SPRING SPORTS WRAP-UP

STATE CHAMP

Aiden McDaniel took 1st place in the Shot Put event, throwing 17.39m

By: Tara Blue
Several Southern Boone students placed in the Class 3 Track & Field State Championships this past weekend. Junior Aiden McDaniel took 1st place in the Shot Put event, improving from his 11th place finish last year.

Alexandra Volkart finished 2nd in the 3200m, only one second behind the first place runner at 11:10.40. Volkart also took 4th place in the 1600m and made All-State. She was also the Cross Country State Champion this past fall.
Brian Burns took 5th in the 1600m and 12th in the 800m run. Burns qualified for the state meet in four different events this year: 800, 1600, 3200, and 4×400 team.

Alexandra Volkart takes second in the 3200m, coming in at 11:10.40

Head Coach Adrian Cummings is grateful for all the athletes and their ability to endure challenges throughout the season, adding “Our team motto this season is resilience and malleability. Our athletes overcame difficult conditions, having to travel for practice and being asked to perform at a high level, which they did. They accomplished a lot without the facilities to train in.

We also graduated some great seniors, Alex Volkart, Weston Jennings, and Noah Ottinger. Eleanor Samuels, Reagan Johnson, Kate Amelunke, Evan-Sconce-Martin, and Landon Rehg. These are big shoes to feel, but our returning athletes are up for the task.

We are thrilled to welcome back a significant number of our team, including Aiden McDaniel, Luke Amelunke, Hudson Talley, Braidan Jackson, Brian Burns, Drew Dial Kaylin Patton, Jewels Patton Kylie Alfaro, Jaymie Collins, Julia Volkart and Addison Fanning.

The future is bright for the Southern Boone Eagles Track and field team.”

#1 Seed Eagles Soccer Lose District Title in Heartbreaker

#32 Ava Leninger scores with two seconds left in the first half of the district semifinals. 

By: Todd Pridemore
The Eagles girls soccer team finished their regular season schedule with an impressive record of 20 wins, 6 losses, and 0 draws. That strong resume gave the team the #1 seed in last week’s Class 2 District 4 tournament, which was held at Helias High School in Jefferson City. Southern Boone opened the tournament on Monday against St. James (3-16). After allowing a fluke goal from the opponent, the Eagles stormed back to win the match 6-1. In the second round, SB faced the #4 seed St. Clair Bulldogs (12-8-1). Despite their pedestrian record, the Bulldogs had played a number of formidable opponents from the St. Louis area during the season and were not to be taken lightly. The Eagles grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first half of play, but St. Clair tied the match early in the second period. At the end of 80 minutes, the score was still knotted 1-1 and the game entered extra time. Senior Abby Bieghler’s game winning golden goal moved SB into the championship on Thursday.

#16 Lainie Scheer

The championship matchup was one that many anticipated, as the top-seeded Eagles faced the #2 seed Helias Crusaders (12-9). Similar to St. Clair, the win-loss record of the Crusaders was misleading, as Helias played a significant number of larger schools during the regular season. Perhaps the Crusaders most impressive win of the season came against Hannibal, which is currently ranked the #8 Class 3 team in the state. That same Hannibal team easily defeated Southern Boone earlier this year. But all of those previous outcomes went out the window last Thursday once the ball was in play and the district title was on the line. The title match opened with the Crusaders forcing the action and generating numerous scoring opportunities in just the first 12 minutes of action. SB senior goalkeeper Claire Pickett kept her team in the match with four quality saves during that time frame. A brief rain shower began in the 12th minute of play, and the Eagles gained traction on the pitch at the same time. Freshman Lillian Brooks created two shots on the Helias goal as the half continued, with one being saved and the other missing wide right. Halftime arrived with both teams held scoreless.

#1 Lillian Brooks

In the second period, Helias cracked the code of the Eagles defense and controlled play for much of the half by linking up with short, controlled passes and strong midfield play. The Crusaders created multiple shots, while Southern Boone failed to produce even one. However, the Eagles continued to play gritty, determined defense that kept them in the game. It appeared certain that Helias would take the lead in the 43rd minute, when a corner kick led to a header to the far back post that Pickett couldn’t reach. However, a smartly positioned Eagle defender on the goal line deflected the ball away to keep the match scoreless. The Crusaders continued to generate chances for themselves, but SB continued to deny them. The final stop was made by a diving Pickett to save a dangerous shot in the box with only 12 second remaining on the clock.

#15 Adah Zagorac

The match moved to golden goal extra time, meaning the first team to score would win. The Eagles had to feel confident as they entered the OT period, as they had captured wins in all four OT matches they had played this season – the most recent coming just two nights earlier. But coming away with the victory wasn’t to be for the Eagles in this contest. Just under five minutes into the extra period, with all 11 Eagles packed into their defending third of the field, a Helias wide back received the ball near midfield and charged forward with no defenders near her. She unleashed a shot from long distance that skidded along the turf, and it appeared that Pickett was in position to make yet another save. But as the ball entered the 18-yard box, it deflected off an Eagle player’s foot. The trajectory of the ball was altered and flew just beyond the goalkeeper’s outstretched arm and into the net, giving Helias the district title and sending the Eagle players to their knees in heartbreak as their season came to an abrupt end.

#13 Allie Scheer

Head Coach Wade Vandelicht expresses appreciation for the team, adding “Our girls fought all season and held some really good teams from scoring and pulled off some really good wins. We grew so much from start to finish as a pretty young team, with great senior leadership, and I am excited for the future. A 20-win season is not easy, and they did it with class. I am so proud of them for playing as a team through adversity and representing our school so well. I am so blessed to be a part of these girls’ season, because through the sport of soccer, we have created memories and relationships that will last forever.”

Varsity Baseball Falls to Father Tolton in District Final

Seniors Blaine Hargis and Chase Morris celebrate after Hargis hits a home run

By: Tara Blue
Southern Boone Varsity Eagles fought all the way to the end in a nail-biting district final game on Thursday, May 16th, but fell to Father Tolton 7-6 in the 10th inning. FT took an early lead, but a home run by Blaine Hargis in the bottom of the third earned three runs, bringing the score to 3-6.

#22 Hargis makes his way to home base after hitting it out of the park

The Eagles tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Austin Evans hit a home run, bringing the score to 6-6.

#15 Jackson Woodward slides safely into second

The game remained tied from the sixth to the tenth inning when FT scored one at the top of the tenth, but the Eagles couldn’t return the point. The team finished their season with a record of 28-9.

#6 Logan Easley pitches in the heavy rainfall which temporarily paused the district semifinal and championship games

Head Coach Brian Ash has nothing but sincere gratitude for the team’s accomplishments, stating that “2024 was a great season overall. A heartbreaker loss to Tolton in the District Championship game isn’t to diminish what the team accomplished this season. To win 28 games against the competition we faced deserves nothing but respect. So many great accomplishments by so many, and to our Senior class that left a legacy unmatched by any other senior class. 110 wins, 2 conference Championships, 1 district Championship and a State Championship is something that will go down in history books. I am very proud of our Seniors and all of our players and coaches for the commitment to excellence in everything they do.”