2018 Inductees
Mrs. Hailey (Stanley) Burpo '98
Hailey was a four-year starter for both the basketball and softball teams at Webb City.
Earning first-team all-district accolades as a freshman on the first Webb City softball team, she helped this team to a 12-4 record, capturing a district title and reaching the state quarterfinals.
Finishing her high school career with a .448 batting average, she helped lead the teams to a combined 75-13 record. Named All-State as a pitcher in each of her last three years.
As a senior, they finished 25-3, making their first-ever Final Four appearance.
On the basketball court, she helped lead her teams to two district titles, earning All-Conference and All-District honors.
To satisfy her desire to play more softball and further her education, Hailey received a scholarship to Missouri Southern State University. During her 4 years, the team had a record of 148-65. Hailey received several awards during her 4 years, National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Pitcher First Team All-Region, NFCA Division II Pitcher of the week twice, Mid-America Athletics Commissioners Athletic Honor Roll, her team was 2001 MIAA Tournament Champs, and in 2001 North Central Region Tournament 4thPlace finishers.
Highlights at MSSU included Hailey pitching and beating Nebraska Omaha 5-4, the eventual NCAA Division II 2001 National Champions. During the 2002 season Hailey pitched and won both games of a doubleheader against Augusta, the then ranked #5 team in NCAA II. With extra innings, she pitched a total of 22 innings. Winning the first game 2-1, with her walk-off double, then pitching and winning the second game 3-2.
Hailey still can be found in the MSSU record book with the 5th most innings (477) pitched, 4th in career strikeouts (263) and 2nd in career saves with (7) seven.
Mr. Stephen Crane '94
A three-year varsity football member, Stephen was a part of two state championships – 1992 and 1993. Leading the team in rushing, both as a junior and senior, he finished his senior year with 1,249 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. A two-time selection as both a running back and defensive back to the All-Conference teams. He also earned All-State running back both years, ultimately earning honorable mention All-American as a senior.
A first-team All-Conference and All-District selection, he helped the Cardinals basketball team to an 18-6 record and a conference title his senior year.
Stephen also earned All-Conference and All-Area selections for the baseball team.
As an MSSU Lion, Stephen patrolled center field for four years. He helped the Lions to a 113-79 record and four trips to the MIAA tournament. A two-time All-MIAA selection, Crane ranks second on the school’s career hit list (247) and doubles (52), ranked third in at-bats (773) and fifth in runs (198) scored. He still holds down the seventh place for stolen bases (49) and runs (149) batted in a career .337 hitter, he was inducted into the MSSU Hall of Fame in 2009.
Mrs. Sarah (Pyle) Knisley '95
The first female swimmer to top 1000 career points in her career, she led the Cardinals in scoring all four years. Upon finishing high school, Sarah held individually or as a teammate five (5) different school records in swimming was second or third in another four records. Her name still sits in the top 10 of nine different categories.
Qualifying for the state swimming championships in the 100 Fly three times and the 50 Free once individually, she was also a member of the teams qualifying for the 200 Medley twice and the 200 Free once.
Born and raised in Webb City, she started gymnastics at 3 and then began competitively swimming at the age of 10. After graduating high school, she attended John Brown University for one year on a swimming scholarship before returning home to MSSU. She graduated with a degree in Business Management.
Ms. Stacy Randolph '92
Stacy helped lead the Lady Cardinals to a 24-4 season as a senior. Averaging 14 points her senior season, she also led the team in assists and free throws. She earned 1st team All-Conference, All-District, All-Area, and All-State recognition, as well as being named as an honorable mention All-American.
Stacy accepted a full-ride scholarship to the University of Nebraska. As a freshman, the team made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. At the end of the year, Stacy received the most inspirational award from the team.
Transferring back to Pitt State for her final three seasons, she helped lead the Gorillas to a conference title as a senior. Along the way, she was named team captain and received Academic All-America awards.
After graduating with a degree in Psychology, she served as the assistant women’s basketball coach at Carl Junction for three seasons.
While working in Dallas, Stacy was a member of the first Dallas Diamonds football team. A full contact, women’s professional football team where she played QB, WR, and special teams. In her only season, she helped the team to a 5-5 finish.
Mr. Gary Webster '90
The first athlete to win two state championships in the same school year in different sports, one as a member of the 1989 football team and then individually, wrestling at 189 pounds.
Named by the coaches as the defensive lineman of the year, Gary was defensive tackle on the first championship (1989) football team.
In track, he competed in both the one-mile run and also threw the shot.
It was not until his freshman year, that he started wrestling. Qualifying for sectionals at 160 as a sophomore, Gary made it all the way to the state championship match as a junior at 170, losing 10-9 and earning silver. Getting a late start on his senior year (due to football team success) he lost two early matches, then was unbeaten the rest of the year, capturing the 189-pound state championship.
He went on to wrestle collegiately, first at 177, then moving up to 190. He earned Heart of America Academic All-American Status at this weight class. Unfortunately, his career ended due to injury in his final season.
Following his graduation from college, he attended graduate school and earned a degree in Non-Profit Administration. He then worked with Boy Scouts of America before changing careers. Since 2001, he has worked in the defense sector. He spent 49 months in Iraq as a Human Intelligence Collector where he conducted more than 3,000 interrogations. Currently, he provides training and education to defense personnel at the United States Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and the Human Intelligence Joint Center of Excellence. He has also achieved degrees in French and Intelligence Operations.
Mr. Dean Wilson '57
As a senior captain, Dean helped his football Cardinals outscore their opponents 189-154 on the season.
After finishing as the fifth leading scorer in the Big 9 conference as a junior, Dean earned 2nd team All-conference honors. He then led the conference in scoring as a senior with a 21.6 average, helping the Cardinals to a 19-5 overall record and a second-place finish in the conference with a 6-2 record. Shooting 52% from the field and 69% from the free-throw line, he was named to the All-Conference 1st team and All-Southwest Missouri 2nd team.
Dean earned two silver medals at the state track meet as a senior. Clocking a time of 15.1 in the 120-yard dash and 50.1 in the 440-yard dash.
Dean was named by a vote of his classmates to receive the Webb City Babe Ruth Best Sportsmanship award. This award was given for displaying good sportsmanship in all phases of school life.
Dean then attended Joplin Junior College on a basketball scholarship, helping lead the Lions to the 1959 Insterstate Conference Championship.
After college, he joined the National Guard for 6 years and then spent the next 30 years at ICI Explosives. He even delivered the Joplin Globe for over 40 years. Dean finished his career at the school district, working at Eugene Field Elementary for 12 years before retiring in 2010.
An ardent supporter of all Webb City Athletics, Dean has watched a girls softball, boys JV football game, boys soccer match and girls volleyball game all in the same day.
Mr. Chuck Pittman '88
Chuck Pittman helped lead the baseball Cardinals to their first-ever Final Four appearance as a senior in 1988. Sharing pitching duties with fellow Hall of Fame member Mark Baker, the Cardinals finished the season at 18-8.
As a junior, Pittman finished with a perfect 6-0 record, tossing back to back no-hitters during the season. He finished with a 0.43 ERA, a number that is still best in Cardinal history.
As a senior, he led the team in innings pitched (94), still the team record and the second-best in MSHSAA records. He also holds the team record for strikeouts in a season with 148, including 18 in a single game. The season total would currently rank #8 in the state record books. He was named All-Conference during his senior year.
Chuck also played basketball for Webb City, earning 1st team All-Conference honors his senior year.
He continued his pitching career at MSSU, where he helped the team to reach the NCAA Division II College World Series in both 1991 and 1992, finishing second in 1991. He holds the record for career wins with 29.
Following college, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, joining the Johnson City affiliate, coached by George Kissell.
Earning a double major with marketing and management degrees, he returned to Webb City in 1993 and began his career with Cardinal Scale Manufacturing.
Mr. Robert Fisher '87
A three-time All-State honoree, Robert, finished his career with 1,810 points and the leading scorer in boys basketball at Webb City.
As a sophomore, he averaged 19.5 points, helping the team to a 15-12 record and district title.
Averaging 21.9 points and eclipsing the 1000 point mark as a junior, he helped lead the 1985-86 team to a 25-4 record. Finishing as conference champions, they won the district title before losing in the sectional round.
As a senior, he once again averaged over 21 points per game, helping the Cardinals to a 20-7 record.
On the baseball diamond, Robert was one of the leading hitters for the Cardinals both his junior and senior year.
Graduating as the class Valedictorian, Robert continued his education at MSSU where he was a member of the basketball team for one year and the baseball team for three years. After graduating with a BS in Biology and an Associate Degree in Nursing, he earned his Masters of Science in Anesthesia from the University of Kansas.
Mr. Richard Correll
Graduated Picher, OK
Northeastern State College, Tahlequah, OK
Began teaching 1968-69 school year and coaching 8th-grade basketball
Began coaching golf in 1973 - remained until 2000 coaching one state champion
Girls BB Coach 1979-84, best finish 1981-82 at 23-3 and ranked 5th. Coached Lisa Allison
Moved to freshman boys BB in 1984-85 for 5 years
Believe he began coaching high school football in 1979-1980 school year, retiring once in 1994 from high school and returning to junior high football coach.
After retiring from teaching in 1999-2000 he returned to the Friday night sidelines
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