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by Michael Smith Grain Valley junior wrestler Dru Azcona has been a model of consistency for the Grain Valley wrestling team.
He qualified for the Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships in his first two seasons with the Eagles and got a state medal during his freshman season. He came in Saturday’s Class 4 District 4 Tournament at Staley High School with a 39-4 record and is ranked No. 3 in high weight class in Class 4 according to the MissouriWrestling.com poll. He proved that he was worthy of that ranking and looks to be a contender for a state title this season, especially after taking first place in the 126-pound weight class at the district tournament. Azcona was one of four Eagles to qualify for state as the team finished fifth in the team standings with 107.5 points. Liberty won with 259. Tanner Barker (152), Justin Deweese (160) and Brock Smith (120) also punched their tickets to state for Grain Valley. The junior won all three of his matches after getting a bye in the first round. He got a 17-0 tech fall victory against North Kansas City’s Angel Calderon in the semifinals before controlling his championship match with Oak Park’s Jamison Tunstill from start to finish during a 13-3 decision. Azcona credited his success to his coaches and his family. “All my high school coaches do a lot and everyone who supports me like my dad, my mom and my sister,” Azcona said. “My MO West coaches, too, helped me put in the work. "Sometimes me and my dad go and wrestle in the room. I try to live up to his expectations. He used to wrestle at Clovis High School in California. I want to get to that level. We like to go over some moves and work on strategies.” That’s what Barker plans on doing the week leading up to state, which begins Thursday. He took second in his weight division and qualified for state after getting a 20-5 tech fall victory against Liberty North’s Preston Beran during the semifinals. Barker fell to No. 1-ranked Logan Rathjen of Liberty 5-0 in the championship. “I wrestled all right, but it definitely wasn’t my best,” said Barker, who is ranked No. 4 “I could have done better. I am going to go to the room and clean it up and get ready for state. “I will work on my shots and stay calm during my matches. I will get some bottom work in, too. I need to work on getting pressure on my opponents so they feel overwhelmed. I feel like I didn’t do that in my last match.” Rathjen had high praise for Barker. “He had some pretty good shots and he had some pretty good fakes,” Rathjen said. “Props to him. He’s pretty good at what he does.” So is Deweese, who started the season on the junior varsity team. The sophomore proved his worth after being promoted to varsity. On Saturday, he took third after winning his bubble match 7-4 against Park Hill’s Luis Camacho and pinning Oak Park’s Karl Knaak in 4:47 for third place. “I think I have made some major improvements in practice,” Deweese said. “I just wanted to put in the hard work and it showed today.” The hard work for Smith also paid off for him as the junior will compete at state for the first time. After falling to eventual champion, Fort Osage freshman Colby Gray in the semifinals, Smith topped Oak Park’s Anthony Cherco 4-1 in the bubble match and upset No. 3-ranked Cooper Rider of Liberty in 9-5 in the third-place bout. “Finally!” Smith said. “It’s all about peaking and I am peaking at the right time,” Smith said. I am ready to take that last final summit and state.” by Michael Smith The Grain Valley girls basketball team and star player Grace Slaughter received the gut wrenching news Wednesday. The junior injured her left knee in the second quarter of a 42-40 loss against Blue Springs last Saturday. Three days after that, she was diagnosed with a torn ACL after an MRI, which will cause her to miss the rest of the season. That’s a big blow for the Eagles as they will have to adjust their offense and defense after losing their star player. The two-time, all-state selection was the focal point of the Grain Valley offense. She had a high usage rate and averaged 31.2 points per game. Friday’s Suburban White Conference showdown at Fort Osage High School was the Eagles second game without Slaughter, and they have proven they still have enough talent to win games as they coasted to a 74-25 win over the Indians. Grain Valley used a full-court press to create easy opportunities for baskets in transition and in their halfcourt sets, there was a lot of off-ball movement, screens and cuts to the basket to free up players for open shots. “We know we are going to have to cut more and pass more, which is what we should be doing anyway,” Grain Valley sophomore guard McKenah Sears said. “We just need to move the ball quicker and quicker. Coach emphasizes moving the ball quickly and getting cross court passes.” The full-court press helped the Eagles create 21 Fort Osage turnovers as the Eagles were still able to utilize their fast-paced style. “We had to create more possessions so we could play more seamlessly,” head coach Randy Draper said. “The foot is on the gas right now. They are playing at a great pace. If you run, you’ll get it." “It’s really fun to watch and it seems like we have been getting faster lately.” And it’s that kind of effort that will be needed to help replace some of the production Slaughter had. “We all miss Grace and know she is a big asset to our team,” junior forward Ella Clyman said. “We all know we all have to step it up and fill our roles and do the best we can.” Meghan Knust has filled in nicely in the starting lineup through two games. On Friday, she showed her versatility, making a pair of jumpers and scoring inside for nine points. “She’s really confident and we’re really proud of her,” Sears said of Knust. “She gets rebounds, and she can hit 3-pointers as a five (center).” Sears led the Eagles with 15 points, followed by Clyman with 10 and Emma Ogle, Annabelle Totta, Knust each had nine. Grain Valley sophomore Annabelle Totta sends a bounce pass to a teammate. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley sophomore McKenah Sears whips a pass to a teammate.
Photo credit: Michael Smith by Michael Smith With injuries to starters Alex Snyder and Avery Garmon, other players have had a chance to shine for the Grain Valley boys basketball team. Junior forward Rhylan Alcanter, who came off the bench earlier in the year, has thrived as the team’s starting forward as he’s scored so much in the paint that other teams have built game plans around limiting his opportunities in the post. Others have seen their minutes increase as well, such as guys who came off the bench at the beginning of the season. One of those players is Reece Troyer, who got to start for the Eagles last Tuesday against Truman when senior guard Cylas Brewer was out with a leg injury. The senior returned to play Friday in a Suburban White Conference matchup with Fort Osage, but Grain Valley head coach Andy Herbert elected to bring Brewer off the bench and keep Troyer in the starting lineup. The move paid dividends as Troyer had a career-high 29 points, which included seven 3-pointers as he lifted his team to a 59-52 victory at Fort Osage High School. Fort Osage head coach Josh Wilson admitted that the game plan was to limit Alcanter in the paint and to make sure to get a hand in the face of junior Owen Herbert when he shot from behind the arc. It turns out Troyer was the player the Indians needed to worry about as he had a hot night shooting. “(Troyer) came out and hit a couple of threes and expanded us a little bit, and (Alcanter) is load down low,” Wilson said. “We were so concerned about that; they were able to get some good looks for shots. “We knew (Troyer) could shoot it a little bit. We concentrated so much on taking (Alcanter) away, he’s the guy you don’t think about. He did a great job finding open spots and his teammates did a great job of finding him.” Troyer also played a pivotal role in Tuesday’s overtime win against Truman. He had two key assists and two made free throws in overtime to help the Eagles get the win. On Friday, he provided the offensive firepower needed to stave off the Indians. “Reece has come a long way,” Herbert said. “It’s one thing to start a game playing like that but to be able to finish playing like that shows his confidence and the ability of the team to find him in open spots." “He’s so sound. He’s a good passer and his basketball IQ is extremely high. He’s capable of doing what he did tonight.” Troyer said it was the best game of his career. “I have actually been in a slump lately. I guess I found it tonight. Maybe it was the lighting in there or something,” Troyer said. “I don’t know what it was, but I just felt it.” Added Alcanter: “That was insane. I love Reece, man!” Even with extra defensive attention on him, Alcanter was still able to help out Troyer with 14 points of his own. “This year, I have just had confidence,” Alcanter said. “Ever since I got the break to get more minutes when Alex got hurt … I don’t wish an injury on anybody … but I got a chance and I took it. “Being able to look up to someone like Cole Keller last year taught me a lot. No matter how big the other guy is, you can still do what you want to do if you know how to do it.” Troyer hit four 3-pointers to boost the Eagles to take a 20-14 lead in the first period; and the Eagles held on to a 27-25 lead going into halftime after Fort Osage closed the period on a 4-0 spurt. Grain Valley staved off Fort Osage in the early part of the third, but the Indians eventually tied it late in the quarter after Indians forward Isaac Woodward got a steal which led to a 3-point play following a fast-break layup by senior Tyrek Berry. After the game was tied at 37-all, the teams traded empty possession and Fort Osage had a chance to take the lead on an inbounds pass with 3 seconds left. However, the pass went toward halfcourt, and Troyer made the play of the game by intercepting it and making a transition layup at the buzzer to help Grian Valley take a 39-37 lead into the fourth quarter. “He had the hustle to steal it then he had the composure to not rush it,” Herbert said. “He knew he had plenty of time and he took his time and made the basket. That was big for our momentum.” Fort Osage never got closer than two points in the fourth. There was a stretch where the Indians had turnovers on three consecutive possessions during a 11-3 run by the Eagles that gave the road team a big enough cushion at 57-46 to seal it with 1:06 left. “We are finding ways to win,” Herbert said. “It doesn’t have to be pretty. Just be gritty, grindy and tough and I thought we were.” Grain Valley junior Reece Troyer looks for an open teammate. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley junior Cylas Brewer looks to drive to the basket.
Photo credit: Michael Smith by Cathy Allie I love singer John Prine. Now deceased, he left a legacy of clever songs that he not only performed, but also ones that he wrote for lots of famous people. His words are sometimes profound, sometimes humorous, sometimes angst-filled.
One of my favorite songs is a duet he sang with Iris DeMent called ‘In Spite of Ourselves’. It’s a quirky kind of love song, where the pair acknowledges some pretty funny flaws and how they make things work in spite of them. Among my favorite lines, and some of the ones actually printable here, are: “(She) swears like a sailor when she shaves her legs,” and “He ain’t too bright, but he gets things done.” A few of the other less printable lines are raw but fair descriptions of two people who love one another in spite of themselves. Anybody in a lasting relationship knows that love really does work that way. First we love, then exist, barely survive, love a little more, and somehow thrive, essentially in spite of ourselves. And Prine encourages us with additional lyrics when he sings, ”…we’ll end up sitting on a rainbow. Against all odds, honey we’re the big door prize.” As we near Valentine’s Day, when mushy sentiments abound, and cards and advertisements feature pictures of perfectly airbrushed couples, I am reminded that maybe my husband Dave and I really are the big door prize… at least for each other. In spite of his tendency to find sports including high school water polo (which is actually a thing) on the television at any hour of the day, he still offers me the remote, if only because he knows I will hand it right back to him. In spite of my interest in all things 60’s and 70’s, and his love for modern lines in architecture and furniture and clothing, he lets me decorate the house and rarely even makes a suggestion to the contrary. In spite of the fact that he would dump a clove of garlic the size of a small city into everything from scrambled eggs to chili, and I don’t even love salt and pepper to season with, we manage to make meals work. In spite of the fact that virtually every beauty product new to the market in a pretty package tempts me to purchase it, and he has used the same toiletry basics for the 25 years I have known him, we easily share a bathroom space. In spite of the fact that he has a mad love for football, and I am pretty sure I am just now finally understanding how scoring works, we muddle through the fall and cram a lot of living into the other months of the year. In spite of the fact that I have a creative streak but the inability to finish a project, and he has actually had to build shelves for all my paints and supplies, when I show him a sketch or a new idea, he does a good job feigning interest. In spite of the fact that where to eat out is typically our greatest discussion (except for when we both NEED crab legs…), we have managed to create a list of places we can share a bite to eat. In spite of the fact that the volume on his truck stereo and the one on the television are both about a click too high for me, I have not gone deaf. And in spite of the fact that his selective hearing has increased over the last few years, he still listens to most of the important stuff. In spite of the fact that even though we have spent the majority of our lives as secondary educators, our own 16 year old mystifies us almost daily, and we make up a lot of parenting stuff as we go. In spite of my need to drape blankets and lap throws over every available surface for easy access whenever I am cold, and his propensity to wear shorts all the time because he is hot, we find a temperature that works for our house. Prine’s song concludes on a happy note (see what I did there?): “There won’t be nothing but big old hearts dancing in our eyes.” I guess after nearly spiting “our noses right off our faces,” we are still seeing hearts after all these years. All told, in spite of miscommunications, misadventures, and even occasional misfortune, we remain each other’s big door prize. Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you who have found love or are still seeking it—in spite of yourselves. Join us Wedneday, March 23rd to meet the City and School Board candidates on the April 2022 ballot and learn about their views on the issues that matter to our community. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Schedule 6:30pm - 7:00pm Meet and Greet 7:00pm - 8:00pm Candidate Forum (Unopposed candidates will not participate in the forum portion. School board candidates will be featured first, followed by board of aldermen candidates, and mayoral candidates.) Light refreshments will be served. Event sponsored by Grain Valley News Thanks to a windfall of aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Grain Valley finds itself in the unprecedented position of finding ways to spend nearly $3 million in funds on projects. $350 billion of the $1.9 trillion aid package passed in March 2021 was allotted to state and local governments. The Board of Aldermen met for a workshop on Monday, February 7th to consider plans to spend the funds the City has received.
Grain Valley has been allotted $2,931,137 in funding through the program. An initial payment of $1,465,568.61 was received in September 2021, with a second payment due in September 2022. Funds must be obligated for projects by December 31, 2024, and spent by December 31, 2026. Funds must be used for projects fitting within four categories, including: responding to the public health emergency and/or its negative economic impacts; responding to essential workers during the COVID-19 public health emergency; providing government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue occurring as a result of COVID-19; and making necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure. Funds may not be used to offset reductions in taxes, funding debt service, legal settlements, or deposits to pension funds or rainy-day funds or reserves. City staff outlined a plan to use ARPA funds to support several projects, with primary project recommendations coming from the City's 2022-26 Capital Improvement Plan, which was approved by the Board of Aldermen in March 2021. Projects include two sewer main replacements between Main Street and James Rollo Court at an estimated cost of $950,000, design work for a new water tower at Tyer Road at an estimated cost of $400,000, replacement of police radios at an estimated cost of $177,000, a parks master plan ($75,000) and comprehensive master plan ($125,000). Upgrades for the police department, including license plate readers, video arraignment, and police body cameras were also included. City staff also presented information on Missouri Main Street Connection, an organization that works with historic downtown business districts to revitalize and reimagine those spaces. Staff recommended $50,000 in ARPA funds be dedicated to partnering with the Missouri Main Street Connection to work with downtown Grain Valley businesses through a matching grant program. All told, the list of projects totaled $1,874,000, leaving $1,057,137 to be earmarked toward additional projects. The Board and Mayor appeared in favor of the plan, which will be presented at a future board meeting for consideration. In other news, the City has put out a request for proposals to purchase the former Nichols Machine buildings (513 Gregg Street and 517 Gregg Street). The City purchased the buildings in 2018 and were considering the space for use as a community center space for older adults and youth services among other ideas. In its RFP, the City states leadership has decided the property would be best suited for use by a private party. First Baptist Church Grain Valley has indicated interest in purchasing the property in a previous Board of Aldermen meeting. The next meeting of the Board of Aldermen will be held at 7:00pm on Monday, February 14th at City Hall. Dr. Amanda Allen has been named Assistant Superintendent of Student & Community Services for the Grain Valley School District beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. In her new role, Allen will lead community engagement, district communications, and the coordination of student services such as homelessness, foster care, and school-based therapy. This role was previously held by Dr. Brad Welle who has been named superintendent of schools effective July 1. Dr. Allen has been with the Grain Valley School District for nine years and has served as a school leader for the past six years, first as assistant principal at South Middle School (2016-2020) and then as principal of North Middle School (2020-2022). Allen had previously served as a middle school math teacher for two years, followed by one year as a district instructional technology coach. “Dr. Allen’s focus is on what is best for students. She is a proven leader who has built strong relationships with families and staff. Her integrity and work as a servant leader will continue to serve our school community well," incoming Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle said. Dr. Amanda Allen has been named Assistant Superintendent of Student & Community Services for the Grain Valley School District beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.
Photo credit: Grain Valley Schools Photo credit: Grain Valley Schools The GVHS Cheer Program was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony for 2022 inductees on Sunday, February 6th at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds.
The Class of 2022 is as follows: Willie Roaf, Kansas City Chiefs Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals Forrest Lucas, founder of Lucas Oil, the namesake for Lucas Oil Speedway & Lucas Oil Stadium Ken Morrow, a 1980 USA Hockey gold medalist and four-time Stanley Cup champion Rich Gould, a Branson native and the longest-serving TV sports director in St. Louis history Julie Dorn, a University of Missouri All-American gymnast Jay Osborne, the longtime Nixa High School boys basketball coach Tim Poe, coach of the University of Central Missouri men’s golf program Steve Hesser, former Glendale High School and Drury University basketball coach Jon Leamy, the recently retired coach of the Missouri State University men’s soccer program Mike Swanson, Kansas City Royals Communications Executive Don Peterson, a 55-year scuba diving coach based in Springfield Randy Magers, a Missouri State University baseball & basketball standout Larry Whiteley, Conservationist & Outdoor Journalist 1984-1991 West Plains High School Volleyball Era Rick Byers, former football coach of St. Pius X High School 1998-2002 St. Pius X High School Football Era Grain Valley High School Cheerleading Program Helias Catholic High School Boys Golf Program Bryan Properties – John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award Bonnie Keller – Ace Award Craig Curry – President’s Award Grain Valley Cheer began competing in 1992 and has won 18 state championships, which cover the years 2003 to 2005, 2009 to 2014, and 2016 to 2021. In 2012, the program became so large that it competed with two separate varsity squads (Class 3 Small All-Girls & Co-Ed Large). That season, it won state titles in both divisions and continued to do so through 2014 – which explains the 18 titles. Since 2016, its state titles have been in Class 4. The program also was state runner-up in 1993, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2015. About 20 cheerleaders have earned All-State, and many have become staffers with the National Cheerleading Association and the Universal Cheerleaders Association. A number of Grain Valley cheerleaders also have competed in NCAA Division I, Division II, and NAIA. Linda Sallee guided the 2003 teams, and Delanne Carlson has led the squad since 2009. In 2016, Grain Valley was awarded the MCCA Community Service Award for its volunteer participation in events for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Race for the Cure KC, and Light the Night Cancer Survivors Walk Blue Springs. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Since beginning this series on Grain Valley teachers, one very special teacher keeps coming to my mind. I have many more “favorite” teachers and administrators in mind to research and write about, but I’m going to fast forward to a more current teacher. And yes, her roots are in Grain Valley. Erma Bumgardner Doty is definitely a “hometown girl.” Erma Lorene Bumgardner was born on July 30, 1921 to Ona (Stephenson) and Byrl Bumgardner. You may recall that I wrote an article about Ona and her successful teaching career at Oak Hill School for Valley News back on April 25, 2019. While in grade school, Erma wrote an essay, The History of Stony Point, which is still used by historians today. Erma graduated from Grain Valley High School in 1938. Her class photograph shows fourteen students along with Principal Noel Wilkerson (top photo, top left) and Superintendent Paul Farley (top photo, bottom right) Erma is the pretty young lady on the bottom left in the top photo. That year the school published their second yearbook and the credits listed Erma as a typist. From that yearbook I also learned that a Commercial Department was added to our school with Mrs. Sarah Thomas as the first teacher and also the yearbook sponsor, but we’ll come back to that. I also learned that Erma’s favorite song was “You Can’t Stop Me from Dreaming,” which I find very applicable to her life. The “Mrs. Doty” I knew always encouraged us to dream big and then go out and DO IT! Erma attended Central Missouri Teachers College. From her college yearbook I learned she was a member of Alpha Phi Delta, “the oldest honor organization for women on the campus. It offers membership to women who have a high scholastic average during their freshman year and who have shown desirable qualities of personality and leadership. The organization urges its members to participate in all of the college activities; social, departmental and the class organizations.” Something you may not know –Erma was on the synchronized swim team. After graduation Erma returned to Grain Valley to begin her teaching career. She taught Commerce and sponsored the yearbook. The photo below identifies Miss Baumgardner (lower photo, bottom left) as sponsor of the Class of 1942. Adrian Fullerton (lower photo, bottom right) was the principal. On September 17, 1946 she married Robert S. Doty. For many years Mrs. Doty was a stay-at-home mom raising her four children, Bob, Larry, Kathy and Dennis. Years later a fifth child was added when a Greek AFS student became a part of the family. Costas lived in their home while attending GVHS. Over the years the members (and friends) of the Doty family have visited Costas in Greece and/or Australia, his present home. Costas has made many trips to America and Grain Valley including attending his 50th year class reunion. Mrs. Doty returned to teaching at Grain Valley in the early 1960s. Although I never had her as a teacher, she and her husband accompanied my class on our senior trip to a dude ranch in Mountain Home, Arkansas. We left on a Sunday morning, which happened to be Mother’s Day. We couldn’t believe she would leave her four children to be with us! I remember stopping for breakfast in Nevada, Missouri. While the others ate, Tom Woods and I walked around town until we located a flower shop (open on Sunday) and bought her a rose and a card from the class. She was so appreciative. A few years later Mrs. Doty was able to get a job at the high school teaching her first love, Commerce! And yes, she sponsored the yearbook. Hundreds of Grain Valley students benefited from her knowledge and experience but more importantly her care and concern for the students she taught. Visit the Historical Society to see Mrs. Doty’s school bell and the yearbooks and newspaper she helped her students produce! Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
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