Father-son Layton duo headline Woodland’s splashing Semoball Awards performance

The Layton family poses for a photo on the red carpet during the Semoball Awards, sponsored by Mercy, on Friday, July 12, at La Croix Church in Cape Girardeau. Ryan Layton, center, was named Coach of the Year for leading the Woodland High School cross country teams to the Class 2 state championships His oldest son, Woodland graduating senior Reed Layton, won the Male Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Part of the Woodland Cardinals’ efforts to claim the Semoball Cup this year, the Marble Hill program made a big statement in this year’s Semoball Awards.

This push came largely behind the efforts of Reed Layton, who took home the crown as the Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year for his pair of state titles this fall.

Winning the individual state championship as the fastest runner in MSHSAA’s Class 2, Layton fueled the fire as Woodland claimed its first state championship in any sport since 1994.

Not just that, but Reed helped guide Woodland’s track team to a fifth-place finish as the Cardinals secured three gold medals in the Class 2 state championships meet.

Joining his dad, Ryan Layton, as award winners on Friday, July 12 at La Croix Church, the two led the turning of Woodland into one of the area’s premier programs in 2023-24.

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

Not just one of the best, but the best, according to the Semoball Cup standings, and with SEMO ESPN Coach of the Year Ryan Layton guiding the way, the Cardinals made a lasting impression among the Southeast Missouri sports crowd.

“I would call it a fulfillment of a mission of mine,” Layton said. “I always thought that Woodland, at least when I first came, didn't really have the confidence that they should have.

“They didn't really think that they could do what I thought they could do, and that's changed. I'm really, really proud that I could be a part of a part of that.”

Coach Layton guided the boys cross country, girls cross country and boys track and field teams to first, second, and fifth-place finishes respectively in a busy athletic year for the Cardinals.

Those finishes were good enough to, along with some standout performances from the boys basketball, girls basketball, and softball teams, get Woodland’s best-ever finish in the Cup race.

Improving from 12th to first as a top finish for the program, the two Laytons helped to guide an unreal finish for Woodland, and the father-son tandem will be sorely missed, even with the return of Calvin Layton this upcoming season.

Reed Layton spoke on how important it’s been to have that relationship with his father and brother in sports.

“It's been incredible to have two people that push me so hard,” Layton said.

“Even on days that I don't feel like doing my best, I’ve got two people right there that make me who I am and make me better.”

For coach Ryan Layton, it’s a little more emotional as he reflects on his time coaching Reed through high school and to the summit of local sports.

“I don't really have the right words for it,” Layton said. “It's been hitting me a little bit differently lately than before because my time working with him is finished.

“But yeah, you know, I could call it a dream come true, but I don't even know if that does it justice.”