Benton County Enterprise Sports Staff
Keira Mostaffa
Warsaw
Going "against the grain" a bit, this year's female Athlete of the Year for Warsaw didn't play a spring sport for her school. For that matter, she didn't even represent her school in a fall sport. As a matter of fact, the only time Keira Mostaffa suits up "for" her school is in the wintertime as a member of the Warsaw Ladycats basketball team.
So how does Mostaffa, just a sophomore, deserve the honor of 2022 Athlete of the Year, you say?
Try this . . .
As a member of the Warsaw Wildcats mountain bike racing team; a recognized, however, non-sanctioned team by the school, Mostaffa races in the National Interscholastic Cycling Association series of events throughout the state.
In late August, she kicked off her season racing in the Throwdown In A Mining Town event in St. Joseph. She took first.
In September, Mostaffa raced in Springfield at the Fellows Lake Mountain Bike Festival. Again, she took first.
Later that same month, she raced on her home turf in the Shawnee Bend Showdown in Warsaw. Yes, she took first.
In early October, Mostaffa competed in the Binder Lake Bash in Jefferson City. First place, again.
Just a couple of weeks later at the Tussle At Two Rivers in Highlandville . . . You guessed it; first place, again.
Five NICA series events. Five first place finishes. That equates to one NICA State Champion.
"Keira is an incredibly talented athlete and her work ethic is top notch," said Jenn Bradshaw, a coach of the local team. "Her positive attitude encourages the whole team. As a coach, it is very rewarding to witness her skill level, power and stamina on the bike grow with every season. She has a bright future in cycling."
When she's not racing in the fall NICA series, Mostaffa is most likely on a trail somewhere nearby or, on the weekends, she is probably competing in a number of additional races through the United Federation of Dirt. In just six events in that series, Mostaffa was the champion four times and placed second in the other two.
"Probably my favorite moment was watching Keira in her fourth race of the NICA series," Mac Vorce, another one of Keira's coaches, said. "A dad of a little girl said, 'yes dear, she's one of the best . . . and if you work hard like her, you can do it too'. The little girl was smiling and so excited. It was nice to see how inspiring Keira really is."
For her school, Mostaffa is a guard for the Ladycats basketball team and brings that same determination, hustle and grit to the court.
"Kiera is a competitor," Ladycats coach Matt Henderson said. "She is tough as nails, but is a coachable kid."
"Tough as nails" . . . A good way to describe this year's 2022 female Athlete of the Year for Warsaw, Keira Mostaffa.
Nick Bagley
Warsaw
When Nick Bagley competes in any sport, whoever lines up across from him better be ready. The strong, stout, hard-hitting senior is going to give them all he's got. Others coaches, voters and media recognize that, including our staff, and that's why Nick Bagley is this year's honoree as the 2022 male Athlete of the Year for Warsaw.
Bagley's 2022 started in the middle of wrestling season. He finished that season with a record of 28-12 and was a state qualifier for the third straight year. Along the way, Bagley racked up 18 pins, 1 tech fall and 1 major decision.
"Nick has great character and possesses work ethic and integrity, along with compassion and care for his teammates and others," Wildcats wrestling coach Justin Wisdom said.
A few weeks later, Bagley dusted off his baseball cleats and catchers gear and hit the field. For the Wildcats, he batted .392 and led the team with 31 hits and 17 RBI's. Behind the dish, he threw out 11 opposing runners.
At the end of the season, Bagley was rewarded with 1st team honors in the Ozark Highlands Conference, District and State.
"Nick is a leader," Warsaw baseball coach Johnny Eierman commented. "He brings a ton of energy to the field and is a great competitor."
Fast-forward a few short months and Bagley entered his senior year campaign on the fall gridiron.
For the football Wildcats, Bagley did the dirty work. He was a running back and, though his number didn't get called often, he always capitalized on opportunities to assist his teammates on the offensive side of the ball.
On defense, he was a feared linebacker in the middle of a stout Warsaw defense.
At the conclusion of the season, Bagley was named All-Conference and All-District on both sides of the ball and also took home the more coveted Most Valuable Player award for the team.
"Nick is one of the most undersized, but most successful players I have had the opportunity to coach," said Warsaw head coach Ryan Boyer.
Now back in a new wrestling season, Bagley continues to seek the podium in his final bid. He currently holds a record of 13-5 and is undefeated in duals. He has placed top 4 in all three tournaments he's wrestled this season and is currently ranked 3rd in the state at 150 pounds.
Here's to hoping that at the end of the season, he's ranked 1st.
This year's 2022 male Athlete of the Year for Warsaw, Nick Bagley.
Gracyn Eifert
Lincoln
Senior Gracyn Eifert has been named the BCE's female Athlete of the Year for Lincoln High School. She is a competitor, a good student and a great kid. Her three sport honors are as follows:
*Sophomore (2020-21)
VB-All-District 2nd Team,
Academic All-State
SB-All-Conference,
Honorable Mention
*Junior (2021-22)
VB-All-Conference,
Honorable Mention
All-District, Honorable
Mention
Academic All-State
BB-All-Conference,
Honorable Mention
SB-All-Conference, 1st
Team
All-District, 1st Team
All-Region
All-State, 1st Team
Academic All-State
Her mother, Becky, when asked about her daughter outside of sports, commented, "Gracyn loves hanging out with her friends, family and boyfriend, either eating out, getting coffee or shopping. She always has a smile on her face and always has something to say that usually makes us all laugh."
Her softball coach, Kelly DeHann commented, "Gracyn has the ability to track down any ball in the outfield and give us a clutch hit. Where Gracyn excels is her leadership skills on the field and in the dugout. She encourages her teammates and holds the Lincoln softball standard. She is the perfect example of what it means to be a Lincoln Cardinal softball player: having grit, being a good teammate and leader and maintaining good sportsmanship."
This season, she was All- District in volleyball and she was both a setter and a hitter, and at 5'9", she battled much taller girls at the net all season long.
In basketball, she is the team leader and had 21 points recently in a victory over Smithton in the Otterville tournament.
Fans are anxiously looking forward to watching her play softball this coming spring. One last time she will patrol centerfield in Willie Mays fashion. Don't miss it.
Congratulations, Gracyn, on being named Lincoln's female Athlete of the Year!
Connor Lynde
Lincoln
It seems every four years that Lincoln High School comes up with an incredible athletic class of freshmen boys.
Four years ago, Connor Lynde caught a memorable touchdown pass late in the state championship game, a three point loss, against Valle Catholic. Asked why he threw to a freshman in that situation, former "All-American" quarterback Jackson Beaman answered, "I didn't see a freshman. I saw Connor Lynde."
Lynde was named second team All-State quarterback this season. Fair enough, but he could as easily also been named All-State at defensive back, for there was no one better. As good maybe, but probably not much better.
In the upset loss to Tipton, Lynde couldn't play defense because of an injury sustained in the Sacred Heart district semifinal basketball game. An injury that happened five feet from this reporter that saw Lynde have shoulder surgery and kept him out of all of the baseball season except for the final few games.
Lynde wasn't scheduled to play quarterback, but an early injury to Kyle Eckhoff forced Lynde to step up and take the starting role leading Lincoln to a 11-2 season.
His interception in the last three minutes against arch rival Cole Camp gave the Cardinals a 38-34 victory in their first game.
In the second game, for the district championship, Lynde was moved from his spot in the defensive secondary to defensive end, filling in for the injured Mack Hesse. Lynde tormented Cole Camp's offense all night long. Cole Camp head coach Kevin Shearer acknowledged the strategy by saying, "putting Lynde at DE was a good move." Lincoln won 38-20.
Lynde was also on special teams as a kickoff and punt return specialist. He did the punting duties and had a huge back-breaker punt against Cole Camp in the district championship that rolled to the one yard line.
The 5'11", 165 pound quarterback, defensive back, pitcher, outfielder and point guard is one of the fastest players in the area.
In basketball last season, Lincoln was 2-5 without him and 16-2 with him in the lineup coming off a previous injury.
Lynde was All-District and All-Conference in basketball. He is the catalyst and other players feed off his energy and passion.
In his sophomore year in baseball, he was All-Conference, All-District and 2nd team All-State. He played in just three games this season due to injury and got a hit swinging with just one arm.
As 2022 came to a close, he led Lincoln in the championship game of the Otterville tournament with 18 points in the 53-51 victory to keep Lincoln undefeated at 10-0.
Therefore, it is our honor to name Connor Lynde as the 2022 male Athlete of the Year for Lincoln. Congratulations!
P.S. "Honorable Mention" goes to Kyle Eckhoff who was named to the All-State 1st team at defensive back. He was All-Conference and All-District in basketball. He was also the MVP of the Warsaw basketball tournament a few weeks back.
Kyla Harms
Cole Camp
Kyla Harms doesn't like to be interviewed so she does all of her talking on the basketball court, volleyball court and on the softball field. The three sport athlete has left her mark on Cole Camp sports as well as being a well liked honor student.
Her basketball coach Mark Schwartz said, "Kyla Harms is a dedicated student-athlete. Harms works very hard in the classroom, the weight room, and in practice; and this contributes to the success that she has as an athlete. She is a key player in our program, and her court awareness, vision, and scoring ability is why she rarely leaves the floor. Kyla received Academic All-State last season."
Her softball coach Darian Rusk also bragged on her prized athlete, "If you were to look up the definition of hardworking, you’d find Kyla as the perfect example. She embodies the 'come early, stay late' mindset in every way. If there’s an extra weight lifting session, Kyla will be there. An open field? She’s there. While she is soft spoken at times, her actions make up for any lack of vocality; she is a true model for her teammates and peers."
Rusk elaborated, "Any spare moment she has is dedicated to bettering herself, and that’s off the field, as well. She’s an excellent student and works diligently to maintain her academic success. Kyla is of a dying breed in the type of student-athlete she is. It’s been a blessing to be included in a small part of her journey. "
In volleyball, Harms received 2nd team All-District and Honorable Mention All-Conference. Her basketball honors included: KMZU Dream Team, Kaysinger All-Conference Honorable Mention and All-Benton County Girls Team.
It is our privlege and honor to name Lady Bluebirds senior Kyla Harms as the BCE female Athlete of the Year for Cole Camp High School!
Ethan Shearer
Cole Camp
Senior Ethan Shearer has been named the Benton County Enterprise male Athlete of the Year for Cole Camp High School in 2022.
Warsaw's Hall of Fame football coach, Randy Morrow once said, "A coach's son cannot be average," in a reference to playing time. Ethan, son of Kevin Shearer, the Bluebirds head football and basketball coach, as well as the school's Athletic Director, is anything but average.
Coach Shearer commented, "Ethan is tough, determined and just what he ought to be. It isn't always easy being the coach's son."
In spite of those obstacles, Shearer was All-State in basketball, the first in Benton County in several years; All-District and All-Conference in football and All-Conference in baseball.
Shearer, a three year starting quarterback who left a host of memories on the football field, was left off the All-State football team in a mystery Colombo couldn't solve. Everyone in the area who actually saw him play was shocked and in disbelief.
Cole Camp ended their football season at 11-3, losing twice to Lincoln in two of the most dramatic games ever played between the two schools.
In the second game, Shearer made a gut-check touchdown on just pure guts and determination as he broke up the middle for 35 yards and dove five yards, head first into the endzone.
He also engraved his name in the memory of many when he hit the half-court buzzer beater last season to send Cole Camp to the final eight.
Ethan Shearer . . average? I don't think so.
