Jackson's Gilbert improves game, earns second Semoball Award

Alana Gilbert of Jackson, right, accepts the Girls Golf Athlete of the Year award from keynote speaker Brian Jordan, left, at the Semoball Awards, presented by Mercy, on July 14, 2024.

Bailey Bagot ~ Silver Landing Photography

For the second year in a row, Jackson’s Alana Gilbert was named Girls Golf Athlete of the Year at the 2024 Semoball Awards on Friday, July 12, at LaCroix Church in Cape Girardeau.

Gilbert won the 2023 award after an 18th-place finish at the state tournament, leading the Indians to a sixth-place finish as a team. The senior’s golf game improved this year, ultimately leading to another Semoball award, something Gilbert never saw coming.

“It’s a pretty good feeling, I didn’t think I was going to[win], I didn’t even know I could win twice,” Gilbert said. “But it’s awesome, it really shows off all the hard work I put into golf.”

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

At the 2024 MSHSAA Class 4 State Championships, Gilbert led the Indians to a fourth-place finish as a team while tying for 19th place as an individual with a score of 162 over two days. Before the state tournament, Gilbert finished third in the Class 4 District 1 Tournament with a score of six-over to qualify.

Throughout her high school career, Gilbert has impressed with her low scores including a 35 over nine holes this past season at Poplar Bluff. Gilbert has been committed to playing golf at Indiana State University since before her senior season.

“It's gonna be a lot different, college golf is a lot higher of a playing field,” Gilbert said. “But I'm excited to be pushed again, start from the bottom again, and be able to look up to the other good players.”

Since NCAA women’s golf season is in the spring, Gilbert will have nearly eight months to improve her game further before teeing off with the Sycamores in March.