STL High School Sports Podcast

Vashon boys basketball coach Tony Irons joins the show to talk about what it's like navigating the pandemic, his path into coaching and the surprises he can pull out at practice that continue to amaze his players. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newly named Kirkwood football coach Jeremy Maclin joins the show to talk about what it's like being retired at 32, why he wanted to become a coach and how the Turkey Day Game prepared him for playing in front of a crowd. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Harris covers hockey for STLhighschoolsports.com and he joins the show to talk about the wild situation he found himself covering on Thursday night when Priory and John Burroughs met in the playoffs to replay the final few minutes of a game that was thought to have been decided the week before but upon appeal was restarted after a referee's error. We get into the weeds on this unprecedented situation then break down the top-tier Challenge Cup contenders. Then Greg Uptain hops on to discuss a good game between Westminster and Whitfield, their loaded district and what he saw on Thursday when McCluer finally started its season by hosting Jennings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cardinal Ritter boys basketball coach Ryan Johnson joins the show to talk about winning last year's Class 3 state championship, navigating the pandemic this year and making the move into Class 5 without standout athlete Luther Burden III. He also talks about his experience playing at CBC, the University of Memphis and when he knew he wanted to be a head coach. Greg Uptain wraps up the show with his report from the Parkway West Showdown tournament title game featuring De Smet and Kirkwood plus what he saw Thursday when Francis Howell returned after 20 days in quarantine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

East St. Louis boys basketball coach Mark Chambers is our guest this week to talk about the Flyers not starting up their season as Illinois remains shut down due to the pandemic. East St. Louis remains the reigning Class 3A champion after winning its first state championship in 2019. STLhighschoolsports.com's Greg Uptain then joins the show to discuss Friday night's big CBC-Chaminade showdown and the sensational game he saw on Thursday between Kirkwood and O'Fallon Christian. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AJ Blankenship of @314Hoops returns to the podcast to talk about the area scene following the holiday break. We talk about some impressive individual performances and try to figure out who is the best team in the MCC. Plus our intrepid reporters join the show as Greg Uptain talks Pattonville-Webster Groves and Ben Vessa gives us his thoughts on the big Fort Zumwalt South-Fort Zumwalt North rivalry game. Joe Harris wraps up the show talking about area hockey and what it's been like for area teams during this crazy school year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vianney basketball coach Kevin Walsh is our guest on this week's episode. The longtime Golden Griffin skipper shares his thoughts on the challenges of this season, competing in a conference that routinely has an overwhelming amount of talent and what advice he would offer his younger self. Steve Overbey also drops by to talk about Vashon's season debut against South Iron and to share some thoughts on his outstanding story about O'Fallon junior cross country runner Payton Scheppie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's basketball season and we're diving deep into the new-look districts and classes in Missouri. AJ Blakenship from @314hoops joins the show to offer his thoughts on the new class, the district draw and what can be done to avoid putting all the good teams into a few districts. Then Greg Uptain gives us a rundown of a game he didn't expect to be covering on Friday night. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the last week of high school football in Missouri. Fort Zumwalt North Joe Bacon drops by to talk about this season, facing a loaded Jackson and his unique path into education and coaching. Steve Overbey was on the scene as MICDS took on Helias for the Class 4 state title. He has the inside scoop on what went down in Jefferson City. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a special Saturday edition of the show. In the Class 6 title game De Smet was knocked off by Raymore-Peculiar while in the Class 5 semifinal Fort Zumwalt North ran into the Jackson buzzsaw. Steve Overbey joins the show to talk about both games. In Class 4 MICDS was the only local team to survive and advance. Ben Vessa will discuss what went right for the Rams. In Class 3 Cardinal Ritter couldn't find a way past powerhouse Blair Oaks. Joe Harris will give us his thoughts on what was shaking on North Grand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've got a Dragon in the house as St. Mary's coach Ken Turner is our guest this week. He talks about making the transition from a long, successful stint at Althoff to a new school and a new program all while the pandemic complicated things at every turn. Our intrepid reporters were all over the area and we got their thoughts on four of Friday night's top games. Steve Overbey was at Jefferson-Duchesne, Ben Vessa watched Festus-Union, Paul Halfarce was in Columbia for Fort Zumwalt North-Battle and Joe Harris has the scoop on De Smet-Fox. Plus Paul Kopsky runs down the scoreboard with some bonus audio from three area coaches. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a breaking news special as Webster Groves graduate Jason Meehan joins us to talk about the cancelation of the Turkey Day game and what it meant to him to be a part of the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi. Fox coach Brent Tinker then gives us his thoughts on the first district championship in school history and shares what it took for the Warriors to be in this position after struggling to get on track. Paul Kopsky has all the scores and highlight performances. Joe Harris goes deep on De Smet-Francis Howell and Ben Vessa talks Duchesne-Lutheran St. Charles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Week 11 and district semifinals are in full swing. MICDS coach Fred Bouchard is our guest. We talk about transitioning to the eastern side of Missouri after long and successful runs at Harrisonville and Staley near Kansas City. Paul Halfacre gives us his insight into the state cross country meet and Joe Harris has the scoop from state volleyball. Greg Uptain was at the big De Smet-CBC game and Ben Vessa was at Fox-Lafayette. Plus Paul Kopsky runs down the scoreboard. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Week 10 and that means it's the first week of playoff football in Missouri. Our guest this week is Lutheran North coach Carl Reed who talks about the long wait for the season to start, the challenges of COVID-19 and never underestimating your opponent. Steve Overbey talks Webster Groves winning its first state softball championship and a full Saturday of playoff volleyball. Paul Kopsky runs down the scoreboard and our intrepid reporters give their insights into the Holt-Fort Zumwalt West, Jefferson-St. Pius and Lindbergh-Eureka games.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hazelwood Central football coach Carey Davis is our guest this week. He talks about preparing his team to play in the spring, his college and pro career, what he's learned about becoming a head coach and he shares when that Super Bowl ring comes out. Steve Overbey gives the lowdown on the state softball semifinals, Paul Kopsky runs through the scoreboard and our intrepid reporters talk Eureka-Kirkwood, Marquette-Fort Zumwalt North and the thriller between Rock Bridge-Francis Howell. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

McCluer football coach Howard Brown is our guest on this episode. We talk about preparing his Comets for spring football, his 15 years at McCluer-South Berkeley and how he and his players have routinely overcome adversity. Steve Overbey gives his insights into the De Smet juggernaut, Paul Kopsky rips through the area scoreboard and Carl Reed makes a cameo and our intrepid reporters check in from their ball games. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The STLhighschoolsports.com Friday Night Football Show brings you everything you need to stay on top of prep sports in St. Louis with interviews and conversations with guests, contributors and our team of reporters. If it's happening in high school sports we've got you covered. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.