Wildcats celebrate 13-member signing class

When Greg Hegarty was a freshman and sophomore wrestler at Blue Springs High School he was constantly asked, “What’s it like to be the coach’s son?”

Mike Hagerty is the Wildcats wrestling coach, and even though his name is spelled differently than Hegarty’s, the questions still came for both of them.

“The first two years, I corrected anyone who asked,” said Hegarty, a two-time state champion for the back-to-back state champion Wildcats. “Then, my junior year, I just said, ‘What the heck?’ When they ask me about my dad being coach, I would just tell them it’s great.”

Hagerty got the same questions, and the past two years has simply said, “I couldn’t be any prouder of my second son.”

Hagerty’s “second son,” will join his real son, Keenan, on the Maryville University wrestling team near St. Louis, and the coach and his two-time state champion couldn’t be any more excited.

“I can’t wait to get back with Keenan – my wrestling partner and best friend,” said Hegarty, The Examiner’s Wrestler of the Year. “It’s just great to know where I’m going to college, it’s close to home and my best friend is on the team.”

Hegarty was one of 13 Blue Springs seniors who were honored Friday morning in the school auditorium as they signed their letters of intent to pursue athletic and cheerleading careers at the next level.

Joining Hegarty were Joanna Deffenbaugh, cheer, Northwest Missouri State; Kaitlyn Murphy, cheer, Lindenwood; Shannon Danaher, track, Pittsburg State; David Johnson, football, Baker; Taylor Cross, baseball, Western Oklahoma State; Jon Erikson, cheer, Northwest Missouri State; Jacob Clark, wrestling, University of Central Missouri; Andy Anderson, baseball, Mid-America Nazarene; Kyle Brown, football, Fort Scott Community College; and Jake Vogler, cheer, Missouri.
Julia Drury, cross country and track, Kansas; and Julia Montgomery, cross country, Columbia College; had previous commitments and did not attend the ceremony.

“This is a very special group,” said Kelly Donohoe, the assistant activities director and head football coach who emceed the signing ceremony. “To have 13 kids in a diverse signing class like this tells you what type of kids we have here at Blue Springs High School.”

Each of the students was given the opportunity to address their families, friends and classmates. But Brown, the Wildcats quarterback who led Blue Springs to back-to-back undefeated conference championships, was not able to complete his speech.

“I want to thank God,” said Brown, who had to battle emotions, “oh, I knew this was going to happen.”

He walked back to sit next to his mother when Donohoe took the microphone.

“Kyle has been a warrior for this football team and has fought through some tough times,” Donohoe said. “He’s been injured – sometimes, his injuries were worse than I even realized – and I think that all came back and hit him today.

“We know he’s going to do great at Fort Scott and in one and a half years, he’s going to have the chance to get to a bigger program.”

Hagerty had some fun with Clark, the heavyweight wrestler whose nickname is “Bear.”

“I’d write down the names of all our wrestlers before a meet,” Hagerty said, “and I’d get to 285 and think, ‘What the heck is Bear’s real name?’ I’ve known him forever, but all anyone ever calls him is Bear.”

After the signing ceremony, “Bear” organized a funny group shot that left a smile on everyone’s face.

Girls cross country coach Joe Schur had some great things to say about Dury, who will run at the University of Kansas.

“Julia Dury was a leader by example,” Schur said. “She was a hard worker and had a strong work ethic from her gymnastics background that carried over to cross country.”