Had he chosen to walk off the course during his Missouri Class 3, District 8 state-qualifying round at Shiloh Springs Golf Course in Platte City on May 3 – no one would have blamed Ryan Hand.
But the word ‘quit’ isn’t allowed to draw breath in the Savannah (Mo.) sophomore’s vocabulary. Not even when he is suffering from an appendicitis.
“No. That didn’t even come to my mind,” Hand said in reference to giving into the pain that he ranked a ‘9’ on a scale of 1-10. “That’s like the worse thing – to quit. I just kept praying about it. I asked God to get me through the round and to get me to state. Qualifying was the most important thing at that time. Then I could go see what was wrong with me.”
Midway through a practice round on Sunday, the day before districts, Hand said he had felt a mysterious pain in his side. But he dismissed it as being a pulled muscle. Still, he laced up his spikes, threw his bag over his shoulders and hit the links Monday morning for the most important meet of the year to that point – districts.
“It didn’t feel too bad at first,” Hand said of the early holes in his round. “I just figured I had to play through it (the pain) and eventually it would loosen up. By the fifth hole I had to change my swing.
“It felt like someone had picked up a baseball bat and hit me in the stomach. I couldn’t step on my right foot. I was walking with a pretty good limp.”
From the fifth hole on, Hand discovered he could shorten his swing and lose just a couple or three yards on each of his drives with the new adjustment.
“I just had to play golf and qualify for state,” he said. “I was playing with Kearney’s Ryan Zech (the tournament’s individual medalist at 3-under) and Austin Lowe (Staley of Kansas City North), who shot a 74. I was trying to play as well as I could against some very good competition, and trying not to think about the pain.”
Hand, who finished his state-qualifying round birdie-par-bogey-birdie, tied for sixth with Cameron's Elijah Hall by firing a 9-over-par 80. Then, after some prodding, Hand agreed to see his family doctor at around 5:30 p.m. He had a CT scan at 10:30 p.m. and was in surgery at 1 a.m. Tuesday.
Now he’s trying to find the right balance between recovery and practice as next week’s state tournament looms just around the corner. At first, Hand’s state-meet preparations amounted to some putting and chipping, and eventually he was able to hit a 7-iron. The two-time state qualifier is hoping to get his normal swing back in time for his 9:48 a.m. tee time Monday. However, he is prepared to modify his swing once again, if needed.
“If he needs to make a change then we’ll have to get him to where he feels comfortable with his new swing,” Savannah golf coach Susie Gallagher said. “He’ll have to learn to trust the swing, and that’s difficult to do.
“But he doesn’t have to prove anything to me. He’s already surprised a lot of people. He just needs to come out and play to the best of his abilities.”
Zech, the defending Class 3 champion, fired a 3-under par 68 in winning the tournament over Lowe’s 3-over par round. Lowe’s teammate Grant McNeley fired a 76 to take third, while Kearney’s Kyle Smith and Smithville’s Jacob Fletcher rounded out the individual top five after shooting rounds of 77 and 79, respectively.
Kearney won the tournament with a team score of 315. Cameron finished second with a round of 330, while Staley rounded out the top three with a team score of 337. Savannah finished seventh at 368. Hand now turns his attention toward Island Green Golf Course in Republic on Monday and Tuesday. The par-72 course lays out just over 7,000 yards and features a 196-yard par 3 island green on the 15th hole.
Burns heads back to Arizona
After coaching the Hickman (Columbia) boys basketball team for one year, John Burns is picking up and moving on. The former Missouri Tiger basketball player, who led the Kewpies to a 17-9 record in 2009-10, has accepted a head coaching position at Mesquite (Gilbert, Ariz.).
“It’s an offer I couldn’t refuse,” Burns told the Columbia Missourian. “Hickman’s the best job I can have in the state of Missouri for me, but this opportunity is a really good school and program.” Burns is no stranger to the Gilbert area. He guided Highland (Gilbert, Ariz.) to 70 wins in three seasons earlier in his career. Burns takes over a Wildcat program that finished the 2009-10 season with a 25-5 mark.
Holland takes over St. Joseph-Central reigns
New Central (St. Joseph) volleyball coach Jen Holland hopes a new vision can turn around the Indians' fortunes from a year ago when Central posted a 2-22-3 record.
“I’m bringing fresh eyes to the program, I’m going to see what we can build on,” Holland told the St. Joseph News-Press. Holland, who played collegiately at Missouri Western, replaces Monica Flaska. She brings six years of coaching experience to Central, including two seasons at Mid-Buchanan (Faucett). Holland also guided the Mizuno Blazers club team in the Kansas City area.
Missouri boys track and field leaders
100 meters – Anthony Hall, Kansas City-Center, 10.55; Marquis White, North Tech, 10.56; Chris Bledsoe, Eureka, 10.60; Dorial Green, Springfield-Hillcrest, 10.62; Spencer Davis, Hazelwood Central, 10.68.
200 meters – Mike Hester, Hazelwood Central, 21.64; Marquis White, North Tech, 21.80; Spencer Davis, Hazelwood Central, 21.83; Marcus Taylor, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, 21.90; Ronald Dumas, Kirkwood, 21.97.
400 meters – Mike Hester, Hazelwood Central, 47.95; Donald Shumpert, Hazelwood East, 48.23; Ronald Dumas, Kirkwood, 48.35; Tellis Smith, Sumner, 48.49; Scott Rehnquist, Ladue Horton Watkins, 48.49.
800 meters – Nick Seckfort, St. Louis University High, 1:54.46; Dalen Fink, Fort Zumwalt North, 1:56.02; Huns Pitia, Staley, 1:56.42; Corey Schaffer, Christian Brothers College, 1:56.71; Daniel Everett, Westminster Christian, 1:57.04.
1,600 meters – Daniel Everett, Westminster Christian, 4:16.66; David Lambus, University City, 4:17.58; Caleb Hoover, College Heights Christian, 4:18.40; Kevin Colon, Lee’s Summit West, 4:19.04; Maksim Korolev, Harrisonville, 4:19.11.
3,200 meters – Maksim Korolev, Harrisonville, 9:13.57; David Everett, Westminster Christian, 9:24.99; David Lambus, University City, 9:28.16; Kevin Colon, Lee’s Summit West, 9:28.53; Zach Herriott, Rockhurst, 9:28.82.
110 hurdles – Walter Powell, Hazelwood East, 13.90; Spencer Dudley, St. Charles, 14.36; Dapo Akinmoladun, Grandview, 14.54; Zach Ferguson, Poplar Bluff, 14.56; Tyrone Williams, Hazelwood Central, 14.60; Roger Woods, McCluer, 14.60.
300 hurdles – Walter Powell, Hazelwood East, 37.80; Xavier Kennedy, Ritenour, 38.60; Keith Murphy, University City, 38.78; Zach Ferguson, Poplar Bluff, 38.90; Zach Gray, Lee’s Summit West, 38.94.
400 relay – Hazelwood Central, 41.90; Eureka, 42.14; Lee’s Summit West, 42.19; Grandview, 42.32; Hazelwood East, 42.50.
1,600 relay – Hazelwood Central, 3:15.05; Ladue Horton Watkins, 3:20.47; Hazelwood East, 3:22.46; McCluer, 3:22.59; Riverview Gardens, 3:22.59.
3,200 relay – Jennings, 8:01.99; Columbia-Rock Bridge, 8:02.47; Hazelwood Central, 8:03.41; St. Louis University High, 8:04.23; McCluer South-Berkeley, 8:06.89.
Discus – Shon Kyle, Windsor Jefferson County, 172-7; Brian Cooper, Troy Buchanan, 172-3; Thomas Ligon, Ozark, 171-4; Steven DeShazer, Raytown, 166-5; Evan Boehm, Lee’s Summit West, 165-8.
High Jump – James White, Grandview, 6-10; Tim Williams, Waynesville, 6-10; Jermaine Jones, Park Hill Central, 6-9; Seth Matlock, Nixa, 6-8; Josh Jones, Troy-Buchanan, 6-8.
Long Jump – Clark Tanksley, McCluer, 23-2 1/4; Dorial Green, Springfield-Hillcrest, 23-2; Nic Ford, Centralia, 22-7 3/4; Darion Boure, University City, 22-7 3/4; Blake Carter, Fort Zumwalt North, 22-5; Thomas Ligon, Ozark, 22-5.
Pole Vault – Seaton Owensby, Nixa, 15-7 1/2; Josh Morgan, Branson, 15-0; Kyle Morse, Francis Howell North, 14-8; Kyle Wessel, Hannibal, 14-6; Sawyer Vincent, Willard, 14-6.
Shot Put – George McKinney, Neosho, 57-5 1/4; Shon Kyle, Windsor Jefferson County, 57-1; Brian Cooper, Troy Buchanan, 56-9; Jordan Chrisman, Blue Springs, 55-5; Nick Smith, Park Hill, 55-2.
Triple Jump – Thomas Ligon, Ozark, 47-5; Dorial Green, Springfield-Hillcrest, 47-3 3/4; Jeremy Lampley, McCluer, 46-10 1/2; Dapo Akinmoladun, Grandview, 46-4 1/2; Darion Boure, University City, 45-11.
Missouri girls track and field leaders
100 meters – Collin Groves, Orchard Farm, 11.54; Shawntanay Johnson, Fox, 11.70; Alexis Bates, St. Joseph Central, 11.74; Tianna Valentine, Hazelwood East, 11.78; Tiffani McReynolds, Pembroke Hill, 11.79.
200 meters – Tiffeney Cannon, Beaumont, 23.03; Lauren Cheadle, Lee’s Summit West, 24.63; Montenea Roye, Ladue Horton Watkins, 25.00; Ekate Lymon, Waynesville, 25.01; Ayeshia Ewing, Cardinal Ritter, 25.17.
400 meters – Kianna Ruff, McCluer South-Berkeley, 55.42; Montenea Roye, Ladue Horton Watkins, 55.93; Samantha Levin, Ladue Horton Watkins, 56.66; Asia Thomas, Cape Girardeau Central, 57.64; Cheyenne Hoerr, Affton, 57.72.
800 meters – Jessica Jackson, Neosho, 2:13.28; Alyssa Rebecca, Eureka, 2:13.32; Samantha Levin, Ladue Horton Watkins, 2:14.07; Colleen Quigley, Nerinx Hall, 2:14.75; Dallis Bailey, Conway, 2:15.74.
1,600 meters – Sarah Goetges, Duchesne, 4:43.30; Liga Blyholder, Lee’s Summit West, 5:00.35; Samantha Levin, Ladue Horton Watkins, 5:01.02; Colleen Quigley, Nerinx Hall, 5:01.16; Courtney Wood, Neosho, 5:02.12.
3,200 meters – Liga Blyholder, Lee’s Summit West, 10:57.48; Courtney Wood, Neosho, 10:59.12; Colleen Quigley, Nerinx Hall, 10:59.69; Sierra Jenkins, Clinton, 11:03.04; Megan Yohe, Liberty, 11:08.32.
100 hurdles – Tiffani McReynolds, Pembroke Hill, 13.73; Jordan Stiens, Maryville, 14.51; Anna Holtermann, Washington, 14.71; Madison Smith, Lee’s Summit North, 14.83; Lindsay Vollmer, Penney, 14.87.
300 hurdles – Tiffani McReynolds, Pembroke Hill, 43.72; Lindsay Vollmer, Penney, 45.00; Jordan Stiens, Maryville, 45.07; Courtney Mitchell, Hazelwood East, 45.15; Madison Smith, Lee’s Summit North, 45.39.
400 relay – Raytown South, 48.43; Hazelwood Central, 48.70; Hazelwood East, 48.90; McCluer, 49.13; Riverview Gardens, 49.16.
1,600 relay – Ladue Horton Watkins, 3:54.00; Riverview Gardens, 3:54.36; Eureka, 3:58.58; Hillsboro, 3:59.97; Raytown South, 4:01.34.
3,200 relay – Eureka, 9:14.49; Kirkwood, 9:32.07; Neosho, 9:33.62; Lee’s Summit West, 9:38.09; Lindbergh, 9:43.82.
Discus – Jill Rushin, Jackson, 150-7; Sandra Hampton, Lee’s Summit North, 143-0; Dahlia Dyson, Fort Zumwalt West, 140-11; Kelly Klusmeyer, Boonville, 140-1 1/2; Deanna Price, Troy-Buchanan, 138-4.
High Jump – Jasmine Reynolds, Waynesville, 5-6; Shelby Lueckenotto, Raymore-Peculiar, 5-6; Felicia Watkins, Blue Springs South, 5-6; Morgan Whitson, Moberly, 5-5; Breanne Borman, Festus, 5-4 1/2.
Long Jump – Erika Miller, Mexico, 19-1 1/2; Ekate Lymon, Waynesville, 18-7; Ahshane Johnson, Moberly, 18-3 1/2; Jakyra Shelton, North Kansas City, 18-0; Jackie Mesh, Grain Valley, 17-7; Andrea Locke, William Chrisman, 17-7.
Pole Vault – Sydney Hasse, Kearney, 11-6; Sara Page, Liberty, 11-1 1/2; Shelby Franklin, Monroe City, 11-0; Maggie Givens, Branson, 11-0; Vanessa Langford, Bronaugh, 10-9; Rachel Ederle, Affton, 10-9.
Shot Put – Jill Rushin, Jackson, 48-7 1/2; Kylie Cornman, Liberty (Mountain View), 44-11; Ashlee Shimmin, Joplin, 42-6; Roxanne Koke, Waynesville, 41-6 3/4; Sarah Hall, Columbia-Hickman, 40-10.
Triple Jump – Ahshane Johnson, Moberly, 39-5 1/2; Nataliyah Friar, Holt, 37-7; Jackie Mesh, Grain Valley, 36-10; Lauren Cheadle, Lee’s Summit West, 36-7 3/4; Lauren Waterbury, MICDS, 36-7.
