Dexter, Missouri - There is one award given to a Football Bearcat each year that has become a tradition at Dexter High School, the Charles Bland Award!  It is a bronze trophy and was originally awarded in 1994. This is the 23rd year that a group of football enthusiasts have honored a Bearcat and the 2017 recipient is senior Ben Sindle.

Ben is the son of Darrell Sindle and Holly and Chris Bowman.

He has been a member of the Dexter Bearcat Football Team all four years of high school.  He has also played basketball and Track & Field all four years.

He is also a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Sr. Beta Club. 

He holds the Dexter High School record for most 3-pointers in basketball.

His future plans are to attend Murray State University and major in Physical Education.

Congratulations Ben Sindle.

History of the Bland Award

The Bland Award originated from a group of former Bearcat football players and fans who had an interest in honoring the most outstanding student-athlete from the Bearcat Football team.


The selected Bearcat must meet very strict criteria in many areas of the scholar-athlete life, including: Scholastic Ability, School Participation & Attendance, Community Involvement, Leadership Qualities, Personal & Team Attitude, and Athletic Performance.

A Bland Award recipient should reflect the qualities that interscholastic sports programs have to offer. In no way should this award be seen as a trophy strictly for athleticism; rather, it is to celebrate the most outstanding, well-rounded student-athlete from the senior class.


The late Charles ‘Seed’ Bland - the man that the stadium these athletes battled in during their high school careers - was a very active supporter of the Dexter School System for many years. The most amazing gift ‘Seed’ gave was his pride in the Bearcats, as well as the young people of Dexter High School.


Known only to a few, the late Ruth Bland was the ‘athlete of the family’ and was a standout for both the DHS basketball and track teams. It has been written that she was ‘the best female athlete in Southeast Missouri’ during her time.


Together, the Bland family has been there to support Dexter Schools and Bearcat Athletics for over 60 years.

Pictured from left to right are Chris Bowman, Holly Bowman, Ben Sindle, and Darrell Sindle.