Shelby is in the Marching Band and is a member of the Jazz Cats. She is also active in Student Council and a Rotary Interact Club.
She enjoys reading and singing.
Miss Shelby Smith was an attendant in the Miss Dexter 2014 Pageant. This is an annual pageant sponsored by the Dexter Senior High School Music Department. Each year Miss Dexter and her attendants are chosen as Calendar Girls throughout the year.
Congratulations Shelby! The Dexter community is extremely proud of you and your accomplishments.
Photo courtesy of Shannon Putnam.
Written by
Nancy Vines
NCAA Tournament Through the Eyes of Alan Flannigan
"The feeling of playing in the NCAA Tournament was almost surreal as we were going through warm-ups. I still don't know if the reality has sunk in. It was absolutely electric in the building, and as always, the Leopard fans turned out strong. It was pretty neat getting to be a part of March Madness and represent our school in the NCAA tournament."
Alan Flannigan, Dexter High School graduate, is finishing up four years as a member of the Lafayette Leopards. The Division 1 Lafayette College is located in Easton, PA. "This team has been very inspiring. Not only in the way we battled adversity through the ups and downs of the regular season, but also in the way we have handled success. I think a lot of that can be attributed to the leadership of our coaching staff and our team captain and fellow senior, Seth Hinrichs."
Alan says that ever year the team sets the goal of making it to the NCAA tournament, but that this year members felt they really had a great chance.
He proudly points to the fact that the 2014-2015 Leopards are a veteran team with many guys who have seen a lot of court time. He sees this as key to their cinching the Patriot League Championship, and earning a spot in the "Big Dance."
"The experience of cutting down the nets on our home court after winning the Patriot League Championship game was amazing. We have the best fans in the Patriot League, and Kirby Sports Center was absolutely nuts that night. I think about half the student body turned out for that game."
Shortly after winning, the team learned they would be playing number one seeded Villanova--the alma mater of the Leopards head coach Fran O'Hanlon. O'Hanlon had been a star player for the Wildcats, who had seen his jersey number retired.
Alan says the team knew it meant a lot for their coach to be able to play against Villanova. "I think we all certainly wish it had turned out a bit better, but nonetheless, it was a very proud moment."
Written by
Nancy Vines
And so, the dream of an eighth-grade boy from Dexter, Missouri, became a reality.
Alan Flannigan, a 2011 Dexter High School graduate, dreamed of attending a Division 1 school when he finished high school. His parents and high school coach believed he could realize that dream, which in turn, inspired him to believe in himself. Alan credits Coach Rob Nichols with pushing him to always take the next step to improve as a player and a leader. He says that the attraction to Lafayette College basketball program was that he saw the same passion for excellence that had been instilled in him, exhibited in that team, and in their coach."Having a strong culture of winning and expecting perfection from yourself are two things Coach Fran O'Hanlon has demanded from his players in his over 20 years as the Head Coach at Lafayette."
Basketball was not the only inviting aspect of the college -- the rigorous academic challenges also appealed to him. Forbes academic excellence rankings place Lafayette as the sixth highest among Division 1 Liberal Arts schools.
"I think one of my biggest strengths is my ability to realistically assess myself and be very self-critical. So, while every basketball player would love to play in the NBA, I knew that just wasn't in the cards for me.
While picking a school that would develop me as a player was important, I also had the foresight to realize that basketball would only last four years, and I had better have a quality back-up plan."
He adds that Lafayette has a rich history as one of the most prestigious liberal arts schools on the east coast and is always a front-runner in key post-graduation statistics such as average income, job and grad school placement, and return on investment. .
Alan is majoring in economics with a minor in government and law. He is also pursuing a certificate in financial policy and analysis, which is essentially a secondary major within the economics field.
"The focus of the certificate is to provide a challenging curriculum comprised of the most high-level classes that the department offers. These classes focus on international and domestic investment environments, as well as scientific and financial based managerial strategy," he explained.
The road from Dexter, MO, to Easton, PA, was certainly not an easy one, nor was it easy to balance athletic time commitments with the demands of a rigorous academic schedule. Alan admits that being a freshman in class and on the basketball team was a great challenge, along with the swift pace at which everything seemed to move.
"My first few days I spent trying to figure out why everyone was in such a big hurry all the time, but I soon realized that they weren't slowing down, so I had better speed up!" He says the upper class teammates helped in the adjustment to campus life, and the other freshman team members were also transplants--hailing from Australia, Minnesota, and Colorado--so they came to depend on each other when things got tough.
Players spend around 30 hours a week on basketball-related activities--weightlifting, practice, film, treatment and skill work. Finding a balance between basketball and academic demands was no easy feat; however, Alan says that the players take great pride in their ability to do just that.
He explains that pushing through the fatigue to get everything done at a high level is the norm. "If you can't do it, you can't succeed." He cites a personal story to illustrate this point. "My sophomore year we were on the road playing at the University of Kentucky, and I was slated to get my first collegiate start against the number 3 team in the nation. The night before the game, I received an e-mail from a professor asking me to prepare a 15-page Supreme Court case summary to make-up for a group project I was missing because I was on the road, and he wanted it by noon the next day.
Not only was this an extreme work deadline, but a very difficult task that covered over 100 pages of court transcripts. As any of my teammates would have done, I took it in stride, sat down, and went to work. It took me until 4 A.M., but I had done it. Later that evening my name was called for the starting five in front of a sold-out crowd against the defending national champions."
When he graduates from Lafayette College in May, many areas of opportunity will be available to Alan Flannigan. The dream that began in middle school has been realized because he had people in his life who believed in him, encouraged him, and helped him make choices that would allow him to realize the lofty goals he had set. Most importantly, however, is the fact that he believed in himself, pushed himself, and never allowed setbacks to discourage him.
As high school students from Southeast Missouri are preparing for their own graduations, and making choices about their futures, they might benefit from one who not only had a dream, but had the courage to pursue it: "Don't be afraid to dream big and aspire to accomplish things that seem unimaginable at the time."
FORMER LBB STANDOUT PLAYS IN NCCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Joplin, Missouri - As March Madness fires up a wild frenzy this month, there are basketball champions being decided on other levels around the country. One specific team is showcasing the talents of Dexter’s very own Katelynn Frazier.
A 2013 graduate of Dexter High School, Katelynn continued her basketball career at Central Christian College in Moberly, Missouri. Central Christian College of the Bible is a four-year division 2 NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) athletic program.
In her second year with the program, Frazier has become a key weapon of the Lady Saints trail to the championship. She has earned a starting role for the team, averaging 35 to 40 minutes game time and 15-points per game this 2014-15 season.
The Lady Saints play a regular season schedule throughout the Midwest in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. The team also travels to Kansas and opened their season nearby at Crowley Ridge College in Walnut Ridge AR.
With a record of 20-7, the Lady Saints of CCCB have found their way to the championship game of the DII NCCAA to be played tonight at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri. This is the first regional title and post season appearance in the history of Central Christian College.
With an eight team bracket, the Central Christian Lady Saints received a third place seed for the tournament. The Lady Saints defeated North Central University of Minneapolis MN by a score of 73 to 62 on Thursday night 's opening round action. Last night, the #3 ranked CCCB Saints upset the #2 ranked Lancaster Bible College Athletics by a score of 74-72 in the final second of the game. Frazier contributed 14 points in the semifinal contest and 7 assists.
Frazier had a big night in semifinal action as her Lady Saints of Central Christian College in Moberly, Missouri defeated Lancaster Bible College Athletics by a score of 74-72. Frazier took a charge with 27 seconds remaining in the contest to get possession for her team and then delivered the assist for the winning basket with only 7 seconds to seal the deal
The final game is slated for tonight when Central Christian College will play Arlington Baptist (25-5) at 7:00 PM CST. Katelynn proudly noted that she had her mother and grandfather on hand to watch her play this evening.
Not a stranger to championship level programs, Katelynn was a member of the 2013 Lady Basketball Bearcats State Qualifying team and numerous district championship teams at the high school level. But her impact on others is far beyond the basketball court.
DHS Head Girls Basketball Coach Chad Allen recalls, “Katelynn leads by example not only on the basketball court but through her Christian life as well.""Katelynn loves life and is always having fun with her teammates,” added Allen.
Coach Allen would have a good point of view on this young lady as Chad was Katelynn's coach for four years in high school. She was a team leader during her career as a Bearcat.
“She has always been very competitive and a great teammate. She had to work hard and that is how she plays,” remembers Chad Allen. “She would work at her craft all the time whether it was dribbling around the streets of Dexter, coming in early to shoot before school, or staying after practice to get more reps in. She was vocal and would inspire others to go harder.”
Katelynn became heavily involved with her spiritual life during her freshman year of high school. She took that part of her life very seriously, becoming involved in a foreign mission trip to Romania as well as all youth group activities.
“Off the court, Katelynn led our team in scripture reading and in prayer, very active at church, and on the mission field”, shared Coach Allen.
"Katelynn is a strong and compassionate young lady", noted First Baptist youth director Greg McGhee. "She is a godly young lady and, as we all know, has always been a winner. So it's no surprise she is playing for the championship tonight!"
Greg McGhee recounted a mission trip pickup basketball game where Greg's team of Chad Allen, Kurt Lovelady and Tyler Miller got "stuck with the girl", Katelynn. " Our team consisted of all guys, and Katelynn ... and she dominated!" told McGhee. "... and Chad did ok, too."
Coach Allen had talked with his former player today, and he could describe Katelynn by her actions on the court during this National Championship tournament. Coach Allen said … “She was very proud of herself taking 3 charges the last two games to help get her college team in the championship. Katelynn is all about toughness and sacrifice.”
"Good Luck, Fraz", commented Greg McGhee. Best wishes from the entire Lady Bearcat Nation!
Catch the action LIVE online at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/tourbeau/. A modest fee will apply. Don't miss the 2015 NCCAA Title Games tonight! Live coverage by Tourbeau Sports Group
Dexter, Missouri - Miss Shelby Gathings has been chosen as the 2015 ShowMe Times March Calendar Girl. She is the daughter of Bobby and Angela Alford and is a senior at Dexter High School.
Her plans are to attend Southeast Missouri State University after graduation.
Miss Shelby Gathings was an attendant in the Miss Dexter 2014 Pageant. This is an annual pageant sponsored by the Dexter Senior High School Music Department. Each year Miss Dexter and her attendants are chosen as Calendar Girls throughout the year.
Congratulations Shelby! The Dexter community is extremely proud of you and your accomplishments.
Photo courtesy of Shannon Putnam.
