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Kennett-Holcomb Tennis duo of Claire Bean and Handley McAtee are featured on a radio interview with ESPN Southeast Missouri at the 2024 Semoball Awards.
Photo by Kaelin Triggs, Delta Dunklin Democrat.
Kennett and Holcomb athletes represent bootheel at Semoball awards
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Kennett senior Handley McAtee accepts the Mercy Female Athlete of the Year Award from keynote speaker Brian Jordan and Mercy Ssouth east Communities President Ryan Geib at the 2024 Semoball Awards.
Photo by Tony Capobianco , Southeast Missourian.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Semoball Awards were presented with glamor, nerves and excitement.
The best student athletes in all of Southeast Missouri showed up hoping to do what they do best, win.
Three student athletes from Kennett and Holcomb athletes were honored and recognized as the best players in their sport and the best athletes in the SEMO region for 2024.
Tennis doubles partners Claire Bean of Holcomb and Handley McAtee of Kennett won Girls Tennis Players of the Year for the second year in a row.
“I was a little nervous,” McAtee said. “I just think that every award show is just kind of nerve wrecking but it turned out good. I think it’s an even greater accomplishment knowing we can do that back-to-back and our hard work has definitely paid off.”
Bean and McAtee are back-to-back State Champions in doubles play after recording a 34-0 undefeated season. Individually, McAtee was 13-0 in singles play while Bean went 13-1.
According to Bean, the success they share is a result of chemistry and support.
“I am grateful for having a good partner and a good team and all the support from family and friends,” Bean said. “We have a good coach and I think that helps with all of it. I look forward to winning another state championship.”
While she won tennis Player of the Year and was nominated for softball Player of the Year, McAtee was awarded overall Female Athlete of the Year.
This was the highest award of the evening, giving McAtee the title of best female athlete in all of Southeast Missouri.
“I think it’s kind of surreal,” McAtee said. “knowing that this is the award that I’ve received, it’s just really special and I’m very honored to have received this.”
In Softball, McAtee helped lead the Indians to a runner-up finish at MSHSAA Class 2 State Championships. She pitched 156 strike-outs this season while having a 1.88 ERA. She was 16-3 while pitching this season. She also recorded 78 hits this season and 27 doubles which were both Missouri state records.
Along with Bean and McAtee, Maleigh Lemings also secured Softball Player of the Year to represent Holcomb athletics.
Lemings broke multiple state records in her senior campaign, including most RBIs in a single season and most RBIs in an entire career for Missouri. She also recorded the most runs in Missouri history. She had a .594 hitting percentage with 60 hits. Out of those hits, she also had 16 doubles and seven triples along with eight home runs.
“This means everything to me,” Lemings said. “I’ve been playing softball my whole life. I’ve worked hard in this sport. I am grateful for God, my family and my teammates. They all push me to be a better player and be a better person. I can’t forget about my coaches too, I am so grateful for all of them.”
Lemings was First Team All-State, All-Region and All-District. She also achieved academic All-State honors and was Tri-County Conference Player of the Year.
Lemings will continue her athletic career at East Central Community College, while Bean and McAtee will continue to represent Kennett and Holcomb in their junior and senior years.