Season 7; Episode 15: The High School Report Talking Baseball, Track, Soccer, and Softball Rankings! Plus, The New Granite Gridiron Coach and His QB, and Flyin' High with The State Champ Flyers!
This season is presented by Little Caesars Pizza! 4.15 features the High School Report with Kevin Pawlow and Matt Kamp. Then, we welcome in the guests Head Coach Sherand Boyd from Granite City Football with his QB Jesus Atilano, and from East St. Louis Boys Basketball Head Coach Mark Chambers with star players Jamison White and Alex Johnson.
Segment 1 is the High School Report as Dave is joined in the studio by Matt Kamp and KP, Kevin Pawlow. First, the guys talk baseball with our small and large school rankings provided by Diego Solares of ScoutConnect. Dave points out the biggest risers and fallers as teams head down the homestretch. Next, we share Mike Baxter's large and small school track and field rankings for boys and girls, along with his "3 things to keep an eye on." Next, Kamper shares his latest rankings in softball and soccer for large and small schools. In soccer, Father McGivney continues to lead the small schools, and the large schools continue to be led by the "big 4:" OTHS, EHS, Triad, and Waterloo. In softball, it's "the Bud" in front of the small schools and Waterloo for the large schools. KP gives shoutouts to the local softball leaders in hits, pitching, and home runs.
For Segment 2, we are joined by guests from Granite City Football. Sherand Boyd has coached at a few ME schools, but he is now the Head Coach at GC. Coach Boyd talks about creating a certain "culture" with the squad. He mentions building relationships and continuing the fine athletic traditions in the "tight-knit" community. Boyd brings with him his QB, Jesus Atilano. Atilano describes his "love for playing quarterback," and he explains how following in his brother's footsteps has motivated him to succeed in the position.
In Segment 3, we recognize the East St. Louis Flyers Boys Basketball Team as our Integrity Spine and Joint Center Team of the Month, and our MESPY winners for Large School Team of the Year. We are joined, once again, by Coach Mark Chambers, who talks about the "relief" he felt when the Flyers won the championship, and he discusses the incredible community support he has received in the "City of Champions." Chambers is joined by SLU commit Jamison White and Maryville University commit Alex Johnson. The guys describe their historic season in their own words, blocking out the noise, the "highs" of the season, and how a few "losses" helped teach the lessons necessary to win critical games down the stretch. White is also our MESPY winner for Large School Player of the Year.