Sydney Ringwald adds to trophy case with Semoball Award

Sydney Ringwald of Cape Central accepts the Cook, Barkett, Ponder and Wolz Girls Swimming and Diving 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

The Cape Central swimming domination continued in 2024 with the girls team winning their first-ever state title. The Tiger boys have won three state titles but this year it was the girls' turn and they accomplished the goal in a commanding way.

Junior Sydney Ringwald was named the 2024 Semoball Girls Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year behind a huge season and even bigger performance at the state championships.

Ringwald said it was a great feeling to win the award after being nominated a couple of times already.

“It’s very nice,” Ringwald said. “I’ve been waiting three years for them to call my name so it was nice to finally hear it.”

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

Ringwald won an individual state championship in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle. Ringwald and her Cape Central relay teammates won the 200-yard freestyle relay and finished second in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Ringwald was also named the Class 1 Swimmer of the Year and fellow Tiger Tommy-Anne Marriott was named the Class 1 Diver of the Year behind her state title win as the two traded Semoball Awards, with Marriott winning last year.

While Marriott will be leaving and the Cape Central team will lose some swimmers, Ringwald is still looking forward to the 2025 season.

“I’m really excited even though our team may have gotten smaller,” Ringwald said. “I think it’s gonna be an exciting season for my senior year and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Ringwald’s win made four Semoball Girls Swimming and Diving Awards in a row for the Tigers with a chance to make it five next year.