Vote: Who should be Missouri high school Athlete of the Week? (12/16/2024)

We narrowed down the top winter sports performers of last week. Now, we want to hear from you
Athlete of the Week poll is live
Athlete of the Week poll is live / AOTW

Which Missouri high school athlete had the best week?

Each week, SBLive scours the state for the top fall and winter sports performers, from football to basketball from all contests in the week of Dec. 9-14

Congrats to Jayden McCaster from De Smet football who won last week'sSBLive's Missouri Athlete of the Week for Dec. 2-7 with 43% of the votes.

McCaster had four catches for 38 yards but did the most damage on the ground, rushing 13 times for 200 yards and 2 TDs in a 35-20 win over Nixa in the Class 6 finals.

Scroll down, read up on the nominees and cast your vote for your winner. Voting closes Sunday, Dec. 22 at 11:59 p.m. Central time.

If you would like to make a nomination in a future weeks, email swanson@scorebooklive.com.

MISSOURI ATHLETE OF THE WEEK NOMINEES

Addison Bailey, West Platte girls wrestling 

Bailey went 5-0 with five pins — all in the first period — to take home first place in the 120-pound bracket at the Coffman Invitational on Saturday at Truman High School. Her longest match was 1:38, which came in the finals. 

Brody Blades, Republic boys basketball 

The sophomore hit 8 3-pointers and scored a career-high 28 points to help Republic beat Branson, 75-69, on Friday. The Tigers hit a school-record 15 3s in the win. 

Sandy Breeden, Liberty girls wrestling 

Competing at the Belton Lady Pirate Invitational on Saturday, Breeden took home the 105-pound championship for the Lady Blue Jays.

Sekou Cisse, Principia boys basketball 

The 6-foot-9 sophomore had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a 76-65 win over Father Tolton Regional Catholic on Dec. 11 in the Norm Stewart Classic in Columbia.

Trace Combs, Harrisburg boys basketball 

The senior hit a buzzer-beater to help the Bulldogs beat Southern Boone, 53-51, on Dec. 13. Earlier in the week, he had 26 points, 6 rebounds and 6 steals in a 57-54 win over Van Buren on Dec. 10. 

Alex Couch, Liberty North girls basketball 

In a 61-26 win over Shawnee Mission South on Dec. 11, the junior scored a game-high 25.

Elsa Dogotch, Carl Junction girls swimming 

The junior won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle and was third in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Monett Invitational on Dec. 10. 

PJ Farmer, Sikeston boys basketball 

The senior, a Southeast Missouri State pledge, has a game-high 21 points to help the Bulldogs beat Dexter, 79-37, in the SEMO Conference Tournament on Dec. 10.

Caitlin Hartwig, Liberty girls swimming 

She won the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle — while setting the Lee’s Summit Invitational meet record in the event with a 5:08.04. She was also on the winning 200-yard freestyle relay.

Jaryn Hatcher, Green City girls basketball 

The junior tallied 30 points and nearly outscored Mercer to help the Lady Gophers win 64-38 on Dec. 10. 

Jordyn Haywood, MICDS girls basketball 

The freshman posted a solid game in a 73-44 win over Ladue Horton Watkins on Friday. She had 24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 8 steals and 3 blocks.

Eli Herbert, Grain Valley boys basketball 

A Liberty University pledge, the junior scored a game-high 26 points to help the Eagles beat William Chrisman, 53-38. He added 19 in a 70-55 win over Fort Osage on Friday.

Lucy Hough, Lebanon girls swimming

She was one of two Lady Jackets to set records in the Webb City meet on Dec. 10. She set the pool and meet record in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard breaststroke.

Missy Mizell, Lebanon girls swimming 

The junior won the 50-yard freestyle and broke the meet and pool record at the Webb City meet on Tuesday. She also set a meet record in the 100-yard backstroke.

Maggie Ortmann, Washington girls wrestling

The returning all-stater went 4-0 to take home first place in the 145-pound bracket at the Union Tournament on Friday and was named the tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Ava Pratt, Lee’s Summit St. Michael the Archangel girls basketball 

The 6-foot-1 sophomore had 16 points, 16 rebounds and 3 assists in a win over Father Tolton Regional Catholic on Dec. 11.

Jack Putnam, Columbia Battle boys basketball 

He hit a three-quarter court length buzzer-beater to lift the Spartans to a win over Miller Career Academy on Friday, 83-82.

Avery Rausch, Lee’s Summit girls basketball

The Truman State basketball signee surpassed the 1,000-point mark in a 49-39 win over Blue Springs South on Dec. 9.

Jake Sloan, Platte County boys archery 

The freshman shot a school-record 293 to take home first place in the 3D archery event at the 3rd Annual Warrior Hunt in Smithville on Friday.

Kyndall Spain, Cardinal Ritter girls track and field

The South Carolina signee competed at an indoor track and field meet on Saturday in Topeka and ran 8.54 in the 60-meter hurdles — the best time in the country in 2024.

Lelynd Stranger, Fox boys wrestling 

The senior pinned Marquette’s Connor McBride in 54 seconds in a dual in a 150-pound match — in a 76-6 win for Fox. The win was No. 100 for Stranger.

Kaden Updike, Oakville boys wrestling

Wrestling in the 215-pound bracket of the Longhorn Invitational at Parkway West, the sophomore went 3-0 and took home first place. 

Luke Walsh, Vianney boys basketball 

The Southern Illinois signee scored a school-record 50 points in an 89-71 win over CBC on Tuesday. 

Isaiah Watkins, East Buchanan boys basketball 

In an 80-22 win against Plattsburg on Tuesday, the senior scored his 1,000th career point in the third quarter for the Bulldogs.

Clare Williams, Palmyra girls basketball

In the championship game of the Monroe City Tournament, the Ottawa University signee scored her 1,000th point.

Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll are intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes who receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified


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Cody Thorn
CODY THORN

Cody Thorn is a veteran journalist who covers high school sports across the state of Texas and Missouri. He is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has covered sports and news since 1999.