The recruiting process for an athlete can be a long and tiresome process.  When you are a top level, Division One Caliber Athlete, it can be even more so.  Branson’s Priscilla Williams, no doubt, is in that category.

Williams, a senior to be, has dazzled fans with her ability to seemingly score from anywhere on the floor.  Her size, 6-3, allows her to shoot over most any guard trying to mark her.  But, she also has the speed and athleticism to go by them and get to the basket.  And, her ability to stop and pop the mid-range jumper, takes me back to the way basketball used to be played.

Recruiting services had her on their  radar before her family moved to Branson, two years ago.  And she has more than lived up to that hype.  Williams is currently listed as the #12 player in the class of 2020 according to ESPN and #3 guard.

On Sunday she announced via twitter that she has narrowed her college choices down to Five…  In no order: Mississippi State, Syracuse, Southern Methodist, Louisville, and Florida State, have made the final cut by Williams.

She plans to take her official visits and hope to have a decision before the Branson season begins.

As I sit in my office on this rainy day, I think of the next few months and how the local sports landscape will look..  I am really looking forward to a few things…

1. Izzy Erickson in her senior year… is there anything this girl cant do on a softball field?
2. Reeds Spring football… this will be fun.  A lot of new faces.  Young but eager.  These dudes are going to find a way to keep the winning season streak alive.
3. Hollister Football… if they can stay healthy, they might very well take that next step.. I can see them hosting  a District game for the first time.
4. Blue Eye Cross Country… Your girls were just short last year.. This year they take the State Title.
5. Hollister Volleyball…  winning season… yes, it will happen
6. Branson Soccer… dont know who will be in the district with them, heck, not even sure what class they will be… But, this is the year they play for a District Title
7. Speaking of District Championships… Lady Wolves Softball, its your year.
8. Branson Football plays a brutal schedule, but I think they have a good shot to improve their win total.
9. Looking forward to seeing what Forsyth Football will look like.
10. Can’t forget about CofO Volleyball either.  They are always tough, played for a National Title a year ago… they may just get another shot at it this year.

This just scratches the surface…  Lots to look forward to from our area schools this fall.

Ended up making a few predictions.  Who knows how accurate they will be?  I tend to have a lot of faith in “our” athletes.

Regardless of how things go.. I look forward to the journey.   Buckle up folks, its about to happen.

A couple of Reeds Spring baseball players will get the chance to continue their athletic careers at the college level.

Last week, Seth Stamps and Cole Watson signed national letters of intent in front of teammates and family during a  ceremony at Reeds Spring High School

Stamps a three time all-conference selection will continue his playing career at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.  The starting shortstop, the past three years, for Coach Chris Funk, was also an all district and all-Ozarks selection this past season.  Stamps added the long ball to his arsenal, this year and led the team in most offensive categories.

Watson was solid behind the plate for the Wolves.   He has that extra bonus of being a catcher with speed.  He also has that pop in his bat that coaches love.  He received both all conference and all district accolades this past season.  Cole will call Evangel University home for the next four years.

Click on the links below to hear my brief interviews with Seth and Cole

Cole Watson

Track and Field is one of those sports that does not get near the notoriety it deserves.  I mean, its well watched during the Olympics and to a lesser degree the World Championships.  But, it does not get the fan fair of football….. basketball…..the so called “major sports”.

Locally, there is no mistake which sports are drivers, but its a little better.  For instance the Reeds Spring girls 4 X 100 meter relay team this past season turned heads early and they rode their talents all the way to the State Meet.

Paige Rantz was a member of that relay team.  Along with Izzy Ericson, Shelby Strailey, and Ashley Nolan, the foursome set school records in both the 4X100 and the 4X200 on their way to proving they were among the best in Missouri.

But, its the Pole Vault where Rantz really excels.  The junior to be has already rewritten the Reeds Spring record book.  She placed third in the state as a freshman.  She won districts again this past season and was well on her way to the medal stand at State before a tough DQ took her out of the competition.

Now, she has a chance to compete on an even bigger stage.  Rantz’s talents have qualified her for the United States Track and Field Hershey’s Jr Olympics in California.  It is a tremendous honor and a great opportunity.

She could use your help.  The cost to make the trip and compete is not inexpensive.  A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover some of the cost that she and her parents will incur.  If you could help, it would certainly be appreciated.  Lets see if we can take care of most of the financial burden and let this Lady Wolf worry about nothing but competing at her best.

If you can help, please click on the link and do so….

https://www.gofundme.com/f/project-paige?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_co_shareflow_m

With the Big Schools completing their State Track Meets this past weekend, the 2018-2019 high school sports seasons have come to a close for our area schools.

Just a few of the things that come to mind from what was another year for the books:

1. Izzy “Freaking” Erickson – The girl is nothing short of amazing.
2. What a year for Blue Eye Girls.  State Runners-Up in Cross Country, State Playoffs in Basketball, and capped off with a State Championship in Track
3. Speaking of Blue Eye… How bout the Arnold Sisters?  Awesome.  And, think two of them have three more years.  Better get a bigger trophy case.
4. The CofO women do what they do AGAIN.  Great, Great, group
5. Andrew Mitchell- so happy he is staying right here… part of a very good recruiting class for Steve Shepherd.
6. Priscilla Williams continues to show why she gets national recruiting attention
7. Bug Bailey was a great addition for Hollister and the area
8. Ben Moler- Flat out DUDE
9. Seth, Blake, Justin, Parker, Cole…  gonna miss you guys
10. Shelby Strailey, Craigon Bradley, Reagan Ulrich great high school careers, looking forward to what you all do at the next level
11. Thought basketball as a whole was better than expected.  Area coaches did a great job of getting the best of out of players.
12. Rich Adkins was a great hire for Hollister.  He already left marks his first year and gotta think that is only gonna get better
13. Forsyth Softball made noise and dont look for them to quiet down anytime soon.
14.   Reeds Spring football is gonna be different without Brian Moler on the sideline.
15. There will be a story published very soon about Scott Wenger leaving Hollister but I could not leave him off this list.

This list could easily be double the size.  And, thats not so say that anything on this list is any more important that some of the things I left off…  It was just another amazing year.  Glad I got to witness, and tell folks about a lot of it.