Springfield, Mo. – The 80’s were a great time for West Plains High School Volleyball with four state championships and so much more. This era is being introduced into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame including headliners Kansas City Chiefs lineman Willie Roaf, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Matt Holliday, Lucas Oil founder Forrest Lucas and Miracle on Ice’s Ken Morrow. The 2022 Enshrinement is presented by Killian Construction of Springfield.
CEO & Executive Director Jerald Andrews on Wednesday unveiled the Class of 2022, which will be honored on Sunday, February 6 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. A reception presented by Reliable Toyota will begin at 4 p.m. that day, with the evening program to follow at 5 p.m. Associate sponsors are Advertising Plus, Bryan Properties, Great Southern Bank, Hiland Dairy Foods and Hillyard, Inc.
The Class of 2022 is as follows:
- Willie Roaf, Kansas City Chiefs
- Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals
- Forrest Lucas, founder of Lucas Oil, the namesake for Lucas Oil Speedway & Lucas Oil Stadium
- Ken Morrow, a 1980 USA Hockey gold medalist and four-time Stanley Cup champion
- Rich Gould, a Branson native and the longest-serving TV sports director in St. Louis history
- Julie Dorn, a University of Missouri All-American gymnast
- Jay Osborne, the longtime Nixa High School boys basketball coach
- Tim Poe, coach of the University of Central Missouri men’s golf program
- Steve Hesser, former Glendale High School and Drury University basketball coach
- Jon Leamy, the recently retired coach of the Missouri State University men’s soccer program
- Mike Swanson, Kansas City Royals Communications Executive
- Don Peterson, a 55-year scuba diving coach based in Springfield
- Randy Magers, a Missouri State University baseball & basketball standout
- Larry Whiteley, Conservationist & Outdoor Journalist
- 1984-1991 West Plains High School Volleyball Era
- Rick Byers, former football coach of St. Pius X High School
- 1998-2002 St. Pius X High School Football Era
- Grain Valley High School Cheerleading Program
- Helias Catholic High School Boys Golf Program
- Bryan Properties – John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award
- Bonnie Keller – Ace Award
- Craig Curry – President’s Award
West Plains High School Volleyball 1984-1991 ERA
West Plains was home to one of Missouri’s most successful high school volleyball programs of the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Coached by Trish Kissiar-Knight (MSHOF 2008), the Zizzers reached six Final Fours in Class 4, the highest classification at the time, and two other state quarterfinals in that span. They won four consecutive state championships (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987) and placed third in 1990 and 1991. The 1988 and 1989 teams played in state quarterfinals. West Plains hired Knight in 1980 and, in four years, the program surged to heights never seen before. In order, the state championship teams beat Truman High School 2-1, Washington 2-0, St. Joseph’s Academy 2-0 and Kirkwood 2-0. The Zizzers were 110-4 in that stretch, and each of the teams from 1986 to 1991 also won the conference. The program produced several All-State selections during that time, and a number of players went on to give back to the game as high school head coaches.
An individual ticket is $150. A sponsorship table of 10 is $1,500. Numerous other sponsorships are available, including associate sponsorships, congratulatory ads, a 20-month calendar and baseball card trading set. Any support is truly appreciated, considering the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit and, through most of its 27-history, has not sought state or federal funding. Call 417-889-3100 or access the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s website here: http://mosportshalloffame.com/
