Started under Jordan Palmer back in the spring of 2014, Owensville Dutchgirl soccer will have just their second head coach in program history come next spring.

Approved by a unanimous 7-0 vote during last Tuesday’s meeting of the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education, Kalyn Kemp was hired to take over head coaching duties from Palmer who cited changing family circumstances in his resignation later. He will still continue to teach instrumental music and band during the upcoming 2020-21 school year.

“I’ve played all my life since I was four,” Kemp said. “I played in high school at Fort Zumwalt North. After graduating from there in 2013, I played a year of college soccer at St. Charles Community College.”

Kemp is really excited to get back into the soccer scene after not being around it for the past few years.

“I’m just really excited about this new opportunity to be around soccer,” Kemp said. “I’ve missed it not being able to play and now I’m excited about this chance to coach a game I love.”

In her third year with the Gasconade County R-2 School District, Kemp is currently teaching special education at Gerald Elementary School.

In the spring of 2021, Kemp will have three seniors to turn to for team leadership in Luci Angell, Katelyn Landolt and Kaitlin Nelson.

Additionally, 10 juniors will return to make up a solid group of upperclassmen in Leah Reed, Jocelyn Benson, Cami Gray, Mai Takahashi, Bree McGee, Nina Baker, Paige Loyd, Aubrey Dawson, Jenna Armstrong and Kyah Tiefenbrunn.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know my players,” Kemp said.