Kayla Koester, a Northeast R-IV School at Cairo senior that will graduate this May, signed a letter of intent on Wednesday, March 27 to play basketball while attending North Central Missouri College at Trenton during the 2019-2020 year.

The 5′11 daughter of Jason and Tess Koester averaged 6 points, 6.2 rebounds and one assist per game while playing for head coach Brian Winkler. The Lady 'Cats had another success year finishing with a record of 23-5 in winning a Class 2 district title, a state sectional win and reaching the state quarterfinals.

Kayla made 51 percent of her field goals (64-126) and 46 percent of her free throws (17-37), and she was named to the All-Central Activities Conference Team this past season.

Koester said she originally made plans to forego her basketball career at the next level and attend University of Central Missouri at Warrensburg to pursue a degree in sports broadcast journalism. However, a few days after her Cairo team participated in the Salisbury tournament held in early January, she received a call from North Central Missouri College women's coach Jenni Croy expressing interest in Kayla to come play basketball instead.

Koester said NCMC's golf coach had attended tournament games and noticed Kayla's play on the court, especially her contending against Paris 6′5 Tori Hamilton, and that person contacted coach Croy.

"I was shocked to learn that someone from a college approached me and who was interested in me coming to play basketball for them. I visited there and talked with them about their program and that excited me to change my plans to go to North Central for a couple of years and then transfer to somewhere else," Kayla said.

Koester said among her more memorable games in her Lady 'Cats career was Cairo's recent win against Sturgeon for the Class 2 District 7 tournament championship.

"The emotions of playing were at a high level. There was a huge crowd and it was noisy, making this a great basketball game atmosphere. Our team really came together, playing with much energy. It was incredible," Kayla said. "That kind of play continued throughout our post season run. It was awesome."

A two-year varsity starter in basketball and three-year starter on the girls' softball team, Koester has also been involved with the school's FBLA and student council programs.

Outside of competing in basketball and softball, Kayla said she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, and watching baseball games.

Story courtesy of Chuck Embree, Kirksville Dailey Express.  You can find the full story at https://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/sports/20190401/cairos-kayla-koester-to-continue-basketball-career-at-north-central-mo-college. 

Pictured (L-R):

Front:  Cairo Head Coach Brian Winkler, Kayla Koester, NCMC Head Coach Jenni Croy

Back:  Father Jason Koester, Mother Tess Koester