Fall Sports Conclude

It's been almost three weeks and things are changing by the day.  The first round of district football was on Halloween, so the kids who did attend had fun with it and dressed up.  We also won, which meant that we got to play another game!

Pre-game vs Fulton

Gracie and Chase as Lola and Bugs Bunny

from Space Jam

My dad watching the football game from home.

Owen got priority on the big screen.

The World Series was on the small screen.

Next game vs Moberly

We played really well in the first half and were up, but ended up not being able to score in the 2nd half.

The last game of any season is always tough.

Owen #32

Owen with Pryce and Justice; two seniors

Post-game Bentlage boys photo

They were forced to take a pic with their mamas.

It has been fun watching you, Owen.

I am getting better at understanding what's going on.

After November 7, fall sports were completely done.  It was very strange for Gracie to not go right into basketball practices or have Aces softball tournaments to coordinate.  However, both of them did not waste a lot of time to start preparing for the next thing.  Owen started wrestling practice on Monday, November 10, and Gracie continued to work out, preparing for Mizzou.  They have both jumped in 100% to the next commitment.  Gracie took the week off from softball after quarter-finals and started going to work out in Columbia shortly after.  She doesn't get to practice with the team, but has been catching, hitting, and training, catching up with her new teammates.

It's Official!

Gracie has been looking forward to this day for a year, since she verbally committed on November 12, 2024.  On November 12, 2025, she signed her intent to play at Mizzou!  They had a signing day ceremony at Southern Boone for her and she had quite a few people show up to support.  Pretty exciting!  Right after, she drove up to Columbia to work out. :)  Nick and Owen also went directly to practice.  So I went back to our house with my parents and Deb to wait for everyone else to get home.  We had dinner and celebrated with our family.

Signing...next 4 years

Our family

Grandparents came to watch

Gracie with her softball team

The only picture with her basketball team that she will get this year.

She was pretty insistent that we get a picture with these girls.  She has played basketball with a few of them since 4th grade.

Her DBLL/Aces/Galaxy coaches came to support her.

Sam is Sadie's dad, Taylor is the first one who encouraged her to play competitively and play up.

News stations interviewed her before and after the event

Picture with Chase on her big day

So... this is what it actually looks like to "sign" and play for NCAA sports.

Gracie was sent information from her coach the day prior, with instructions on what she needs to do.  She actually signed at 7am,, Nov 12, because that is the earliest she can possibly do it on the actual signing day.  It's an online document that comes from compliance and is actually a financial aid agreement.  We had a bit to read through the night before.

Wednesday, November 12, 7:00 am

Her "signature"

On the day prior, (Nov 11) we found out that she was selected for Missouri Class 3 all-state catcher for the 4th year.  It was a pretty big week.

One of my favorite pics

All-Region team

All-state X4

SBC had 3 players on the all-state team this year!

This season was a little crazy, with the number of intentional walks she was given, and numbers were not nearly as unbelievable as a year ago.  She matched her number of homeruns from last year with the least amount of at-bats and number of total hits for a season.  13 homeruns with 34 total hits.  Every third hit was a homerun.  52 walks.  So many things out of your control in this game.  She has had an incredible career at Southern Boone High School.  

Pretty proud of our girl

Gracie and I were at a gymnastics intrasquad and she realized that Kali was in Columbia.

They connected and Gracie was so confused about why Kali wasn't playing with Aces in Texas,  Turns out she was winning state cheer at Hearnes!  Gracie went to watch her perform!

Beautiful mornings

Last home football game

Owen and friends got onto the field post-game

Selfie with Ahmad Hardy

Gracie and Chase stayed in their seats.

She found Sadie and Kirsten!

 We are just under 4 weeks until graduation and 5 weeks until her graduation party; 6 weeks until she moves into the dorms and starts official practices. We also have a few wrestling tournaments before Christmas and a lot to get ready for. It is happening pretty quickly.  I am off this week for Thanksgiving (first time I have ever taken the entire week off). Our family will come for the holiday, and then only three weeks of high school are left for Gracie.  Owen's first tournament is December 5-6.  My brain feels very scattered right now with all of the things that need to get done in the next few weeks.  But, this week should be fun with my family!