by Michael Smith


​
The way Grain Valley head football coach David Allie explains his current situation, “It’s a good problem to have.”
He’s speaking of the turnout at his football mini camp at Grain Valley High School this week, which has seen more than 130 players participate. It’s the highest number of participants that he’s seen in his nine-year tenure with the Eagles.
“We had a large group a couple of years ago,” Allie said. “We had about 120. But this is the largest group we’ve ever had come through.
“Football is a game of attrition. We try to have at least 50 freshmen play. The number usually dwindles in half by the time they graduate because of kids moving or focusing on other sports.”
Because of the high numbers, the coaching staff has had to make some adjustments to the workouts and drills to accommodate the numbers.
“Our group is so big we had to change from eight to 12 captains,” senior Stylz Blackmon said.
During the mini camp, players participate in drills and run plays they would during the regular season without any contact. The players wear just helmets with no pads. The team is divided into groups and work on skills based on the position they play or what class each player is.
For the freshman and sophomores, Allie noted that he likes to have that group work on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
“That gives them the most opportunities to get on the field and play,” Allie said. “If you like offense better than defense or vice versa, you know what the other is trying to do to you when you play the position you love.
“We want all the young guys to play both ways.”
For lineman like Blackmon, the mini camp is beneficial for younger players and himself to go over blocking schemes and techniques.
“A lot of it is technique but it’s also about the lineup and assignments,” Blackmon said. “It’s not only for lineman but for running backs, wide receivers, and (defensive backs).”
For running backs, the focus has been on conditioning, ball security, and going over schemes on offense.
“We have to hang on to the rock at all times and work on speed and agility,” Grain Valley senior Ty Williams said. “We have to get that burst, too. Running backs have to be well-rounded so we have to work on all sorts of things.”
Part of the reason for the mini camp is to prepare for the Pittsburg State University camp that will begin Sunday and last three days. The Eagles will scrimmage against teams from Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and others. Players will wear just shoulder pads and helmets and there will be no tackling, just wrap ups and bumps.
Allie said it will be a challenge because the other teams at the camp play during the spring, whereas Missouri squads do not play at that time.
 “They have already had 14 or whatever their state allows for spring practices,” Allie said of teams from other states. “Before the camp, we will have had about four. In the spring, we brought some of the guys in one day a week to install chalk talk and go over what we will be doing in this camp.”
“When we get to Pittsburg State on Sunday, there will be teams that have a lot more experience than we do. One of the reasons we like this camp is we get a lot of reps and all the coaches do a good job of understanding this is summertime. We don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
Added Blackmon: “We have to catch up to the pace they are going. We got to get pads on as soon as we can.”
The mini camp is just the beginning of the preparation for the 2023 season that will begin with the season opener against Fort Osage on Aug. 25.
“I was counting down the days until summer started,” Williams said. “It’s a fun time out here. It gets tiring but you look to your left and your right and you have your friends doing it with you. It’s an exciting time.”
 

by Michael Smith



For nearly the entire season, Grain Valley sophomore Alyssa Carver was dominant in the pole vault.

She won nearly every event she was in and was third in the Class 5 Sectional 2 meet and came in as the No. 5 seed for the Missouri State High School Track and Field Championships.

In her first-ever appearance at the state meet, she proved she one of the best vaulters in the state as she placed fourth, earning all-state honors Friday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City.

She was one of four Grain Valley competitors to earn all-state honors, which are given to competitors who finish in the top eight of their event. Junior Izabella West took sixth in the triple jump, sophomore Blayden Pruett was sixth in the Javelin and sophomore Jason Wilson was first in the discus and shot put and second in the 100-meter race in the para division.

Carver said she was pleased overall with how well she did at state as she got a height of 11 feet, 1 inch, which was 11 inches shorter than the state champion.

“I didn’t (set a personal record), but I am not mad about how I did,” she said. “I jumped what I have been jumping consistently. I am proud of the way I ended. It was the nice way to end the season.

She added that she has come a long way since the beginning of the season.

“From last year and the beginning the season, I have been doing a lot of training to improve my strength,” she said. “I have been working on having a strong plant and I have been getting on the bigger poles. That has helped add three inches to my height.”

West just started going the triple jump midway through the season after experimenting with multiple other events during practice.

Turns out that she is one of the best at the event as she got a distance of 35 feet, 11 inches.

“We had some first-year coaches who helped her get through and learn the technique,” Grain Valley girls head coach Nick Small said. “It’s pretty impressive to see them learn together in the final half of the season. Things started clicking at the end.

“She was ranked 12th going in. She really stepped up. She got after it. She had been doing the long jump and we knew she had some pop in her. We had her try an event for (junior varsity) to start and she ended up doing pretty well.”

Like West, Pruett competed in an event, the javelin, for the first-time this season and ended up being one of the best.

She unleashed a throw of 167 feet, 9 inches, which set a school record for the event on the boys side. The previous record was held by Ethan Macoubrie in 2018 when he had a throw of 163 feet, 3 inches.

“I am very proud of my finish,” Pruett said. “Some of the people I thought were doing to do better, didn’t do as well, so I ended up pulling through.”

Improving his footwork was the major key, Pruett added.

“I was really focused on my steps today,” he said. “It worked and helped a lot.

“I am looking forward to doing this in the long run.”

Jason Wilson, who uses a wheel chair due to spina bofida, competed in three different para events and was all-state in all three. He was first in the shot put (14 feet, 8,75 inches), first in the discus (48 feet, 4 inches) and he was second in the 100-meter dash (30.40 seconds).

“He threw really well in both and (set a personal record) in both,” boys track coach Erik Stone said. “He had a really good day. He’s just a sophomore and had a lot of fun with it. It was a learning experience for him the coaches. I am looking forward to pretty good growth the next couple of years.”

​Others to compete for Grain Valley were junior Stylz Blackmon, who was 16th with a throw of 45 feet, 6.25 inches and the 4x800 relay team of Carson Hill, Nathan Allen, Landon Barnes and Rylan Smith. They finished in 15th with a time of 8:09.49.

​
 
by Michael Smith
 
Last season, the Grain Valley boys and girls track teams earned all-state honors in six out of seven events they qualified for.
Every Grain Valley competitor earned at least one medal at the 2022 Missouri High School Track and Field Championships.
This season, the Eagles will look to do the same as the boys team qualified for state in three events and the girls did in two during last weekend’s Class 5 Sectional 4 meet at Columbia Rock Bridge High School.
For the boys, junior Stylz Blackmon qualified in the shot put, sophomore Blayden Pruett made it in the javelin and the 4x800 team of Nathan Allan, Landon Barnes, Rylan Smith and Carson Hill punched their ticket to state.
For the girls, junior Izabella West qualified in the triple jump and sophomore Alyssa Carver made it in the pole vault.
All of the Eagles who qualified for state will be making their first appearance at the event.
Carver just missed out on going to state and sectionals last season at the district meet because she was tied for fourth place but lost a tiebreaker due to having one more attempt than the eventual fourth-place finisher.
At this year’s sectional event, she finished third with a height of 3.29 meters in the pole vault. Currently, she is seeded fifth in the event and it appears she will have a good chance to earn all-state honors.
All season, she finished first in nearly every meet she’s competed in. Sectionals was one of the rare times she did not.
“I just didn’t have my best day,” Carver said. “It was a challenge to have to push through on an off day against tougher competition.
“I was slow and my vault wasn’t moving. I didn’t do as good as I did at the other meets.”
Carver said she thinks she has a good chance to earn all-state honors.
“Probably not,” Carver said when asked if she thinks she has a chance to be a state champion. “There are girls ranked higher than me. So unless they had a really off day and I had a great day, I don’t think I can win it, but I can definitely place.”
While Carver is a seasoned competitor in the pole vault, West competed in the triple jump for the first time this season. At the beginning of the season, the junior was trying to figure out what event was the best fit for her. One day at practice, she turned some heads when practicing the triple jump.
That ended up being her permanent spot for the season.
“Izabella was with us as a freshman and last year she decided not to come out,” Grain Valley girls track coach Nick Small said. “She came back this year and has been committed.”
“She popped off in practice at the triple jump, and we’re like, ‘Hey! I think we can do this thing.’”
West had one of her best performances at as sectionals as she took third with a distance of 11.31 meters.
“I was a centimeter off from my personal record,” West said, “and that was my first jump, so I was pretty happy about that.”
“I was aiming to win it but there is a girl who jumps a meter further. I have exceeded my expectations, especially since I started the triple jump in the middle of the year.”
Pruett is one of those competitors that just took up throwing a javelin. His throw of 152 feet, 8 inches netted him a third-place finish at sectionals.
“I didn’t throw the best I could’ve,” Pruett said. “It was enough to get me through to state.”
His recent success it partly due to changing the focus of his technique., focusing more on his footwork than his arm movement.
“I have been working on my steps more and not so much my power,” Pruett said. “It helped a lot doing that instead of trying to muscle it.”
Blackmon is looking forward to his first state appearance, as he ranked 12th right now in the Class 5 shot put event. His throw of 49 feet, 2 inches was good enough for second place at sectionals.
“At the beginning of the year, it was my goal to get (a throw of 15 meters),” Blackmon said. “I have been progressing steadily throughout the meets. I would definitely say I threw really well at sectionals. Me and Coach (David) Allie have really been working on my technical issues.
“I just want to swing through and leave it all out there.”
He said putting more of a focus on track, while still playing basketball and football was a big reason for his breakthrough 2023 campaign.
“I came in as a sophomore and I really didn’t think much of track,” Blackmon said. “I thought it was something I could just do. I really didn’t think I could get anywhere with it.”
“But coming into my junior year, I was the best shot put thrower we had. I had a throw of 13 meters coming in. I have come back bigger and stronger and realized I could make it far in this.”
The 4x800 team, which took fourth at sectionals at 8:12.25, had a little luck on their side near the end of the race. A runner from Liberty Wentzville was on pace to get fourth but “got wobbly and tired” as he was closing in on the finish line.
Smith pushed hard at the final leg of the race to take fourth and qualify just ahead of Blue Springs (8:13.9) and Liberty Wentzville (8:16.63).
“We were 5 to 10 meters behind fourth place at the time,” Grain Valley boys track coach Erik Stone said.
“The kid in front of us was running out of his mind and was running a really good split, then his legs gave out on him. He fell completely to the ground.”
“I spoke to Coach Small after the race and said, ‘Rylan could have easily given up. Thinking, ‘OK. We’re fifth.’ Blue Springs was on our tail, too. But we were able to get fourth and that was awesome.”
Added Hill: “It was a very nerve-wracking finish.”
Allen said the best is yet to come for his relay team.
“We were not satisfied,” Allen said. “We were in the mindset to survive and advance. We are going to work on getting that time down and running our best at state.”
The Missouri State High School Track and field championships will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday and will end on Saturday at 4:40 p.m. Blackmon, Pruett, Carver and West will all compete on Friday and the 4x800 relay team will compete on the track at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
 

Congratulations to the 2023 Grain Valley High School and 2023 Sni Valley Academy graduates. Grain Valley High School's graduation ceremony was held Monday, May 22nd at Cable Dahmer Arena. 

2023 Grain Valley High School graduates:

​Josie Lynn Adams
Rhylan Marcellino Alcanter
Rula Iyad Alkhatib
Annika Rae Allen
Jake Rogers Allen
Mattie Lauren Allen
Nathan Anthony Allen
Cecilia  Alvarado-Damian
Maria Guadalupe Alvarado-Damian
Lexi Jo Arndorfer
Makayla Kawipuilani Arrington
Dru Robert Azcona
Cooper Liam Bailey
Joshua Bradley Bailey
Brock Harvey Baker
Hailey Alexandra Ballard
Tanner Jackson Barker
Kylie Jase Barnett
Lilly Maryn Barszczak
Rylee Jo Bartholow
Athena Rayne Nieves Bates
Peyton Louise Bell
Brianka Noel Benjamin
Mason Matthew Berry
Lindsey Nicole Bertling
Lori Anita Bickham
Clayton West Bivens
Alivia Raye Blackmore
Kaylynn Elizabeth Bly
Carter Anthony Bohanon
Kennedy Lane Bohanon
Pierce Nathaniel Bousselot
Cameryn Alyssa Bown
Dylan Michael Braden
Cydnee Banks Bradley
Bain Alexander Broadhead
Kendrah Alayn Brooks
Grace Ann Brotherton
Amanda Grace Brown
Paige Renee Brown
Piper Lauren Buddemeyer
Anthony Wendell Burch
Averie Rae Burge
Jayden Christopher Burress
Kendall Daveon Butler
Kenya Dave'onne Butler
Adelyn Lottie Bybee
Emma Marie Carey
Chloe Elizabeth Carrillo
Donovan Paul Case
Lillian Grace Cassidy
Dante Santiago Castilleja
Adelyn Paige Caswell
Kyle Michael Cave
Alexander Michael Cerra
Cooper Anthony Cerra
Isabel Kay Chairez
Spencer Gordon Herschal Chase
Olivia Christine Chatburn
Yumiko  Chen
Robert Ethan Clasby
Ella Grace Clyman
Bruno Vanz Collares
Kayley Marie Coney
Aimee Grace Cook
Austin Paul Cook
Xavier McGuire Cook
Shania Shaylee Cope
Hannah Elisabeth Copple
Regan Danielle Costigan
Bracyn Indy Crain
Jeremiah David Creech
Katelynn Michele Deylane Cross
Hannah Elizabeth Crutcher
Andrew Steven Czeschin
Giovanni Rivera D'Angelo
Carson Lee Davis
Jordan Maxine Davis
Caton Linlee Day
Audrey Lynn Deberry
Caitlin Ashley DeBerry
Anthony Jacob Diaz
Beckett Henry Disco
Thomas Jackson Doolin
Colton James Drollinger
Tyeler James Duncan
Makayla Anna Marie Dyer
Fiona Aleen Edwards
Cole Jayden Elliott
Karsen Jacob Emry
Lahndon Lee Silas Faltynowski
Laina Marie Faulk
Cynthia Lynette Ferrer
Reagan Lee Fisher
Christian Dean Fite
Marie Elizabeth Frazier
Mason Rose Frerking
Jonathan Thomas Gann
Avery Jackson Garmon
Ryleigh Nyte Garrison
Michael Ray Gassen
Logan Michael Giese
Tyler Lee Gifford
Jacob Michael Gleich
Luke Thomas Gniotczynski
Leighton Xander Godwin
Alexia Destiny Goodell
Kaitlynn Deanna Goosey
Macey Ann Gower
Alana Reeann Graham
Evan Christopher Green
Tyler Dalton Groves
Nickole Rae Gunlock
Sophia Rachel Hackett
Theron James Hackworth
Jordyn Marie Haile
Trent Leslie Hailey
Skylar Marie Hall
Ryan Hunter Halteman
Keegan Christopher Handy
Joseph Reed Hansuld
Westin Lee Haralson
Ethan Michael Harris
Keagan John Hart
Eiley Gail Hartley
Katelynn Bell Hayworth
Ryan Nicholas Heidrich
Samantha Mercedese Heinrich
Nathaniel Michael Heinz
Hailey Grace Hemme
McKenna Michele Henry
Owen Andrew Herbert
Isadora Elizabeth Herman
Hayden Bruce Hermon
Crysta Marie Hernandez
Conner Scott Herrbach
Landry Elizabeth Hicks
Carson Scott Hill
Katie Nichole Hobbs
Keegan Gabriel Holcomb
Avree Jade Hollis
Gabrielle Diore Holman
Maxwell Christian Hoover
Sara Jacquelyn Hubbard
Taden Michael Huerter
Maddux Dean Hughes
Dru McKenna Iles
Jaydn Elizabeth Jarman
Conner Michael Johnson
Ethan Otto Johnson
Marissa Lynn Johnson
Lynnette Marie Jones
Mallory Paige Jones
Ryan Robert Peter Jones
Kessid Hope Keim
Mackenzie Elizabeth Keller
Olivia Josephine Kelley
Payton Nolan Kennedy
Jasmonee Niyonda Inise King
Rory Daniel Kirkpatrick
Lauren Michelle Kitsmiller
Carly Jo Koerner
Leland Robert Kohne
Zachary Joseph Konko
Dominic Alexander Korycki
Kenzie Marie Lair
Ryan Wayne Lampe
Christian Kaiyon Lanear
Ian Edward Langschied
Alexys Marie Lares
Robert Michael Larkin
Caleb Jeffrey Larson
Dylan Ryan Laughlin
Isaac Douglas Laws
Kyler Lee Lemery
Ava  Lin
Hunter Allen Lingle
Drew Danielle Linthicum
Emmalee Elizabeth Lockwood
Kelsey Ann Loges
Logan Thomas Long
Addyson Mara Lyford
Holly Lynn Malicoat
Jansynn Rylin Kate-Spiva Martin
Seth Patrick Martin
Megan Ashley Mazzarella
Taylor Christine McClain
Drew Douglas McDonald
Trent Alexander Melton
Kaleena Nicole Menzsa
Allison Marie Meyers
Kaitlyn Jean Mickelson
Hannah Roxann Middaugh
Ethan Grant Miller
Gabrielle Nicole Miller
Kiera Jade Miller
Hannah Reese Millier
Aidan Christian Moffet
Alaysha Annette Molina
Diego Ryan Montez
Michael Lon Montgomery Jr.
Mason Stone Morris
Mattie Wambui Mwangi
Carmen Elizabeth Myers
Tyler Keith Lowell Myers
Gavin Gene Mygatt
Quinn Liberty Newgaard
Lexie Cathryn Nicholson
Mara Faith Niemeyer
Stephen Joseph Nuttall
Alayna Christine Patel
Lexie Louise Pederson
William Nicholas Peterson
Jacob Andrew Pittman
Hunter Stephen Pittsenbarger
Chloe Diane Plummer
Katherin Maria Portillo
Blake Layne Prewitt
Asher Owen Randall
William Scott Randolph
Nathanial Louis Rathmann
Maximus Cole Reardon
Juliana Nicole Reece
Peyton Mac Reed
Mia Alison Reeder
Evan Mason Reich
Averi Grace Reynolds
Everett Jake Richards
Cadyn Lewis Riling
Braxton Clark Roach
McKenzie Jordyn Roeder
Madison McKenzie Rogers
Kayla Danielle Rolley
Keren Ivania Rosario
Paige Elizabeth Ryan
Ty Jasper Sanders
Gabriella Isabelle Sanjur
Austin Raymond Schmitt
Avari Elise Schwenk
Ethan Cole Schwirtz
Peyton Wilford Schwirtz
Alexandria Monique Scott
Trae Lelei Craig Selemaea
Allison Ann Shafer
Allison Nicole Shields
Danika Nikole Sickle
Chase Thomas Simpson
Ethan Reed Simpson
Grace Kay Slaughter
Brock Wesley Smith
Emma Victoria Smith
Alexander Thomas Snyder
Mariah Elise Snyder
Carlee Denise Solomon
Katelyn Nicole Spangler
Adler Paul Stahel
Ellie Kristine Stahl
Rhea'leigh Solveig Stanley
Madison Lee Stansbury
Keili Danielle Stevens
Kellen David Stevens
Jackson Lloyd Stewart
Gary Brayden Stolle
Jade Savannah Stone
Payden Rae Stone
Riley Alan Strickland
Chloe Elizabeth Sutton
Caitlin Kaey Ying Tan
Mia Rose Tarantola
Eli John Taylor
Nathaniel Robert Joseph Testa
Delaney Brooke Thompson
Tanner Allen Todd
Norah Gayle Townsend
Reece William Troyer
Christopher Michael Turkaly
Jacob Lee Turman
Wyatt Webb Van Cleave
Aundria Nicole VanHeel
Payton Alexandria VanHook
Jendayah Tamar Vaughn
Daniel  Villegas
Dawson Matthew Wagner
Finley Ella-Brooke Waldren
Sky Ann Marie Walton
Emily Rose Wampler
Cameron Dean Ware
Cory'Onna Marie Wasson
Audrey Kaye Weathers
Jace Dalton Weems
Sydnie Lynn Weimer
James Robert Welzel
Isabella Grace West
Owen Mac White
Riley Marie Wiedenmann
Owen Michael Wiese
Andrea Nicole Wiggins
Vincent William Wilkins
Camihle Amerie Williams
Cooper Chase Williams
Zane Alexander Williams
Jaiden Dean Wilson
Ryan Andrew Withrow
William David Woods

Sni-Valley Academy graduates:

​Jordan Ali Amjad
Shyann Marie Josephine Johnson Becchina
McKenna Faith Bishop
Jacksen Wyatt Broyles
Victor Armon Burnett
Luke Richard Buxton
Alyssa Nicole Cannon
Tyler Abraham Carlos
Alexis Raeann Caulfield
Jackson Connor Chambers
Abbielynn Mary Coleman
Jadyn Reigh Cunningham
Josephine Eve Duckworth
Maggie Sofia Duplantis
Ethan Riley Edmonds
Savana Rain Fletcher
Kelsie JoAnn Frame
Hana May Francis
Bradley Cole Gildehaus
Lucas Michael Gilliland
Kylie Elizabeth Gramiling
Connor Dwayne Heitman
Zoey Jaden Henderson
Macy Jade Horton
Addelyn Darrah Rebecca Howard
Kodi Ann Marie Humbird
Trinidee Marie Hutchison
Josiah S Juarez
John Christopher Keeney
Jaxsen Lee Kennedy
Cooper Patrick Kenyon
Coleson Lee King
Colin James Meece
Payton Lynn Miller
Kameron Lee Naylor
Vanessa Ann Nicholson
Delaney Rhen Nielsen
Dalton James Otto
Bella Kristina Rold
Paul Puaaelo Schiffer Jr
Phebe Lynn Sebastian
Connor Joseph Smith
Jaydon Austin Sprouse
Aldrick Elliott Stirling
Jadon Anthony Wayne Summers
Victoria Ann Swartz
Lillie Rayne Tipton
Jackson Paul Tyler
Sydney Christine Weinzirl
Gavin Lee West
Grayer Ross Wheelock
Najfia  York

by Michael Smith
 
​
Sometimes soccer can be a game of inches.
 
That was definitely the case in Grain Valley’s Class 4 District 6 championship game against Blue Springs South at Columbia Hickman High School.
 
After getting off to a hot start to start the game and taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, South rallied to take a 2-1 lead. Grain Valley had multiple chances to tie it up, but it's shot attempts were either slightly off or stopped by goalkeeper Siman Loethen.
 
The Jaguars’ second-half outburst, which resulted in three goals, ended the Eagles season as they fell 3-1 Friday.
 
“Tonight, we lacked getting shots on target,” Grain Valley head coach Brett Lewis said. “Emma hit the post twice. Soccer is just a cruel game sometimes. Things just didn’t bounce our way. I have been in so many games in which we were an inch off here and an inch off there.”
 
After South went up 2-1 with 26 minutes, 42 seconds left in the contest, had a handful of opportunities to tie it. In the 64th minute, junior Emma Thiessen had a direct free kick from just outside the top right corner of the 18-yard box. She was able to fit her shot through a thicket of defenders but the shot hit off the right post and bounced away from the goal.
 
Junior Kylee Bragaw had a shot from the same spot off a rebound with about 13 minutes left. She drilled a shot that appeared to be headed inside the left post, but Loethen made a diving stop.
 
Thiessen had the last best chance when she rolled a shot from halfway inside the penalty box and with Loethen out of position, the ball looked like it would cross the goal line. However, Loethen recovered quickly and knocked the ball away just before the ball crossed to keep the lead.
 
South freshman Haley Kramer put the game away with 19 seconds left when she bent a shot inside the left post from about 30 yards out.
 
“South players stepped up and limited our offense,” Lewis said. “I thought we had more shots than they did and created more offense than they did. But credit to them. They were able to counter us a couple of times.”
 
“We had a lot of opportunities in the box, we just couldn’t find that last pass and last shot.”
 
Grain Valley (20-5) controlled possession throughout the first half and got its lone goal off a mistake by the Jaguars. With the Eagles putting pressure on the South defense, Jaguar senior Cora Watkins accidently kicked the ball backward toward her own goal. Thiessen capitalized by putting in a close-range shot in the 23rd minute for a 1-0 lead.
 
“I will be honest, Grain Valley looked to be the better team for a big part of that game,” South veteran head coach Todd Findley said.
 
That score held until halftime, but South benefitted from a pair of rebounds to take the lead. A shot from a Jaguar deflected off a Grain Valley defender and Kramer was right there to drill a shot into the left side of the net to tie the game at 1-all in the 50th minute.
 
A little over three minutes later, Alyssa Guadagnano made the game-winner when a deflection came right to her inside Grain Valley’s 18-yard box and she punched one in on the left side of the net to put South up 2-1.
 
From there, the Eagles were snakebitten as their stellar season came to an end.
 
Grain Valley will return the majority of its team for the 2024 season as it loses just two seniors to graduation, including starting defender Lexi Nicholson.
 
“We have a really strong group that’s going to be seniors and that’s going to be exciting,” Lewis said. “These girls know what it’s like to be in a district title game and they know the atmosphere and what it takes. They will be ready to hit the ground running next year.”

On a beautiful, mid-May evening in Grain Valley, Missouri, Sni Valley Academy held its commencement ceremony at Grain Valley High School for its 50 graduates. For these 50 young adults, their path to a high school diploma may not have been the easiest route to take, but, through hard work and perseverance, they came out on the other side.

In his opening speech, Grain Valley High School principal, Dr. Jeremy Plowman applauded the work that Sni Valley Academy directors, Ryan Adams and Jill Maxon, do for students.  Plowman noted that across the country, less than half of kids that attend alternative school graduate with a high school diploma. Plowman said that in the Grain Valley School District, that number is over 90 percent thanks to Adams and Maxon.

To recognize his commitment and service to the students of Sni Valley, Dr. Plowman was given an honorary diploma from Sni Valley Academy as a token of their appreciation.

Mr. Adams thanked each of the student’s family and friends for attending as he said, “I know the road to this point wasn’t always smooth, but your support and encouragement helps these graduates cross the finish line.”

Addressing the graduates, Adams said, “you’ve all worked extremely hard to get to this point and it’s very rewarding for us to watch you walk across this stage… you’ve already faced many challenges… overcoming these challenges is the first step in achieving your goals and getting your diploma. Whatever path you choose, be sure you put everything you have into doing it right.”

Mrs. Maxon added on this by saying, “next time you’re going through something hard, remember this exact moment, this feeling, I want you to remember everything about it because things are going to get hard again, but if you believe in yourself and recall this amazing feeling, you will know that all of the hard is worth it.”

Sni Valley graduate Bradley Gildehaus said that graduation was a special moment for him. It was a time of reflection on “all the hard work that went into it. This is an alternative school, so things didn’t go as planned but I made it and I’m happy to be here!” Gildehaus said.

He then added that Sni Valley prepared him well for his future by allowing him to work while attending school. Looking toward the future, Gildehaus said that he may join his father in the construction business now that he has his diploma.

Reflecting on the graduation, Adams says that this night “means a lot, these kids have worked so hard. Their backs were against the wall many times in their student career and for them to overcome that and get to this point, it’s a very cool moment for us to see them do that.”

When asked what is most meaningful to him in his work at Sni Valley Academy, Adams responded, “You get to work with kids that really need your help. The kids that need support, and guidance, and structure. It’s an honor to be able to provide them that."

In his final piece of advice to the graduates, Mr. Adams said, “You’re not alone as you begin your future…remember, success in life is hard to achieve on your own. Surround yourself with good people and good things will happen.”

On Thursday, May 18, the Grain Valley Board of Education met for their regularly scheduled meeting.

In the recognitions portion of the meeting, the board recognized five groups.

The board first recognized GVHS freshman, and FBLA state qualifier, Blake Hurley. Hurley was the first freshman to ever hold executive office for FBLA in GVHS as well as the first student to place in Mobile App Development at state, placing eighth.

Next, Ms. Julie Lever, GVHS Spanish teacher, presented Grain Valley’s first ever Seal of Biliteracy to Carson Hill. To achieve this, Hill scored well on an English exam and also took an outside exam to show his proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding Spanish.

Next, Jeff Kramer presented representatives from the Early Childhood Center with an award recognizing 2023 Missouri School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Bronze Tier selection; while Nancy Rogers presented representatives from Matthews Elementary with an award to recognize their 2023 MO SW-PBS Gold Tier selection. Both Kramer and Rogers agreed that these two schools were extremely deserving of the recognition and said that they are used as examples of great schools.

The next recognition was delivered by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Amanda Allen to the district’s Leadership Seminar graduates. Those graduates are: Melanie Brockhaus, Nancy Leaser, Kourtney Michael, Alyssa Thomas, and Teri Turner. In this program, these teachers met monthly for two hours each session for two years to learn about various aspects of leadership within the district.

"It’s our intention then, from this group, to draw future summer school directors, and those seeking leadership positions within the district,” Allen explained.

The last recognition was for the three Speech and Debate students who competed in the state Speech and Debate competition. Gabby Holman and Carmen Myers were recognized for their first-place finish at state in the Policy Debate competition. Myers also placed second in International Extemporaneous Speaking. Freshman Dylan Rucinski qualified for state in the Humorous Interpretation category.

In the new business segment of the meeting, the board held action on the construction contracts for phase six at GVHS as well as the total project budget for phase six. The board approved the contracts for the Newkirk Novak construction partners with a guaranteed maximum price of $22,886,754.

As for the reports segment, the board heard from district superintendent Dr. Brad Welle. Welle explained that the bond issue was passed for $32 million, with the hard costs for phase six approved at just over $22 million, the district has the ability to complete some other projects.

Among the projects Welle named: district-wide HVAC improvements, baseball and softball complex improvements, IT network upgrades, operation department storage addition, gymnasium floor replacement at Sni-A-Bar and Prairie Branch Elementary, door and window replacements at various buildings, a band shed, and playground resurfacing at the Early Childhood Center.

“We know that we have the funds to do those projects…” Welle said.

Welle also mentioned that the district has the opportunity to switch all of the lights in the district over to LEDs, though it would come with an upfront cost that would be made back in energy savings later. The district also would like to do a full reroof at Matthews Elementary as well as purchase some extra, portable, bleachers to use at the high school athletic fields.

Also discussed at length in this section was food services debt and possible solutions to get this money back. At this time, the district has $32,000 in debt from kids/families who have a negative balance in their school lunch money account and district provided lunches to substitute teachers. Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Dr. Nick Gooch said that the district recently received a $7,700 donation from the Grain Valley Assistance Council to cover debts from the highest need families. Gooch said that this is a problem that’s being seen across the area, not just in the Grain Valley School District, and he is welcome to discussing potential solutions to this problem in the future.

Lastly, in the board policies section, the board heard final reading from three policy proposals and took action on each of them. The first was KC – Community Engagement policy. This policy calls for a community engagement plan which the board is in the process of drafting and will leave open to changes as needed through engaging the community.

​The second policy was BDDH-1 – Public Participation at Board Meetings. This policy allows the public to speak on whichever topic they choose at board meetings so long as it is within the law to do so. The last policy was JECA – Eligibility to Enroll. This policy follows new legislature regarding enrollment in schools and provides more flexibility to those wishing to enroll their students in Grain Valley Schools. All three policies were approved by the board.

Grain Valley High School hosted its local scholarship awards ceremony on May 10th, presenting more than $146,900 in scholarships earned by graduating seniors. The scholarships presented and each honoree is listed below.
 
Grain Valley Education Foundation Top 15% scholarship:
Yumiko Chen
Cameryn Bown
Evan Reich
Gabrielle Holman
Owen Herbert
Carmen Myers
Grace Slaughter
Jade Stone
Lillian Cassidy
Allison Shafer
Macey Gower
Peyton Bell
Olivia Chatburn
Carter Bohanon
Kylie Barnett
Maddux Hughes
Lynnette Jones
Caitlin Tan
Ava Lin
Allison Shields
Ethan Simpson
Emmalee Lockwood
Holly Malicoat
Ella Clyman
Josie Adams
Chloe Carrillo
Finley Waldren
Mattie Allen
Marissa Johnson
Caton Day
Kiera Miller
Payden Stone
Trent Hailey
Hailey Hemme
Jaydn Jarman
Kayley Coney
Madison Rogers
Austin Schmitt
Avery Garmon
Kaleena Menzsa
Brock Baker
Mason Morris
Kennedy Bohanon

 
John Cianciolo Athlete of Character Memorial Scholarship:
Austin Schmitt
Avery Garmon
Owen Herbert
Cameryn Bown
Lillian Cassidy
Evan Reich
 
David & Patty Hackett Scholarship:
Jade Stone
 
Focus for Grain Valley Scholarship:
Lillian Cassidy
Owen Herbert

Hanneman & Ward DDS Scholarship:
Olivia Chatburn
 
Grain Valley Family Dental Scholarship:
Adelyn Bybee
 
Rachel M. House Hudson Memorial Scholarship:
Olivia Chatburn
Ella Clyman
Lillian Cassidy
Makayla Dyer
Payden Stone
Peyton Bell

Leroy Grubb Memorial Scholarship:
Kellen Stephens

Iron Kettle Foundation Scholarship:
Carmen Myers
Kendrah Brooks

Barbara & Moody Murry Music Scholarship:
Maddux Hughes
 
Mary & Lonnie Harper Speech and Debate Scholarship:
Carmen Myers
 
Kissick Construction Scholarship:
Carter Bohanon
Macey Gower
Ava Lin

Grain Valley Partnership Kissick Construction Scholarship:
Brock Baker
 
Pam Perry "Always an Eagle" Scholarship:
Owen Herbert
 
BR Carpet Marching Eagles Band Scholarship:
Kayley Coney
 
Grain Valley Eagle Booster Club Scholarship:
Peyton Bell
Ava Lin
Carmen Myers
Owen Herbert
Cameryn Bown
Lillian Cassidy
Keagan Hart
Spencer Chase

Dean Sibert Memorial Scholarship:
Cameryn Bown

Jared & Keri English Family Scholarship:
Peyton Bell
Carmen Myers
 
Papa Murphy's of Grain Valley Scholarship:
Madison Rogers
 
Student Government Scholarship:
Jackson Stewart
Jade Stone
 
Dr. Roy Moss Education Scholarship:
Lillian Cassidy
Lynette Jones
 
Athletic Letter-of-Intent Scholarship:
Peyton Bell
Keagan Hart
 
Belcher Scholarship:
Gabrielle Holman
 
Grain Valley R-5 Board of Education Scholarship:
Lillian Cassidy
Evan Reich
Carmen Myers
Peyton Bell
Olivia Chatburn
Ava Lin
Allison Shafer
Hailey Hemme
Cameryn Bown
Trae Selemaea
Owen Herbert
Keagan Hart
Josie Adams
Jade Stone
Emma Carey

Marty Napier Community Service Award Scholarship:
Lillian Cassidy
Olivia Chatburn
Maddux Hughes
Carmen Myers
Avari Schwenk
Allison Shafer

Jerry Mueller Memorial Scholarship:
Mattie Allen
 
Ray Wilson Memorial Scholarship:
Austin Schmitt
 
Jessica Gardner Memorial Scholarship:
Mattie Allen
 
Napier Award Football Scholarship:
Jake Allen
 
Erma & Robert Doty Memorial Scholarship:
Maddux Hughes
 
Grain Valley Historical Society Scholarship:
Ty Sanders
 
Bank of Grain Valley:
Evan Reich
 
Ed McRell Memorial Scholarship:
Makenzie Keller
 
Stayton and Patricia (Davis) Parr Scholarship:
Yumiko Chen
 
Foundation Seed Money Scholarship:
Owen Herbert
Megan Mazzarella
Ty Sanders

Shirley Condra Memorial Scholarship:
Gabrielle Holman
 
OOIDA Scholarship:
Jade Stone
 
Releve Performing Arts Scholarship:
Gabrielle Holman
 
MSHSAA Sportsmanship Award Scholarship:
Owen Herbert
Keagan Hart
Ella Clyman
Keili Stevens

US Marine Corps: Scholastic Excellence Award:
Yumiko Chen
 
US Marine Corps: The Distinguished Athlete Award:
Jake Allen
 
US Marine Corps: Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence:
Lori Bickham
 
Grain Valley Sports League Athletic Scholarship:
Jackson Stewart
Josie Adams
 
Grain Valley Alumni Association Scholarship:
Mackenzie Keller
Kayley Coney
Makayla Dyer

Liquid Soap Products LTD GVHS Scholarship 4 Year College:
Cameryn Bown
 
H. Gene and Michael Gene Butler Memorial Scholarship:
Mattie Allen
 
KC Scholars-Grain Valley Education Foundation Scholarship:
Yumiko Chen
 
KC Scholars Traditional Awards:
Lynette Jones
 
Shelter Insurance Foundation Agents Scholarship:
Rhea'leigh Stanley
 
Adrienne Barber GVHS Scholarship:
Ava Lin
Emmalee Lockwood
 
Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship:
Lillian Cassidy
 
Phil Roberts Scholarship:
Yumiko Chen
Owen Herbert
Ava Lin
Jade Stone 
 
The Ellis Foundation Scholarship:
Gabrielle Holman
Madison Rogers
Kayla Rolley
 
Masonic Lodge Merit Undergraduate Scholarship:
Lillian Cassidy
 
Nicholas V. Mortallaro, State Farm Agent-Francis Anzalone Memorial Scholarship:
Carter Bohanon
Alayna Patel
Rhea'leigh Stanley
Kaitlynn Goosey

Truman Heartland Community Foundation Blue Springs Rotary Scholarship:
Jade Stone
Carmen Myers

Mary J. Szczepanski "Never Give Up" MS Scholarship Foundation:
Adelyn Bybee
 
The P.E.O. International Star Scholarship:
Lillian Cassidy
 
Doctors of St. Mary’s Scholarship:
Gabrielle Holman

by Michael Smith
 

Grain Valley senior Pierce Bousselot didn’t have his best stuff.
 
Well, that’s what head coach Brian Driskell said after Wednesday’s Class 6 District 5 first-round matchup with Columbia Hickman.
 
The left-hander was tasked with helping the Eagles advance to the district semifinals, and he had a big hand in doing just that.
 
The senior tossed a complete game as he allowed just one earned run (two total) on six hits and he only walked one and struck out one to guide Grain Valley to a 6-2 victory at Blue Springs South High School.
 
“Pierce probably didn’t have his best stuff today but that is the great thing about guys who can just pitch,” Driskell said. “Even if they don’t have their best stuff, they can still find a way to win.”
 
“He wasn’t locating stuff the way he wanted to and he was a little frustrated with himself. But he did a great job.”
 
The No. 4-seeded Eagles (18-13) now advance to take on No. 1 seed Blue Springs South at 1 p.m. today at South. The win was 10th in their last 11 games.
 
The contest was locked into a pitcher dual until the top of the fourth inning when Hickman pitcher Braden Hemmer blasted a solo shot over the left center field fence to score the first run of the game.
 
In that same inning, the Kewpies added another run when Spencer Baehman singled, reached third on a wild pickoff throw and scored on an infield error following a ground ball off the bat of Carson Shuttlesworth.
 
That was all Bousselot gave up as he kept the Kewpies off balance for the rest of the game. He got plenty of help from his defense, especially in the sixth inning. Hemmer led off the frame with a double, but ended up getting caught in a rundown between second and third base, following a ground ball Zach Bates.
 
“After putting up a zero in the first inning, Brek (Sloan) came up to me and said ‘You don’t need to strike guys out. Make them put the ball in play and we’ll play defense.’
 
“My changeup was working well. It was my best pitch.”
 
On the play, Grain Valley shortstop Avery Garmon threw the ball to third baseman Sloan, who eventually tagged out Hemmer in the rundown. Two batters later, second baseman Michael Montgomery made a sliding stop on a sharp ground ball hit by Baehman. He was thrown out at first base to end the inning.
 
While Bousselot did his job, Grain Valley’s offense came alive late. Sloan drove in the Eagles first run in the bottom of the fourth when Garmon scored from second base on his RBI-double to the left-center field gap. Designated hitter Max Snyder then followed that up by sneaking a ground ball through the left side of the infield for a run-scoring single to tie the game at 2-all after four innings.
 
Garmon then gave Grain Valley the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth when the left-handed batter ripped an opposite field single to left field, scoring Shane Barnett from second base with two outs.
 
“Avery has been really locked in the past five to six weeks,” Driskell said.
 
Added Garmon: “In our pregame scouting, we knew they didn’t double up on their off-speed pitches so I was sitting fastball. I knew that going in. It was huge.”
 
Hemmer intentionally walked catcher Brody Baker to put Garmon into scoring position. Left fielder Ian Kamstra made him pay for that decision as he flipped an RBI double to left center field to help the Eagles carry a 4-2 lead into the sixth.
 
“That put a little smile on my face,” Kamstra said of Hickman intentionally walking Baker to face him. “I was excited to hit and help out my team.
 
“That is probably one of the best feelings right there.”
 
Grain Valley added two more insurance runs in the sixth. With runners at second and first base, right fielder Trent Melton reached on a bunt single and a throwing error on the play allowed Snyder to score from second base. Montgomery later had an RBI groundout to complete the scoring and help the Eagles advance to the district semifinals.