Student-athletes receive awards at annual sports reception 2018 April 13 by University CommunicationsSEVERAL MEMBERS of the 2017-2018 Grizzly Basketball team at Missouri State University-West Plains received individual awards at the annual Grizzly Sports Reception Thursday evening, April 12, at the West Plains Civic Center’s Magnolia Room. Ricky Torres, Pinellas Park, Fla., received the team-elected Most Valuable Player and Team Captain awards, as well as a commemorative basketball for setting new records in career assists (427), assists in a season (268) and assists in a game (16). Radshad Davis, Nassau, Bahamas, received the team-elected Most Valuable Player and Team Captain awards, as well as Defensive Player of the Year. Yannis Mendy, Paris, France, received the team-elected Team Captain award and the Uncommon Award for a determined effort to go above and beyond in all areas of his life. Montel Stewart, Palm Bay, Fla., received the Most Inspirational Award, and Dontell Brown, Lexington, Ky., received the Most Improved Award. From left are Davis, Stewart, Mendy, Torres and Brown. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo). SEVERAL MEMBERS of the 2017-2018 Grizzly Cheer Team at Missouri State University-West Plains received individual awards at the annual Grizzly Sports Reception Thursday evening, April 12, at the West Plains Civic Center’s Magnolia Room. Front row from left, Cheer Team Coordinator Rachel Peterson; Makayla Koon, West Plains, Samantha Beach Award for Excellence; Neely Gobel, West Plains, Outstanding Attitude and Crowd Favorite Awards; Felicity Snelling, Licking, Best Flyer; Alexis Fuwell, Mountain Grove, Most Improved Award; Tori Terrill, Mountain View, Utility Award; Carlea Badolian, West Plains, Most Spirit Award; Assistant Coach Keena Simpson. Back Row: Coach Nick Pruitt; Noah Mullican, Licking, Outstanding Attitude Award; Colt Tompkins, West Plains, Best Overall Cheerleader Award; Brandon Owens, West Plains, Best Base; Robyn Rex, Spokane, Grizz Appreciation Award; Zachary Cook, West Plains, Most Improved Award; Rylee Foreman, Plato, Determination and Academic Achievement Awards. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo). FOUR MEMBERS of the 2017 Grizzly Volleyball team at Missouri State University-West Plains received individual awards during the annual Grizzly Sports Reception Thursday evening, April 12, at the West Plains Civic Center’s Magnolia Room. Kinli Simmons, El Dorado Springs, received awards for NJCAA All-Region 16 Second Team and assists (578 total assists; 6.49 assists per set) and the Marvin Wheeler Academic Excellence Award. Kamryn Artale, Springfield, received awards for NJCAA All Region 16 First Team, Missouri Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) All-Conference Second Team, digs (458 total digs; 4.16 digs per set), and service reception (2.30 rating). Keziah Williams, Branson, received awards for NJCAA All-Region 16 First Team, MCCAC All-Conference First Team, kills (254 total kills; 2.23 kills per set; attacking percentage .279) and blocks (total blocks 95, solo blocks 28, assisted blocks 67, blocks per set .86). Tatjana Trifkovic, Belgrade, Serbia, received awards for NJCAA All-Region 16 First Team, MCCAC All-Conference First Team and Newcomer of the Year. From left are Williams, Simmons, Artale and Trifkovic. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)