Show Me the Ozarks August 2022

Destiny Buerge This Basketball and Volleyball Superstar from Carl Junction Can’t Be Stopped

basketball after high school. I currently have offers from D1 UTRGV in Edinburg, Texas, and D2 Pittsburg State

Age: 17 Grade: 12th Grade School: Carl Junction High School

University. What is a

D estiny Buerge practically grew up in the gym. From a young age, she watched her older siblings Desmond and Desirea pursue their athletic goals and always looked up to them. Destiny started playing basketball in the third grade for the Webb City Angels and, later, the MO Scrubs. In sixth grade, she started playing volleyball and has excelled in both sports ever since. As a junior, Destiny averaged 22.8 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 3.8 steals per game. In volleyball, she scored 684 points in a single year and a new season record for CJHS. She was named the 4-State Basketball Association’s All Area Player of the Year. She has also earned the titles MVP Carl Junction Classic, one of the Magnificent 11’s for the Basketball Preview, the Max Prep/WBCA Player of the Week. This girl is going places! What’s your favorite sport? What do you enjoy most about it? Basketball is my favorite. What I enjoy most about it is the connections and friendships I’ve built while playing. You’ve had some amazing accomplishments in your career so far. How does it feel when you win a new award or title? It feels good to win any award, but it helps to have my team and coaches pushing and supporting me every day at practice and games. It reminds me to keep pushing myself. What are some of your future goals? This year, I’ll be playing for the Banshees out of Arkansas coached by Brian Morgan and Lee Shannon, so I’ll be playing in Texas, Ohio, Indiana and Georgia. I hope this experience helps me as I pursue

great piece of advice you’ve received

from a coach, mentor or parent?

I think a great piece of advice I have received is to give it my

all because you never know how quickly something can be over. I think that can translate to other things in life, as well. I don’t want to look back in 10 or 20 years and wish I would’ve given more of myself to the sport. I know this is a small part of the grand scheme of things, and I want to enjoy every moment. Tell us a little bit about your life outside of sports. What do you like to do in your free time? I have three siblings. I have an older brother Desmond (28), an older sister Desirea (25) and a younger sister DeShaye’ (15). I spend

a lot of time in the gym working out with my dad, Desmond, and my sister in-law Brenlee Buerge. My younger sibling Deshaye’ plays on the high school team with me. I also have three pets: two dogs and one cat. Outside of sports, I love going to the lake, attending church on Sunday mornings and evenings, and spending time with my friends.

“What I enjoy most about it is the connections

and friendships I’ve built while playing.” – Destiny Buerge

August 2022 • www.showmetheozarks.com • 71