Throughout 2024, the Springfield area had no shortage of star power, delivering memorable moments for sports fans across the region, no matter who they cheered for.
Some led their teams on postseason runs, while others helped make up for disappointing seasons from their respective teams. No matter what, they were worth the price of admission each time they took the court, field or diamond.
Here were the Springfield area's best athletes of 2024:
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR: 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023
Barea helped Missouri State soccer remain among one of the best clubs in the nation and he did so while ranking among the country's best scorers. He booted in 15 goals, tied for fourth in Division I, leading the Bears to their sixth NCAA Tournament in a row.
Bogenpohl broke out as one of the most powerful hitters in all of college baseball. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound outfielder hit 20 bombs during his true freshman season with the Bears, batting .292 with 45 RBI, two doubles and a triple. He's established himself as a big-time prospect, and somehow, the Bears kept him for what should be a special offense in 2025.
Cantwell is the greatest high school football prospect to ever come through the Springfield area. He's the No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class and was one of three finalists for the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award as a junior. He led Nixa to its first state championship appearance since 2014, leading one of the best offensive lines the area's seen, and somehow had time to win the national championship in the shot put amid a special year.
Clark delivered Missouri State the greatest passing season in the program's history during an 8-4 year. Clark threw for a school-record 3,604 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first full year as a starter after being injured the year before. The 6-foot-5 transfer from Minnesota was one of the best gunslingers in the FCS and proved he's worthy of being the Bears' starter when they transition to Conference USA.
No one has won more than the current Lady Eagles senior class. Daniels has been a great face of it, being Fair Grove's energetic point guard and one of the best setters in the state. Fair Grove went undefeated during the volleyball season, its second-straight state championship. The victory came months after Daniels helped lead Fair Grove to its second-straight basketball championship. She'll have a chance at a third in the months ahead.
Epps was arguably the best player on the best Central basketball team the program's had in 79 years. He was the heart of the Bulldogs, who qualified for their first state semifinal since 1963. He was the team's top scorer in a third-place victory to cap off a 25-7 season.
Among Epps' and the Bulldogs' accomplishments this season include Central's first Blue and Gold title in 40 years, their first two wins over Kickapoo since 2009, a win at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, an Ozark Conference co-championship in its final year and its first district championship in 15 seasons.
Johnson was the leader and one of the best players on a Class 6 state runner-up basketball team and doubled as one of the best volleyball players in the state. She led the Lady Chiefs to a 34-6 season and a Class 5 fourth-place finish. Her coaches called her "Madame President" because she served as the student body president and never passed on the opportunity to serve those around her at school. She's now a volleyball player at Missouri State.
Kristensen had one of the greatest seasons in Bears women's soccer history, emerging as the MVC Player of the Year. She led the team with eight goals and 13 assists and was the heart of the program's first NCAA Tournament trip since 2022.
Mason might have been the brightest spot for Missouri State men's basketball during a frustrating season that resulted in the firing of its head coach. Mason averaged 17.5 points for the Bears while shooting 35.3% from deep and 42.3% from the field. After the season, he transferred to Arizona State, where he's been in the starting lineup.
McKnight capped off a heck of a freshman season in the spring and then followed with a great first season as Nixa's starting quarterback in the fall. McKnight was one of the area's best basketball players as a freshman, one of the state's top baseball prospects and then a third-team all-state quarterback for the Eagles in the fall. He's going to be fun to watch for the next three years.
Shuburte might have had the greatest single season for a freshman in state history. She finished the year with 77 goals, placing her sixth among all age levels. She scored six more goals than the next-closest freshman. Her debut on the high school pitch was nothing short of sensational. She led Logan-Rogersville to a fourth-place finish, its best season in school history.
Stokes was supposed to be too small to play Division I basketball, but she didn't get the memo. After transferring from Missouri Southern, the former Mount Vernon standout became one of the best players in the Missouri Valley Conference during her first season with the Lady Bears. She was a second-team All-MVC selection and the league's newcomer of the year, leading the team in points, assists and steals.