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Shuman caps incredible high school career this weekend
Senior looking to win two state titles at Class 2 meet
By Brad Cameron/Gate City Sports Editor
KAHOKA, Mo. - Clark County has had a number of talented athletes compete in high school sports over the years, but only one can claim to be a first-team all-state performer in three sports.
Courtney Shuman is a three-time first team all-state basketball player and received all-state honors in softball as a junior. She won a state title in the triple jump last year and will be looking to add to that total today and Saturday when she competes in two events at the Missouri Class 2 State Track and Field Meet at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo.
“I'm glad I get to see Courtney perform one more time,” said Clark County girls track coach Al Nelson. “She's been one of the best athletes in the Tri-State area for four years, and I do mean four years. You hate to see her move on, but that's life. It will be hard to see her take that last jump because that is what she really likes to do.”
Sunday will cap off a big three days for the senior when she joins her classmates in graduation festivities.
“I'm pretty excited,” Shuman said. “I'm ready to compete at the state meet, and I cannot wait for graduation. I'm kind of sad and nervous, but I think those three days will be fun and everything will go well.”
Shuman's accomplishments are incredible.
“Courtney is a tremendous athlete,” Nelson said. “Everything is so easy for her. She makes everything look so easy.”
In softball, Clark County had a .722 winning percentage the four years Shuman was on the diamond. She earned all-conference and all-district honors each of the last three years. As a junior she batted .461 with three triples, three homes runs and 29 runs batted in to earn all-state honors.
“I really think when she was on the softball field it was like a Barry Bonds situation whenever she stepped to the plate,” said Clark County principal Jason Harper, who coached Shuman in basketball for three seasons. “If you did not pitch around her she was going to burn you. If she had somebody behind her who could hit and somebody in front of her to hit and you couldn't pitch around her she could dominate the softball field.”
Harper knows very well what Shuman could do on the basketball court. Clark County was 71-11 the three years he coached Shuman. The Lady Indians were 18-6 in Shuman's senior season.
Shuman was a first-team all-district performer all four years and a three-time Tri-Rivers Conference Most Valuable Player, averaging double figures in scoring and rebounding.
“She created more possessions for our program than any other player we have ever had with just her athletic ability and the things that she could do,” Harper said. “She would probably give us 15 to 20 possessions a game we would not have had without her the last four seasons.
“It was just a privilege to coach her in the first three years of her high school career and watch her develop. I don't think people appreciate the fact that she changed the rules in every sport that she played.”
Shuman said she set her sights on becoming an all-state athlete in three sports when she received her first all-state honor as a sophomore in basketball.
“I never really thought it would be something I would do,” Shuman said. “People would always say to me you could be a three-sport all-stater, and after I won all-state in basketball it kind of became my goal. I'm proud of the fact I was able to reach that goal.”
Some feel track is her best sport and it would be tough to argue.
“I'm biased, so as a biased person I'll say track is her best sport,” Nelson said. “I think basketball and track are her favorite sports. When she was younger she would probably say track and jumping - not the running part. The jumping part is what she really liked. As she has gotten older I think basketball has become much more important to her.”
This is Shuman's fourth trip to the state track meet.
Shuman has qualified for the triple jump all four years. She finished eighth as a freshman. The following year, Shuman was on the verge of winning a state championship until Lexington's Jelessa Stafford took the title away from her on the last jump.
Last year, Shuman out-jumped Stafford to win the state title with a best of 37-3.
“This year Stafford had a longer triple jump in district competition, but Courtney is not that far behind,” Nelson said. “Each one has a state title in the event so this year is the rubber match.”
She also has qualified in the long jump the last three years. She was 11th as a sophomore and finished second to Crystal City's Precious Selmon last year. Selmon returns to the state meet this year, while El Dorado Springs' Brooke Hamilton enters the competition with the best jump among the eight different district meets.
“Courtney is a gamer,” Nelson said. “When she gets on the track she gets focused really quick.”
Shuman says her favorite sport varies throughout the school year.
“It kind of changes with the season,” Shuman said. “I don't like any other sport except the one I'm doing.”
As talented as Shuman is athletically, Harper said her personality allowed the teams she played on to be successful.
“Courtney and Megan Martin were probably the two greatest athletes I had the fortune of coaching and each had a lot of similar characteristics,” Harper said. “They both were ultra-talented, but their heads were never big. They always worked hard, and they were always calm. They just had the characteristics you would like a great player to have.
“Courtney not only pushed her teammates to be better, but all the other programs as well. When you talk to coaches, no matter what sport you are talking about, everybody knows Courtney Shuman and everybody knows it was going to be tough to beat a team she was playing on.”
Shuman did not base her college plans on athletics. She will play basketball at Quincy University, but she chose the school based on academics.
“I picked Quincy University because they had a really good nursing program,” Shuman said. “I'm going through Quincy University and Blessing-Rieman. Playing basketball is just a bonus.”
Shuman hopes this weekend's events are just icing on the cake on an outstanding high school career.
“I've exceeded what I thought I could do,” Shuman said. “I never expected to be a three-sport all-stater or third in my class. I've accomplished what I've wanted to accomplish.”
By Brad Cameron/Gate City Sports Editor
KAHOKA, Mo. - Clark County has had a number of talented athletes compete in high school sports over the years, but only one can claim to be a first-team all-state performer in three sports.
Courtney Shuman is a three-time first team all-state basketball player and received all-state honors in softball as a junior. She won a state title in the triple jump last year and will be looking to add to that total today and Saturday when she competes in two events at the Missouri Class 2 State Track and Field Meet at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo.
“I'm glad I get to see Courtney perform one more time,” said Clark County girls track coach Al Nelson. “She's been one of the best athletes in the Tri-State area for four years, and I do mean four years. You hate to see her move on, but that's life. It will be hard to see her take that last jump because that is what she really likes to do.”
Sunday will cap off a big three days for the senior when she joins her classmates in graduation festivities.
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Shuman's accomplishments are incredible.
“Courtney is a tremendous athlete,” Nelson said. “Everything is so easy for her. She makes everything look so easy.”
In softball, Clark County had a .722 winning percentage the four years Shuman was on the diamond. She earned all-conference and all-district honors each of the last three years. As a junior she batted .461 with three triples, three homes runs and 29 runs batted in to earn all-state honors.
“I really think when she was on the softball field it was like a Barry Bonds situation whenever she stepped to the plate,” said Clark County principal Jason Harper, who coached Shuman in basketball for three seasons. “If you did not pitch around her she was going to burn you. If she had somebody behind her who could hit and somebody in front of her to hit and you couldn't pitch around her she could dominate the softball field.”
Harper knows very well what Shuman could do on the basketball court. Clark County was 71-11 the three years he coached Shuman. The Lady Indians were 18-6 in Shuman's senior season.
Shuman was a first-team all-district performer all four years and a three-time Tri-Rivers Conference Most Valuable Player, averaging double figures in scoring and rebounding.
“She created more possessions for our program than any other player we have ever had with just her athletic ability and the things that she could do,” Harper said. “She would probably give us 15 to 20 possessions a game we would not have had without her the last four seasons.
“It was just a privilege to coach her in the first three years of her high school career and watch her develop. I don't think people appreciate the fact that she changed the rules in every sport that she played.”
Shuman said she set her sights on becoming an all-state athlete in three sports when she received her first all-state honor as a sophomore in basketball.
“I never really thought it would be something I would do,” Shuman said. “People would always say to me you could be a three-sport all-stater, and after I won all-state in basketball it kind of became my goal. I'm proud of the fact I was able to reach that goal.”
Some feel track is her best sport and it would be tough to argue.
“I'm biased, so as a biased person I'll say track is her best sport,” Nelson said. “I think basketball and track are her favorite sports. When she was younger she would probably say track and jumping - not the running part. The jumping part is what she really liked. As she has gotten older I think basketball has become much more important to her.”
This is Shuman's fourth trip to the state track meet.
Shuman has qualified for the triple jump all four years. She finished eighth as a freshman. The following year, Shuman was on the verge of winning a state championship until Lexington's Jelessa Stafford took the title away from her on the last jump.
Last year, Shuman out-jumped Stafford to win the state title with a best of 37-3.
“This year Stafford had a longer triple jump in district competition, but Courtney is not that far behind,” Nelson said. “Each one has a state title in the event so this year is the rubber match.”
She also has qualified in the long jump the last three years. She was 11th as a sophomore and finished second to Crystal City's Precious Selmon last year. Selmon returns to the state meet this year, while El Dorado Springs' Brooke Hamilton enters the competition with the best jump among the eight different district meets.
“Courtney is a gamer,” Nelson said. “When she gets on the track she gets focused really quick.”
Shuman says her favorite sport varies throughout the school year.
“It kind of changes with the season,” Shuman said. “I don't like any other sport except the one I'm doing.”
As talented as Shuman is athletically, Harper said her personality allowed the teams she played on to be successful.
“Courtney and Megan Martin were probably the two greatest athletes I had the fortune of coaching and each had a lot of similar characteristics,” Harper said. “They both were ultra-talented, but their heads were never big. They always worked hard, and they were always calm. They just had the characteristics you would like a great player to have.
“Courtney not only pushed her teammates to be better, but all the other programs as well. When you talk to coaches, no matter what sport you are talking about, everybody knows Courtney Shuman and everybody knows it was going to be tough to beat a team she was playing on.”
Shuman did not base her college plans on athletics. She will play basketball at Quincy University, but she chose the school based on academics.
“I picked Quincy University because they had a really good nursing program,” Shuman said. “I'm going through Quincy University and Blessing-Rieman. Playing basketball is just a bonus.”
Shuman hopes this weekend's events are just icing on the cake on an outstanding high school career.
“I've exceeded what I thought I could do,” Shuman said. “I never expected to be a three-sport all-stater or third in my class. I've accomplished what I've wanted to accomplish.”
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