For four years, Montgomery County senior Malia Rodgers and Wellsville-Middletown senior Bethany Slovensky have been successful athletes in their respective schools, combining for 12 all-state awards and 18 all-Eastern Missouri Conference awards.

Next year, Rodgers and Slovensky will be carrying their success to State Fair Community College. On the afternoon of March 28, the seniors signed letters of intent to compete in basketball and track at the Sedalia junior college. The signing was held at MCHS’ gymnasium in front of members of both the Rodgers and Slovensky families. State Fair head track coach Brad Hagedorn and assistant track coach Cooper Pauley also were in attendance.

“I’m looking forward to getting to State Fair,” Rodgers said. “We only have so many days left until graduation. It’s really nice for them (the State Fair track coaches) to drive all the way here to support us.”

“I’m excited for this new opportunity,” Slovensky said. “High school is never going to last forever, so I’m excited for State Fair.”

Rodgers and Slovensky have been playing sports together since they were in elementary school. They played in youth softball and basketball in Montgomery County. Rodgers’ dad, Chris, coached both teams.

Rodgers said even though she and Slovensky attend different high schools, they maintain a strong relationship.

“It’s hard to play against each other, but it’s still fun to know someone on the other team and joke around on the floor,” Rodgers said.

Next year, Rodgers and Slovensky will look to play key roles for the Roadrunners’ women’s basketball and track teams. The women’s basketball team won 22 games and reached the NJCAA Region 16 championship game this winter. Last year, the track team had an all-American performer in 2022 MCHS graduate Sam Queathem as she finished seventh in the javelin.

“My goal is to come in, make a big impact on the team, do whatever I can to get playing time, make myself better and enjoy the college experience,” Rodgers said. “I get to be with Bethany, so that’s super fun.”

Slovensky said she first heard about State Fair Community College from a phone call from Rodgers last year.

“She wanted me to come with her,” Slovensky said. “So I checked into it the next day. I toured it and I loved it and I thought it was the best fit.”

Hagedorn said he believes Rodgers and Slovensky will be strong additions to the State Fair track team next year.

“Our program at State Fair is relatively new, so to get the quality of athletes out of those two coming to our school is going to bolster our roster immensely,” Hagedorn said. “Not only are they great athletes, they’re great kids and great individuals. That’s probably more important to us than anything. They’re going to come to Sedalia and add to our culture that we’re trying to build.”

Rodgers competed in cross country and basketball all four years. She’s in her fourth year with the track team.

In basketball, Rodgers was named to the all-state team twice and helped the Wildcats win four EMO championships and two district titles. In cross country, she competed at state three times and earned all-state honors twice. She also participated in the state track meet three times and earned an all-state award in the 3,200 in her freshman year.

Pauley said he believes Rodgers will shine in the distance events for the Roadrunners.

“Being a relatively new program, we’re really just looking to continue getting stronger and stronger athletes in our program,” Pauley said. “She’s certainly one of them because of her success in high school. To have her be part of the program and come off of basketball, she’s going to roll into track and be very competitive right off the bat.”

Rodgers, who will major in speech pathology at State Fair, said she has enjoyed her time at MCHS. She plans to graduate on May 19.

“I’m going to miss the people here a lot,” the MCHS senior said. “There were a lot of good people who came out of this high school and supported me the whole way. That’s what I’m going to miss.”

Slovensky earned seven all-state medals in track the last three years – three last year and two each in her freshman and sophomore seasons. She also competed in the state cross country meet three times and was named to the all-conference basketball team all four years.

Slovensky, who will major in radiologic technology at State Fair, said she’s looking forward to continuing her athletic career to the next level.

“I’m super excited,” the W-M senior said. “It’s going to be very different, but I have a lot of people around me to support me and everything. I think it will be really fun. I want to have a really good time with my teammates and everything.”