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Sikeston soccer’s resurgence fueled by stellar individual performances
SIKESTON — The Sikeston girls’ soccer team celebrated a resurgent season, finishing 12-12 and achieving a .500 record or better for the first time since 2015. This impressive turnaround was further highlighted by several players earning prestigious postseason honors.
Freshman phenom Kennedi Sims led the way, garnering All-SEMO Conference, all-district (Class 3, District 1), and all-region (Class 3, Region 1) selections.
Sims dazzled on the field, racking up 32 goals and 72 points – both second-highest marks in program history – while also contributing eight assists. Her standout performance has already garnered attention from college recruiters, marking her as a rising star in the sport.
“We knew [Sims] would have a huge impact on our team, both with her attacking prowess and leadership,” said Sikeston coach Gabe Dement. “It’s odd to say that about a freshman but she is a student of the game and her desire to win was contagious and spread to her teammates.”
Senior Cate Schrumpf’s leadership and offensive contributions were recognized with all-conference and all-district honors. A reliable scoring threat, Schrumpf tallied nine goals and 12 assists, showcasing her ability to create and finish scoring opportunities.
Her 30 total points solidified her as a key contributor to the Lady Bulldogs’ offensive attack.
“[Schrumpf’s] biggest strengths are her positivity and adaptability,” Dement said. “She is a positive role model for the underclass girls. She has also been asked to play multiple positions in her four years and has played them all to the best of her ability and for the benefit of the team.”
Junior goalkeeper Hailey Presley earned an all-district selection, showcasing her impressive development in goal. Presley’s consistent improvement proved crucial for the Lady Bulldogs, culminating in an impressive 222 saves this season, providing a solid foundation for the team’s defensive efforts.
“[Presley] became more confident, polished, and focused this season,” Dement said. “This came with experience but also assistant coaches Jared Boyd and Allison Conder have done very well to prepare her for matches.”
Sophomore Landri Hammontree, in her first season of organized soccer in several years, made an immediate impact. Hammontree earned an honorable mention all-district selection, contributing eight goals, 12 assists, and 28 total points.
“We knew [Hammontree] could have a positive impact when she attended a training session in the summer,” Dement said. “However, we couldn’t have predicted that she’d do as well as she did. She was a major contributor on the offensive end and she caught on to the game very quickly.”
Sophomore Alex Segers earned an honorable mention all-conference nod for her tenacious defensive play. While she didn’t register any points, Segers’ athleticism and ability to lock down opposing teams’ top scorers proved invaluable to the team’s success.
“[Segers] was equally as big of a surprise,” Dement concluded. “She was repeatedly asked to match up against the opposing team’s biggest offensive threats and was able to succeed in a majority of said matchups. As she grows in her understanding of the game we expect her to be even more vital to our success.”