Highland’s Logsdon finds calling after injury, returns to floor for Muddy River Showcase

LEWISTOWN, Mo. — Sometimes an injury can be a blessing in disguise.

While he couldn’t play the sports he loved, Brayden Logsdon found his calling in coaching.

Logsdon tore his right meniscus as he ran a quarterback keeper up the middle during the Highland football team’s Week 5 game against Macon on September 22, 2023.

“I had no idea what happened,” said Logsdon, who was also a returning starter on the Highland boys basketball team. “I just knew it hurt. It scared me because the first thing that came to my mind was ‘When am I going to be able to play again?’”

The answer to that question will be answered Saturday when Logsdon represents Missouri in the Muddy River Showcase at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center.

“It’s gonna feel nice to play one last game,” Logsdon said.

Even though the injury sidelined him for more than five months, Logsdon still found a way to stay involved with the Cougars. He acted as an extra assistant coach for first-year boys basketball coach Whitney Edmondson.

“It was just like having another coach we would have hired,” Edmondson said.

During this time, Logsdon gained a new perspective on the game.

“It was fun still being part of the team even if I wasn’t on the floor, still being able to interact with those guys in practice and see them grow,” Logsdon said.

Logsdon had an interest in coaching for some time, but after this winter, he was hooked.

“This really sealed the deal,” Logsdon said. “I want to be a coach.”

While his interest lies in coaching football, he can use what he learned during basketball season in any future coaching endeavor.

“I learned a lot of life lessons like keeping a positive mindset, picking teammates up when they’re down, really seeing the coaching side of things,” Logsdon said.

While Edmondson would have much rather had Logsdon as the point guard for a team with just one other returning starter, she enjoyed having his leadership around.

“I think it really showed his character,” Edmondson said. “We missed him immensely on the floor, but what he brought to us as like a student assistant coach was very valuable. All the kids look up to him.”

Instead of summoning Logsdon’s leadership from the sidelines, Edmondson will have it on the floor Saturday when she leads the Missouri boys team against Illinois.

“I’m very excited. I’ve always wanted to coach him,” Edomondson said. “When I first came here in the summer, I got to coach him during summer ball, then he went straight to football, so it’s really cool that I get to coach him again.”

Logsdon didn’t see this opportunity coming.

“I figured there was no chance I was going to get to play because I didn’t touch the court my senior season,” Logsdon said.

Tickets for the Muddy River Showcase are $10
with all seats general admission and all sales at the door.