Eight Republic High School student-athletes who have signed to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve talked to them about their college choices, what they’re looking forward to about competing in college sports, and what lessons they’ll take from their time at Republic High School.
- Cason Bekemeier, Golf, Drury University
- Cass Ellison, Softball, Crowder College
- Mason Fleetwood, Football, Mount Mercy University
- Leah Gillingham, Pickleball, Drury University
- Brenley Hagewood, Basketball, Drury University
- Cameron Lietch, Bowling, Drury University
- Gracie Troester, Track & Cross Country, Southwest Baptist University
- Morgan Welch, Cheer, Drury University
- Photos
Cason Bekemeier, Golf, Drury University
Q: Why Drury?
A: I chose Drury because I thought it would be the best opportunity to compete with better golfers. I had some offers to schools that weren’t as good at golf, and I thought, although I might be able to play more year one. I thought being around better golfers and just being able to practice with people who are good or better than I am will allow me to get as good as I can. And I think a lot of people in golf know that if you’re surrounded by good players, it makes you better in general. I also really like the courses that they practice at. They practice at some really nice courses.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most about competing in college golf?
A: I’m looking forward to just playing with people from all different places. Usually in high school tournaments, you only play with people from Missouri. Maybe playing with people outside and just hearing where they’re from, and also traveling the courses. I know we have a tournament in Las Vegas next year. So maybe if I can find the lineup in that, I’m really excited to travel and just go to places. In high school tournaments, it’s about an hour and 15 away, so there’s not much travel in high school tournaments.
Q: What do you think you’ll take from your time at Republic that you might carry over?
A: I think I’ll take how to be a leader. I know at Republic, I was the No. 2 my freshman year; and then sophomore, junior and senior year, I was the No. 1. A lot of them look to me for tips, whether it be their swing or how to play the course, because I’ve played basically every course within two hours. So they look to me for those types of tips. I think going there, if I have to be called upon to be the leader, I’ll be ready and know how to do it.
Cass Ellison, Softball, Crowder College
Q: Why Crowder?
A: Well, after visiting a few colleges, the environment of Crowder just felt so home to me. I absolutely love the team. I love the coach. I love the environment. And there just was no other place that really spoke to me like Crowder did.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most about playing softball in college?
A: I’m just looking forward to growing as a player, growing as a person, and growing in my relationship with my teammates. I’m really excited to just step out of my comfort zone, get to know new people, and grow on the field.
Q: And what do you think you’ll take from your time at Republic that you’ll carry with you in college?
A: I feel like Coach Dishman and Coach Stolte did a really good job at teaching us girls how to have the best outlook and positive attitude on the field, regardless of whether we’re up or down. I’m really excited to implement that in other places and just hustle on and off the field constantly and just have that be a great reminder of what a Republic softball player should look like.
Mason Fleetwood, Football, Mount Mercy University
Q: Why Mount Mercy?
A: It just felt like home. What they wanted in their program and what they want at the school is exactly what I’ve learned through high school. So everything aligned with what I’m already taught, so it felt like a really easy transition.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most about playing football in college?
A: To fulfill the lifelong dream I’ve had since I was a little kid, just to have that opportunity to play at the next level.
Q: What do you think you’ll carry with you from your time here at Republic?
A: I think my biggest things are accountability and work ethic. Obviously our offense isn’t easy, but it takes a grind. So just learning that it’s not easy, but if you work toward it, you will have some sort of gratification and something you will feel good about at the end. And I think I’ll take that from here.
Leah Gillingham, Pickleball, Drury University
Q: Why Drury?
A: I chose Drury, first of all, because of academics, because that is a lot more important to me than athletics, even though it is an important part of my life. I just loved the academics of Drury. And another reason why I chose it is because of the campus life. It’s a private college, so everybody knows everybody, and that’s just really what I’m looking for with college. I’m excited to make a lot of friends, and I think that Drury is going to be a great place to do it. And then most of all, I really love Drury because, as Coach Fisher said, originally, I am a tennis player, not a pickleball player. Pickleball, honestly, was just kind of a hobby for me, not an actual sport that I was super serious about. But after I met Coach Smith, he really encouraged me to actually pursue pickleball, because it’s really starting to get big. Drury has the first collegiate pickleball in the country, and after they introduced it, a lot of other schools started hopping on and getting pickleball teams as well, because I think everybody just loves it. It’s getting super popular, and I too love it a lot. I’m sad that I’m no longer going to be playing tennis, but I am more excited that I get to start with pickleball.
Q: Okay, so what do you think you’ll take from your time here playing tennis at Republic that does carry over?
A: My teammates, honestly. Playing on a team with girls was one of the best things for me. We just had so much fun together, and whenever I visited Drury and met the team there, I felt the exact same connection with them, so I’m super excited for that. I’m just excited to keep having that community and that relationship with people, because I think that athletics does really bring people together in a special way.
Brenley Hagewood, Basketball, Drury University
Q: Why Drury?
A: Drury is a school that takes pride in its academic excellence and prepares students for the world beyond college, which I really enjoy. I also really like the coaching staff and everything they have to offer when it comes to my success on the court. Drury also is home to some of the best D2 facilities in the country, possibly even the best. It just feels like the place for me.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most about college basketball?
A: I think what I’m most excited for is probably just getting the chance to become the best player I can possibly be. College basketball brings a whole new level to the sport and will push me even more to really reach my potential as a player. I also can’t wait to meet new people and just make new memories that come with the game.
Q: What do you think you will take from your time at Republic that you’ll carry with you?
A: I think what I will carry with me is the confidence and determination that Republic instilled in me. Coach Brown as well as all of my teammates throughout the years have always believed in me from the start and gave me an opportunity to show what I can do since I first stepped into High School. Them believing in me gave me confidence that I believe pushed and still pushes me every day to be the best I can be when I step not only on the court, but step into life. Republic basketball is like a family that I will always be a part of.
Cameron Lietch, Bowling, Drury University
Q: Why Drury?
A: It was really close to home. I had a couple other offers that were just way too far, comfortably, for me. So I chose Drury because it was close to home and they had a great opportunity for me to be on the bowling team next year and to also continue my academic career there.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most about bowling in college?
A: I’d say traveling. A lot of our tournaments are around the United States, so it’d be a great opportunity to see the U.S. and also make great friends and teammates as well.
Q: And what do you think you’ll take from your experience in Republic that you might carry with you?
A: Definitely making great teammates and friends, as well as meeting great people as I go along in tournaments with Republic. We went to state multiple times for bowling, so it was great working with those teammates and building connections in Republic.
Gracie Troester, Track & Cross Country, Southwest Baptist University
Q: Why SBU?
A: I chose SBU more so for the fact that God’s incorporated into everything, because I had a lot of other options, but the main thing that drew me to SBU was that it really felt like a family. We woke up at 5 o’clock in the morning, but that’s not the fact that really mattered to me. When we got to the track, everyone was warming up. We had a team prayer before, and I really liked that as we were running the workout, the people that were on their rest, they were constantly cheering everyone on, running back and forth at 5 in the morning to just make sure that everyone was hitting their times well. So it really felt like the community that I need, and the support, and just what I want to be around when I go to SBU.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most about running in college?
A: I’m really looking forward to the training. I know it’s going to be way different. I know it’s going to be harder, so it’s going to be quite the adjustment for when I get to college. But I know that’ll push me to be a better athlete and I’ll get better times. I’m hoping to be All-American. I’m hoping to get up there and be able to prove to everyone that I can be a better athlete going to the next level. I’m also looking forward to developing more relationships with everyone on my team. I’m a very team-oriented person, so being able to have everyone surround me with that Jesus-like (attitude), being around that, I feel, will make a big impact in my life.
Q: What will you take from your time at Republic you think that you’ll carry with you?
A: There’s a lot of things. I definitely think the mental part of it. Hearing that preached into my head for all four years, having to develop that and develop a strong mindset and having everyone in my corner to support me, I think, is something that I’ll take away for sure. Just knowing that I can do whatever I put my mind to. Whatever my coaches tell me, I know I can do, so I just am very grateful for that and everyone that’s been in my corner to support me and push me past my limits.
Morgan Welch, Cheer, Drury University
Q: Why Drury?
A: I’ve wanted to go to Drury since freshman year. I went to a cheer clinic there just one time and I fell in love with it, so I pushed myself to keep trying for Drury.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most about cheering in college?
A: I’m looking forward to meeting all the new people. They’re very talented athletes, so it’ll be really fun to push myself to becoming better and kind of getting as good as them.
Q: And what will you take from your time cheering at Republic, you think, that you’ll carry with you?
A: I’ll take all the bittersweet memories. We definitely had a lot of fun times, and it’s sad to see it go. And all my little baby freshmen that I don’t get to cheer with anymore, I’ll miss them very much. But all my memories, a lot of lessons, learning from just some mistakes that could have been resolved differently, and just learning from things like that.
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