Behind the Stripes

Months of hard work and dedication paid off for Ozark's Varsity Cheer team Saturday, Dec. 8 when they were named the MCCA 6A Large State Champions! This is the 13th state championship win for the program. This season, the team has also been named the regional champions at competitions in both St. Louis and Kansas City.

In addition to winning state, 11 athletes were give All-State honors. Congrats to the following cheerleaders:

• Noelle Winstead - Back Spot
• Ella Ferretti - Back Spot
• Caylin Hilton - Back Spot
• Emma Dial - Base
• Izzy Reinecke - Base
• Kayleigh Shadwick - Base
• Sophia Morgan - Base
• Kylie Lindsey - Flyer
• Madison See - Flyer
• Elsa McGowen - Tumbling
• Gilhian Gonzales - Tumbling

The team will have the opportunity to compete for the Game Day State Championship in February (they are currently the reigning Game Day champions), and will soon travel to Orlando for nationals! Congrats ladies on an amazing season thus far! We can't wait to see what else you accomplish!

After months of preparation and multiple auditions, on Dec. 2 six Ozark band students were selected to be a part of either Missouri’s All-State Band and All-State Jazz Band. We are so proud of the hard work and dedication of everyone who auditioned. Below are the students who were selected for an all-state band:

• Elliot Judy: All-State Jazz Band Guitar (3 year All-Stater)

• Asher Lairmore: All-State Band Trumpet (2 year All-Stater)

• Derek Gnagy: All-State Band Trombone (2 year All-Stater)

• Laura Wolfe: Honorable Mention All-State Band French Horn (2 year All-Stater)

• Molly Horrell: Honorable Mention All-State Band Trombone

• Ellie Harmon: 1st Alternate All-State Band Oboe (2 year All-Stater)

Read the full release here.

This week, OHS freshman Ashtyn Spickard has been selected as an Athlete of the Week! Ashtyn is one of the few freshman to make the varsity team and played an important part in helping the team become state champs, according to Head Coach Tess Keller.

"Ashtyn plays a role on our varsity team that is not typical for a freshman," Keller said. "She executes skills in every section of our routine and has handled the pressure of competing so well this season. She is truly an asset to our program, and exhibits many of the qualities we look for in a varsity athlete. We are so proud of you Ashtyn!"

Congrats Ashtyn!

This week, OHS junior Cohen George has been selected as an Athlete of the Week! Cohen is one of the leaders for Ozark boys basketball team and was recently tapped as a player to watch by Ozark Sports Zone.

"At 6-foot-10 with a diverse skill set, Cohen has everything that modern basketball requires," the article said. "He has good footwork in the post but has the vision and passing skills of a guard. As a sophomore, he averaged 6.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 blocks, in addition to shooting 40 percent from the 3-point line."

Congrats Cohen!

This week, Elliot Judy, Asher Lairmore, Derek Gnagy, Laura Wolfe, Molly Horrell, Ellie Harmon have been selected as our Artists of the Week! These six students were selected to be a part of the Missouri's All-State Band and All-State Jazz Band after months of preparation and hard work.

"This really is an incredible accomplishment for our school District,” Ozark Band Teacher Katie Ford said. “We had the highest numbers to audition, by more than double of any other school, in all of the South Central District. I could not be prouder of our students.”

Congrats guys!

This week OHS Senior Kaylee Reed is our Tigers of the Week! Kaylee is one of Ozark's impressive Prostart II culinary students, and is one of four students currently interning at Finley Farms, according to OHS Culinary Teacher Chef Laurent Watts

She is considering becoming a pastry chef after high school," Watts said. "Kaylee is very talented with pastries and is my go to person when I need an item baked for an event or class."

Congrats Kaylee!

Meet Brandon Clift, head coach of Ozark's amazing girls basketball program. Clift has been head coach of the program since 2022 but prior to that he was Ozark's assistant coach for eight years. He also was an assistant coach in Lebanon before coming to Ozark. Besides coaching, Clift teaches biology, conservation and environmental science at Ozark High School.

"I came to the Ozark School District because of its reputation as one of the best schools in Missouri not only academically but athletically as well," Clift said. "I enjoy the passion that the school and community has for the its students and their success not only in the field of competition but in the classroom as well."

Winter is here! Our winter sports teams have kicked off their seasons in style! Team's home openers begin this week, so mark your calendar to come cheer on your Ozark Tigers in basketball, girls swim and dive, and wrestling!

Check out season previews here

The first home games of the season are:

• Girls Basketball (all levels) : 12/14 VS West Plains
• Boys Basketball (all levels): 12/22 VS Central
• Girls & Boys Wrestling (all levels): 1/6/24 Ozark Youth Tournament
• Girls Swim and Dive: 12/1 VS Carl Junction

Keep up with their schedules at https://www.ozarkmotigers.org/

From breaking records, to conference and district championships, our fall sports teams did amazing this season! Congrats to all our athletes and thank you for all your hard work! Go Tigers!

Check out recaps of their seasons below:

• Boys Swim and Dive
• Football
• Girls Golf
• Girls Tennis
• Volleyball
• Softball
• Boys Soccer
• Boys and Girls Cross Country

Monday, Dec. 4, 2023

Boys 9th Grade Basketball VS Republic

• 9th: 33-54 (L)

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023

Girls 9th Grade Basketball @ Republic Freshman Tournament

• VS Nixa: 18-25 (L)
• VS Carthage: 34-24 (W)
• VS Parkview: 39-26 (W)

Girls Varsity Swim and Dive VS Central (Springfield)

• Took 1st place

Boys JV/Varsity Wrestling @ Lebanon/Seckman Dual

• VS SECKMAN
• Varsity: 42-43 (L)
• JV: N/A

• VS LEBANON
• Varsity: 48-33 (W)
• JV: N/A

Girls JV/Varsity Wrestling @ Lebanon/Seckman Dual

• VS SECKMAN
• Varsity: 49-30 (W)
• JV: N/A

• VS LEBANON
• Varsity: 20-48 (L)
• JV: N/A

Girls Varsity/JV Basketball @ Marshfield

• Varsity: 35-54 (L)
• JV: 38-49 (L)

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023

Boys JV/9th Grade Basketball @ Logan-Rogersville

• JV: 34-37 (L)
• 9th: 41-31 (W)

Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023

Boys Varsity/JV Wrestling @ Willard/Republic Duals

• VS Willard:
• Varsity: 38-39 (L)
• JV: N/A

• VS Republic:
• Varsity: 46-33 (W)
• JV: N/A

Girls Varsity/JV Wrestling @ Willard/Republic Duals

• VS Willard:
  
• Varsity: 43-42 (L)
  
• JV: N/A
• VS Republic:
  
• Varsity: 57-12 (W)
  
• JV: N/A
  

Boys Varsity Basketball @ Blue Springs Tournament

• VS Staley: 42-63 (L)

Friday, Dec. 8, 2023

Boys Varsity Basketball @ Blue Springs Tournament

• VS Ft. Smith Northside: 59-58 (W)

Girls Varsity/JV Basketball @ Jefferson City

• Varsity: 49-38 (W)
• JV: 40-43 (L)

Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023

Boys Varsity Basketball @ Blue Springs Tournament

• VS Bentonville: 44-49 (L)

Drill Team JROTC @ Tiger Drill Classic

• Results N/A

Make sure you never miss an event this year and pick up your 2023-24 activity pass now! They are $50 for adults and $25 for students. They get you access to all 7th-12th grade home games (except MSHSAA postseason events).

➡️ Order and pay for them online here: https://bit.ly/3Yk3ikj

➡️ They can also be paid for with cash or check in the OHS athletic office (417-582-5711)

Billy Hanks (Class of '44) is just one of Ozark's fabulous alumni! Hanks was first team All-State in 1944, was a four-year varsity letterman and his jersey number is retired in Ozark. Hanks was on the Drury University men's basketball team from 1944 to 1945. In 1947, he signed a contract to play basketball professionally.

Learn more about some of Ozark's awesome alumni by checking out our Wall of Fame.

Every week our Ozark Tigers are featured in media around the region! Check out how we were featured last week below!

Ozark Sports Zone

• PICTURES: WILLARD TRIANGULAR WITH REPUBLIC & OZARK
  
• 2023 ALL-CLASS 6 DISTRICT 5 FOOTBALL TEAM
  

Christian County Headliner

• Tigers' Elliott rewarded for comeback from back surgery with All-State selection
  
• Ozark's Moseley, Patterson, Luder and Moison net sweep of matches in double dual
  
• Blue & Gold Tournament tabs Nixa No. 1 Blue Division seed, Ozark No. 2 Gold Division seed
  
• What might Blue & Gold brackets looks like? How about Nixa and Ozark 1-2?
  
• Pedigree and preparation have Pickren set for early start to his promising Ozark career
  

This fall, we are so excited about the launch of our new athletic website: OzarkMoTigers.org! The website (and app) features schedules, scores, rosters and the latest news about your favorite Ozark teams! If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet take a few minutes, I promise you won't regret it!

➡️visit ozarkmotigers.org to check out the website

➡️download the app: APPLE GOOGLE