Kate Gallagher always seems to have a decision to make.

Even choosing a college destination couldn’t be simple for the Savannah senior standout. Before picking a school, Gallagher had to decide what sport she really wanted to play.

Ultimately, Gallagher decided on golfing at the University of Missouri. She recently made her verbal commitment to Tigers golf coach Stephanie Priesmeyer.

At first, Gallagher considered playing basketball and golf at the Division II level, but she opted for the links and a chance to achieve her dream of being a Division I athlete.

“I liked the idea of playing two sports, but then I realized how crazy it would be,” said Gallagher, a standout in four sports during her time at Savannah. “I narrowed it down to one sport. That was my first decision, and I wanted to go to a Big 12 school.”

Gallagher also considered Nebraska and Iowa State as potential destinations.

With family in consideration, Missouri won out on the services of the 2007 Class 2 state champion, who finished as runner-up last season. The decision still proved difficult.

“I was hoping one would stand out more than the other,” Gallagher said. “Coach (Priesmeyer) was very persistent. She was very nice, and I got along with her really well. I saw myself being able to play for her.”

Missouri offered Gallagher a half scholarship for athletics, but coupled with a 32 score on her ACT, Gallagher’s “Bright Flight” and other academic scholarships bring her very close to full scholarship status.

In three-plus years, Gallagher has won all but four events she has entered in high school. The only times she didn’t win came in 2006 districts, 2006 state, 2008 Richmond Invitational and 2008 state.

In addition, Gallagher won the Missouri Women’s Golf Association Junior Championship this past summer plus a myriad of other state and national honors.

The official signing day for Gallagher will be the second week in November when she formally pledges her service to Missouri.

“I’ve grown up a Missouri fan. I’ve been wearing their colors since I was a little kid,” she said. “It’s kind of natural, loyalty to my state. If they want me that bad, it’s awesome my home school wants me to play there.”

Cross county

Dave Elms sported a crisp and pristine blue East Buchanan polo shirt at last Friday’s Rock Port-East Buchanan game.

It was a startling sight for the longtime Mid-Buchanan coach and administrator. In a sudden and unexpected career change, Elms took a job as East Buchanan’s middle school principal and ended his tenure at Mid-Buchanan.

He started at East Buchanan on Sept. 8.

Elms spent 13 years at Mid-Buchanan, the past eight as assistant principal, activities director and baseball coach. His new duties don’t currently include any coaching, although Elms plans to keep his responsibilities as KCI Conference secretary for athletics.

The loss of coaching duties proved to be the hardest part of making his career move. Elms took the Dragons to their second district title in baseball during the 2007 season during a successful tenure.

“I’m going to miss my baseball team, for sure,” Elms said. “My last day at Mid-Buchanan when I talked to them, that was pretty rough.”

Goodin goes solo

Setting the pace usually doesn’t bother Princeton’s Blake Goodin.

As a freshman, he crushed the field during the mile on the way to a Class 1 state championship in his first event at state. Now he’s running a race of a different — and much longer — distance.

With two meets under his belt already, Goodin is the only member of Princeton’s cross country team. He decided to give the sport a try just a week before the season started and hopes to advance to the state meet in Jefferson City, Mo.

To do so, he’ll have to adjust his running style and mentality to account for the increased mileage.

“it’s going to take me awhile to get used to it,” Goodin said. “I’m not really good at running a slower pace. It bothers me. It annoys me.”

Goodin, also a member of the Tigers’ football team, participated in a West Platte meet last season as an unattached runner but didn’t pursue the postseason qualification, which stipulates that an athlete must compete in at least five regular-season meets.

But the Princeton sophomore kicked off his season in Liberty at the St. Mary’s Invitational and most recently competed at Raymore-Peculiar, where he finished fifth in 17 minutes, 57 seconds — traditionally a top-10 time at the Class 1 meet. He finished behind three runners with prior all-state experience and hopes to improve his technique and strategy as the year progresses.

“It’s a pretty big undertaking, but I’m a lot stronger this year, so it’s a lot easier,” Goodin said. “My main goal is to participate at state and see what I can do.”

Goodin plans to run again in a week and a half at Marshall before taking part in the Savannah Invitational.