Missouri shows us the good, the bad, and the ugly

Last week was an interesting week for the State of Missouri, particularly in the world of sports and politics. There was a little bit of everything, but probably best described as the good, the bad, and the ugly with the St. Louis Cardinals’ World Series victory, the Missouri state legislature’s inability to pass an economic development bill in its special session, and the University of Missouri’s ongoing saga on whether they’ll jump to the Southeastern Conference or stay in the Big 12. The one parallel between the three is we may be from the same state, but you’ll be hard pressed to find an area where all Missourians are on the same side of any one issue.

The Good
The Cardinals’ improbable month of September which had them trailing by more than 10 games before coming back to clinch a playoff spot. In October they advanced past Philadelphia and Milwaukee for an even more unlikely appearance in the World Series against Texas. Down three games to two, St. Louis staged a comeback (several, actually) in Game 6 that will go down in baseball history as a classic. Similar to the way things went in Game 7 for the Royals in 1985, Texas couldn’t overcome the leftover momentum the Cardinals’ had in their favor as St. Louis went on to win their second world title in six years.

As a kid, I was a Cardinals fan. Of course, second to the Royals. Mostly because they were in a different league and from Missouri, so my young mind thought it was a natural. But as I grew up, I began to see the very real rift that exists between Kansas City and St. Louis. It was on full display last week too, as all of a sudden you found some pretty loyal Texas Rangers fans in the area, evidence that remnants of the 1985 World Series are still alive and well in Missouri.

The Bad
After several months of buildup, it seemed as if the negotiations and framework were in place for the Republican-dominated Missouri state legislature to use the special session to draft an economic development and jobs bill. After failing to do so in the five month long regular session from January to May, voters were led to believe the special session would allow elected officials to accomplish their top campaign priority in 2010: job creation and the economy. It was not to be, as the House and Senate were unable to reconcile their differences before finally deciding to end the special session empty-handed at a cost of nearly $280,000 to taxpayers.

As I mentioned back in August, Democrats have such a small presence in Jefferson City, their influence in any bill that goes through the House or the Senate is minimal, leaving the Republicans with what appeared to be a great opportunity to craft a bill almost completely to their liking. Governor Jay Nixon would be the only Democrat needing to approve, who was poised to sign a bill into law. The reality of this outcome is unfortunate because Missouri will now go another year without eliminating ineffective tax credits, no added incentives for companies to locate here, or new tools for existing companies to hire more workers.

Further proof politicians can battle their entire careers hoping to push the opposing political party from office, but if you can’t do anything with it when you finally do, what have you really gained? Democrats found this out on the national level after the 2008 elections and Republicans seem to be finding it out now after their 2010 gains on the state level.

The Ugly
While the residents of Missouri close to Kansas City seem to make up the largest contingent of Mizzou fans hoping the school holds onto hope the Big 12 can be reformed into a conference where all schools (not just Oklahoma and Texas) can thrive, a move to the Southeast Conference seems on the horizon. The rest of Missouri’s voice has apparently drowned out that sentiment by supporting the move.

Although the ending hasn’t played out, there’s the familiar feeling that if there was an ideal process or ‘right’ way to go through such a change, the University has proven it probably won’t follow that precedent. If in no other way, at least from a public relations point of view. With unnecessary press conferences, leaked reports, and anonymous story sources the school has made it harder on themselves than hoped for on the public front.

While Mizzou fans may get a little hot under the collar with each other over whether to stay or go, it’s likely nothing compared to the heat they’ll experience on the road finishing out a potential last season in the Big 12 with other schools’ faithful feeling understandably frustrated with the Tigers whose decision plays a role in their futures as well.

So no matter how mainstream you think you are, in Missouri there’s a good chance that if you want to get into an argument, there’s plenty of people willing and ready for the challenge. Just another example of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Fox faces Park on visitor’s side of the soccer field

October is traditionally a month of homecomings. Parades, dances, football games and the crowning of a queen. While those are the symbols and events typically associated with homecomings, it is sometimes the ones with less pomp and circumstance with the most meaning for those involved. This was the case recently during the American Midwest Conference college soccer game between William Woods and Park University as a small group of friends and family gathered to support former Park Hill soccer player and now William Woods assistant coach Zak Fox. The game was more than a rare opportunity for Fox to roam the sidelines of the same field he once played on during high school, but also a chance to compete against his former youth coach and Park University head coach Efrem Shimlis.

“It means even more now to coach against my old coach,” Fox said. “Just driving up to the stadium and realizing its all still here the way it was before is really cool.”

“He really likes being back here,” said Zak’s father Pride Fox, a Platte City business owner. “He likes that trip down memory lane.”

Growing up Fox fell in love with soccer at a young age and the coaching staff at Park University enhanced that by exposing him to the game by participating with the team. Fox’s mother Cathi pointed to the young ball boys on the field which reminded her of her son at their age.

“When Zak was little, just about that size,” she said pointing towards the boys on the sidelines, “he and several of his friends would come be ball boys for the Park games. I think they were in second grade. He has just loved soccer since he was four years old.”

Shimlis became the head coach at Park University in 2001, but prior to that he was an assistant coach and also coached the competitive youth team Fox played for. It was then when Shimlis became a huge influence and developed a close player-coach relationship with Fox that remains strong today.

“He’s one of my mentors,” Fox said of his former youth coach. “I stay in contact with him and we’ve talked quite a bit over the years,”

“I was telling him I have a picture in my office of him and the kids I coached when they were younger,” Shimlis said. “There were a lot of good kids on that team. I’m proud of him and so happy to see him.”

“It makes me feel old,” Shimlis joked when asked about Fox joining him in the coaching profession. “He’s loves the game and he’ll do fine. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and wish him all the best.”

Fox, a 2005 Park Hill graduate, played for two years at Neosho County Community College where he was a part of a conference championship team. After that he thought his playing days were over, but later received a call from former Neosho County assistant coach Nathan Mason, now head coach at William Woods, asking him to play for him. With two years of eligibility left, he had received the chance to continue playing the game he loved. He finished his senior year receiving several Player of the Week awards in the AMC before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2011.

Having exhausted his college eligibility and knowing that playing at the pro level was a long-shot, despite several chances to tryout, Fox decided he wanted to stay in the game and pass his knowledge on to future players as a coach.

“I had a couple of chances to try out at places, but I just decided to hang up the boots. I knew my time was up,” Fox said of his decision. “Just anything to be around soccer. I live and breathe it, so anything to stay in it.”

“He couldn’t contribute anymore as a player, but thinks he can build people. He’s always liked building things since he was a little kid, so this kind of makes sense in the fact that he’s now building people,” Fox’s father said.

Fox is currently in his first season as an assistant at William Woods. He’s also working towards his master’s degree in education, a degree which parallels his interest in working with other people and passing his experiences onto others. While Fox still finds it frustrating not to be able to make a difference on the field, he hopes to take his coaching career to the next level once he receives his master’s. With the Kansas City region lacking major collegiate soccer programs, Fox would like to make his return home permanent someday, but knows his pursuit may first take him further away before it brings him closer.

“I’m not going to pass up any good opportunity,” Fox said. “If I can come back home I’d love it, but the higher the better, I mean it’s really ‘shoot for the stars’ right now.”

Even though the chilly October night left William Woods with a 1-0 overtime loss to the Park Pirates in front of a light crowd, the lack of publicity didn’t lessen the personal significance it had for those supporting their friend and family member whose presence may vary, but whose heart remains at home.

South falls short in district tiebreaker

Despite their thrilling 14-7 overtime victory two weeks ago against Winnetonka in district play, a first game loss to North Kansas City on October 15th came back to haunt the Park Hill South Panthers in their quest for a second straight playoff berth. With South’s 28-0 loss to Fort Osage last week in the last game of the regular season and Winnetonka’s 42-0 win over North Kansas City, the Griffons were able to get the point differential they needed to win the tie-breaker and secure a second place district finish sending them into this week’s regional playoff game against Truman.

Knowing the tie-breaker would likely not fall in their favor, the Panthers knew a win was the only way to completely ensure a playoff spot, but Fort Osage, with only one blemish, on their record coming into the season at 8-1 was a tough matchup for Park Hill South and it held true last week. Fort Osage quarterback Steven McBee had a standout night accounting for all four Indians’ four touchdowns on the night (three runs, one pass) while going 7 of 15 passing for 125 yards. The Indians spread their scoring out with a touchdown in each quarter.

While McBee provided the source for several big plays for Fort Osage, it was their defense that held Park Hill South to just 121 yards of total offense and created three turnovers. South running back Myles Hammonds, the Panthers’ leading rusher this season, was held to 25 yards on 25 carries.

Park Hill South ends the season with a 1-2 district record and 4-6 record overall.

Park Hill ends season, playoff streak

Recent history was not on the side of St. Joe Central last week in their district finale against Park Hill. The Trojans had eliminated Central from the playoffs the last three seasons and had advanced themselves the past six years in a row, but both changed last week with Central’s 28-6 win over Park Hill in the district finale. This clinched the Indians’ first playoff berth since 1995, leaving the Trojans with the particularly unsettling feeling of ending their season without a playoff appearance for the first time since 2004.

Both teams came out with the added enthusiasm of a playoff-like contest, but despite Central starting quarterback Darrin Dudley not being available due to a concussion, the Indians jumped ahead of the Trojans in the second quarter 10-0 after a 31 yard Sal Ingargiola field goal and 27-yard touchdown run from Corey Jackson.

“In a way, I think it helped them because they had to be more vanilla on offense and focus more on getting the ball to Jackson,” Park Hill coach Greg Reynolds said. “They used their physicality to their advantage on us.”

Park Hill narrowed the margin before halftime when running back Jordan Wang came out of the backfield to pull in an athletic sideline grab in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown catch. Wang led Park Hill in rushing yards on the night with 98 on 20 carries. Up 10-6 at halftime, Central’s first drive in the second half resulted in a 35-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Jacob Kaiser to Nick Shores putting Central in the driver seat.

“If we get a stop there, then we’re feeling pretty good about the position we’re in,” Reynolds said.

Late in the third quarter, Park Hill’s defense created a scoring opportunity when Connor Samenus recovered a St. Joe Central fumble giving the Trojans the ball at the Indians 19-yard line. Several plays later the Trojans lined up for a 35-yard field goal attempt to narrow their deficit and, perhaps symbolic of the kind of night Park Hill had, the kick bounced off the side of the goal post leaving the Trojans empty-handed. Central’s next drive resulted in a three-and-out which left Park Hill with great field possession again, this time at Central’s 34-yard line. Park Hill’s first play of the drive, a bootleg pass from Trojan quarterback Tyler White, ended up in the arms of Central defender Dre Irvin who returned it 66 yards for a touchdown, putting the final touch on Central’s 24-6 victory over Park Hill.

“They (Central) did a really good job of taking away our trap game and forced us to throw the ball,” Reynolds said. “They can rush the passer really well. For the different looks we were seeing out of their defense, I thought we ran the ball fairly decent though.”

Late in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s game Park Hill senior Austryn Smith was treated and taken to the hospital by ambulance after being involved in an on-field collision which left him unconscious. He was released several hours later with no serious injuries or health concerns.

“It’s something we take very seriously and wanted to take every precaution,” Reynolds said.

The Trojans end the season with a 5-5 overall record.

Fall Roundup: Oct. 24-29

Park Hill Boys Soccer
…finished the regular season with a 12-11 record after a loss to North Kansas City 1-0 and a win in the finale against St. Joe Central 3-1. The loss to Park Hill was playing Park Hill South in the first round of district play in St. Joe as The Citizen went to deadline Tuesday night.

Park Hill South Boys Soccer
…clinched a share of the conference championship with Fort Osage last week with their two wins over Belton 3-0 and Raytown South 10-0. They’ll take a 16-8-1 record into districts this week after completing their conference record. Brody Bouillon continues to lead Park Hill South with 14 goals while Andrew Gonzalez has contributed 12 assists. Heath Turner has registered 90 saves this year as the last line of defense at goalie. They were playing Park Hill as of deadline Tuesday night in the first round.

Park Hill South Volleyball
…cruised through the Class 4, District 15 tournament last week without losing a set as they beat Truman 2-0 and then William Chrisman to claim the district title. They advanced to the sectional round of the Missouri state playoffs over the weekend where they ended their season with an earlier exit than they would have liked as they fell to St. Theresa’s in straight sets 25-16, 25-17 over the weekend. They end the year with an impressive 31-4 record having won both conference and district titles.

“We had a wonderful year and the team was amazing all year, on and off the court, and in the classroom,” Park Hill South coach Debbie Fay said. “I could not have asked for a better group.”

Park Hill Boys Cross Country
…Joey Walton led Park Hill and much the rest of the field once again in the state sectional meet last weekend as he placed fifth, advancing him to the state meet this weekend. As a team, the Trojans were not able to advance. Other Trojans competing included Nathan Huffer (36th), Kainen Utt (47th), Hanoh Tekle (75th), Nate Thomas (76th), and Cooper Gardner (77th).

Park Hill South Boys Cross Country
…Tucker Melles placed 26th in last weekend’s sectional meet, qualifying him to compete in the state meet this weekend. He led the Panthers field while Lendon Calhoun followed in 57th place and Peter Thomas finished in 62nd place.

Park Hill Girls Cross Country
…Kim Rau advanced to the state meet with her 28th place finish at last weekend’s sectional race. Emma Gaiser, the other Trojan competing, finished the race in 54th place.

Park Hill South Girls Cross Country
…finished in seventh place as a team at the sectional meet last weekend. They were not able to advance any individuals to the state meet as top finisher Erica Guzman finished in 53rd place. Following close behind were Audrey Rothers (55th), Madeline Homoly (56th), Lauren Blair (57th), Lizzy Jurries (59th), and Raven Jennings (65th).