Dexter, MO - Though the actual season started just last Saturday, the Dexter boys and girls cross country Bearcats have been running all summer in preparation of this year's 2022 season.

"When we met in the spring, we set out to put in a lot of miles this summer and to accomplish something no other boys team has done at Dexter in over 50 years - a trip to state as a team," stated Dexter's head cross country coach Josh Dowdy. (Dowdy is also the athletic directors for Dexter Public Schools).  "We have sent some individuals to state, but we are now looking to take our program to the next level."

If you think that cross country is an easy sport, think again.  These athletes train year-round in the heat and the cold, they never stop running.  It is an enduring sport that not only requires athleticism, but mental attitude and endurance to keep fighting when they can't feel their legs and can barely breath.

"I told them it will be easier said than done….easy to sit here and talk about it in a room filled with cold air," continued Dowdy.  "The real proof will be if we decide to pound the pavement in mid-July when the temps and humidity are a challenge.  This group has done it-they have been very dedicated and I am excited for them now to see the results of their hard work." 

Since the season started officially, the kids have really embraced the team concept, both girls and boys. They are rooting hard for one another in practice and they are really motivating one another to do their best. 

The girls have set some personal goals this season and are training hard so they are in the position to make it happen.

"We can’t thank the community enough for their support…..while putting in miles over the summer and preseasoon, we have had people yell, honk, wave, smile and even spray us down at the car wash!  It has been a blast and has been an awesome motivator for our team…..and we don’t plan on stopping until we reach our goals."

Individual State Qualifiers from 2021

Girls

Abbie Lloyd- 102nd

Boys

Cameron Bell-117th

Clayton Bell-95th

Ben Dowdy-64th

You can see them run locally at the SCAA Conference in Bloomfield on October 8th and again at the Dexter Invitational on October 22nd.

Dexter, MO - The Lady Cats of Dexter defeated the Cape Central Lady Tigers 8-1 on Thursday, August 31, 2022.

"I was super proud of the ladies today," commented head tennis coach Kristi Boles.  "We have worked hard preparing for these matches and it is paying off. It's been a long week, but we still have one more match to finish the week off. I know the girls will be looking forward to the weekend for a bit of rest."

Doubles:

Bella Cook/Grace Marvel (D) defeated Megan Maxton/Sydnee Williams (CC) 8-6

Kate Churchill/Emma Dorton (D) defeated Kathryn Buckley/Sydney Britt (CC) 8-1

Destiny Ahrens/Alise Howell (D) defeated Emily Velasquez Rico (CC) 8-5

Singles:

Megan Maxton (CC) defeated Bella Cook (D) 8-0

Grace Marvel (D) defeated Kathryn Buckley (CC) 8-2

Kate Churchill (D) defeated Sydnee Williams (CC) 8-5

Emma Dorton (D) defeated Sydney Britt (CC) 8-2

Destiny Ahrens (D) defeated Emily Velasquez Rico (CC) 8-1

Alise Howell (D) defeated Lucy Cook (CC) 8-5

The Dexter Lady Bearcats tennis team opened their season at home on Monday, August 29th against Poplar Bluff.  The match was called due to lightning and ended in a tie 4-4.

"Overall, I was pleased with our first match,"  commented head tennis coach Kristi Boles. "We had a lot of nerves that I saw pop up and hopefully, those will subside as the season progresses. We had some close matches that we ended up pulling out and I was very proud of those ladies, but we need to learn to finish a match when we have the early lead."

"We have three more matches this week, so we will work on getting all the kinks out and getting better every match," continued Boles.

Doubles:

#1 Bella Cook / Grace Marvel (D) defeated Kaitlyn Booker / Ava Richardson (PB) 8-6

#2 Kate Churchill / Emma Dorton (D) defeated Lauren Hamilton / Maura Dill (PB) 9-8 (7-5 tiebreak)

#3 Ella Skillman / Molly Maurer (PB) defeated Destiny Ahrens / Alise Howell (D) 8-2

Singles:

#1 Kaitlyn Booker (PB) defeated Bella Cook (D) 8-1

#2 Grace Marvel (D) defeated Ava Richardson (PB) 8-6

#3 Kate Churchill (D) defeated Lauren Hamilton (PB) 8-6

#4 Emma Dorton (D) and Ella Skillman (PB) - match unfinished (Emma was up 7-6 when match was called)

#5 Molly Maurer (PB) defeated Destiny Ahrens (D) 8-3

#6 Maura Dill (PB) defeated Alise Howell (D) 8-0

The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) released the 2022 fall sports Class and District Assignments on Friday, August 26th.

Girls Tennis

Class 1 District 1 includes Dexter, Caruthersville, Charleston, Kennett, and Willow Springs.

Class 1 District 2 includes Arcadia Valley, Fredericktown, North County, Potosi, and Saxony Lutheran

Class 2 District 1 includes Cape Central, Farmington, Notre Dame, Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, St. Pius X, and West Plains

Class 3 District 1 includes Cor Jesu Academy, Eureka, Jackson, Kirkwood, Lindbergh, Oakville, Parkway South

Football

Class 1 District 1 includes Caruthersville, Chaffee, Charleston, Hayti, Malden, Portageville, Scott City, and St. Vincent

Class 2 District 1 includes New Madrid County Central, East Prairie, Jefferson, John Burroughs, Kelly, Lift for Life Academy and Priory

Class 3 District 1 includes Park Hills Central, Dexter, Fredericktown, Kennett, Potosi, Ste. Genevieve, and Valle Catholic

Class 4 District 1 includes DeSoto, Farmington, Festus, Hillsboro, North County, Perryville, and Sikeston

Class 5 District 1 includes Cape Central, Fox, Jackson, Mehlville, Oakville, Poplar Bluff, and Webster Groves

Volleyball

Class 1 District 1 includes Cooter, Delta C-7, Hayti, Holcomb, North Pemiscot, South Pemiscot, and Southland

Class 1 District 2 includes Bernie, Bloomfield, Campbell, Clarkton, Gideon, Richland, and Risco

Class 1 District 3 includes Advance, Bell City, Leopold, Marquand-Zion, Oran, Puxico, and Zalma

Class 1 District 4 includes Crossroads Prep, Crystal City, Meadow Heights, Oak Ridge, Principia, St. Paul Lutheran, and St. Vincent

Class 1 District 6 includes Bismarck, Bunker, Ellington, Lesterville, South Iron, Valley, and Viburnum

Class 2 District 1 includes Caruthersville, East Prairie, Malden, Portageville, Senath-Hornersville, and Twin Rivers

Class 2 District 2 includes Charleston, Clearwater, Greenville, Saxony Lutheran, Scott City, and Woodland

Class 3 District 1 includes New Madrid County Central, Dexter, Doniphan, Fredericktown, Kennett, and Notre Dame

Class 3 District 2 includes Park Hills Central, Herculaneum, North County, Perryville, Potosi, Ste. Genevieve, Valle Catholic

Class 4 District 1 includes Cape Central, DeSoto, Farmington, Festus, Hillsboro, Sikeston, St. Pius X, and Windsor

Class 5 District 1 includes Fox, Jackson, Lutheran South, Mehlville, Northwest (Cedar Hill), Oakville, Poplar Bluff, and Seckman

Fall Baseball does not have district and class assignments during the fall baseball season.  Cross Country will be announced later this week.

The Dexter Bearcats open the season on the road Friday night with their new coach Chad Jamerson.  They lost to the Scott City Rams last year by a score of 27-6.  

Scott City has won the last two meetings, but the Bearcats are up to the challenge this week.

Kick-off is at 7:00 p.m. 

Scott City will continue their tradition of the Green Up Game.  The Rams raise money each year for organ donation in honor of former player Dominic Hooper, who died in an ATV accident in February of 2014 after his senior football season.