Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter High School Cross Country Team will have their first competition at the Jackson Community 5K on August 25th.  They will then travel to B to the Brooks Memphis Twilight on September 1, 2018.

The Cross Country team will be represented by one senior this year, Miss Hannah Smith.  Last year they graduated eleven from their 2017 varsity team.  

"We have some big shoes to fill this fall for the Dexter Cross Country team," commented head cross country coach Leonard Morse. "We graduated eleven in May and they will be missed, not just for their talent, but also for their leadership."

"Hannah is a second-year runner, who lettered last year.  I am expecting her to continue to improve and her energy and good-natured attitude are great assets to our team."

"We have rebuilt our team and expect our numbers to surpass the twenty-two runners we had last year.  The new squad is enthusiastic and hardworking.  We have an interesting mix of personalities.  I anticipate our team to be competitive, especially on the girls’ side."

Juniors are Fuyu Fushii, Grace Milam, Marge Nea, AnnMarie Slaton, Madison Slaton, Dylan Homan, Trey Johnson, Kolby Musgrave, and Wyatt Parker.

"We have a key returnee in junior Margo Nea.  Margo qualified for the State Championships last fall.  She is intent on improving on her breakout year and making a return trip to Jefferson City.  I look for great things from her," continued Morse.

Sophomores are McKayla Annesser, Jaycee Chappell, Alanie Lacy, Layne Medler, Kobe Cagle, Gavin Cartwright, Gage Coleman, Carter Dorton, Andrew Ellinghouse, and Matthew West.

Freshmen are Gabbie Brown, Gabe McGhee, and Miller McLaughlin.

"Margo Nea (junior) will be joined by our Middle School cross country record holder, Gabbie Brown, a very promising freshman.  Grace Milam, another junior, made great strides at the end of last season and is looking at a very strong season this fall.  They will be part of a rather large number of girls."

Manager is Victoria Bess, a junior.

"On the boys’ side, junior Wyatt Parker and sophomores Carter Dorton and Andrew Ellinghouse are the only returning runners.  They are competitive runners and bring energy to the team along with Gavin Cartwright, another sophomore.  We have several new runners that will provide us with valuable depth.  I am very excited about this season!"

"As a sign of the growth and health of our program, we have been rewarded with a new Middle School Cross Country Coach.  Josh Delay will be the MS coach this year.  Coach Delay started the Bloomfield CC program and I have the utmost confidence that he will be able to strengthen our program.  I am thrilled to have Coach Delay on the staff."

2018 Dexter High School Cross Country Schedule

9 a.m. Sat 8/25 at Jackson High School Invitational

7 p.m. Sat 9/1 at Brooks Memphis Twilight

9 a.m. Sat 9/8 at Forest Park

9 a.m. Sat 9/15 at Cape Central High School

4 p.m. Wed 9/19 at Van Buren High School 

8:30 a.m. Sat 9/29 at Notre Dame Invitational

Mon 10/8 SCAA Conference (TBA)

Thu 10/11 SEMO Conference (TBA)

11 a.m. Sat 10/13 at Farmington High School Invitational

11 a.m. Sat 10/20 Dexter High School Invitational (HOME)

Sat 10/27 Districts (TBA)

Sat 11/3 STATE (TBA)

Pictured Front Row (L to R) Manager Victoria Bess, Fuyu Fujii, Hannah Smith, Grace Milam, Jaycee Chappell, Alanie Lacy, Layne Medler, McKayla Annesser

Mid Row (L to R) Kolby Musgrave, Dylan Homan, Margo Nea, Madison Slaton, AnnMarie Slaton, Trey Johnson, Wyatt Parker

Last Row (L to R) Matthew West, Gage Coleman, Gavin Cartwright, Carter Dorton, Gabe McGhee, Miller McLaughlin, Kobe Cagle

Not Pictured Andrew Ellinghouse and Gabrielee Brown

Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Lady Cats Volleyball Team will open at home on August 27th when they host Arcadia Valley High School.  Junior Varsity begins at 6 p.m. with the varsituy game to follow.

There are 10 varsity players and 11 junior varsity players.

The Lady Cats start three seniors this year.  Maycie Martin, Natalie Sitze and Kelby Hill are experienced players and look forward to their last season as a Lady Cat volleyball player.

"Maycie is bringing 3 years of varsity experience to our team," commented head volleyball coach Starla Pulley.  "She will help us leading our offense and will also be a great asset blocking and hitting outside."

"Natalie will take on the role of Libero for our team.  She is just a great athlete and is so quick," continued Pulley.  "She will be a fantastic addition to our defense and will be a valuable asset in that role.  She played some defense on varsity last year and a setter before that.  She may be changing her role some, but I feel she will offer an advantage on the back row on serve receive and defense.

"Kelby was a role player her junior year and put in when needed.  During her years on junior varsity she was a setter and will resume that role this year.  She is working very hard getting more accuracy and set where we need it. She has a remarkable work ethic and continues to work and push herself.

There are also three juniors on the team.  Blair Rogers, Alexa Werneck and Mallory Dunlap all have experience.  This will be Mallory's first year as a varsity player.

"Blair is a returning starter to the program and will begin her 3rd year as a varsity 'Cat.  She will play all the way around. She is a great athlete and makers her presence known even if she isn't as big as some of the other front row hitters."

"Alexa will start her 2nd year on varsity.  She will step up her role and take on some of the offensive load on the front row.  She did an excellent job this summer blocking and playing the front row for us.  I look for great things out of her this year," Pulley said.

Mallory will play on the right side and a first time varsity player.  "She has worked hard this summer and will contribute to the team this year."

Pulley noted she is moving up 4 sophomores this year to the varsity team.  Shelby Bishop, Mekenzie Yount, Chloe Thurmon and Bailey Chamberlain will all contribute at the varsity level.

"Shelby will help with setting.  She ran a 5-1 last year on JV and will run a 6-2 with us this year."

"Makenzie will also play a role as defensive specialist on varsity."

"Chloe and Bailey are two young ladies who will help with our offense," stated Pulley.  "They have worked hard and will contribute much to our offense this year.

The Lady Cats worked hard over the summer giving up much of their personal time to work in the gym. They attended Rib City Shootout, the Jackson Shootout, and the Licking Camp.

"We won both the Rib City Shootout and the Jackson Shootout this summer."

"We spent a lot of time on service receive and defense whcih are key components to be able to run a good offense," commented Pulley.  "If we can't the the pass then we can't run a quick offense and that is key.  We have also worked on our setters on more consistency in their placement of the ball and getting our hitters and setters working closer together."

"We are looking forward to a great year, we have a great group of young ladies."

2018 DHS Volleyball Schedule

Mon 8/27 vs Arcadia Valley H.S. (Home)

Thu 8/30 at Jackson (A)

8/31 - 9/1 Notre Dame Volleyballfest Tournament (TBA)

Mon 9/10 vs Farmington (Home)

Tue 9/11 vs Bloomfield (Home)

Wed 9/12 vs Richland (Home)

Thu 9/13 vs Bernie (Home)

Mon 9/17 at Woodland (A)

Thu 9/20 at Bell City (A)

Mon 9/24 at Advance (A)

Tue 9/25 vs Leopold (Home)

Thu 9/27 at Winona (A)

Sat 9/29 Perryville Tournament (A)

Mon 10/1 vs Puxico (Home)

Tue 10/2 vs Liberty (Mnt View) (Home)

Thu 10/4 at Poplar Bluff (A)

10/8 - 10/12 SCAA Tournament (TBA)

10/13 vs Bernie (Home) (Senior Night)

Mon 10/15 at Notre Dame (A)

Thu 10/18 at Perryville (A)

10/22 - 10/23 Class 3 District 1 Volleyball Tournament (TBA)

Playing for the VARSITY Lady Cats Volleyball team are seniors: Natalie Sitze, Kelby Hill, and Maycie Martin; juniors: Blair Rogers, Alexa Werneck, and Mallory Dunlap; and sophomores: Mekenzie Yount, Shelby Bishop, Bailey Chamberlain, and Chloe Thurmon.

Playing for the JUNIOR VARSITY Lady Cats Volleyball team are sophomores: Mikayla Dodson, Hannah Pyles, Sydney Asberry and freshmen: Dulcie Pullen, Andie Kruse, Magi McBride, Bailey Whitaker, Avery Neely, Lexie Laramore, Tori White, and Sarah Baker.

Dexter, Missouri - The 2018 Lady Cats tennis season will open on Friday, August 24th vs Poplar Bluff at Dexter.  Game time is 4:00 p.m.  The Lady Cats will be under new head tennis coach, Mrs. Kristi Boles.  This is Boles first year coaching.

Twenty-two Lady Cats are on the 2018 tennis team with 9 being freshmen.

"I am not sure on exactly why the high number of girls, but I feel it is a good problem to have," commented Coach Boles.  "This is my first year coaching and I have seen great improvements in all these ladies from summer until now."

"We lost three seniors last year, who were the #1, 2 and 3 ranked ladies," continued Boles.  "I do feel I have some girls ready to jump into those roles and provide great leadership."

District assignments have not been announced for high school fall sports.  Hopefully not much will change for girls tennis.

"I expect u to make a great showing and I know the girls are ready to beat Kennett," finished Boles.  Kennett is in search of its 12 straight district title. District assignments will be released later this month by MSHSAA.

Below is the 2018 schedule and roster

2018 Lady Cats Tennis Schedule

Fri 8/24 vs Poplar Bluff (Home)

Mon 8/27 at Sikeston (A)

Tue 8/28 vs Charleston (Home)

Thu 8/30 vs Cape Central

Tue 9/4 at Kennett (A)

Wed 9/5 at Poplar Bluff (A)

Thu 9/13 at Arcadia Valley (A)

Sat 9/15 at Kennett Tennis Tournament (A)

Tue 9/18 at Notre Dame (A)

Thu 9/20 vs Caruthersville (Home)

Fri 9/21 SEMO Conference at Notre Dame (A)

Mon 9/24 vs Kennett (Home)

Tue 9/25 vs Notre Dame (Home)

Wed 9/26 at Windsor (A)

Thu 9/27 vs Jackson (Home)

10/1 - 10/5 Team District Tournament (TBA)

Sat 10/6 Individual District Tournament (TBA)

10/8 - 10/10 Individual Sectionals (TBA)

Sat 10/13 Team Sectionals

Thu 10/18 Team State Championship

10/19 - 10/20 Individual State Championship

2018 Lady Cats Roster

9th grade athletes are Natalie Bolin, Maci Comfort, Hannah Frazier, Grace Hanner, Sara Midgett, Julianna Rivera, Natalie Sells, Grace Teffertiller, and Ivy Tucker.

10th grade athletes are Amira Haggag, Sara Haggag, Elise Noles, Courtney Northcutt, Kyla Propst and Makenna Rodgers.

11th grade athletes are Kirsten Bess and Jaden Cato.

12th grade athletes are Hannah Bollinger, Malia Cook, Abby Dorton, Maci McBride, and Jadyn Northcutt.