Semoball Awards represent the best of Southeast Missouri

Last Friday were the 10th annual Semoball Award at La Croix in Cape Girardeau. DAR assistant sports editor D’Courtland Christian and myself were able to attend and celebrate all of the amazing athletes we have in southeast Missouri.

I got to meet a couple of the nominees from Poplar Bluff but I mostly just looked around at what had been put together to honor these athletes.

Despite being in the area for bits and pieces of the last decade, I’d never attended the Semoball Awards. Even with some really great speakers over the years, I’d never made it a priority to attend. I went into Friday with few expectations other than the keynote speaker, Dan Meers, who I knew would be interesting, and despite me being a Buffalo Bills fan, I was looking forward to hearing the KC Wolf speak.

As athletes started to arrive, I did the patented sports writer move of hanging out in the corner until I ventured out, seeing the insane display Rust Media had put on for the athletes.

From a live radio broadcast to a red carpet with a photographer, it felt by being there and being able to witness these athletes carried weight.

I can’t count the amount of times someone has thanked me for writing a story on an athlete or a particular event. Each time I say the same thing. It was athletes that did all of the work. It was them that put in the cliched blood, sweat and tears into their specific sport. I just swooped in at the end and wrote some words down. That’s what the Semoball Awards are all about.

I got to meet two Poplar Bluff athletes, one of which recently signed her letter of intent to continue her athletic and academic career at the next level. The other is a rising senior and multi-sport athlete preparing for her final high school season.

That’s what the Semoball Awards are about.

It’s about giving all those athletes that little bit extra of recognition for all of the hard work they’ve put in over the last year. It’s impossible to be able to nominate every athlete as many, many are deserving in different ways. But Friday brought a lot of smiles, some tears when Meers told his story, and even some laughs. A legendary coach was honored and we got to see the best athletes and the most inspiring stories in southeast Missouri. It was a great Friday night but it also marked the official end of the 2022-23 sports season.

Practices are already under for fall sports and the start of games will be right around the corner. If you’re out and about and see a game going on, give it a watch. We’ve got some great athletes here that deserve your time.

Tyler Dixon is the sports editor of the Daily American Republic. Contact him at tdixon@darnews.com.