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POWER
UP
A year STRONGER.
A year FASTER.
A year SMARTER.
The Lady Tigers take aim at
the top of the COC.
Also Inside...
The football Tigers
have speed in the
backeld. Can they
unleash it?
25 years ago, the 89
Tigers closed out a
decade of dominance.
Season previews for
every fall sport, and
more...
INAUGURAL ISSUE AUG-SEPT 2014
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To subscribe go to RepublicTigerSports.com/Subscribe
REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 3
In Which a Radio Guy Starts a Web
Site That Turns Into a Magazine
In the summer of 2009, I registered the domain name
RepublicTigerSports.com. I had experience in radio news and a
full-time job, but a local sports website seemed like a great hobby.
I fgured I might even be able to sell a couple of ads to cover part
of my costs.
I set up the website and shared the corresponding Facebook page
with some friends. Within a few days, 700 of you were following
along. Most of you, I didnt know yet.
About two months later, Hailey Johnson slugged a walk-of
grand slam in the state softball quarterfnals, and the train left the
station. Republic fans started sharing my iPhone video as soon
as they got home from the game hours before the highlights
showed up on any 10 oclock newscast. Tat night, I realized what
Republic Tiger Sports could become.
Along the way, the student-athletes of Republic have made this
the most rewarding fve years of my professional life. Teyve giv-
en me the opportunity to call basketball play-by-play at State in
four of the last fve seasons. Republic has won six of those games
in a row all but one on the fnal possession. For a kid who used
to sit in the bleachers at Tiger games and do play-by-play with
my friends, it doesnt get much better.
So now a magazine. Id have laughed if you suggested it fve years
ago. Now, even though I have exactly zero print experience, it
seems like the next logical step.
I want this publication to be a keepsake. If Im doing it right, it
will be full of great photos and interesting feature pieces. And
even the advertisements will be interesting, useful, and relevant.
Republic businesses, the advertisers you see in these pages, have
been generous in their willingness to take a chance on Republic
Tiger Sports. You can help by supporting them when it makes
sense for you. If you do, well keep this train chugging along as far
and as fast as we can.
Tank you for your support over the past fve years. I cant wait to
see what the future holds for Republic. Go Tigers!
David Brazeal
Publisher
Publisher David Brazeal
Editorial Assistants Lori Casagrand, Kristin Howard
Design Assistant Cheryl Barnett
Studio Photography Karen Rohlman
PUBLISHERS DESK
Cover Photo: Lady Tigers softball players Kami Holt, Rachel
Rook, and Lauren Strobel.
4 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS
Michayla Shanks is part of a Lady Tigers
volleyball team thats looking for a sixth
district title in seven years. (Volleyball
preview on page 19.)
Junior Philip Caneld qualied for
sectionals last year, and returns to help
lead the Tigers and Lady Tigers cross
country squads. (Cross country preview
on page 15.)
Four-year starter Levi Cook anchors the
ofensive line in Wes Beachlers second
season as head coach. (Football preview
on page 6.)
Michaela Moore is back for her third year
of varsity tennis and is hoping to take
over the top spot in tne singles lineup.
(Tennis preview on page 17.)
Fall 2014
SEASON
PREVIEWS
REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 5
After a fantastic freshman season,
sophomore Rachel Rook takes the ball
in the circle for the Lady Tigers softball
team. (Softball preview on page 8.)
Vanessa Nimmo is the lone senior on a
young, balanced Lady Tigers golf squad.
(Golf preview on page 11.)
Sophomore Julio Quezada scored 21
goals last year and will help lead the
Tigers ofense under new soccer head
coach David Ashby. (Soccer preview on
page 10.)
6 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS
FOOTBALL
E
ntering their second season under
coach Wes Beachler, the football Ti-
gers are ahead of where they were last year.
I think over-
all as a unit,
its a lot faster.
Te plays are
clicking a lot
faster in our
heads, says
quarterback
and defensive
back Jake
Smith. [We]
dont have to
think about
What if I go here and make this mistake?
Its just coming natural.
Tose kinds of improvements may be most
evident on the ofensive line, where the
blocking schemes will get more complicat-
ed as the linemen show they are mastering
the basics.
Te Tigers graduated most of
their ofensive line, but have
two tackles, Levi Cook and
Skyler Hale, back this year.
Developing the rest of the line
will be a key for the Tigers,
who have speed in the backfeld
if they can just turn it loose.
Beachler says
many of his
options on the
line fall into
one of two
categories: ag-
gressive players
who need to
work on their
fundamentals
or fundamen-
tally sound
players who
arent aggressive enough.
We have some physical kids
who have to get technically
better. Its not good enough just to be a
barbarian in there. Youve got to know
what youre doing, he says. Ten we have
some kids that just need to be a little more
aggressive. Tey have the technique down,
they just need to learn to play with more
aggression.
If the front line does its job, theres plenty

Its not good

enough just to be
a barbarian in there.
Youve got to know
what youre doing.
The Tigers Have Speed.
Can They Unleash It?
REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 7
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of talent in the backfeld to allow the
Tigers to move the ball. Smith started
four games at quarterback last year, and
has a good chance to start this year. Tree
sprinters on the Republic track team Jace
DuVall, Tryston Ellison, and
Jerney Jones will share time
at tailback. Zach Jester, Zach
Dickens, Blake Fanning, and
Jack Hayes could all get snaps at
fullback.
All those kids play linebacker
for us, so theyll be in the mix
at linebacker, Beachler says.
Well probably have to use
three, if not four of those young
men at fullback at some point,
just to rotate some kids in and
out.
Speaking of the linebacker
corps, Beachler says that could
be a strong point of the defense.
Te thing...is going to be
discipline. At times last year, we
didnt ft very well against the
run and we created some alleys
for our opponents, and I think
we are better at that this year.
Up front, the defense will include Bradley
Wright a lot stronger than he was last
year, because of his work in the weight
room, according to Beachler. Adam Butch-
er also should see playing time, along with
returning lettermen Garrett Gordon and
Jared Jensen at defensive end.
For the entire defense, Beachler says the
biggest improvement may come from
players understanding their roles more
clearly this season.
People will watch a game when we miss
tackles and say were not a very good tack-
ling team. It rarely comes down to the fact
that were not good tacklers. Its that when
youre not in position to make a tackle, you
look like a poor tackler, he says.
Special teams has been another point of
emphasis this summer, after the Tigers
sufered costly breakdowns in three games
last year. Beachler says he wants the special
teams players to function as a more cohe-
sive unit this year, understanding tech-
nique and having 11 guys who understand
what were trying to accomplish better.
Te Tigers travel to Lebanon for their
preseason jamboree on August 15. Tey
open the season at home against Sedalia
Smith-Cotton on August 22.
Levi Cook and Skyler Hale are the only
two returning starters on the Tigers
ofensive line.
8 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS
SOFTBALL
POWER
UP
Sometimes experience and
youth go hand in hand. Just
ask the softball Lady Tigers.
E
ight of nine starters are back
for Republic softball coach Lee
Dishman, but he takes nothing for
granted. And neither should his players.
Te starters from last year know that
they cant just sit on their butts and not
do anything. Tey know they have to
work because theyre going to be pushed,
Dishman says. Here at Republic were
lucky we have plenty of ball players that
can push other girls.
For many programs, that kind of depth
means the varsity squad is full of juniors
and seniors, while underclassmen toil away
on the JV team. But for Republic, a youth
movement that began last season will con-
tinue this year, starting with sophomore
pitcher Rachel Rook.
Rachels worked hard all summer; shes
made the jump from being a freshman and
not hitting her spots to hitting her spots,
Dishman says. Shes added a mile an hour
or two to her fastball and shes added a
curveball, and she understands how to
pitch now.
With a fastball topping out near 60 mph
Senior Emily Hall provides
leadership and stability
behind the plate for Republic.
and the ability to change speeds, Dishman
says Rook now has confdence that she can
get any hitter out in any situation.
Te rest of the lineup is likely to see just
one big change, where another sophomore
is set to move up from junior varsity.
Kami Holt has had a tremendous sum-
mer, Dishman says. Shes probably led
the team this summer; shes probably got
7 or 8 home runs in the league that we
played in. Shes going to really beneft us,
[and] probably going to hit in the middle
of the lineup now.
To make way for Holt at shortstop, Mor-
gan Cantrell could shift to the outfeld
alongside fellow speedsters Abby Norris
and Molly Zinecker. Cantrells move to
the outfeld will free up Caty Eby to slide
over to 1B, a position left open by the
graduation of last years lone senior, Dan-
ielle Shelton.
REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 9

We have some
leadership. Our
young girls are getting
older and stronger.
Weve got a little more
power...were still very
fast.

Coach Lee Dishman
Senior Taylor Gold (2B) and
junior Lauren Strobel (3B)
round out the probable infeld.
Te speed in the outfeld and
the strength of the infeld
defense should also make Rook
a better pitcher in her second
season, Dishman says.
She understands that her
defense is going to play for her,
and I think that were going
to be very, very strong. Our
outfeld is extremely quick; they
can go get balls. Teyve got
good arms.
With Eby and Strobel at the
infeld corners, teams that try
and play a small game and bunt
on us, were going to be in there
handling the bunt real well,
he says. It takes the pressure
of Rachel a little bit not having
to feld balls because those two can get in
there and get them.
Strobel will bat cleanup, alongside Holt in
the heart of the Republic batting order.
As a sophomore, Strobel sprayed the feld
with line-drive doubles and triples. Tis
year could be even better.
Shes gotten stronger and she continues
to hit the ball. Te ball jumps of her bat
a little bit more this year than it did in
previous years, Dishman says. Instead of
being a gap hitter, she might start hitting
some balls out a little bit more this year.
Increased power up and down the lineup
could lead to more big innings, but dont
expect Dishman to give up the running
game he loves so much.
We didnt lose our quickness. We con-
tinue to work on that and were just going
to continue to put pressure on teams and
make them get us out, he says. Were
going to steal a lot of bases and bunt the
ball still, and make the other team play the
game. As fast as we are, I think we can put
pressure on them and make them make
mistakes.
CF Abby Norris should anchor the speedy
outeld defense, anked by Molly Zinecker
and Morgan Cantrell.
10 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS
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BOYS SOCCER
Ashby Takes the Reins
of Tigers Soccer
S
eason number fve brings a lot of
changes for the Republic boys soccer
program. Te biggest change is at the top,
where David Ashby takes over as head
coach, replacing Mike Hines, the man who
helped build the program from its begin-
ning. For Ashby, his ascent to the top job
is the culimination of a long-held goal.
Ive looked forward to this for a long
time, since I was in high school. My coach
in high school even told me I would make
a great coach some day, Ashby says. Ive
been waiting and wondering, and I knew
that when I applied here seven years ago
that it was a possibility that I could be a
coach.
I worked with Hines and he was a great
mentor. He really opened the door and
did well to make it easy for me to slide in
there transitionally.
Ashby hasnt had much time to get ready
for his taste of the head coaching job.
Republics summer vacation was only two
months long, and Ashby got married and
took a honeymoon, making the prep time
even shorter. But he says he warned his
team to stay in shape for the start of work-
outs, and most of them have done that.
Te Tigers return
two experienced
scoring threats
in Mitchell
Heinzler (12
goals and 16
assists last year)
and Julio Queza-
da (21 goals and
seven assists).
Athletic sopho-
more Jansen Mc-
Querter could
contribute to the
scoring load as
well, according to
Ashby.
While the of-
fense brings experience, the Tigers defense
is Ashbys biggest concern entering the
season. Republic lost Cooper Kelley and
Jacob Goetz in the backfeld, so some
young defenders will have to learn on the
job.
We have very strong players but their skill
level isnt quite as strong as it needs to be
right now, says Ashby. Im going to focus
more on the back and try to get that solid
and locked down.
Te good news,
says Ashby, is that
uncovering a solid
defender is easier
than training
a forward and
counting on him to
score.
At goalkeeper, the
Tigers have a trio
of options: Cody
Marcotte, Mason
Michaelis, and
Dakota Dutoit will
all compete for time
in goal during the
preseason.
Te Tigers open their season on August 26
at home against Monett.
Mitchell Heinzler (pictured) and Julio
Quezada give the Tigers a 1-2 punch
ofensively they havent had in previous
seasons.
Text
REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 11
"lts where the teoms p/oyl"
83!-3333 thecourtsezone.com
4!3 L. Keorney 5prlnge/d, MO 5803
F
or the frst time in several years, the
Lady Tigers golf team enters the
season without a clear #1 player. Sisters
Payton and Baylee Rayl have anchored the
top of the lineup for Republic the past few
seasons, but the top spot is up in the air
this year, according to coach Curt Plotner.
I think this year actually, losing three
(Baylee Rayl, Bailey Cornelison, and
Haley Smith) is the most weve lost since
Ive been here, Plotner says. Tat means
the Lady Tigers will rely on a much
younger, less experienced lineup, including
players like sophomore Katie Hamilton.
Katie has been playing a lot this summer,
and playing pretty well. Shes scoring well
enough that she has a good chance to get
out of districts, and if she can shave of
a few more strokes shes got a chance to
make it to state, Plotner says.
Juniors Caroline and Emma Blanford also
fgure to play a key role. Plotner says he
is encouraged by their improvement since
last season as well.
Im kind of expecting big things out of
them, he says.
Only one senior, Vanessa Nimmo, will
crack the fve-player varsity lineup. Who
will be in the ffth slot is anyones guess.
Tat 5th spot is kind of up in the air right
now so well just have to see. A couple of
these freshmen look like theyre going to
be okay. Weve got quite a while.
Plotner says whoever is in the lineup, it
will be
the most
balanced in Republic since he took over as
head coach.
Tey all hit it well enough, they can get it
on the green and probably have par putts,
Plotner says.
Te short game thats where its at. If
they can just work on their short game
they can shave probably 10 strokes of
their score; that would really help us out
a lot.
Te key to a successful season will be
consistency: avoiding disastrous holes that
can sink an entire days score.
I tried telling them, 18 fves is 90. If
they can just make fve on every hole -- it
seems too often they have a hole where
they have seven and eight, and they kind
of add up on them, Plotner says.
If his lineup can play a conservative
game that keeps everyone in the 90s or
below, he believes the Lady Tigers can be
competitive.
GIRLS GOLF
Consistency Is the Key
for Lady Tigers Golf
Coach Curt Plotner looks to replace
the senior leadership (and scoring)
of Baylee Rayl. The Lady Tigers have
only one senior, Vanessa Nimmo, on
this years squad.
On October 12, 2012, Republics Colton Peltz got loose in the
Neosho backeld and put this big hit on Wildcats quarterback
Justin McKee, knocking the ball free. Republic recovered the
fumble, ran it back for a touchdown, and went on to beat Neosho
33-15. Republic Tiger Sports readers voted this photo their favorite
in the websites rst ve years.
14 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS
Jake Jones (pictured) and the
rest of this years freshman
football Tigers have left the
competition grasping at air
through middle school. Theyve
compiled a 23-2 record during
two seasons of fall and two
seasons of spring football in
7th and 8th grade.
The 2013 7th grade Tigers went undefeated and didnt allow a
point all year, outscoring opponents by a combined 166-0.
VisionHealth Eye Center supports Tigers of all ages
as a Sports Eye Injury Prevention Center, and is
certied in dispensing Rec Specs for all sports.
The young football Tigers hope to build
on their middle school gridiron success.
REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 15
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CROSS COUNTRY
T
he Republic cross country squad
enters the season with two runners
who qualifed for sectionals last year.
Coach Christie Bishop will be relying on
junior Philip Canfeld and sophomore
Madi Appleberry to improve on last years
times. She will also be looking at younger
runners to step into the gap created by the
loss of the teams two best competitors.
Te team lost all-state runner Ryan Way
to graduation. Megan Hergesheimer
moved out of the district. Bishop says a
strong freshman class, especially on the
girls team, could help fll those holes.
Tey look like a strong crew coming in.
Te girls have done really well in all their
meets in junior high, Bishop says. Tat
includes one COC championship.
Were going to try to build those really
young runners to make them as strong as
we can, to see what happens. Im hoping
with three returning and three of those
incoming freshman, we can have a pretty
good girls team this year.
Returnees Abby Loveland and Sara Wilk-
en are in line to run alongside Appleberry
and three of the newcomers.
On the boys team, Canfeld hopes he can
provide the leadership that Way provided
to him in his frst two seasons.
He always pushed me so hard because he
saw the talent in me and wasnt going to
let it go to waste, Canfeld says. He made
me run with him on every run, harder than
anyone else.
Canfeld says hell apply the same work
ethic, putting in the early work that can
pay of later in the season.
Some of those early days, theyre pretty
hard because theyre so early in the season
and its so hot, he says. Sometimes its
hard to fnd motivation. You have to look
into the future and see that this four-mile
run is going to help you, and its going o
make you faster.
Tough
cross
country is mainly an individual sport,
Canfeld says theres a team element, too.
Te people that are around you, they fuel
the adrenaline and make you work harder,
he says.
Ultimately, Canfeld says hed like to have
even more teammates to fuel that adren-
aline.
I really want to start building the pro-
gram. It hasnt really caught on at Republic
yet, but if we can get a few kids and get
the word out its a hard sport, but its
fun.
Strong Freshmen
Could Step In for Cross
Country
Madi Appleberry is part of whats
shaping up as a promising girls squad.
16 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS
Classroom
SPOTLIGHT
McKenna Loveland is a varsity cheerleader. She has a 4.18 GPA, and she is a
member of National Honor Society and YES Club. Because she enjoys writing
and debating, as well as staying up-to-date with political issues, McKenna likes
studying government, and is considering a major of pre-law at the University of
Missouri or Drury University.
Football tailback Jace DuVall carries a 4.03 GPA into his senior year. His favorite
high school class is government, but he intends to pursue a business career, with
a goal of becoming an entrepreneur. If I own my own business, I hold my own
destiny in how far the company goes, he says. DuVall has already put his entre-
preneurial skills to work in various projects. Hes undecided about his college
choice, but wants to study business or entrepreneurism.
Lauren Collier is a Lady Tiger softball player with a GPA of 4.11. She recently at-
tended a bio-ethics class at Drury university, and is considering studying pre-law
at Rockhurst University or the University of Arkansas. Shes a member of National
Honor Society and serves on its leadership board. She also runs many of the youth
programs at the Republic branch of the Springeld-Greene County Library.
Volleyballer Jera Pipkin is a member of FBLA and National Honor Society, and
president of both the Republic FFA Chapter and the Area 12 FFA Association.
She has qualied for state three times, receiving 3rd place as a sophomore and a
group 1 rating in livestock judging as a junior. She carries a 4.27 GPA and intends
to double major in AgBusiness and AgCommunications at Oklahoma State Uni-
versity. She hopes to work in ag marketing and sales.
Southern Sun Electric is proud to honor Republics outstanding
student-athletes for their performance on the feld and in the classroom.
Visit them online at SouthernSunElectric.com.
REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 17
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GIRLS TENNIS
T
he Lady Tigers tennis team has the
pieces in place to rebound from a dis-
appointing 2013 season. At the top of the
lineup, senior Michaela Moore enters her
third year as a varsity player. She played in
the #2 spot in the lineup last season.
Michaela can do a lot on the tennis court
just because shes a good athlete, says
coach Eric Hanson. With the repetition
she got at tennis camp and earlier in the
ofseason with open courts, plus the expe-
rience she had playing at #2 last year, shes
looking pretty good right now.
Behind Moore, a mix of seniors and
underclassmen will fll out the lineup.
Hanson says hes not sure how it will all
shake out, but his teams overall depth is
much better than last year, when Talor
Sandul and Ashley Cameron both sufered
season-ending injuries. Fellow seniors
Brittney Marshall and Alyssa Damron
should also compete for playing time.
But Hanson says his upperclassmen will
have to compete for their spots against
improving underclassmen.
We have several underclassmen who are
showing a lot of potential Makenzie
Clark, Kaytlin Pearce, Tayler Avery. Tese
are all underclassmen who got after it in
the ofseason and have really improved
their game.
Hanson will be watching to
see how Sandul and Cam-
eron react after missing so
much time last season.
You bring back two seniors
who missed an entire
year because of injury, he
questions, are they going
to be able to jump back into
the swing of things playing
varsity tennis?
Te frst two weeks of prac-
tice will help determine who
slides into the six varsity
singles spots. Hanson is still
deciding on doubles teams,
too.
We
have a
whole lot of people who are on parity with
each other. Its a great problem to have, but
it can sort of make it hard to sort out who
you want to have play doubles together.
Te Lady Tigers open the season at Nixa
on August 21.
Senior Moore Leads
Lady Tigers on the
Court
Alyssa Damron is part of a class of seniors who will
compete for playing time with an up-and-coming
group of underclassmen for Eric Hansons tennis
team.
18 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS

We were carrying the weight of

a decade of domination on our
shoulders. We couldnt let
our predecessors down.
- Brit Yocum
T
wenty-fve years ago, the
Republic Tigers closed out
their best-ever football decade
with one of their best-ever sea-
sons. Te 1989 Tigers entered
the season with some doubters
in the media. One outlet pre-
dicted a 7-3 record a result
that, at the time, would have
been a big disappointment
for a program that had won
at least a share of the Central
Ozark Conference title since
the 80s began.
Despite the external doubt,
the players didnt feel it.Tere
was the sense we felt like we
couldnt be beat. We felt like
we were the best team there.
So many times you could go
out on the feld and look at
the other team and they were
scared. Tey were beaten
before they even walked on
the feld, says quarterback Jef
Clouse.
A Week 3 showdown with
state-ranked Branson, won 7-6
on a blocked feld goal as time
expired, set the tone for the
year.
Tat was a big hurdle, says
head coach Eddie Miller.
Ozark was supposedly the
next big challenge.
Tat challenge came in Week
8, when an overfow crowd
showed up on Saturday after-
noon.
It was always a big crowd, but
that day it seemed especially
packed. People from all the
conference schools came to
watch us play, says Miller.
Te day ended in a 16-0
Republic win, and set up an
undefeated regular season.
Even though the season ended
in Week 11 with a 21-3 loss to
eventual 4A champion Webb
City, the Tigers had fnished
what another Republic squad
had started years before a
decade of dominance in the
COC.
1989
Brent Powers led the Tigers
in rushing and earned all-
COC honors.
QB Jef Clouse (above) set
records for most TD passes
in a game, season, and
career at Republic.
The Tigers defense recorded four shutouts.
Photos from the 1990 REPMO. For more on the 89
Tigers, visit RepublicTigerSports.com/Throwback.
REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 19
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W
inning a district championship is
a goal for most high school teams.
For the Republic Lady Tigers volleyball
team, its becoming more of an expecta-
tion.
Te Lady Tigers are gunning for their
fourth straight district title this season,
and their sixth in seven years, entering
Piper Wrights fourth year as head coach.
Republic will have to fll the gaps caused
by the graduation of four seniors: Lexi
Birlew, Maddy Sherman, Haley Chastain,
and Rachael Allen. Wright says if the
summer is any indication, this years team
is ready to rise to the challenge.
Tose are some pretty big gaps to fll and
when youve got new kids stepping into
huge roles, its always interesting to see
whos going to show leadership and whos
going to take charge out on the court and
whose personality will really stand out out
there, Wright says.
Republic fnished
2nd at the Univer-
sity of Arkansas
team camp, and
also performed well
in competitions at
Glendale and Wil-
lard this summer,
despite missing key
players each time.
Team chemistry
has been the main
thing and I think
theyve done really
well, and thats
probably been a
huge part of our
success this sum-
mer.
Senior Emily Pres-
ton returns as setter,
but could see a
bigger role up front
this year.
Shell probably
be hitting for us
as well. Shes got
a very heavy arm,
which not a lot
of people got to
see last year. Im
excited to see that,
Wright says.
Senior Michay-
la Shanks could
do a little bit of
everything, giving
Wright more fexi-
bility in her lineup.
Tat girl has
played right side
for me but she set
some this summer,
she played middle
some this summer,
she played middle
back. Shes had
to be all over the
place and she has
done really well.
Shes really stepped
up.
Micah Mansker
The Lady Tigers
Reload, Take Aim at
Another District Title
VOLLEYBALL
Senior setter Emily Preston averaged
8.3 assists per game last year and
earned all-COC honorable mention.
20 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS
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and Brooke Stanfeld, two of Republics
most athletic players, will be in the middle.
Mansker is extremely athletic, shes
a great leader, and shes very mentally
tough, Wright says.
Stanfeld can hit it from about anywhere.
She just
jumps
out of
the gym,
so she
can get
to about
anything
as far
as the
block
goes.
Jera
Pipkin,
a senior
who saw
limited
playing time last year, will spend more
time on the court this season. Wright is
counting on her as a leader and communi-
cator, in addition to her skill as a defender.
Jera has done excellent this summer.
Vocally, you know when Jera is out there
because shes talking all the time, which is
awesome, Wright says.
Logan Flood and Bailey Pyle will also see
time defensively. Rowan Page-Brennan
has set and played outside during the
summer, and fgures
to be a contributor.
Hayley Newby, a
sophomore, could
step in as an out-
side hitter. Alexis
Ladwig and Brylee
Argo are also in the
mix.
Wright knows the
team lost some of
its power from last
year, but this years
team has compen-
sated for that this
summer.
We honestly havent had the heavy hitters
that weve had [in the past], but weve still
done a great job. Te good thing is these
girls are really smart and sometimes it
takes a smart shot over a heavy shot to win
the point.
Te Lady Tigers are also establishing their
own identity as they gear up for the new
season.
Tese girls have a little more a relaxed
mentality than our team last year. Some-
times you need that intensity and its a
huge part of the game, but its not quite to
the level that it was last year, Wright says.
Tat can be a really good thing some-
times; volleyball is a game of mistakes, and
every point somebody is making a mistake.
Sometimes you just have to brush it of
and move on.
I think that winning mentality is a
strength for us. Ive had kids this summer
that have played terribly and then auto-
matically just changed their attitude and
gone out there and spanked some teams
that you wouldnt think we would. Tat
mentality, I think, is huge.
Te Lady Tigers open the season at
home August 28 against Carl Junction
with freshman, junior varsity, and varsity
matches, beginning at 5 pm.
Micah Manskers leadership in the middle will
play a big role in the teams fortunes.
22 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 REPUBLIC TIGER SPORTS
Republic Tiger Sports salutes the Tiger spirit in all of us.