For me, the passing of each year brings memories of athletes, teams and coaches I have covered or watched for the last 12 months. Of all the performances I witnessed over 2024, it is the prep state championship teams I remember most. Each time I have watched state champs celebrate, my eyes tend to well up because I realize that this is a moment these kids will treasure forever.
I'll confess, I have a hard time sometimes maintaining composure watching these athletes as they celebrate with their teammates. The team that choked me up the most this past year was undeniably McAuley Catholic High School Boys Cross Country after they captured the MSHSAA Class 1 Boys Cross Country Championships in early November at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia. The win gave McAuley its first-ever state championship in any team sport.
That's a day I will not soon forget. I thank the kids and Coach Andy Youngworth for the memories. The day gave plenty of Joplin fans reason to celebrate as the Thomas Jefferson boys finished second and the McAuley girls earned third at the state meet.
We've become accustomed to the Lamar Tigers winning state championships in football. But to me, this year's Class 2 title is the most impressive yet for Lamar, because honestly, after starting 3-3, I had kind of written them off as state title contenders. Oh, how wrong I was.
The Tigers closed out their season on a six-game win streak, beating previously undefeated Fair Grove 28-25 in the Class 2 title ga.
