Wildcats’ Malone, Jaguars’ Abram relish all-state honors

Area standouts Mallory Malone and Brynn Abram closed out their high school careers in high fashion, earning a spot on the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association Class 3 All-State Team.
Malone, who played several positions at Blue Springs High School, earned second-team status and Abram, a Blue Springs South defender, was named to the third team.
“As good as Mallory was on the field,” Blue Springs coach Mike Palermo said, “she was even better at the things you never see – how hard she worked at practice, how she inspired the other girls by being a great team leader. She was just the total package.
“We played her up front, at midfield and in the back – and she played every position like she’d played it her entire career.”
Malone will continue playing soccer at William Jewell College in Liberty.
“This is my first time on the all-state team, and it’s pretty exciting,” said Malone, who was in St. Louis attending the funeral of her great grandmother. “It was such an honor to play at Blue Springs. We had great coaches who were really passionate about the sport and great teammates.
“I remember when I was a freshman and Bailey Randol was a senior and she took me under her wing, and I really appreciated that. That’s what I wanted to do with the younger girls on the team.
“I didn’t see a teammate as a freshman, or sophomore or junior – I just saw her as a teammate. And we all really cared about each other. I think that’s why this past season was so special for all of us.”
While Malone will continue her playing career, Abram will attend Truman State University and concentrate on her studies.
“I had a lot of coaches talk to me about soccer,” said Abram, who also played basketball and was a high jumper on the Jaguars track team, “but I decided I would just be a student in college.
“I’m going to major in biology, and that’s going to take a lot of my time. I hear they have a club soccer team, and I’m definitely going to look into that.”
While the Jaguars struggled offensively this past season, coach Todd Findley said Abram anchored a solid defense.
“I am so thrilled that she was recognized on the all-state team,” Findley said, “because we didn’t have a very good record – but she anchored a great defensive team.
“So often it’s the forwards who get the recognition, and she deserves the all-state honor because there wasn’t a better defender in the area.
“She was a positive influence on the other girls on the team and maintained a positive and upbeat approach. That’s what leaders are supposed to do and she was a great leader.”