Area Sports and Education

By Shari Harris, Publisher Gideon Antle, of Licking, was drafted on November 14 to play Banana Ball for the Loco Beach Coconuts’ debut season in 2026. The LHS alumnus completed his five-year collegiate baseball career (extended due to the COVID year) in the spring of 2025 as a member of the North Greenville University Trailblazers,…

The Licking Lady Wildcat Basketball team is preparing for their new season with a new look. Junior Morgan Stone provides the team with height under the basket and, with senior Addison Floyd, gives the team a presence at the posts. The Lady ‘Cats will be another young team for Licking this year, but Head Coach…

Young teams are the norm for this year’s Licking Wildcat teams, and Wildcat Basketball is no exception. Head Coach Chris Harris anticipates three of this year’s starters will be sophomores – Jett Sullins, Jason Ingram and Logan Buckner. They will be joining Senior Karson Walker and junior Conway Adey. Walker started the final 12 games…

The 2025 All-District Volleyball teams have been announced. Four Licking High School Volleyball players have been selected to the first team, and one to the second team. Receiving honors as first team selections were Jadyn Barnes, Penelope Huff, Peyton Holland and Hadlee Davis. Second team honors went to Kylee Rinne. Congratulations to each of these…

The Junior High District Seventh Grade Honor Band and the Junior High District Eighth Grade Honor Band are each comprised of teacher-nominated students within the South Central Missouri Music Educators Association (SCMMEA). Two Licking Junior High School students were selected for this year’s District Honors bands. Kamryn Goforth has been accepted to play trumpet in…

By Shari Harris, Publisher The Licking High School and Junior High Music Department held their annual Fall Concert on Tuesday, October 28, at the Sherman Hill Fieldhouse. The High School Band, directed by Mrs. Crystal Frailey, and the Junior High and High School Concert choirs, under the direction of Mrs. Kerri Chafin and accompanied by…

The Class 2 District 3 Cross Country Meet was held Saturday in Linn, Mo. Senior Tyrone Merdian placed 30th at the meet with a time of 18:39. Kaleb Barker placed 69th with a time of 20:19, and Ethan Stout placed 109th with a time of 22:49. Merdian set a personal record time despite the cold…

The South Central Missouri Music Educators Association (SCMMEA) hosted its district auditions for its 9/10 and 11/12 District Honor Choirs at Kickapoo High School in Springfield, on Saturday, September 20. Five students from the Licking High School Concert Choir participated in the audition process. Freshmen Tesla Morrison and Riley Shearing auditioned for the 9/10 honor…

LAKE OZARK, Mo. – At the annual MARE/MO K-8 Association Conference, the following general awards and “Outstanding Rural Education Awards” were presented: Outstanding Rural Support Staff – Udena “Nug” Davis (Phelps Co. R-III) Outstanding Rural Teacher – Erin Dalager (Kirbyville R-VI) Outstanding Rural Administrator – Dr. Sarah Wisdom (New Bloomfield R-III) MO K-8 Administrator of…