Smithville girls finish second in state, make fashion statement, too

Source: The Star

Shane Keyser | The Kansas City Star

Platte County’s Jamie Bundy (left) and Smithville’s Jaclyn Henshaw battled for control of the ball during the Class 2, District 8 title game.

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Smithville players graced the Missouri Class 2 state soccer championship stage last weekend the same way they trampled on every field this season — in their mismatched cut-off T-shirts.

The Warriors, never ones to be too consumed with on-field fashion, remained true to their ways last weekend and advanced as a rare public school to play in the title game at the Anheuser-Busch Center in Fenton in suburban St. Louis. The accomplishment wasn’t lost on forward Mallory Craig, the free-speaking and charismatic senior who called the championship appearance “the best way to graduate ever!”

“It kinda feels good. We come out in our scrimmage, and we’re in our cut-off T-shirts, and nobody’s matching, and the private school girls are well equipped,” Craig said, emphasizing her final words with prim and proper speech. “It’s nice to get our name out there.”

Also, Smithville put its girls soccer program on the map. In their first championship appearance, the Warriors (23-4-1) lost to Duchesne 4-1 but ended the season with another Midland Empire conference and district championships. So the Warriors proved to be more than just a public school in the finals, but a worthy opponent.

“This year, they were able to bring it all together,” coach Jon Reed said. “We had some ups and downs … but we’ve been able to have some quality wins (Notre Dame de Sion, St. Teresa’s Academy, Rogers Heritage, Ark. to name a few).

The Warriors lose only three senior starters — Craig, Sydney Mayes and Kelly Krull — and return key performers like forward Erin Robinson along with midfielders Alex Olsen and Jessie Johnson, defender Sydney Catlett and goalkeeper Beth Hammons.

“I think we’re going to come out next season,” Catlett said, “correct our mistakes and come out better.”

Like Smithville, St. Pius X made the big leap to the Class 1 semifinals in Fenton. The Warriors finished fourth after dropping the consolation match 4-0 to Springfield Catholic.

“This is the first time we’ve ever been here,” coach Todd Ashby said after the loss Saturday. “And that was a big step. The girls worked really hard to get here.”

Senior midfielder Lauren Reinhart hopes her teammates can make a return trip. Although Reinhart will be busy taking classes at the University of Kansas, her thoughts will be on the Warriors’ 2009-2010 season.

“I just hope that next year, the girls get another opportunity to be here again,” Reinhart said. “It doesn’t feel real that we came (this season). I’m just happy because a lot of teams would like to have been here.”

Reinhart and three other seniors leave, but St. Pius X returns forwards Hilary Torres and Hannah Arredondo as well as an experienced core of midfielders in Katie Gengler, Mallory O’Malley, Elizabeth Albani and Abby Leighty.

All six underclassmen played big minutes throughout the season and at state, so Ashby hopes that a year from now the players will be accustomed to the big stage.

“Maybe next year,” Ashby said. “Maybe the nerves won’t be there.”

submitted by CANDACE BUCKNER - 2009-06-09 14:30:02