Shawnee Mission South Athlete Honored as Good Sport

Shawnee Mission South Athlete Honored as Good Sport
Shawnee Mission School District

Natalie Payne, Shawnee Mission South Senior athlete, has been honored by Sporting KC and Goodcents as one of the ten Good Sport athletes in the Kansas City metro area, as a part of the GoodSport campaign.  Hundreds of high school senior athletes were nominated by their coaches. GoodSport shares that Payne “was chosen for her character, passion, and perseverance on and off the field.”

A triple threat athlete, playing soccer, volleyball and basketball, Payne excels at academics and inspiring her teammates. Her sophomore year, she led the soccer team to their first state tournament appearance in 20 years. She was nominated by her coach because in spite of the pandemic shifting plans and expectations, Payne has continued “to lead with the grace and strength of a young person wise beyond their years.”

As an honoree, Payne filmed a commercial with Sporting KC captain Matt Besler and won free sub sandwiches for a year.  

Covid has been hard on all of us. Natalie’s continued leadership and encouragement of her teams, despite the circumstances, is really what being a GoodSport is all about.
– Matt Besler

Goodcents, a KC based sub-sandwich company, and Sporting KC Team Captain Matt Besler, himself a former high school soccer player, have teamed up to recognize these athletes.

“These young athletes should inspire all of us to be our best selves,” said Besler. “They should remind us that this year isn’t about wins or losses. It’s about how we give back, how we work together and how we rise to a challenge with integrity.”