Two Russellville High School athletes signed to play collegiate athletics last week at Russellville High School.
On Dec. 13, senior volleyball player Lexie Plochberger signed with Missouri Valley College volleyball. Plochberger has been a setter throughout her entire career and played for multiple club teams before joining the Lady Indians as a freshman. In her freshman season, she made her presence felt on the court and was named an All-Conference honorable mention.
Plochberger got better each year and was named first team All-Conference and first team All-District in each of the next three seasons. She was named team captain in 2021 and helped the Lady Indians earn their first 20-win season in almost two decades last fall. Plochberger said her favorite moments of playing with Russellville are the times she has spent with her teammates and coaches. She said her favorite games were when Russellville played Versailles.
Plochberger began searching for colleges to attend to further her volleyball career and major in graphic design. She went on a campus visit to Missouri Valley and said she had a gut feeling that it was the place for her.
"It was just one of those things where you know - instantly know - that this is where you want to be. I really liked the campus and I didn't want to go somewhere too big," Plochberger said. "I also liked the facilities. The gym, the weight room and the places where I would be playing volleyball at. The coach was also very nice and welcoming. She made sure that everything I wanted was there. She put my interests first..."
The next day, it was track and field senior Mackenzie Linnenbrink's turn for her college signing. Linnenbrink signed with Columbia College track and field.
Linnenbrink was a part of Russellville Middle School, but stopped for a time. She was encouraged by her friends to come back at track and field her sophomore year of high school.
When Linnenbrink came back to track and field, she took a keen interest in shot put. From that point on, she became a mainstay on the Indians' track and field team.
Linnenbrink said her favorite moments with Russellville were the times she got to spend with her friends during competitions and qualifying for the state sectionals in shot put as a sophomore.
"I think their head coach reaching out to me and taking an interest in what I do is what drew me to him," Linnenbrink said. "I think having someone else realize that I had potential meant a lot to me."
Linnenbrink will be majoring in elementary education at Columbia College with the hopes of becoming a physical education teacher.
(Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Russellville volleyball senior Lexie Plochberger (front row middle) is joined by her family and coaches during her signing with Missouri Valley College on Dec. 13.
(Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Russellville track and field senior Mackenzie Linnenbrink signed with Columbia College track and field on Thursday at Russellville High School.
(Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Russellville track and field senior (middle) is joined by her parents during her signing to Columbia College on Thursday night.