Dew-ing it all: Dewrock is our Female Athlete of the Year

Staff photo by Mike Buhler [Click to enlarge]

Ciara Dewrock is not a young woman of many words.

She doesn't have to be -- she lets her abilities do the talking.

Whether it is slamming down the ball for a kill or "servin' it where they ain't" for an ace in volleyball or blasting the ball over the fence on the softball diamond, Dewrock's actions speak louder than words.

Having said that, it is no wonder she has been named the Daily Dunklin Democrat Female Athlete of the Year.

"I am truly excited about Ciara being named Player of the Year," Kennett softball coach Laurie Vaughan said. "This is a very deserving award for her. She is an extremely talented young lady. I have enjoyed being her coach in softball and getting to know her as an individual."

Dewrock's praises from her softball coach are well justified, as she hit a team-high .455 for the undefeated Lady Indians softball team, racking up a team-high 25 hits -- 12 of which went for extra bases, including a pair of home runs that landed over the outfield fence at Indian Park.

"That's the first one we've had go over the fence -- other than practice -- since I've been coaching here," Vaughan said after Dewrock's first home run on April 16 against Caruthersville. "It's great to see her finally get one of those. She's been hitting the ball extremely well and today she just got hold of one."

Dewrock earned All-Bootheel Conference honors this spring and was also a member of the Daily Dunklin Democrat Dandy Dozen Softball team. Her accomplishments on the diamond are all the more amazing considering she is the Lady Tribe's first-string catcher, a position that can be hard on a player's knees.

Dewrock is also an outstanding volleyball player, as evidenced by her being named to the All-Bootheel Conference team last fall after she helped the Lady Indians run the table in the league and in the league tournament.

Dewrock was a versatile talent for Kennett, using her leaping ability to make her a force at the net and also at the service line.

In the Bootheel Conference Tournament finals back in October, Dewrock came through in the clutch, delivering five aces, five kills and three blocks, but also stepped up on defense, racking up a team-high 12 digs as the Lady Tribe won a three-set battle against archrival Senath-Hornersville.

"It seemed like at every point there was somebody different that stepped up ... " Kennett volleyball coach Laura Ort told the DDD after the game. "Ciara had a good serve there at the end and had to make her serves."

Dewrock delivered a team-high nine kills when Kennett clinched the regular-season Bootheel Conference title at Hayti, and also added five kills and five aces in a league win at Caruthersville on September 29.

Dewrock attributes her success to hard work.

"I practice all the time," said Dewrock. "(It is) dedication and just wanting to play."

Vaughan echoes Dewrock's sentiments.

"She works really hard on and off the field," Vaughan said. "She shows great determination and competitiveness. Ciara is not a quitter. She has a strong desire to be the best and works to make that happen. I believe that Ciara is capable of doing anything that she puts her mind to."

With another year of high school left, Dewrock has not decided where she is going to play, but plans to concentrate on softball in college. She has considered Alabama State University and is hoping to attend a southern school.

"I don't like cold weather," said Dewrock, "so I'm going south."