatory ads for the event program. Call the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at 417-889-3100 for more information.
“We are always excited to celebrate the success of our high school athletes here in the Ozarks,” said Lance Kettering, Executive Director of the Springfield Sports Commission. “And they deserve recognition for all the hard work they’ve put in. It’s great that we can tell their stories once more. We also appreciate Elliott Lodging for being the presenting sponsor the past 12 years and appreciate that the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is helping to put on the event.”
This marks the seventh year with the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s involvement. The Hall of Fame is led by CEO & Executive Director Byron Shive.
“I know I’m not alone in thinking back fondly about my own experience playing high school sports. There are so many life lessons that can be learned playing high school sports and so many lifelong friendships are formed by playing on these teams,” Shive said. “Working with the Springfield Sports Commission to host the Sports Commission Awards is a great way for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame to showcase the many great student-athletes that are playing here in the Ozarks. It has become one of our staff’s favorite events of the year, and it is a fun and enjoyable evening for everyone who attends.”
FINALISTS FOR FALL & WINTER SPORTS
GIRLS TENNIS
Caitlin Archer, Logan-Rogersville High School
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GIRLS GOLF
Marlee Edgeman, Marshfield High School
Emma Spurlin, Logan-Rogersville High School
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BOYS SOCCER
Brady Goodson, Logan-Rogersville High School
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VOLLEYBALL
Molly Thomas, Marshfield High School
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GIRLS BASKETBALL
Lauren Luebert, Marshfield High School
Elsie Larsen, Strafford High School
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BOYS BASKETBALL
Chase Branham, Logan-Rogersville High School
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