Groom named Girls Soccer Player of the Year

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Groom as Missouri's best high school girls soccer player.  Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in May, Groom joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners that include Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo, Mich.), Candice Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.) and Kevin Garnett (1992-93, Maudlin HS, S.C.).

At the time of her selection, the 5-foot-5 junior forward had led the Blue Jays to a 16-2 record and a bye into the Class 3, District 16 tournament semifinals to be held next week.  She has recorded 24 goals and 15 assists on the season.  A 2009 ESPN RISE First Team All-American, Groom was the 2009 Class 3 Offensive Player of the Year and is a two-time First Team All-State selection.  A member of the U.S. Soccer Federation Under-18 National Team, she is the nation's No. 4 recruit in the Class of 2011 as rated by TopDrawerSoccer.com and had recorded 89 goals and 46 assists in her prep career through 18 games this season.

Groom has also maintained a 3.89 GPA in the classroom.  She has verbally committed to play soccer on a scholarship at Texas A & M University beginning in the fall of 2011.

Liberty Public Schools congratulates Shea Groom on this tremendous honor and wish her and her Blue Jay teammates the best of the luck the remainder of this soccer season!