Excelsior Springs High School Spring Sports Preview

Excelsior Springs High School Spring Sports Preview

Excelsior Springs, MO – Spring is here, and with it begins a brand new season for many of Excelsior Spring’s sports programs! Excelsior’s spring sports include baseball, golf, tennis, track and field, and women’s soccer.

Baseball

After a 29-13 record last year and a 3rd-place state finish, the baseball team will be looking to return to championship form this season. The Tigers have four seniors leading the way this year: Jacob Bright, Preston Jones, Brayden Lewis, and team manager Kimberly Crowley. Klayton Glaspy, a junior, has high expectations for this team and himself. In an interview with Glaspy, the confident shortstop said, “My goal this year is to get an all-state, any kind of mention, and a bounce-back year from my injury. And I think for the team, it is to repeat the district championship and to place better at state than 3rd this year. So state championship.” To do this, as Glaspy explained, the team needs to implement a “next man up attitude.” This baseball team lost many great seniors last year. Still, Glaspy says that the team’s young age is one of their greatest advantages, saying “we’re a young bunch who I think can be dangerous.” This weekend, the baseball team began their season with three losses against three tough teams in William Chrisman, Marshfield, and Summit Christian Academy. It was not the start to the season they envisioned, but there is no doubt that this is a scrappy team that has the potential to be dangerous in May.

Men’s Golf

The golf team is led by seniors Elijah Ismael, Cade Leonard, Zeb McBee, and Jacob Schmidt. Juniors Landon Biermann and Jacob Schmidt are two of the strongest players on the team and look to make a big impact. The varsity golf team began their season last Friday against Oak Grove at Adams Pointe golf course, where Jacob Schmidt medaled.

Women’s Soccer

The women’s soccer team finished last season with an impressive 11-9 record before losing in round 2 of the district tournament. This season, the Lady Tigers are led by seniors Allison Armstrong, Bailey Carder, and Abby Rash. Hoping to contend for a district championship, the Tigers begin their season Tuesday, March 19, at 5:00 PM at Mid-Buchanan.

Men’s Tennis

The tennis team finished last year with a record of 10-7 and made it to the district championship. Unfortunately, many of the players last year were seniors, and there are only four returning players this season. Among these returning players is Junior Austin Collins, the team’s leader and #1 ranked player. An ambitious and hardworking player, Collins has set his sights on becoming the first men’s tennis player to make it to state in over a decade. He also says he wants to mentor the team’s younger players and encourage them to “get better every day.” When asked about the team’s biggest strength, Austin replied, “The diversity between us. We’re all very different types of players. We have me, more aggressive… the numbers 2 and 3, both pushers. They try to get the ball back they’re more defensive players”. The tennis team begins their season Monday, April 1, at home against Carrollton. With a very young team, Austin Collins and the rest of the tennis team will be looking to pave the way for the future of this program.

Track and Field

The Track and Field team has a flurry of seniors competing this season. Among them are standouts Mason Wartner (800 and 1600) and Kolt Willis (throwing events). The team begins its season on Friday, March 22, in the Liberty Invitational.