Several Blue Springs School District activities carried on winning traditions this fall while also reaching new heights.
The Blue Springs South Jaguars girls softball team won its third state title in five years by beating Francis Howell 10-2 in the Missouri Class 5 State Championship game. The Jaguars finished the year 33-2 and ranked fifth overall in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s final rankings.
The win also earned South’s staff of head coach Kristi Williams, and assistants Tracie Black, Ryan Messick, and Darin Wisner the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Regional Coaching Staff of the Year for Region 1 for 2023.
Williams said her team built on a tradition that has garnered four trips to the Final Four in the past six years.
“No matter the odds or the circumstances. This group personified the Jaguar way this season, and have left a legacy for others to follow in the future,” she said.
Winning isn’t the only tradition that radiates with the Jaguars. “Our traditions originated long before us,” Senior Ana Pastora said. “One of my favorites is the postseason jackets that have been in our program since 1992.”
The Blue Springs South Air Force Junior ROTC Raider team joined the traditions this fall by earning its first-ever Air Force National Championship at the All-Service Raider Nationals in Molena, Georgia. The Jaguars placed third overall among all services.
The Jaguars Raider team placed second in the nation last year and built on that this year by winning the first Air Force division title.
Senior Joey Lorek said, “We lost a lot of seniors from our National Champion runner-up team last year, so this year we had some pretty big shoes to fill. I feel like we were able to fill those shoes and continue our reputation of being a nationally ranked school.”
Colonel Stan Cole said the Raider team having its own training area at BSSHS has made a lasting difference. “We had tremendous support from the district, school, our JROTC Boosters, and local vendors such as Owen Lumber and Home Depot. Training on the new equipment definitely helped prepare the team both physically and mentally for the season.”
The Blue Springs South girls golf team made history with its first individual state champion in Maya McVey taking the title to lead the Jags to a second place team finish, the squad’s first state trophy since 2005.
McVey was also presented the Kenneth Smith Award honoring the Greater Kansas City Metro's top female high school golfer.