After Semoball Awards, Saxony's Camille Richey has chance for more

Camille Richey of Saxony Lutheran accepts the Girls Soccer Athlete of the Year award from keynote speaker Brian Jordan at the Semoball Awards, presented by Mercy, on July 14, 2024.

Bailey Bagot ~ Silver Landing Photography

For the first time since Maddie Brune in 2016, a Saxony Lutheran girls soccer player took home the Girls Soccer Semoball Award.

Camille Richey brought the hardware back to Saxony Lutheran High School as the junior was named the 2024 award winner at the 14th annual Semoball Awards on July 12 at La Croix Church in Cape Girardeau.

Richey said winning the award came as a bit of a surprise but she was humbled to be chosen as the winner.

“I feel good. I really wasn’t expecting it,” Richey said. “There were a ton of other really good nominees so I was not expecting this, but winning is very nice pleasure.”

Mercy is the presenting sponsor of the Semoball Awards, the area’s premier awards show recognizing student-athletes and coaches in Southeast Missouri.

Richey scored 14 goals and five assists during the historic 2024 campaign the Crusaders had this season. The Crusaders finished the regular season at a modest 10-6 record before coming alive in the state playoffs. Saxony went 4-1 in the postseason, winning the Class 1 District 1 title and finishing third at the state championships for the second year in a row.

Richey earned several other accolades from the midfielder position this season such as being named to the All-District team, being named Class 1 District 1 Player of the Year and being named to the Class 1 All-State team.

Richey gets to return for her senior year with a chance to not only defend her Semoball award but with another chance to lead the Crusaders to, hopefully, a state title.

“I’m excited,” Richey said. “I can’t wait to come back and see what we can do on the field next season.”

Richey and the Crusaders will open up the 2025 soccer season on March 31 when they travel to take on the Knights of Farmington.