In 2014, the area's top website for high school sports coverage, semoball, saw an opportunity to celebrate the best of the best in area high school sports, and the Semoball Awards were born.

Now in its 11th year, this event celebrates outstanding high school athletes in the area. Awards like Player of the Year in each of the 19 sports categories, top awards for male and female athlete of the year, Comeback Athlete of the Year, and Male and Female Scholar-athlete of the Year are given to inspiring area athletes. Also recognized are the Coach of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

An elite group of athletes is hand-selected by a panel of sportswriters representing Southeast Missouri's five daily newspapers and broadcasters from the Southeast Missouri ESPN Sports Radio Network. Coaches from the 57 high schools in the semoball coverage area nominate athletes for the panel's consideration.

The 2024 Semoball Awards, presented by Mercy, will be on July 12 and is brought to you by official bank sponsor The Bank of Missouri, SEMO ESPN Radio; rustmedia, and your local newspaper.

“The Semoball Awards is an incredible opportunity to recognize the top student athletes in Southeast Missouri,” said Lucas Presson, assistant publisher of the Southeast Missourian and semoball.com. “We are proud to work with great sponsors and give these athletes a once in a lifetime experience.”

To learn about sponsorship opportunities or how you can be a part of this event, contact Lucas Presson at 573-388-3649 or lpresson@semissourian.com