The nominees for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year Award were announced Tuesday, and Mississippi State was represented by two student-athletes in Jordan Danberry from women's basketball and MaKayla Waldner from soccer.
Waldner is a 2020 graduate of Mississippi State University and has accepted a position at Mclaurin Aerospace in Huntsville, Alabama. She is a Dexter native and a 2016 of Dexter High School. She is the daughter of Kim Waldner and Bob Waldner.
Rooted in Title IX, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award was established in 1991 to recognize graduating female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
Danberry transferred to Mississippi State as a sophomore in search of the opportunity to better her career both in the classroom and on the court. As a junior, she earned the Elite 90 Award for highest GPA among players in the Final Four while helping the Bulldogs advance to a second national championship game. In December of 2018, she earned her bachelor's degree in Business Economics. Boasting opportunities to work for the NSA following graduation, Danberry turned down the opportunity to instead pursue her dream of obtaining her MBA.
With her eligibility seemingly exhausted, Mississippi State appealed and fought to get Danberry an additional year of eligibility due to losing a year after transferring. State won the appeal, allowing Danberry to earn her master's degree while also competing for one final season on the hardwood. As a graduate guard, she earned All-SEC honors and was one of the nation's top defenders. She also became very involved in the Starkville community, coordinating a mentoring program for female youth to help with personal and professional development.
With two degrees from Mississippi State University, Danberry is now working to create a sports apparel line for children and has aspirations to own her own business one day.
Waldner has been a game-changer for Mississippi State soccer since her freshman season in 2016. Ever since she joined the squad, the team has won six or more games each season, made the NCAA Tournament for the first time, and ended a 15-year Conference Tournament drought. The Missouri native finished her Bulldog Soccer career with her name littered throughout the record book, being the No. 2 in career shots (201), goals (28), and multi-goal games (6), along with being tied for third in points (59). She started every game she played in for three-straight seasons, broke the school record for single-season game-winning goals with five in 2017 and holds the record for career game-winners with 11 overall. Her senior season, the Bulldogs were undefeated when Waldner scored, going 6-0-2 in such matches. Waldner finished the regular season ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference with 10 goals, leading all SEC midfielders in the category. She served her team as captain in her final campaign.
With such prowess comes much celebration, and Waldner has earned many accolades for her performance on and off the pitch. Named All-SEC First Team her senior year, she was just the fourth Bulldog to earn the honor. In her final season she was also named SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year and was MSU's nominee for the H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarship. The mechanical engineering graduate was named to the SEC's Academic Honor Roll all four years and was named to the United Soccer Coaches' Scholar All-South Region Second Team in 2019. Along with her academic honor, she was named to the United Soccer Coaches' All-Southeast Region Second Team for 2019 as well as the SEC Community Service Team for her volunteerism in and around Starkville.
Conference offices will select up to two nominees each from their pool of member school nominees. All nominees who compete in a sport not sponsored by their school's primary conference, as well as associate conference nominees and independent nominees, will be considered by a selection committee. Then, the Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division.
From the Top 30, the Woman of the Year selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division and announce nine finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then will choose the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named this fall.
Preposted from Mississippi State University.
Former Dexter Lady Cats Volleyball player, Krysten Garrison, announced on Thursday, July 2nd she will be tranferring from New Mexico State University to Eckerd College in St. Petersbur, Florida, where she will continue to play volleyball.
She will be transferring from a NCAA Division 1 university to the D-II College.
Eckerd College competes in the Sunshine State Conference and is one of the toughest in the nation.
Garrison led Dexter to four straight SCAA Championships, three District Championships and a sectional title in 2016 before graduating in 2018.
Puxico, MO - The Puxico Medical Clinic is offering FREE sports physicals to Puxico student athletes during the month of July.
To schedule an appointment call 573-222-3556. Physical after the month of July are $28.00.
Because the health and growth of our athletes change on a rapid pace, and we care about the well being of our students, Puxico School requires sports physicals annually.
They encourage you to take advantage of this free opportunity to have your child's sports physical if they are considering any extra curricular sports in grades 6-12.
Please click on the link below and fill our your portion before you go to your appointment.
All sections of the form must be filled out BEFORE you turn it in to your coach.
MHSHAA PRE-PARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EVALUATION -PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FORM:
Sikeston, MO - The Sikeston Regional Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Golf Tournament on Monday, August 17, 2020.
Shotgun start at 1 p.m. with registration and lunch at noon.
Over $4,000 in door prizes and gifts based upon full fields. Field will be divided into flights depending on number of entries. Equal prizes will be awarded in each flight.
Silver sponsors are just $150 for a hole sponsorship and sign at the scoreboard.
Gold sponsors are $300 for a hole sponsorship, one team, sign at the scoreboard and recognized as a gold sponsor on the board.
Golf carts must be reserved by August 14th and are $25 each and can be paid with the registration fee.
All Sports Pass is $60 per team and can be included with the registration or paid at the door.
This is a 3-person scramble $200 per team registration fee.
Register online at www.sikeston.net or email entries to chamber@sikeston.net or mail entry with payment to SRC Golf Tournament, 128 N. New Madrid St., Sikeston, MO 63801.
Make checks payable to Sikeston Regional Chamber.
For more information contact the Chamber office at (573) 472-2498 or Boyd Green (573) 481-1111.
Cape Girardeau, MO - The SEMO Conference baseball senior players will have one more opportunity to take the field on Monday, July 6, 2020 at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau.
The Showcase features senior athletes from Cape Central, Dexter, Kennett, Sikeston, New Madrid County Central, Notre Dame, Jackson, and Poplar Bluff.
The idea to hold the event came after seniors were unable to have a spring baseball season due to COVID-19 virus pandemic.
Seniors on each team will be assigned to one of four teams and will have the opportunity to participate in two 5-inning games.
Each team will be composed of seniors from two schools. The teams will be coached by the high school coaches of the respective schools.
Cape Central and Sikeston will join together against Notre Dame and New Madrid County Central in the Showcase opener at 1 p.m.
Poplar Bluff and Kennett will face off against Cape Central and Sikeston at 3 p.m.
Notre Dame and New Madrid County Central will play Jackson and Dexter at 5 p.m.
Poplar Bluff and Kennett will take on Jackson and Dexter at 7 p.m.
Ceremonies to honor the seniors will take place between each game.
After 1 p.m. game Cape Central/Sikeston
After 3 p.m. game Notre Dame/New Madrid
After 5 p.m. game Jackson/Dexter/Poplar Bluff/Kennett
Participation in the event is voluntary.
A list of seniors eligible to compete from each team is listed below:
Cape Central Tigers: Matthew Huey, Zachary Haggerty, Gunner Crosnoe, Zachary Moore, Caedan Knepp, Hunter Hiett, and Noah McCoy.
Dexter Bearcats: Carson Bell, Garrett Henson, Haden Hillis, Trey Johnson, and Mason Keena.
Jackson Indians: Matthew Bumpus, Lane Crowden, Kalin Ellis, Layne Friedrich, Layton Hahn, Mason Martini, Alex Meyer, Seth Spraggs, and Blaise Winder.
Kennett Indians: Marshall Brown, Jackson Henfling, Carter Maddox, and Seth Tice.
New Madrid County Central: Bryshawn Williams, Caden Howell, Glen Helmes, Austin Davis, Christen Phillips, and Ethan Colbert.
Notre Dame Bulldogs: Kam Dohogne, Brayden Eftink, Tyler Halter, Zach Haywood, Gabe Hurley, Tyler Landewee, Andrew Thurston, and Joey LeGrand.
Poplar Bluff Mules: Noah Burkey, Dawson Hanner, Carson Webb, Daryl Vaughn, and Luke Becker.
Sikeston Bulldogs: Hayden Alcorn, Preston Alexander, Payton Howard, Clark Steward, and Kadin Wilburn.
