Dive into the extraordinary career of Mike Essick, an Ozarks high school baseball legend whose influence extends far beyond the diamond. From his current role loading feed sacks to building a formidable coaching tree, Essick shares candid stories, including the hilarious and painful tale of tearing his hamstring mid-race and continuing to run to avoid looking weak in front of his players. Discover how he channeled his competitive fire into basketball refereeing and what it meant to have Ozark High School name their field in his honor, a truly humbling and surreal experience.

This episode also uncovers the resilience and sheer grit that defined his unconventional path to coaching, including working at a Kraft factory and as a hod carrier before a surprising turn landed him his dream job. Plus, hear his empowering philosophy on developing assistant coaches and a laugh-out-loud anecdote about how to earn the respect of legendary football coach Phil Montgomery.

Dive into the extraordinary career of&nbsp;Mike Essick, an Ozarks high school baseball legend whose influence extends far beyond the diamond. From his current role loading feed sacks to building a formidable coaching tree, Essick shares candid stories, including the hilarious and painful tale of tearing his hamstring mid-race and continuing to run to avoid looking weak in front of his players. Discover how he channeled his competitive fire into basketball refereeing and what it meant to have Ozark High School name their field in his honor, a truly humbling and surreal experience.
This episode also uncovers the resilience and sheer grit that defined his unconventional path to coaching, including working at a Kraft factory and as a hod carrier before a surprising turn landed him his dream job. Plus, hear his empowering philosophy on developing assistant coaches and a laugh-out-loud anecdote about how to earn the respect of legendary football coach Phil Montgomery.

Stay in the Game with 102.1 The Won – Springfield’s Sports Hub

Welcome to the official 102.1 The Won — your all-access pass to local sports, expert picks, live betting odds, and real-time updates for the Springfield, MO area.

-Local Coverage, Local Voice — In-depth coverage of Springfield-area teams and sports stories you care about.
-Live Sports Odds & Boards — View real-time odds for NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and more.
-Pro Picks & Betting Insights — Daily expert picks and analysis to help you level up your game.
-On-Air Shows & Podcasts — Stream live shows like VSiN Primetime, Keys to the Kingdom, and more.
-Alerts & News — Get notified on big games, breaking scores.

Stay in the Game with 102.1 The Won &ndash; Springfield&rsquo;s Sports Hub
Welcome to the official 102.1 The Won &mdash; your all-access pass to local sports, expert picks, live betting odds, and real-time updates for the Springfield, MO area.
-Local Coverage, Local Voice &mdash; In-depth coverage of Springfield-area teams and sports stories you care about. -Live Sports Odds &amp; Boards &mdash; View real-time odds for NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and more. -Pro Picks &amp; Betting Insights &mdash; Daily expert picks and analysis to help you level up your game. -On-Air Shows &amp; Podcasts &mdash; Stream live shows like VSiN Primetime, Keys to the Kingdom, and more. -Alerts &amp; News &mdash; Get notified on big games, breaking scores.