The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) honored Vicki Reimler with the prestigious Mal Mayse Distinguished Service Award at the Rock Bridge boys basketball game on Feb. 11.
Reimler, a native of Jamestown, Mo., and a 1975 graduate of Jamestown High School, has spent over four decades positively impacting high school sports and activities across the state. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Reimler holds both a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (1979) and a Master’s Degree in Health Education (1986). Her passion for fostering student success through athletics has been evident throughout her career.
Reimler began her professional journey at Farmington High School in 1979, where she served as an assistant coach for track and volleyball. In 1982, she transitioned to Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, where she cemented her legacy over the next 28 years. During her tenure at Rock Bridge, Reimler wore many hats, including head volleyball coach, assistant girls basketball coach and athletic director. Her leadership and dedication significantly contributed to the school’s athletic program, earning her recognition and respect from colleagues and students alike.
Reimler’s contributions to athletics extend beyond the court and field. As an athletic director from 1999 to 2005, she achieved certification as a Certified Athletic Administrator through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) in 2004. Her efforts to promote excellence and uphold high standards in interscholastic athletics were recognized with several accolades, including the Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s (MIAAA) 25 Years Service Award in 2004 and the Distinguished Service Award for the Northeast District in 2017. She was also inducted into the Rock Bridge Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.
Even in retirement, Reimler’s dedication to high school athletics continues. She served as a substitute teacher in Columbia Public Schools from 2010 to 2021 and currently contributes as the director of basketball operations for the Rock Bridge Girls Basketball team.
Reflecting on her career, Reimler often remarks that, while she has not had children of her own, she has been privileged to mentor and influence thousands of kids who have crossed her path. Her commitment to student-athletes’ personal growth and success underscores the profound impact she has had on countless lives.