Last Friday night, Owensville High School (OHS) student-athletes were recognized during the second annual All Sports Banquet.

Two special recognitions were made by the Dutchmen/Dutchgirl Athletic Booster Club.

Resolutions were read by President Kara Meyer recognizing long time Booster Club treasurer Don ‘Ernie’ Fuchs for his 40 years of service running game clocks in basketball and football and his 42 years of service as treasurer.

Longtime public address announcer Bruce Paneitz was also recognized for his 35 years of service as “The Voice” of Dutchmen Football in addition to Dutchmen and Dutchgirl Basketball.

Boys and girls teams of the year were also selected Friday night based upon criteria that included athletic achievements, academic achievements and representing the community.

John VanLeer’s Dutchgirl basketball team was the top girls team while Dutchgirl track placed second.

VanLeer’s Dutchgirls placed fourth in the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 4 Girls Show-Me Showdown while Matt Candrl’s Dutchgirl track team won their second district title in as many years after missing a FRC title by one-half of a point.

Steven Kemp’s Owensville Dutchmen baseball team was voted the top boys team for the 2023-24 school year while Candrl’s Dutchmen Cross Country team was second.

Reaching the MSHSAA Class 4, District 4 title game, OHS came up on the short end of a 3-2 final score but ended their season with a winning record of 14-13.

Dustin Howard was selected the OHS Coach of the Year in voting by nominees for Student-Athlete of the Year.

Howard is currently the head coach of Dutchmen football, Dutchmen wrestling and an assistant coach for track and field.

Zach Bollmann and Candrl tied for second in Coach of the Year voting.

Bollmann will be relocating to Marceline for the 2024-25 school year after serving as an assistant football coach, head girls wrestling coach and head girls soccer coach.

Candrl currently serves as head coach for both OHS Cross Country and OHS Track and Field.

In the final awards of the night, Dutchgirl senior basketball player Emma Daniels and senior baseball player Landon Ely were both selected as the Female and Male Student Athlete of the Year.

Daniels will continue her academic and athletic pursuits next school year as a member of the Columbia College Women’s Basketball Program.

Dutchgirl junior distance runner Ilene Limberg and senior multi-sport athlete McKenzy Echols rounded out the top three in Female Student Athlete of the Year voting.

OHS Cross Country runners Felix Guerrero and freshman Zach Holtmeyer rounded out the top three vote getters for Male Student Athlete of the Year.