Sports

New Coach New Vision

By Amiya Powell

Picture by Keely Byrd

With a new head coach leading the way, Odessa football team sets its sights on long-term success, starting with a strong foundation this season.

Odessa football team has a fresh start this year with Coach Brett Jewell taking over. This is Jewell’s first time leading a team, and he wanted to begin his coaching career at a smaller school like Odessa.

“I wanted a place where the players really care about their sport,” Jewell said. 

After researching the team and talking with Coach Mark Thomas and others in town, Jewell says coming to Odessa was an easy choice.

Jewell says the team’s biggest strength is their physical style of play. “The kids have really taken on my personality on the field. We look to run through people’s chest every chance we get,” he said.

The team is also improving in key areas like the offensive line and getting healthier as the season goes on. Jewell told his players he doesn’t mind penalties, as long as they don’t lose their aggressive spirit. “Let it fuel you,” he said.

The coach wants to build a team culture like a family where players hold each other accountable and expect more from themselves. “The players’ goal is to be state champions,” Jewell added.

Players agree they have already improved this year. Senior Amaury Powell said, “We’re more locked in, having fun, and we can talk to our coaches about real concerns.”

But there are still things to work on. Captain Cole Westerhold, junior, said, “We need to cut down on dumb penalties, stop arguing, and work more as a team.”

The team stays motivated by keeping high energy, especially with music pumping in the locker room. 

Powell said, “We turn each other up after big plays.”

The new coach has changed the way the team plays. “He doesn’t like old school football. He’s always in a good mood and encourages us,” Powell said.

Coach Matthew Van Hocke, also new this year, praised the team’s hard work. “The boys put in a lot of work over the summer and care a lot about the town and Odessa’s legacy,” he said.

Van Hocke added that the team has grown, with a bigger roster and strong leaders as captains. “We’re really fast and strong,” he said.

When asked about coaching for the first time, Van Hocke said, “I’m having a great time and learning a lot every day. Coach [Will] Fox and Coach Jewell are wizards.”

With new coaches and fresh energy, Odessa’s football team is ready to make an impact this season.

Swinging for Success

By: Kenzie Reynolds

Picture provided by: Evan Pingel

Danni Montes, freshman golfer, set a new individual record at the September 16th Golf Tri vs Harrisonville and Center.

Montes, second place medalist, set a new individual record with a score of 42.

“I felt happy and excited after setting a new record for myself,” said Montes.

Following Montes’s success was the Odessa Girls Golf Team, setting a new team record with a score of 193. This beat the previous record held of 195 set back in 2018. 

As bulldogs fell fast into October, girls' golf finished third overall at a massive September 30th match featuring seven teams. The Lady Bulldogs took a massive swing at rivals Warrensburg, Center, and Oak Grove. 

Let's just say our lady dogs did not miss.

Golf scored a second-place victory at the conference and will take aim for a district title on Monday, October 13. 

New Girls JV Tennis Team

By: Aliyah May

Picture provided by:

Girls Tennis welcomes a new and strong JV team, improving not only physically but also in teamwork and sportsmanship.

This year, the Odessa girls tennis team welcomes 4 new JV players: Sydney King, freshman; Alexis Haynes, freshman; Ava Schwartze, freshman; Alivia Davis, sophomore. 2 returner JV players, Kyana Purcell, senior, and MaKenzie Walters, sophomore. They also have a new coach, Logan Seals.

“As a new coach, I’m eager to build strong relationships with the players,” said Seals. “My focus is on developing their skills, confidence, and teamwork throughout the season.”

This year, the JV team is working on not only improving individually, but also as a team. Schwartze‘s claim that her favorite part of tennis is being able to socialize and meet new people resonated with the other girls, who all agreed.

“I love the team, everybody is fun,” said King.

Along with teamwork and sportsmanship, the team has improved in their playing styles as well. Varsity tennis player Kaylyn Seals stated that the JV team has a lot of passion for the sport

“We have a lot more new players, they aren’t doing too bad with what they're given with having a new coach and all,” said Andrew Corder, a tennis manager.

Even though this year the JV record is not available as of now, the team has had a great year. Many new friendships and new skills have come together and made this year energetic and fun.

Girls Tennis Serves at State

Lady Bulldogs Set Goals to Reach State Championship Title

By Emery LaBoube and Makenna Bass

Photo by: Kayla Smith

Lady Dogs Softball team has kicked off the 2025 season strong, already 9 games in with 5 wins and 4 losses. The team has big goals for this season, setting their sights on a state championship. 

Micheia Gutierrez, 2nd year head coach and 7th year coaching total, is focused on the team's success on and off the field.

“My biggest goal first and foremost is for everybody to be able to look back and really have memories that were enjoyable about high school softball,” says Gutierrez. “But softball-wise, like winning games and stuff, I would really love to win conference again and make it past the district championship this year. That would be my ultimate goal.”

Like Gutierrez, Keely Byrd, senior shortstop, has a goal of not only winning a district championship, but making it to state. 

 “I think that we will perform really well as a team. We are getting a lot better about using our teammates and learning how we all interact,” Byrd said. 

Kenna Pierson, sophomore outfielder, has been leaning on the experience of Kiley Thomas, senior outfielder.

Pierson filled the second base position on varsity last year and is making the shift to outfield this season. Thomas is a veteran outfielder.

Lady Dawgs' motto for this year is “All In.”

“It means a lot of things, but for me I feel like it's more so everybody buying into the program and willing to work hard together, no matter what, and doing everything they can at whatever job they have on the team. I think that's all in,” Gutierrez said. 

The Lady Dawgs are on the road to having a good season with their positive mindsets, strong goals, and a good start to the season. Their “All In” motto has been encouraging every player on the team in school and on the field, and the team is working hard on pushing themselves individually and all together.

Eyes on Nationals

By Morgann Lorenz 

Picture by Keely Byrd

The Odessa High School cheer team is entering a season of change, with a new coach and several new team members. 

Facing challenges of chemistry on and off the mat, the girls are working hard to have a fun and successful season. 

As the new cheer team gets started, the team has one major goal in mind, making it to nationals. 

“We plan on making it to nationals by keeping practices and conditioning consistent and holding every athlete to high expectations,” said Brea Ellis, Head Coach. 

Preparation for competition starts before the school year does. “We start practicing in the summer,” said Ellis. “We start with foundational skills and build our skill level to be elite.”

Not only is the team bigger this year, they are also adjusting to new leadership and team dynamics. It's clear that the focus remains on unity and discipline.

For Taylor Little, freshman newcomer, joining the team has been a positive step both socially and personally.

“What excited me most was being with all my friends," said Little. Beyond friendships she hopes to learn more responsibility. 

Little hopes to learn how to become a better team player. 

“Cheer has helped me gain friendships and learn responsibility," said Little. 

Keely Carpenter, sophomore returner, emphasizes the importance of chemistry and unity. 

“A great teammate is someone who is uplifting and makes me a better version of myself in and out of the sport,” said Carpenter. 

With their goals set high and a strong foundation, the Odessa cheer team is headed into this season with passion and determination that could carry them all the way to nationals.

Girls Golf Drives their way to State

Soccer Puts in Work on a New Season

By: Addison Jowett

Picture By: Avery Marble

OHS boys soccer is blazing through the season with a new set of leaders, a new coach, and a lot of adjustments to work through. 

Marc Crowley, stepping into coaching for the first time, admits the transition came with challenges, but has been a smooth ride thanks to the support from Head Coach Garrett Slaughter and the players. The team already had strong bonds, so coaches were able to build on that foundation.

"I'm new to the sport, but both Coach Slaughter and the players have brought me in and helped me adapt well,” Crowley said.

Crowley’s favorite part so far has been getting to know the new players and working closely with student leaders, combining his prior soccer knowledge with new insights from Slaughter to become the best coach he can be.

Sebastian Alejo, senior forward and team captain, emphasized the critical role of team chemistry both on and off the field. 

"Team chemistry is very important to be able to play to our best ability," Alejo said. 

The team’s main goal this season is clear: to get a district championship. Alejo believes the key to success lies in strong communication and is looking forward to the district championship run.

Connor Gaage, senior defender, highlighted that the biggest challenge so far has been maintaining high energy before and during games. "We thrive in high-energy situations," he said. 

Gaage also praised the team's biggest strength, "The defense is very strong and works together as a unit."

Slaughter shares the excitement and ambition surrounding the season. He pointed out the difference in this year’s team compared to last year. 

"We have a really vast range of talent this year. The returning players know my expectations, so slowly we’re building our program’s culture based around the team culture on and off the field," Slaughter said.

Slaughter praised the team’s positive attitude and remarkable work ethic. "For the most part, everyone’s attitudes are positive. The familiarity makes coaching a lot easier. Some players show up early and stay late just to get an extra workout," he said.

With a blend of a new coach, strong leadership, and a family-oriented team, this season is looking like a big one for the Bulldogs, and supporters will be rooting for them all the way to the district championship. A goal the team as a whole is set on. 

Miles of Success: 

Cross Country Team Breaks Records One Stride at a Time

Story by Lucas Martin and Donny Southall

Picture by Jaden Hollingsworth

With every early morning mile and hill conquered, Odessa Cross Country team is proving that success is built one step at a time. 

Odessa Cross Country has achieved a significant amount of success from both upper and lower classmen. 

Natalie Doney, Junior, has the girls' 5k school record, which is 19:51 minutes. Doney said that when she broke the record, she felt ecstatic.

She broke the record at the first meet she ran after missing a few meets to start the season.

Throughout the race, it didn't feel much different than any other cross-country race she had run. 

“But the one thing that stood out was that I continuously kept saying positive things to myself when the race got hard,” Doney said.

Brice Mulheron, Junior, has a personal record of 19:15 minutes. Mulheron’s main motivation is to make it to state this year.

He consistently goes above and beyond in practice and takes ample time to recover, enabling him to reach success. 

Connor Moody, Junior, is also very motivated to make it to state. Moody’s personal record for the year is 19:59 minutes. 

The Odessa Team has had a huge amount of success so far and seems to be continuing to get better. 

Lady Dawgs Headed to Districts

By: Emery LaBoube and Addison Jowett

Picture Provided by:

The Odessa Lady Dogs softball team is headed into districts after a season of hard work, growth, and determination. The team prepares for the high-stakes games ahead, and players are reflecting on the work that brought them here.

Bella Blackaby, a sophomore, is the team's starting pitcher and one of the team’s standout players. emphasized the effort that has gone into both the physical and mental preparation. “We have put in a lot of hard work at practice and also have prepared ourselves mentally,” she said. When asked to describe the team to us in one word this season, Blackaby didn’t hesitate: “Determined.”

One moment that stands out to Blackaby this season came during the final regular-season home game. “The excitement in knowing all the hard work paid off when we beat Oak Grove really sticks with me,” she said.

Keely Byrd, senior, shared her motivation as the season enters its final stretch of games. “Knowing that it’s my last year, I’m more motivated to try my best and give it my all because I know I can’t do it next year,” she said.

Byrd also highlighted a teammate who has risen to the occasion. “Emery LaBoube, especially being such a young sophomore on the team, has really stepped up. She’s our catcher and the loudest person on the team, always telling people where they need to go and what to do. That leadership is something very important for us.”

Reflecting on the team’s growth over the season, Byrd added, “I feel like we have become a lot more trustworthy of each other. We know where each person can play and how far another person can go. We trust each other and don’t have to worry if someone will make a play.”

With a combination of determination, teamwork, and leadership from both seasoned and younger players, the Odessa Lady Dogs are ready to give their all this postseason.

Fired Up for Playoffs