Republic Sports

Fumbles contribute to home loss to Webb City
Republic turned the ball over five times in a 42–21 loss at home to Webb City, Friday. The mistakes started with a fumble on the Tigers’ first play from scrimmage, and continued for much of the night.
Coach Ryan Cornelsen took responsibility for the team’s performance. “I don’t know exactly why, it just felt like mistake after mistake — and not little mistakes, big mistakes. And just weird stuff that shouldn’t happen, and when it does, that’s on me.”
In the first half, Republic’s defense was frequently in bad field position but managed to keep the score close. Webb City took an early lead, with two touchdowns bringing the score to 14–0. Republic responded when defender Zion Allen recovered a fumble and ran it back 36 yards for a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 14–7.
After another Webb City touchdown, Republic’s best drive of the night covered 79 yards in 13 plays and concluded with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Woods to James Rexroat. That brought the score to 21–14, but a long kickoff return by Webb City’s Joseph DeGraffenreid set up another quick TD by the Cardinals, establishing a 28–14 lead at halftime.
Webb City maintained control in the second half, and the main Republic highlight was a 58-yard touchdown run by Caide White.
Cornelsen said the game “isn’t our first butt-kicking together,” and he said the team will grow from the experience. “We’re going to spin this thing into making us better. We’ve done it before.”
Webb City outgained Republic with 312 yards to Republic’s 193. White led Republic’s offense with 64 yards and a touchdown over two carries.
Republic (2–1) heads to Neosho (0–3) Friday.
Republic softball recovers from COC stumbles
After losing two games in the Central Ozark Conference early in the week, Republic rebounded with four wins in five games during the Ozarks Fall Festival Tournament. All five games were played in Republic.
The Republic Lady Tigers finished the Ozarks Fall Festival Tournament with a 4–1 record over the weekend.
On Friday morning, the team beat Locust Grove 16–0 in a game that lasted four innings. Lilli Richerson hit a grand slam, Jenna Belcher hit a home run, and Piper Dishman struck out seven players, allowing only two hits.
Against Marquette, Republic fell behind but came back to win 4–2. Jenna Belcher and Paige Elsenraat helped rally the team, and Kara Goeke’s pitching earned the win.
In the third game on Friday, Republic lost 9–3 to Grain Valley, despite home runs from Addison Walker and Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs.
On Saturday morning, the Lady Tigers beat Rolla 6–2. Addie Brown and Lilli Richerson each drove in two runs, and Dishman’s went the distance without allowing an earned run.
In the last game of the weekend, Republic beat Sullivan 8–4, thanks to two separate four-run rallies, solid defense from shortstop Jenna Belcher, and strong pitching from Kara Goeke, who secured her second tournament win as a pitcher.

Republic volleyball bounces back
The Republic volleyball team recovered from a loss to Glendale early in the week to finish with two straight wins.
The week’s matches kicked off with a four-set loss to Glendale, 25–20, 25–19, 24–26, 25–22. Rilynn Finley delivered 20 kills, and Brooklyn Claxton contributed 26 assists. On the defense, Addison Fanning topped the list with 16 digs.
Thursday, Republic recovered from a first-set defeat to emerge victorious, 20–25, 25–10, 25–16, 25–20. Finley contributed 16 kills and two blocks, while Alaina Norman and Addison Fanning each accounted for 14 digs. Claxton dished out 33 assists.
Saturday, Republic didn’t have much trouble dispatching Heritage, Ark., in straight sets, 25–9, 25–13, 25–17. “[We’re] early in the season, still working out some of our kinks, but we’re playing pretty well,” coach Allison Davis said. Finley recorded 14 kills and three service aces. Lexi Mitchell led the team in digs, with seven.
Republic ended the week with a 9–3 record.

Republic soccer topples Catholic in PKs, beats Camdenton to end week
Republic scored a late equalizer near the end of regulation, then beat Springfield Catholic in a penalty-kick shootout Wednesday, 4–3. It was the first-ever win for Republic against the Irish, who had not suffered a loss this season before facing the Tigers.
Santino Stiglianese scored two goals and assisted on two others for Republic. Diego Zuniga and Mason Cole each scored a goal for the Tigers, as well.
For Republic, it was a complete effort in which they sustained some of the flashes of excellence they’ve shown early this season. Coach Jesus Zuniga said the difference was how well his players played together.
“We saw glimpses of it before now. We just haven’t been able to play a full 80 minutes, and tonight we had to go 100,” he said. “Building from the back, trusting one another. We played together, and that’s a testament to our captains.”
In the shootout, Stiglianese scored the first for Republic, mirroring Springfield Catholic’s opening kick. Diego Zuniga also found the net for Republic to keep things even. Republic goalkeeper Xavier Ulshafer made a key save on the third kick, diving to his left to block the Irish attempt. That set the stage for Kleber Perez to give Republic a 3–2 lead. Both teams converted their fourth kicks. Springfield Catholic kept the match alive with a fifth kick, even though Ulshafer got a hand on it. Senior captain Brayden Tharp then stepped up to secure the win for Republic, triggering a team celebration.
Republic followed that up with a convincing 3–0 win over Camdenton. The two straight
Golfer Benson finishes 5th at Marshfield
Junior Izzy Benson led Republic golfers at the Marshfield Invitational Thursday, shooting a 79 in the first tournament of the season. Benson put together a consistent day, scoring a 39 on her first nine holes and a 40 on the second nine. Benson’s score earned her a fifth-place finish in an 89-player field.
The Lady Tigers finished 12th as a team, with a score of 422.
Aside from Benson, Jenna Smith was the next-best scorer, with a 105. Stephanie David shot a 108. Paige Crosby and London Crawford also competed for Republic.