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Day: August 18, 2020

A RARE FEAT: K-State recruit Weathers set to become a three-year starter at running back for Webb City

Posted on by Jason Peake

Devrin Weathers is poised to pull off a rare feat at Webb City High School.  

When the prep football season opener arrives on Friday, August 28, Weathers will become a three-year starter at running back for the Cardinals.  

That’s an uncommon occurrence at Webb City, a perennial power that has captured a state-record 15 championships in Missouri.  

“It’s really rare,” Webb City coach John Roderique said of Weathers’ achievement. “I can count on one hand the number of guys I’ve had as three-year starters at running back over the 24 years I’ve been here.” 

“It’s pretty special to me,” Weathers said of the accomplishment. “I feel like every year I’ve gotten better. This year I’ve got to be at my peak as far as my high school career. I’ve gotta show out.”  

The dynamic Weathers enters his senior season as a premier player in not only Southwest Missouri, but also the entire Show-Me State.  

 

Devrin Weathers

A varsity performer since his freshman year who became a starter as a sophomore, Weathers has compiled 2,373 rushing yards and 37 total touchdowns ahead of his final prep campaign. 

“The production he’s had the last couple of years has been amazing,” Roderique said. “Devrin is an incredible athlete. He has unbelievable speed. Any time he gets the ball, there’s a chance he could take it to the end zone because of his speed and athleticism.” 

During a standout junior year, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Weathers ran for 1,386 yards with 19 touchdowns, leading the team in rushing for a second-straight season. Overall, Weathers compiled 1,736 all-purpose yards and 22 total touchdowns in ‘19, playing a key role at running back and kick returner as the Cardinals captured the Class 4 championship.  

For his efforts, Weathers earned first-team all-state recognition from the Missouri Football Coaches Association and second-team honors from the Missouri Media.  

“I feel like I had a pretty good junior season, but I know I can always get better,” said Weathers, who also suits up for the baseball team at Webb City. “I want to have an even better senior season. This summer I’ve put in a lot of work.” 

After drawing interest from a number of colleges, Weathers verbally committed to Kansas State in June to join Chris Klieman‘s Wildcats of the Big 12 Conference. 

“I felt like the coaching staff and everything about the program at K-State was great,” Weathers said. “I loved everything about it and I know I’ll be real comfortable there. They’ve been contacting me for a while. I think they first saw my highlights on Hudl when I was a sophomore.”  

Weathers, who runs a 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, also received Division-I offers from Navy and Eastern Illinois, along with a number of D-II offers. 

“It’s exciting and I’m really happy for him that he’s getting the opportunity to go to Kansas State,” Roderique said. “Playing at that level will be a challenge no doubt. We’re happy for him. They don’t give those offers out to just anybody.” 

Weathers is regarded as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and a two-star prospect by Rivals. According to 247Sports, Weathers is ranked No. 22 in Missouri’s Class of 2021.

As far as the next level, Weathers’ position is up in the air, but there’s been discussion that the Wildcats could play him at defensive back. 

First things first—Weathers and the defending champion Cardinals are now preparing for the 2020 campaign. 

 

 

Devrin Weathers poses with Coach John Roderique after the Cardinals won the 2019 Class 4 state championship game in Columbia.

 

Roderique noted Weathers has improved his work ethic, blocking and toughness ahead of his senior season.  

“I’ve seen some growth in his physicality,” Roderique said. “We’ve talked to him about being a more-physical runner and being a better blocker. He’s doing a really good job of leading and helping the younger players learn what we do. As a coach, you’re always appreciative of a senior helping the younger guys.” 

To Weathers, providing guidance to the underclassmen is something he’s more than willing to do. 

“I have a lot of experience and I feel like I can help teach the younger dudes,” he said. “As a senior, I have to step up and help lead this team. The younger kids always look up to the seniors, so I want to be a role model.”  

Now a varsity veteran, and with his college decision out of the way, Weathers intends to end his prep football career in a big way. 

“All summer we were wondering if we would get to play, so it’s a great feeling getting back out here,” Weathers said. “I’m just really excited. I want to show everyone what I can do. And we want to win a state title again this year.” 

 

MORE ON WEBB CITY: Defending champion Webb City Cardinals reloaded again

Jason Peake is a sports reporter and podcast host for SoMo Sports. You can follow him on Twitter at @JPeakeSports. You can follow SoMo Sports on Facebook, or on Twitter at @SoMo_Sports.

Smooth transition: Ray now in charge of Carthage softball program

Posted on by Jason Peake

Stephanie Ray has ascended from assistant to head softball coach at Carthage High School. 

And for Ray, it’s been a seamless transition.  

“It’s been a pretty smooth transition,” Ray said. “We’ve been doing a lot of the same things as we did before. I’m just adding my own style to things a little bit. It’s definitely been smooth. The girls were with me on the JV team before, they’ve been with me all summer and we were able to roll right into things.” 

Ray’s prior knowledge and familiarity of the program’s players, and the athlete’s comfortability with her, have made the coaching change uncomplicated. 

“It’s been good because I didn’t have to spend time trying to get to know the kids,” Ray said. “I already know the talents and abilities they have, so that’s been great.” 

Ray previously assisted Mike Godfrey, who retired at the conclusion of the 2019-20 school year. Before her time in Carthage, Ray was the head softball coach at Purdy.  

Ray said she’s thrilled to once again lead a program. 

“I was a head coach before and then it was nice to take a step back here and work with Mike Godfrey for several years,” Ray said. “I look at Coach Godfrey as a mentor. I learned so much the last five years under him, so it’s an honor that I get to fill his shoes.” 

Ray was a standout softball player at Webb City, earning all-conference, all-district and all-state recognition for Walter Resa’s Cardinals. 

Ray played collegiately at Labette Community College and Drury University, earning all-conference accolades and academic All-American honors at both schools. 

Stephanie Ray

TEAM OUTLOOK 

Despite losing six seniors to graduation, the Tigers return a solid core from last year’s squad that went 13-16 and ended the ‘19 season in the district semifinals. Carthage’s junior varsity squad went 15-1-1 last fall. 

Senior infielder Katie Crowe, a left-handed slapper, hit .371 and scored 21 runs in 2019.  

Sophomore outfielder Landry Cochran batted .340 and drove in 25 runs last fall, earning all-conference recognition as a freshman.  

Junior Natalie Rodriguez is another infielder. Ray said Cochran and Rodriguez are likely middle-of-the-order hitters. 

“They’re both pretty strong hitters,” she commented. 

Junior infielder Presley Probert also returns with plenty of varsity experience.  

Junior outfielder Mary Grace Richmond and senior catcher MaKayla Jennings are also expected to contribute nicely this fall.  

Jensyn Elder, Kate Potter, Lauren Haws and Ashlynn Jackson are options in the circle.  

“We’ve got four pitchers who I think at some point can throw in a varsity game,” said Ray, who teaches health and weight training and is also an assistant with the girls basketball program. 

A junior, Elder gained varsity experience the past two years, earning four wins with a 3.02 ERA in 2019. 

Ray noted she’s been pleased with her team’s effort and enthusiasm in practice. 

“They come in every day to work hard, but they also have fun,” Ray said. “They’ve been super competitive, they listen well, and they’ve been willing to accept and adapt to the things we’ve changed.” 

 

JAMBOREE IS AUG. 25 

Carthage will host a jamboree with Joplin, Carl Junction and Neosho on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at the Fair Acres Sports Complex. The action begins at 4:30. 

 

CARTHAGE SOFTBALL JAMBOREE 

Tuesday, Aug. 25 

(At Fair Acres Sports Complex)

4:30—Carthage vs. Carl Junction; Neosho vs. Joplin 

5:15—Carthage vs. Neosho; Joplin vs. Carl Junction 

6—Carthage vs. Joplin; Carl Junction vs. Neosho 

 

A DECADE IN THE MAKING: Webb City softball standout Haidyn Berry has goals set high for senior year

Posted on by Jason Peake

Haidyn Berry was just seven years old when she first began tossing a softball to her father, Matt, in the backyard of the family property.  

Soon after the early introduction to the game, Haidyn was hooked, as she soon developed a passion for the sport. 

Year after year, Berry has put in countless hours honing her skills and perfecting her technique, not only in the backyard with her father, but also on the diamond, whether with year-round travel teams or during the fall with the Webb City Cardinals.  

With that, it’s safe to say the Joplin area’s top high school softball player has been preparing for her senior year for an entire decade.  

Haidyn Berry

“From the time I was seven, a lot of people have helped me get where I am today,” Berry said before a recent practice, stating that her father, her aunt, Hailey Burpo, and travel ball coach Toby Fry were all early influences on her softball career. “Softball has run in the family, and I’ve had a lot of good coaches. I started when I was seven and I’ve played every weekend ever since.”  

Last fall, the right-handed Berry got it done in the circle and in the batter’s box during a standout junior season at Webb City. 

As her team’s workhorse pitcher, Berry went 18-5 with a 2.46 ERA, fanning 174 batters and walking just 23 in 139.1 innings.  

Batting in the middle of the order, Berry hit .418 with 29 runs batted in, 13 doubles and two home runs. 

“Last year, I really improved from my sophomore year and from my freshman year,” Berry said. “I saw a big difference. I had to become stronger in the mental part of the game.” 

For her efforts, Berry was named the 2019 Central Ozark Conference Player of the Year.  

“That meant a lot to me,” Berry said of the conference recognition. “I worked really hard, so I was really proud of myself.” 

Berry also earned all-state, all-district and all-region honors last fall.  

So what makes Berry a special player? 

“I think what sets her apart from others is her competitiveness and determination to beat every batter she faces,” Webb City coach Shauna Friend said, adding Berry is a role model on the field and in the classroom. “She is mentally tough and never gets down on herself or her teammates.” 

Berry also stood out as a sophomore, hitting .460 with 27 RBI while also earning 11 pitching victories. She also gained varsity experience as a freshman. 

Friend is confident Berry will once again be a dominant two-way performer for the Cardinals. 

“I look for Haidyn to control the game in the circle by having a firm command of her pitches,” Friend said. “Not only does Haidyn have good speed, but her command of her pitches has improved so much over the past three years. She will be a vital component of our offense as well. She will also provide strong leadership for the team.” 

Webb City went 21-7 in 2019, capturing the COC championship and claiming a district crown before falling in the sectional round.  

“It was a good season,” Berry said. “We had a lot of talent last year. We lost a lot of seniors, but we have a lot of talent coming back. I think we’ll be just as good as we were last year.” 

The daughter of Matt and Heather Berry noted the team’s objectives are set high, with advancing to the state’s final four an ultimate goal.  

“We want to be conference and district champions again and go to state,” Berry said. “That was our goal the last two years and we fell short. We want to finish it this year. That would be awesome.” 

Haidyn Berry

Berry is currently undecided on her future plans.  

She’s considering playing softball at the collegiate level, but may decide to focus on track and field. Berry is Webb City’s school record holder in the girls javelin (134 feet, 6 inches). 

“As far as college, I don’t know yet, but we’ll see,” she said. 

With fall practices underway, Berry stressed she and her teammates are just thankful for the opportunity to compete on the field, as the COVID-19 pandemic raised doubts on whether there would even be a season. 

“Just being back on the field with my teammates means a lot,” Berry said.  

With that, it’s clear the Cardinals’ two-way standout is highly motivated to end her prep softball career on a high note. 

“There’s a lot of pressure on me, but I like pressure,” Berry said. “I’m weird like that. I like pressure on me in the classroom, too. I think it makes me a stronger person.”

Berry had one final thought.

“I’m just excited for the season,” she said. 

That comment should come as no surprise. With a lot of hard work and dedication along the way, Berry’s senior year is a decade in the making.

 

Jason Peake is a sports reporter and podcast host for SoMo Sports. You can follow him on Twitter at @JPeakeSports. You can follow SoMo Sports on Facebook, or on Twitter at @SoMo_Sports.

Four starters return for Webb City softball team

Posted on by Jason Peake

The Webb City High School softball team put together a stellar 2019 season. 

And with four returning starters, including the conference’s reigning player of the year, the Cardinals hope to go one step further in 2020. 

“We have high expectations for the season,” Cardinals coach Shauna Friend said. “Even though we lost several seniors, we had a lot of depth at nearly every position and plan to carry on, playing at the same level of intensity. I believe this team has the ability, determination, and unity to claim conference and district titles and advance deep into the postseason.” 

In 2019, Webb City went 21-7, won the Central Ozark Conference championship, a district crown and reached the sectional round of the Class 4 state tournament last fall, falling to Raymore-Peculiar 2-0 in walk-off fashion. 

Webb City lost four all-conference performers to graduation. 

“We are certainly going to miss last year’s seniors, and their shoes will be tough to fill, but I know we have the athletes to step up and jump right into those positions,” Friend said. “We have 13 talented juniors and seniors competing for those spots. I anticipate we will have several role players this year to try to utilize the talent to best benefit our team.” 

Leading the group of returning starters is senior pitcher Haidyn Berry, last year’s COC Player of the Year. 

As her team’s workhorse pitcher, Berry went 18-5 with a 2.46 ERA, fanning 174 batters and walking just 23 in 139.1 innings. At the plate, Berry hit .418 with 29 runs batted in, 13 doubles and two home runs. 

Friend expects Berry to once again lead the way. 

A DECADE IN THE MAKING: Webb City softball standout Haidyn Berry has goals set high for senior year

The Cardinals feature three other returning starters in senior second baseman Alyssa Jennings, junior shortstop Peyton Hawkins and junior right fielder Emma Welch. 

Jennings hit .345 with 23 runs scored and 22 RBI in ‘19.  

“She is a defensive asset in both the infield and the outfield,” Friend said. “I expect to see her be an offensive leader on the team.” 

Hawkins batted .410 last fall with 25 runs scored and 15 RBI.  

“I expect her to be consistent in the field and at the plate,” Friend said. “She hit leadoff for us last season and was able to get things going early. With that experience, I think she will continue to improve offensively. I expect her to continue to go 100% all the time, that is her only gear.” 

Welch hit .450 in 53 plate appearances with 13 runs scored. 

“Emma developed into an invaluable outfielder for us last year,” Friend said. “She got a lot of action in right field and made some outstanding defensive plays. I expect her to continue to be consistent at the plate and use her speed and arm in the outfield to benefit the team.” 

Friend noted there are many starting positions up for grabs in the preseason. 

“With only four returning varsity starters and 17 juniors and seniors on the roster, our lineup and positions are wide open,” Friend said.  

The Webb City softball program has had plenty of success in recent years, and Friend hopes that trend continues.  

“I think there are a lot of factors that keep Webb City softball as a competitive threat year after year,” Friend said. “First, nearly all of our girls play ball all summer and have since they were eight years old. We work on fundamentals every day, but they have good fundamental skills coming into high school. They also get a lot of live at-bats over the summer leading into the fall. A second factor is the parent and community support they have every season. And third, Webb City Cardinals know how to win and have a built-in desire to win. Our focus is competing to win in every situation—every at-bat, every inning, every game. Our seniors came up with our team motto this year ‘All it takes is all you’ve got’ and that is what we, as coaches, expect from them every practice and every game.” 

The Cardinals are scheduled to begin the season on Aug. 31 at Nevada.

Jasper likes where Eagles are at following Red-White scrimmage

Posted on by Lucas Davis

With less than two weeks until the start of the season, Joplin football held its annual Red-White scrimmage on Saturday.

Under normal circumstances, a scrimmage doesn’t bring much in terms of excitement other than it meaning the regular season isn’t too far away as the players begin to shake the rust off in a live situation. But the last eight months have been anything but normal, and it was obvious by the large turnout in the stands at Junge Field that the Joplin fanatics are going to cherish every bit of football they get this season. Coach Curtis Jasper, his coaching staff and his players all feel the same way.

“With everything going on in different parts of the state, here is Southwest Missouri, knock on wood, we are in pretty decent shape,” Jasper said. “I talked to the kids all the time about a lot of this being on them and what their limitations are as far as what they can do and where they can go in order for us to have a season.

“That is not something you or I had to deal with growing up and playing sports. Obviously, we can’t be with them 24-7, but so far, so good. They are doing the right things, and you can tell this means a lot to them. We want to play each week, and they know each week is a blessing.” 

As for the product on the field, Coach Jasper was happy, for the most part, with what he saw from his kids.

“I liked the physicality that I saw from them,” Jasper said. “I liked getting them out under the lights and seeing some big plays. Even though we graduated some big-play guys from last year, it was nice we could still chunk the ball down the field. The biggest thing was getting out of here healthy and getting some film to go over because we still have several positions up for grabs.”

As for what he wanted to see an improvement on, less yellow laundry on the field would be ideal.

“We saw a lot of penalties,” Jasper said. “We will have to clean the little things like that up, obviously.” 

Junior quarterback Always Wright took snaps as the first-team quarterback to open up the varsity portion of the scrimmage. The Eagles are looking to replace Blake Tash after the most-accurate passer in the state of Missouri graduated. 

“We haven’t made that decision final yet, but I’d say he has the edge right now,” Jasper said when asked if Wright would be the Week 1 starter.  

Wright, who completed 7-of-12 passes on the night, had a big play through the air when he connected on a 54-yard touchdown pass over the middle to 5-foot-11, 165-pound sophomore wide receiver Dante Washington.

“He is doing a real good job, and he is very coachable,” Jasper said of Wright. “He is a great athlete, and he does a really good job, with a great pocket presence and touch on the football.”

Washington made several head-turning plays in the passing game during the varsity portion of the scrimmage to steal the spotlight. He caught three passes and gained more than 100 yards through the air, showing off his big-play ability.

“He is a guy who can be very explosive for us,” Jasper said. “We are probably deeper at the receiver position than we’ve ever been. We have four guys we may consider starters, but we may have two or three behind them that, in other years, could have been a starter. We feel that is a really deep position group and the guys have to bring it every day because they have guys pushing them.”

Wright threw a pair of interceptions in the first varsity portion of the scrimmage, with junior LB Joe Jasper and sophomore DB Morgan Keller each coming away with takeaways.

“I thought our kids flew around defensively and did a really good job,” Coach Jasper said. “And that’s what (Defensive coordinator) Coach (Nick) Reid asked of his defense. We will coach them up on film, but the main thing we want to do is get 11 hats to the football. If you are going to make a mistake, make it going full speed. We don’t want to have to coach effort. If we have to coach effort, you’re probably not going to be on the field, and those guys know that.” 

Starting senior RB Nathan Glades also carried the ball three times for solid gains on offense.

Joe Jasper also saw time as the quarterback for the start of the second varsity session, completing half of his two total passes, which was a 29-yard completion to Washington. After his two early passes, Jasper moved out wide to finish the scrimmage.

“Joe found a nice window and did a good job hanging in the pocket, stepping up and delivering a nice pass to a talented receiver,” Coach Jasper said.

Later in the drive, with All Wright in at quarterback, younger brother of Always, the bend-don’t-break mentality showed up for the Joplin defense as they forced a turnover on downs on the 3-yard line for a red-zone stop.

“No quit in the defense,” Coach Jasper said. “That has been a calling for our defense since I

I’ve been here with Coach Reid taking over. That was awesome to see.”

The Joplin defense finished with two more turnovers, as Jacob Prosser came up with a fumble recovery and Bruce Wilbert picked off a pass.

Joplin has one more week until the start of the regular season, with the Eagles planning on hosting Seneca for a jamboree at 7 p.m. on Friday at Junge Field.

“That is going to be important for us because we have a lot of new faces,” Jasper said. “That is going to be a big night for us to see a different team lining up against us. But, obviously, no one forgets we have Webb City for Week 1.”

Lucas Davis is a sports reporter and podcast host for SoMo Sports. You can follow him on Twitter at @sportsbyLD. You can follow SoMo Sports on Facebook, or on Twitter at @SoMo_Sports.

2020 Football Preview: Joplin ready to produce similar results with unfamiliar faces

Posted on by Lucas Davis

A year after certifying itself as one of the most dangerous programs in Missouri Class 6 football, the Joplin Eagles will have plenty of new faces as it looks to continue its dominance during the 2020 season.

“Everyone is excited coming off a state championship game appearance, and we want to keep riding that momentum,” Joplin coach Curtis Jasper said. “Obviously, with the pandemic and spring sports not getting to play, there is a lot of uncertainty and everyone’s a little nervous as far as wanting to make sure that we get to play and have a season. But, the excitement is there. We want to get back to the state championship and win it, and that drive from the players and coaches, and the support from the community, is still there.

“The main thing for us is continuing with the culture we have created, and understanding the process of how we go about it. You don’t win games, playoff games especially, if you don’t do the little things right. The biggest challenge for our senior class is to make sure they are still holding everyone accountable in terms of making sure all of the little things we do are done correctly.”

A LOOK BACK

The Eagles were struck with an indescribable tragedy leading up to their Week 2 matchup with Webb City when sophomore offensive lineman Kadin Roberts-Day passed away following an indoor practice. The community rallied around its football team, with Joplin defeating Webb City and Carthage in back-to-back weeks on the way to a perfect 9-0 regular season, capturing its first Central Ozark Conference title in the process. 

The Eagles’ momentum carried over into the postseason with wins over Jefferson City, Kirkwood, Marquette and Fort Zumwalt West to capture a district crown while earning a spot in the Class 6 State Championship game. Joplin’s season came to an end at Faurot Field on the campus of the University of Missouri, falling for the first time all season 35-20 at the hands of De Smet in the title game.

“The biggest thing I will remember from last year is the culture and the way the players rallied around and supported each other,” Jasper said. “The community support as a whole was also incredible. We see so many disagreements from a societal standpoint, but to see the community embrace our school and program, pulling on the rope in the same direction, it was magical and uplifting. We want to continue to provide them with that excitement year after year.”

PRODUCTION LOST

Of course, with Joplin, a lot of the talk from outside the locker room leading into the 2020 season is centered around the loss of several playmakers from a year ago. The Eagles graduated running back/linebacker Isaiah Davis, wide receiver/safety Zach Westmorland and quarterback Blake Tash. 

Davis finished as one of the best running backs in the state after rushing for 2,282 yards and 45 touchdowns, with an additional 220 yards and two touchdowns receiving. Davis added 56 tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception on defense. 

Westmoreland, one of the premier pass catchers in the state, hauled in 105 receptions for 1,633 yards and 21 touchdowns, to go along with 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Westmoreland led Joplin with seven interceptions, two going back for touchdowns, two deflections and a fumble recovery as well as 42 tackles. As the team’s main return man, Westmoreland added two punt returns for a touchdown. 

Setting state and national records along the way, Tash finished as one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the state’s history as a senior, and for his career. In 2019, Tash completed 194-of-257 passes for a 76.9 competition percentage. He threw for 2,760 yards and 31 touchdowns. 

Other notable losses for Joplin include placekicker and school record holder Garrett Landis, who finished with 24 touchbacks and converted 77-of-88 PATs last season, defensive end James Boyd, offensive lineman Logan Myers and defensive lineman Parker Erickson.

“It’s not just about replacing the production, but also the leadership,” Jasper said. “I think our seniors have done a good job of understanding how to see the model set for them and then build on that. Yes, there are a lot of stats that will need to be replaced, but just as important is the leadership provided by last year’s group as well.”

FILLING THE VOID

So, the biggest question for Coach Jasper and his Eagles, who is going to replace all of that production on an offense that averaged 46.3 points per game and a defense that held opponents to 21.1 points per game last season? The good news is there is plenty of experience coming back. Joplin’s offense returns six starters and 15 lettermen, while the defense returns five starters and 13 lettermen.

Senior Nathan Glades, who spent last season at running back and wide receiver, will be the bell-cow in the backfield for the Eagles this season. In 2019, Glades rushed for 471 yards on 73 carries, while adding 508 receiving yards on 37 catches, totaling eight touchdowns.

The Eagles will have several wide receivers returning to the fold with varsity experience this season, highlighted by seniors Trayshawn Thomas on the outside and Keaton Renfro in the slot. Thomas hauled in 19 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns, while Renfro caught 12 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Juniors LT Atherton and Bruce Wilbert also figure to be heavy contributors at the wideout position.

As far as who will be under center for Joplin, juniors Always Wright and Joe Jasper are in a competition for the starting quarterback spot. 

“We have seen enough from both of those guys to know we can win with either of them starting,” Jasper said. “It’s nice to have that depth. It’s just a matter of who distinguishes themself and pulls ahead.”

Taking over at kicker for the Eagles will be Keaton Huff.

OFFENSIVE STRENGTHS

While Joplin will be replacing several playmakers offensively, without question, the biggest strength will be its offensive line. The Eagles return three lettermen to the trenches, led by senior left tackle Alex Curry, a first-team all-area, conference, district and state lineman. Returning with Curry will be seniors Sergio Piniero, a first-team all-district center, and right tackle Davis Ramsey. There is stiff competition for the two guard positions, with nearly six players competing for those roles.

“Obviously, Alex is an all-state lineman,” Jasper said. “But Sergio was great for us last year at center and really stepped up to fill some big shoes. Davis did a phenomenal job at right tackle, and we really missed him in the state title game after he went down with an injury late in the semifinal game. We have a lot of options at guard. … That competition is going to help us find the right two who will have the most success.”

DEFENSIVE STRENGTHS

Much like on offense, Joplin’s biggest strength on defense will be up front on the line and the linebacking unit. Junior DT Donovahn Watkins, a second-team all-area and third-time all-conference selection, will anchor the defensive front. Senior DE Jacob Prosser returns to the defensive line as well. The linebacker core will be headlined by senior Scott Lowe, who led Joplin with 134 tackles a year ago and is a first-team all-area and district selection as well as a second-team all-conference pick. Senior Marcelino Puente also returns as a starting linebacker, and junior Lonnie Watkins, who started the first three games last season before an injury cut his campaign short, is back at the second level.

“We feel we have a lot of depth along the defensive line,” Jasper said. “Donovahn Watkins is a huge presence in the middle, and he has had an awesome offseason. Jacob Prosser did a really good job for us last year, and he is back. At linebacker, we return Scott Lowe and Marcelino Puente, and plus we have a deep group of juniors we get to look at as well.”

AREAS OF CONCERN

Aside from replacing the offensive weapons from a season ago, one of the biggest concerns for the Eagles in 2020 will be the secondary. Joplin graduated three starters from that group — Westmoreland, Eli Eminger and Simeon Barba — but returns junior CB Dominick Simmons, who finished last season with 33 tackles, two interceptions, six pass deflections and a fumble recovery. Senior Jayden Holt and junior Korey Read will see extensive action in the secondary this season.

“Obviously, when you lose three-fourths of your starting secondary, including both safeties who were all-state athletes (Westmoreland and Eli Eminger), that is a place where we are going to look for kids to step up and fill big shoes. From what we have seen this summer, we have really liked what we’ve seen back there so far.”

SEASON OPENER

Joplin doesn’t have to wait long before finding itself in a big game. The Eagles open up the season at Junge Field with a matchup against the reigning Class 4 state champion Webb City Cardinals.

“With all of the craziness going on with the pandemic, we are literally playing one-game schedules this year,” Jasper said. “Webb is literally the only game we are focused on. After that game is over, we will focus on the next one.”

Lucas Davis is a sports reporter and podcast host for SoMo Sports. You can follow him on Twitter at @sportsbyLD. You can follow SoMo Sports on Facebook, or on Twitter at @SoMo_Sports.

LEADING THE EAGLES: Joplin’s Astrid Cardenas is area’s top returning girls tennis player

Posted on by Jason Peake

During a standout sophomore year, Joplin’s Astrid Cardenas established herself as the top girls tennis player in Southwest Missouri. 

Now, as her junior season approaches, Cardenas is hoping to take her game to another level as she once again leads the way for the Joplin Eagles.  

“Last year was a fun experience,” Cardenas said. “Our team had a really great season and I really enjoyed it.” 

It’s not hard to see why Cardenas enjoyed the 2019 season. 

Cardenas compiled a singles record of 22-3 last fall, capturing conference and district championships. She went 16-1 during regular season singles play before going 6-2 in the postseason. 

In one highlight of the season, Cardenas was the champion of the No. 1 singles bracket at the Central Ozark Conference Tournament.  

Cardenas also finished on top of the singles bracket at the Thomas Jefferson Invitational and captured singles titles in district and sectional play, advancing to the Class 2 state championships in Springfield. At state, Cardenas went 0-2 to end a stellar season alongside the state’s best. 

“State was a really good experience,” Cardenas said. “It was good to get that experience early in my career. Now I know what to expect. I won’t be as nervous next time and I’ll know how to stay calmer on the court.” 

Joplin’s Astrid Cardenas is the top returning girls tennis player in the area.

First-year Joplin tennis coach Jeff Williams said he expects Cardenas to take her game to another level this season. 

“Astrid is a very talented player,” Williams said. “I know she wants to go further this year at state. We want to get her up on the podium this year.” 

With making big strides in mind, Cardenas noted she played as much tennis as possible this summer. 

“I feel like I’ve definitely improved in all aspects of my game,” Cardenas said. “I’m not cocky, but I come in with confidence when I play. I think you need to believe you’re going to win to have success. That’s how you win matches, so I just try to play with confidence.” 

Cardenas said her individual and team goals are simple. 

“For myself, I really want to win a few matches at state this year,” she said. “For the team, I hope we can display a lot of good sportsmanship and have a lot of fun.” 

Joplin is scheduled to begin the season on Aug. 28 at the Kickapoo Invitational in Springfield.  

“I’m very excited to get back on the court,” Cardenas said. “I’m hoping we can play the entire season.” 

 

Jason Peake is a sports reporter and podcast host for SoMo Sports. You can follow him on Twitter at @JPeakeSports. You can follow SoMo Sports on Facebook, or on Twitter at @SoMo_Sports.

For more on the JHS tennis: FAMILIAR FACE, NEW SPORT

2020 Football Preview: Three all-state performers return for defending champion Carthage Tigers

Posted on by bigpxl

If you ask Jon Guidie, he’ll tell you everything fell into place for his Carthage Tigers last fall. 

It would be hard to argue with that assessment. 

Battle-tested from a rigorous Central Ozark Conference schedule, and peaking at the right time, Carthage captured its first-ever state football championship by beating Jackson 27-21 in the 2019 Class 5 Show-Me Bowl in Columbia.  

The Tigers ended a historic season on a nine-game winning streak, finishing 12-2. 

“It was really special, no question about it,” Guidie said. “There was a time where we thought a state championship was the last thing that would happen. We had to deal with some adversity, but our kids hung in there. You could see them growing each week and you could see the confidence building each week of the playoffs. They came together at the right time and played their best football at the end. It was really a special thing to be a part of.” 

 

Jon Guidie

Now in his 16th year at the helm, Guidie noted the ’19 season had its share of ups and downs. 

“The middle part of our season had some challenges,” Guidie said. “We had to overcome an emotional loss to Joplin. We bounced back and got a big win over Neosho, but suffered a big loss to Webb City. And because of injuries, we played Branson without nine of our usual starters in Week 6.” 

The Tigers are now reloaded, with three returning all-state performers expected to lead the way. In all, Carthage has 10 returning players who gained starting experience a year ago. 

“This group has played in a lot of football games with deep playoff runs, and we need to rely on that experience,” Guidie said.   

OFFENSE

The Carthage offense will once again be led by senior quarterback Patrick Carlton, now a three-year starter. 

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Carlton is coming off a stellar 2019 season. It was one that saw Carlton rack up 2,900 total yards with 39 touchdowns. 

For his efforts, Carlton earned the Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year award at the conclusion of the season, along with all-state and all-COC honors. 

Carlton, who is drawing a lot of interest from college coaches, compiled 1,554 rushing yards and 1,329 passing yards in ’19.  

“Patrick should be a leader for us,” Guidie said. “We typically go as Patrick goes.” 

Guidie noted Carlton has improved from this time last year. 

“Patrick has gotten bigger, stronger and faster,” Guidie said. “He’s more mature. He worked with a quarterback coach in the summer and his leadership is starting to emerge.” 

Senior offensive lineman Aiden Logan returns after garnering all-state honors last year. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound Logan has verbally committed to Arkansas State.  

“Aiden will be a huge anchor for us up front,” Guidie commented.  

Two other starters return on the offensive line in senior Ian Ketchum and junior Garrett Lilienkamp. Other possible starters up front include senior Cooper VanWey, junior Gavin VanGilder and sophomore Micah Lindsey. 

“We’ve got to get our offensive line playing at a high level,” Guidie said.  

Carthage has some holes to fill at the skill positions.  

Junior Zach Lansford and sophomore Luke Gall are options at running back.  

Senior wide receiver Silas Templeman recorded 191 yards last year and should take on a bigger role this season. Junior Riley Barker and sophomore Hudson Moore are options at wide receiver.  

Carthage averaged 38 points per game in 2019, with 421 yards of offense per game.  

DEFENSE 

Defensively, Guidie hopes his team will once again be stout after holding six teams to 10 points or less in ’19.  

Senior defensive back D.J. Witt returns after recording 126 tackles and two interceptions in an all-state season. 

Other returning starters at defensive back are seniors Justin Sneed and Templeman and junior Caden Kabance. Kabance made 64 tackles last season, while Sneed recorded 54 stops and a pair of interceptions, earning all-conference honors. Barker also has starting experience at defensive back. 

At linebacker, Gall made an impact last year as a freshman, recording 57 tackles. Guidie noted Gall started all five playoff games. 

“He’s a big time player,” Guidie said. 

Junior Sylas Browning and Lansford are other possible linebackers. 

There are several spots open on the defensive line, as senior Lucas Neuenswander is the team’s only returning starter at the position. He had 52 stops and five sacks in ’19. 

Max Williams, a junior, is a possible starter at D-line. 

“Defensively, we’re searching for some guys to fill roles,” Guidie said.  

Guidie noted the keys to success are simple. 

“We need to keep building depth,” Guidie said. “We had some great success with our younger groups last season. Our 9th grade team went undefeated. Obviously, we need to continue to work and get better each day and each week. Also, we need to remember how we came together as a team last year and how important that was through the playoffs.” 

PRODUCTION LOST 

Carthage must replace a number of key performers from last year’s squad. 

Kale Schrader is playing at Missouri Southern, while Alex Martini is at Central Missouri, Oscar Campa signed with Missouri Western and Avery Sneed inked with Illinois College. 

Others like Tyler Mueller, Bobby Kendrick, Marcus Huntley and Brener Ocana also played big roles.  

“We lost some outstanding players and leaders,” Guidie said. “We need players to step up and take on those roles.”  

DEEP PLAYOFF RUNS 

Carthage has a record of 53-12 since 2015, and deep playoff runs have become a yearly occurrence for the Tigers, with a championship, three semifinal appearances and a quarterfinal appearance in that five-year span. Carthage has captured district championships in six straight seasons. 

OPENER IS AUG. 28 

Despite the global pandemic, Guidie noted his team was able to have a fairly normal summer as far as workouts. 

“For the most part, we got in what we thought we could get in this summer,” Guidie said. “I feel like we’re caught up and real close to where we were at this time a year ago.” 

Carthage hosts Ozark at David Haffner Stadium on Friday, Aug. 28. 

And for the first time in program history, Carthage will begin a season as a defending state champ. 

“We’ve never been in this situation before,” Guidie said. “It’s new for everybody. We’re just trying to do business as usual and keep things consistent.” 

 

 

FAMILIAR FACE, NEW SPORT

Posted on by bigpxl

A familiar face at Joplin High School is now in a new role. 

After nearly four decades of coaching basketball and track and field, Jeff Williams is trying something new, taking over as Joplin’s head girls tennis coach.  

“I’ve always loved tennis, the job opened up and here I am coaching a bunch of great kids,” Williams said at the conclusion of a recent practice. “I’m excited to be here.”  

A physical education and health instructor at JHS, Williams spent six seasons leading Joplin’s girls basketball program before resigning at the conclusion of the 2019-20 campaign. Before taking over the reins of the girls basketball program, Williams guided the JHS boys team for five years.  

 

Jeff Williams

Before his time in Joplin, Williams had a lengthy coaching career in Chanute, Kansas, piloting the boys basketball program while assisting in track and field, where he developed state champion pole vaulters and state medalists in the other jumping events. 

Williams said the transition to coaching tennis has been a smooth one. 

“Every coach learns as they go,” Williams said. “I’ve never stopped learning in any sport I’ve coached. I’m learning along with the girls, and we’re having a good time.”  

Williams is taking over the program after Ed Ingle resigned this past spring. Ingle had been in charge of the program since 2013. 

“Coach Ingle left the program in great shape,” Williams said. “Ed was a great coach and I won’t be able to replace him. But I’ve got a great, young assistant coach in Richard Perry. He has 12 years of experience coaching tennis, and he’s great at teaching mechanics. We’re blessed to have Richard on the staff.” 

Williams inherits a program that features two returning starters from last year’s squad in junior Astrid Cardenas and sophomore Emma Watts.  

LEADING THE EAGLES: Joplin’s Astrid Cardenas is area’s top returning girls tennis player

Cardenas was the top No. 1 singles player in the Central Ozark Conference last year as a sophomore and advanced to state. 

“Astrid is a very talented player,” Williams said. “She hits quicker than the rest of our girls. I know she wants to go further this year at state. We want to get her up on the podium this year.” 

Watts spent her freshman season as Joplin’s No. 2 singles player, gaining valuable experience. 

“Emma has put in a lot of time and you can tell that when you watch her play,” Williams said. “Her skills are good and we’re looking for big things from her.” 

Williams noted Cardenas and Watts give the Eagles a solid 1-2 punch in singles play.  

Also, Cardenas and Watts went undefeated as a doubles team last year, and the duo will likely pair up again this fall to give the Eagles a formidable No. 1 doubles squad. 

Williams said freshman Lauren Laird, senior Kennedy Schwartz and sophomore Jensen Vowels are other promising players who are likely to contribute nicely at the varsity level this season.   

“All three of them have been playing well in practice,” Williams said, noting Schwartz has been providing senior leadership. “We’ve got a number of girls who have worked hard to become pretty good tennis players. We want to take them to the next level.”  

Williams noted starting positions have not yet been determined, as challenge matches during the final week of August will decide which players occupy the varsity spots when the team begins the season on Aug. 28 at the Kickapoo Invitational.  

As he embarks on a new experience, Williams stressed he’s been pleased with the team’s effort in practice.  

“It’s going very well,” Williams said. “We’ve got 13 girls out and they’re all working hard. We’re working on the fundamentals. We’re just trying to get ready for our first match on the 28th. And we’re having a good time. We’ve got great kids.” 

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