MARYVILLE, Missouri – As class of 2023 wraps up, almost every high school team in the state is going through some changes and has questions about the new season.
With that in mind, I’ll be spending the summer looking at the new season’s biggest storylines and biggest questions. The series begins this week with the spoofhounds.
football
Coach Matt Webb’s team won the Midland Empire Conference and Class 3, District 16 last season. They also ran a new offense that Blair Oaks coach Ted LePage dubbed “Air-Webb” — a spread look centered around quarterback Derek quinlin.
With Quinlin, as well as guns Delton Davis, Wyatt Garner, Cooper Gastler and Don Allen all returning as seniors, the question is how far this offense can take the Spoofhounds this season.
Webb’s defense is always reliable, so the cap for this group is very high.
volleyball
With the graduations of Kennedy Kurz, Rylee Vierthaler and Anastyn Pettlon, the Hounds are experiencing a big change this season. Joining this transition is new coach Alyssa Rezac.
Rezac is the reigning MIAA Player of the Year and an All-American. She will ask a group of younger parodies to take big roles.
Addison Weldon will be one of the key figures along with centre-forward Olivia Stanley. The healthy return of senior Ava Dumke will be a big boost. Bryna Grow as setter and Jalea Price as libero could get bigger roles this year without Pettlon and Kurz.
soft ball
The softball team will have its third coach in three seasons, replacing regulars Abby Swink, Clara Viau and Miquela Giesken.
They return to senior Ella Schulte, who is entering her fourth season as the team’s main pitcher. With sophomores Emma Sprague, Alyssa Cunningham and Brylie Henggeler becoming seniors, the team will be counting on their veterans to set the tone and add four wins to last season’s improvement over last year.
boys football
Another new coach set to sport the Spoofhound colors in football: Jesus Gonzalez, the reigning Class 1 public school coach of the year, is making the move to Kearney. The Hounds are lined with returning talent, including All-State seniors Kason Teale, Jaxson Staples and Boyd Gallaher.
Teale, a midfielder, was on the First Team All-State, while Staples was a goaltender and Gallaher was a defender on the Second Team. Lane Hazen, Landon Baker, Gavin Wray and the rest of the seniors add to the talent, while Tuan Jacobson led a big freshman class last year, and they look set to keep growing.
cross country
The Spoofhound boys have become one of Maryville’s most consistent winners. With all five varsity runners back, the Hounds appear primed for a big year.
Connor Blackford, Dylan Masters and Bradley Deering lead this group in their third season as varsity runners.
The girls had an impressive year last year with two sophomores and three freshmen. Katherine and Caroline Pohren return as juniors, while Ellie Parsons, Meah Schommer and Jayda Buck will be sophomores.
girls golf
This is the year. Four years ago, Brenda Ricks had a team made up almost entirely of freshmen. Now Cailyn Auffert, Lauren Jaster, Casey Phillips, Ainsley Watkins, Brinley Conn, Maggie Webb and Alana Crawford are all seniors.
When you add sophomore Alayna Pargas and the Spoofhounds to this mix, it should be a very special season.
girls tennis
Maryville tennis has also been a very successful program over the years, but there was a transition last year with the replacement of five varsity players.
This season, the Hounds will replace No. 1 Jewl Galapin, but top flight players Carsen Burns and Keagan Wilmes return to lead a young group looking to bounce back.
Boys Basketball
The Hounds played fast with a small-ball lineup last season, and this season should only continue with returning starters Derek Quinlin and Peyton McCollum as guards.
With Lucas Vierthaler, Delton Davis and Matthew Walter as prime contenders for the lineup, the group should be among the sportier in the MEC and the best shooting group in the conference.
Girls Basketball
Just like in volleyball, Rylee Vierthaler and Anastyn Pettlon will not be easy to replace. There’s a reason they’ll both be playing Division II basketball next season.
However, junior Jalea Price has played alongside Pettlon for two seasons, giving Kelly Obley a steady hand as a point guard to build on. With Rylee Hornbuckle, Ryesen Stiens, Addison Weldon and Alyssa Cunningham all returning as high school seniors, and the older Ava Dumke not having knee surgery like last season, Obley should have lineup options.
The key will be finding a second goalscorer alongside Price.
wrestling
The wrestling program saw an influx of talent last season with 10 freshmen.
They replace state medalist Kort Watkins at the heavyweight division, but with seniors Tanner Turner and Tucker Turner leading the way, the Hounds have leaders in the room again.
With Tyler Nickerson taking over as head coach, the Hounds will look to build on their best doubles season in recent memory.
The girls team completes their two wrestlers from last season.
baseball
Adam Patton, Cooper Loe, Blake Katen and the senior spoofhound class led the team to its first district championship since 2017. Now it will be important for Maryville to build on that success.
Junior Peyton McCollum and senior Boston Hageman will likely lead the pitching team. Canon Creason and Cooper Gastler lead the infield returners and center fielder Don Allen returns as a three-year starter.
athletics
The Spoofhounds won the MEC Championship last season. The girls’ team returns with their entire varsity squad, including four-time state medalist Brylee Acklin. Senior Ava Dumke will be a front-runner on the team next year after finishing third in the javelin as a state runner-up.
The boys’ team replaces Keaton Stone and central Missouri’s Jesus Flores, but with returning statesmen Bradley Deering, Connor Blackford, Carson Sterling, Dylan Meyer, Wyatt Garner and Dylan Masters, the spoofhounds appear poised to defend their crowns.
girls soccer
Kennedy Kurz, Halle Buck, Katie Weiss and Abby Swink were the spoofhounds’ front runners that year as they nearly made the state run but fell in overtime to state runner-up St. Pius X.
Even with Maryville replacing her seniors and coach Jesus Gonzalez, she doesn’t seem likely to drop as Payton Kurz, Jersey Ingram and Jayda Buck lead a great sophomore class.
Jalea Price, Presley Ingram, Lauren Jaster, Ava Stiff, Makayla Yaple, Ryesen Stiens and Addison Weldon lead the returning high schoolers.
boys golf
Just like the girls, the boys are also returning with a large chunk of their lineup.
With former state qualifiers Ethan Scott, Jack Dinsdale and Jacob Scott leading the team again, the Hounds look set to be even better this season. Dylan Groomer, Kaleb Groomer and Lucas Vierthaler also return with plenty of varsity experience.
With many other talented returnees, the Spoofhounds will be one of the best performing teams in the state.
boys tennis
Kason Teale, Jaxson Staples and Kristian Mendez return to lead the Hounds after state visits this season. George Groumoutis, Landon Baker and Will Sheil give the Hounds back their entire lineup.
The only team to beat Maryville in recent seasons has been Savannah, so next year’s task will be to break that rivalry barrier.
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