Around The Ozarks Sports Scene

Major sporting events don’t just happen by accident in the Springfield area—they are won. 🏆 Joining us to pull back the curtain on sports tourism is Lance Kettering, Executive Director of the Springfield Sports Commission. Since 2010, Lance and his team have been aggressively bidding on and securing premier events that pack local hotels and boost our economy. We take a behind-the-scen...

What a year to be a Drury Panther! 🐾 Drury VP and Director of Athletics Nyla Milleson joins the podcast to celebrate an incredible year of sports achievements. We’re recapping the major highlights—including Drury capturing the prestigious GLVC All-Sports Trophy and breaking ground on an exciting new home for DU soccer. Tune in for an inside look at how the Panthers dominated the confe...

With Father’s Day right around the corner, we’re tackling a relatable topic: how to be a better sports dad. To help us navigate the fine line between supportive and overbearing, we’re sitting down with our favorite sports psychology expert, Angie Wiley. The founder of YouAreStrong.com shares essential advice on keeping sports fun for our kids while protecting the parent-child rel...

For 37 years, Dan Lucy was the steady, trusted voice of Ozarks sports on KOLR 10. While his recent departure without an on-air goodbye left thousands of local sports fans frustrated, anyone who knows Dan knows he has never been about the personal fanfare. For nearly four decades, his focus remained strictly on giving area athletes and teams the spotlight they deserved. Today, the consummate profes...

What a year to be a Bear! 🐻 From unforgettable moments on the gridiron to thrilling runs on the hardwood and the diamond, the 2025–2026 school year was a massive success for MSU Athletics. Joining us to look back at it all is the Voice of the Bears himself, Corey Riggs. As Missouri State's Director of Broadcasting and play-by-play announcer, Corey breaks down the biggest highlights from foo...

No one knows Missouri State baseball quite like Keith Guttin. The legend spent 42 years leading the Bears, and now he’s bringing that unmatched wisdom to the airwaves as a radio analyst. Today, Coach Guttin breaks down the team's postseason resume and looks ahead to this weekend's critical NCAA Regional trip to Lawrence, Kansas.     Thanks to our sponsor,  Colton's Steak House...

Joining us today is former Kickapoo standout and Nebraska football legend Steve Warren. Ahead of his induction into the Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame, Steve sits down to share stories from his football career and reflect on the big milestone. We also get the inside scoop on his son's future as a quarterback for Mizzou, making this a true celebration of local sports history and family legacy...

Joining us for a deep dive into athlete health is Dr. Heath Melugin, an Orthopedic Surgeon at CoxHealth. As a former standout for Kickapoo High School and Missouri State soccer, Dr. Melugin brings a unique player-to-provider perspective to our latest Q&A. We cover the essentials of youth sports safety, from injury prevention and smart weight training to the cutting-edge equipment changing the...

After 19 seasons and a hall-of-fame-worthy resume, Scott McGee is savoring his final run in the Willard dugout. With two state titles and six Final Four appearances already under his belt, Coach McGee is doing exactly what he’s always done: putting his Tigers in position for another championship. We’re sitting down with him to discuss his final season at the helm, his retirement from c...

You've seen her at just about every key sporting event in the Ozarks, lugging around that camera with a smile. Now meet one of the key sports reporters for the Ozarks Sports Zone and KY3 as we get to know Danielle, including her thoughts on a variety of sports and journalism topics.     Thanks to our sponsors, Colton's Steak House ,  Deadeye Gun & Pawn , and  Thompson Sales...

Twenty years ago, Drury University launched its baseball program, and they didn’t just participate... they made history. Today, we’re joined by two stars from that inaugural 2007 squad, Tony Lewis and Harrison Waters. We’re looking back at the "start-up" team that defied the odds, capturing a GLVC Tournament title and punching a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Join us for a trip d...

Joining us for a deep dive into athlete health is Dr. Heath Melugin, an Orthopedic Surgeon at CoxHealth. As a former standout for Kickapoo High School and Missouri State soccer, Dr. Melugin brings a unique player-to-provider perspective to our latest Q&A. We cover the essentials of youth sports safety, from injury prevention and smart weight training to the cutting-edge equipment changing the...

Spring sports are in full swing! ⚾️ When it comes to Ozarks high school athletics, nobody knows the players and the programs better than Chris Parker of Ozarks Sports Zone. We’re picking his brain on the top names to watch this season. Whether you’re following baseball, softball, boys golf, tennis, or track and field, Chris has the insider scoop you need.      Thanks to...

Golf legend Rick Grayson joins us to cover the full spectrum of the game—from local history to the global stage. We’re diving into this weekend’s Ozarks Golf Hall of Fame induction, the latest trends in instruction, and stories of icons like Tiger Woods and the late Payne Stewart. Plus, with the Masters just a week away, Rick shares his expert outlook. This June, Rick celebrates...

Sisters, leaders, and now State Champions. Elsie and Kinley Larsen joined forces to lead the Strafford Lady Indians to a Class 4 State title last weekend in Columbia. Playing under the guidance of their father, Coach Dustin Larsen, the sisters authored a remarkable story of grit and resilience. Tune in as we dive into their incredible championship run.     Thanks to our sponsor,  Co...

Marshfield’s Lady Jays are chasing another championship, and the woman leading the charge knows the program as well as anyone. Trish Marsh joins Around the Ozarks Sports Scene to talk about returning to her alma mater, guiding a team that has sat atop the state rankings all season, and pursuing a state title with one of the Ozarks’ most tradition-rich programs. Host Scott Puryear also...

Missouri State junior Curry Sutherland is off to a strong start at the plate, and the former Logan-Rogersville standout joins Around the Ozarks Sports Scene to talk about his breakthrough season. Host Scott Puryear visits with Curry about the adjustments that have helped him take a big step forward, what it means to be leading the Bears in hitting early on, and how he plans to keep the momentum go...

All things Mizzou are on the table as Eli Hoff, beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, joins Around the Ozarks Sports Scene. Host Scott Puryear catches up with Eli to break down the outlook for Tigers men’s and women’s basketball, the state of the baseball program, and a full evaluation of Mizzou Football coming out of transfer portal season. It’s an in-depth look at where...

Drury is heating up at just the right time. Third-year head coach Kaci Bailey joins Around the Ozarks Sports Scene as her Lady Panthers ride a nine-game win streak and make another push for a GLVC Championship. Host Scott Puryear gets to know the leader of one of the nation’s perennial Division II powers, diving into her coaching philosophy, the culture driving this year’s surge, and w...

Kickapoo is rolling, and head coach Leslie Hanchey joins Around the Ozarks Sports Scene to talk about her unbeaten 19–0 Lady Chiefs and their No. 2 state ranking. Now in her third season and off to a remarkable 77–6 start to her coaching career, Hanchey reflects on her lifelong connection to Kickapoo, the culture fueling this year’s success, and what the future holds for one of t...

Logan-Rogersville has been turning heads all season, and three of the Wildcats driving that success join Around the Ozarks Sports Scene. Host Scott Puryear sits down with Chase Branham, Sutton Shook, and Marcus Moore to talk about what’s fueling one of the Ozarks’ most impressive basketball runs, highlighted by dominant wins of 40, 30, and 40 points on the way to the Nixa Invitational...

Is college football broken, or finally becoming what it was meant to be? George Schroeder, former national college football writer for USA TODAY and current co-host of the Gridiron & The Gospel podcast, joins Around the Ozarks Sports Scene to wrestle with the sport’s biggest questions. Host Scott Puryear talks with Schroeder about the current state of the game, the rapid changes reshapin...

Missouri State football is entering a new era, and junior standouts Caden Wiest and Ramone Green Jr. are at the heart of it. The former Reeds Spring and Nixa stars join Around the Ozarks Sports Scene to talk with host Scott Puryear about the Bears’ historic 2025 season, their first at the FBS level and in Conference USA, highlighted by a trip to the Xbox Bowl. They also share insight on the...

The questions are piling up in Chiefs Kingdom, and Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com joins Around the Ozarks Sports Scene to tackle them head-on with host Scott Puryear. From roster needs and offseason moves to bigger-picture fixes, Matt breaks down what the Kansas City Chiefs must do in the coming months to get back to their dominant, championship-level form.   Thanks to our sponsor,  Co...

The countdown is on for one of the premier high school basketball events in the country. Around the Ozarks Sports Scene host Scott Puryear visits with Josh Scott, director of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, to preview next week’s 41st annual showcase at Great Southern Bank Arena—an event loaded with elite talent. Plus, get to know Jonathan Lorence, owner of new sponsor Deadeye Gu...