Hickman high school football is entering a new era under first-year head coach Justin Conyers.

The Kewpies were unable to secure a win during the 2023 season. However, with Conyers at the helm of the program in 2024, Hickman has reached several new milestones of success.

Recently, this has included stringing together three-straight wins–a feat the Kewpies haven’t achieved in over a decade. A Hickman graduate, Conyers said he takes pride in being a Kewpie.

“We’re the only Kewpie in the nation,” Conyers said. “I don’t know that there’s more pride built than there is to be a Hickman Kewpie.”

After graduating in 1999, Conyers coached at several high schools around mid-Missouri before returning home to Hickman.

“It’s been awesome,” Conyers said. “It’s really been surreal for me and my family.”

As head coach, Conyers has helped usher in a wave of firsts for the Kewpies’ 2024 senior class.

“They [the seniors] won their first home game ever. They won the first back-to-back games,” Conyers said. “Then, to beat Jeff City on senior night to win the first senior night game.”

Upperclassmen, including wide receiver Carter Holliday, said this season has been filled with great achievements.

“For us seniors, to be able to have a positive season for the first time in who knows how long, is awesome,” Holliday said.

According to Holliday, the Kewpies are starting to find their stride under Conyers.

“It’s way different than the past years,” Holliday said. “We’re striving and moving with something behind us.”

Both Holliday and Conyers said they feel the Kewpie community’s support behind the team.

“The community is proud to be a Kewpie again,” Conyers said. “All the naysayers, they make fun of you for being a Kewpie, but it’s something that we’ve embraced.”