Reynolds Nabs Petersen Award
By ERIC X. VICCARO
EVICCARO@STEGENHERALD.COM
The Ste. Genevieve Stingrays summer swim program punctuated a strong regular season by winning this past Saturday’s mee endurance, concentrating on those points seven months of the year.
Ste. Genevieve High School standout athlete Maci Reynolds carried on her family’s award-winning tradition.
Reynolds was named the Armella Petersen Female Athlete of the Year during Ste. Genevieve’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 22, at Peggy J. Johnson Gymnasium.
“I was honored (to hear my name called),” said Reynolds. “There were so many great female athletes, so this is a big accomplishment. I was shocked because I honestly didn’t think I would get it.”
An exceptional four-sport athlete, Petersen began her teaching career in the school district back in 1927, becoming a pioneer for girls’ sports. There also is a scholarship fund named in her honor.
Reynolds said she always played multiple sports while growing up, so it was just natural for her to play three at the high school level.
Reynolds became one of the premier liberos in the Mineral Area Activities Association during the fall. She could play either point or shooting guard during basketball season. She was a hurdler and relay specialist in track and field.
“Maci had many strengths both on and off the court,” said Ste. Genevieve head volleyball coach Carla Basler.
Reynolds transitioned from an outside hitter to a libero during her senior year, earning both all-MAAA and all-district honors along the way.
“With her competitive mindset,” Basler said, “to never let the ball drop made her teammates trust that she would do her job and do it well.”
Basler said the volleyball program will assuredly miss Maci’s energetic and bubbly personality.
Reynolds helped the Dragons to a 20-6 record, falling during the district playoffs to Park Hills Central.
Maci missed only 18 serves the entire year (92.3 percent accuracy) to go with an average of 11.4 digs per match. She also had 21 assists and 358 serve receptions.
Reynolds has been a known commodity on the basketball court for years, and she finished her career with 1,324 points (fourth in school history), a school-best 442 assists, 371 steals and 164 3-pointers made.
Together with teammates Marysa Flieg, Megan Aubuchon, Sydney Bumgardaner, Morgan Schwent, Alison Braun and others, the Dragon girls’ basketball program has compiled an 80-23 record during this recent four-season stretch.
“Maci’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached,” said Ste. Genevieve head girls’ basketball coach Jordanna Walk-Robison. “You never had to ask … it’s just what she does. She was a great role model and leader on our team. Maci deserved this award, and I’m very proud of her.”
The Dragons were 18-6 this year, winning the MAAA regular-season title and they were district runner-up to Park Hills Central.
During the spring, Reynolds and Bumgardaner participated in all-star basketball game at Mineral Area College, helping the MAAA to a blowout victory over the Jefferson County Activities Association.
This past spring, Reynolds persevered through injuries to compete in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800-meter relay squads.
