Central's Al Young, Saxony Lutheran's Brianna Mueller nab top honors at Semoball Awards

More than 150 student-athletes from 57 high schools across the region gathered Saturday at the Southeast Missouri State River Campus for the second annual Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH, during which Central's Al Young was named Male Athlete of the Year and Saxony Lutheran's Brianna Mueller earned Female Athlete of the Year honors.

And they're not done yet.

Both were juniors last year and will get a chance to return to Southeast Missouri's most prestigious sports awards night as seniors.

"It was just a fantastic night. One word, fantastic," said Semoball Awards event manager Lucas Presson. "It was a lot of fun. Thanks to all the sponsors for helping make it all possible. We really appreciate [keynote speaker] Jennie Finch. She gave an inspiring message. I was sitting here backstage watching the show, thinking, 'This is making an impact on some athletes' lives.'

"We're so honored that we get to be a part of that."

Cape Central's Al Young, center, receives the Male Athlete of the Year Award from Ken Bateman, left, president and CEO of SoutheastHEALTH, and Jennie Finch at the Semoball Awards Saturday, July 11, 2015 at the River Campus. (Fred Lynch)

As a wide receiver and defensive back on the Tigers' football team, the 6-foot Young racked up 1,446 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns on 122 touches last season, leading Central to its first state championship appearance in football. He also averaged a team-leading 18.4 points per game on the Tigers' boys basketball team, which finished with a 20-7 record.

"This means a lot because there are so many good athletes in our area, and it means a lot for me to just bring it back home to Cape," said Young, who was also named the Football Offense Player of the Year. "I've got to thank my coaches for all this, my coaches and my teammates. They mean so much to me."

Mueller averaged 15.9 points per game in powering the Saxony girls basketball team to the state quarterfinals, where it dropped a 67-61 decision in overtime against eventual Class 3 champion Park Hills Central. The Crusaders finished with a 29-1 mark, and Mueller returned to form in the spring, this time with the girls soccer team. She finished the year with 15 goals and 18 assists in guiding Saxony to the Class 1 state crown.

"It's an amazing honor and an amazing blessing. I don't want to stop here, though," said Mueller, who was named Chap Arnold Insurance Girls Basketball Player of the Year and was a finalist in girls soccer. "I have so many dreams and things that I want to accomplish, and I think this is just more motivation to push me to get better."

After leading the Scott County Central boys basketball team to the program's 18th state title and second in Class 2, Frank Staple was named SEMO ESPN Radio Coach of the Year. Staple, who recently stepped down from his position to pursue an administrative role in the Sikeston school district, led the Braves to back-to-back state titles and was 69-23 as the Braves' coach.

Saxony Lutheran's Brianna Mueller, left, receives the Female Athlete of the Year Award from Ken Bateman, left, president and CEO of SoutheastHEALTH, and Jennie Finch at the Semoball Awards Saturday, July 11, 2015 at the River Campus. (Fred Lynch)

"It just feels good because there are so many great coaches in this area," Staple said. "It was an outstanding year, especially for basketball, and it's just an honor to be here. This is a testament to my team, my assistant coaches. This is just truly a team honor."

Jackson's Preston Hobeck took home the award for My Daddy's Cheesecake Football Defense Player of the Year. He had 65 tackles, 12 assists and 20 tackles for loss to go along with 11 sacks three forced fumbles.

"It feels pretty good. I can't really say much about it," Hobeck said. "... I didn't expect to get it."

A pair of Jackson runners swept the top honors in cross country.

Jack Jeffers earned the award for Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. He placed 22nd at the Class 4 state meet with a time of 16:22 to conclude his final varsity season and was SEMO North Conference champion.

"It feels really good just to know that my hard work has come through, at least in this sense, just being the best in this area," said Jeffers, who signed a National Letter of Intent in April to continue career at the college level with Troy University. "I worked really hard in the offseason and throughout high school for running. It's just really cool."

Chelsea Drum was named Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year after capping off her junior campaign with a ninth-place finish in 18:39 at the Class 4 state meet and being crowned SEMO North Conference champion.

"It's just nice knowing everybody's accomplishments are being rewarded," Drum said. "I credit this to all my teammates and coaches, practicing together every day."

Perryville's Luke Schlichting earned TG Missouri Boys Soccer Player of the Year honors. He was one of three finalists for the Pirates, who claimed the Class 2 state championship in the fall. Schlichting had 17 goals and 28 assists and was a first team all-state selection.

"I'm feeling very excited to have been named this award," Schlichting said. "It means a lot because I've put in a lot of hard work just like everyone else who's been nominated for this award, but I'm very excited to be named a semoball player of the year."

Brogan Davis, of Central, took home Boys Swimming Player of the Year honors after wrapping up an impressive freshman season at state. Davis placed second at state in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 51.44 and was fourth in the 100 backstroke with a time of 52.07.

"This is a great accomplishment," Davis said. "I'm pretty happy. I don't know why you wouldn't be, but I'm definitely excited."

Notre Dame's Carly Hopkins was named Girls Tennis Player of the Year after an undefeated regular season in both singles and doubles. Along with teammate Maddie Walker, Hopkins advanced to the state tournament.

"It means a lot to me," Hopkins said. "... It's just an honor to be here, and my whole team worked really hard this year."

Dexter's Ethan Flowers was named Boys Tennis Player of the Year. Flowers finished 17-6 in doubles and 9-2 in singles. Along with teammate Noah Kronk, Flowers finished eighth at state in doubles play.

Jackson's Caitlyn Palmer earned Girls Swimming Player of the Year honors after winning a state championship as the eighth seed in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.09. She also placed third as the eighth seed in the 100 butterfly at state.

"I feel very honored, and I've been blessed by God with this talent. So the fact that I can use it and be recognized for my talent is amazing," Palmer said. "I just want to get better and better, but it's slow steps at a time. Just being recognized helps me along the way and keeps me encouraged."

Jarrett Reisenbichler, of Jackson, took home awards for Wrestling Player of the Year and St. Louis Cardinals Comeback Player of the Year. After missing most of his final varsity season because of a broken hand, Reisenbichler returned to finish the year with a 15-1 record at 113. He placed third at the Class 4 state tournament, becoming only the second player in school history to earn all-state honors four times.

"It feels really good," Reisenbichler said. "There are so many people here, and it's kind of overwhelming to get two awards. It means a lot to me."

The second annual Semoball Awards, Saturday, July 11, 2015, at the Bedell Performance Hall on the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University. (Laura Simon)

Notre Dame's Chase Urhahn was named the Cape Ford and Sons Baseball Player of the Year. Urhahn batted leadoff for the Class 4 state champion Bulldogs, finishing the year with an average of .421 to go along with 23 RBIs and a school-record 39 stolen bases. He also tied the school record in runs scored with 42.

"It's a big deal. There are a whole bunch of players," said Urhahn, who was named a second-team selection on the national MaxPreps 2015 Medium Schools All-American Team last week. "... It's awesome to be one among 57 schools. That's a lot of people, so it's an awesome feeling."

Jordan Nelson, of Jackson, earned Girls Soccer Player of the Year honors. The Southeast Missouri State signee concluded her senior season with 21 goals and 17 assists, while the Indians won a district championship and finished with a 20-2-2 record.

"I'm super excited. I honestly went into this not knowing what would happen, but getting this honor again is just super. It's awesome," said Nelson, who also won the award her junior year. "I feel great right now."

The Boys Track and Field Player of the Year award went to Kelly's Maurice Davis, who claimed a Class 2 state title in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.97. Davis also finished second in the 200-meter dash (22.91) and helped lead the Hawks to a sixth-place finish in the 400-meter relay.

"I'm speechless. This is an honor for me," said Davis, whose team placed fourth at state. "I was out there with my friend and said, 'I don't know if I'm going to win this. They've got a lot of good athletes out here.' Once they said my name, I was shocked and speechless. I'm just enjoying the moment right now, so I don't really have much to say."

Poplar Bluff's Jabreuna Brimlett was named Girls Track and Field Player of the Year after helping guide the Mules to a first-place finish at the Class 4 state meet. Brimlett was a state champion in the 100 and 300 hurdles and placed second at state in the long jump and third in the triple jump.

Woodland's Garret Reynolds took home the honors for First Midwest Bank Male Scholar-Athlete. Reynolds completed 29 credit hours from Southeast and graduated as valedictorian with a 4.4 GPA. On top of that, Reynolds competed in four sports -- cross country, track and field, basketball and baseball -- for the Cardinals. He was a finalist for boys basketball after averaging 20 points per game his senior season.

"Its a very prestigious honor," Reynolds said. "... My parents, my family, my church family, everybody around me has pushed me to my limits both academically and athletically, so it's just a huge honor to be accepted here as the Male Scholar-Athlete."

Kennett's Kate Shetley was named the First Midwest Bank Female Scholar-Athlete. Shetley was a two-sport athlete in tennis and basketball and finished her academic year with a 4.24 GPA.

Thomas Himmelberg, of Notre Dame, earned the Athlon Best in Sportsmanship Award. With his team well on its way to winning the Class 4 state championship in baseball, Himmelberg suggested to Bulldogs coach Jeff Graviett that his injured teammate, Derek Hulshof, get the chance to pinch hit. Hulshof, who had torn his ACL early in basketball season, got an RBI single to cap his high school career.

Dexter's Jessica Lindsey was named Volleyball Player of the Year after racking up 287 kills, 72 blocks, 138 digs and earning second-team all-state honors in Class 3.

New Madrid County Central's Willie Jimerson won the Crader Distributing and your local STIHL dealers Boys Basketball Player of the Year award. The 5-foot-9 guard led the Eagles, who finished third in Class 3, in scoring and averaged 24 points per game. He was also named Class 3 player of the year.

Portageville's Taylor Tiffany was named Softball Player of the Year. She finished 23-6 with a 0.597 ERA during the fall season and recorded a state-record 391 strikeouts for the Bulldogs, who placed third in Class 2.

Sikeston's Gabe Wheeler took home the honors for Golf Player of the Year after finishing fifth in Class 3 and firing a 72 to place second at the SEMO Conference tournament.

The Semoball Cup made its debut and was awarded to Notre Dame (131.2), while Bell City (119.24) finished second and Poplar Bluff (115.77) took third. The Semoball Cup winning school is determined by a formula that combines winning percentage of a school's teams, postseason success and individual success.

"This goes back to hard work from our athletes," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "They put in the numerous hours and time. From the coaching staff to the athletes, it's just from top to bottom, and that's what brings us success."