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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
Maddy Peeples will definitely be the go-to player at the net for the Webb City High School volleyball team this fall.
A 5-foot-9 senior outside hitter, Peeples is coming off a 2019 season in which she earned all-state honors in Class 4 from the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association and first-team all-Central Ozark Conference recognition.
“She’s worked hard to make an impact and our toughest opponents see that talent level she’s bringing every night,” Webb City coach Rhonda Lawrence said. “She’s a dynamic player that is a threat on offense and defense.”
Peeples compiled 228 service points, 207 kills, 171 digs and 37 aces during her standout junior season.
Lawrence noted she expects Peeples to have a superb senior year.
“I know she wants to be a leader of this next group and leave an even bigger impact on our program than she already has,” Lawrence said. “It’s not just about stats for Maddy. She wants to win and play well for her team. Being able to make that happen for them makes her even happier. She’s the go-to player even more this year. She knows that’s more pressure, but she’s excited to step up.”
Webb City returns one other player who garnered all-COC honors last year in senior libero Sage Crane.
The 5-4 Crane earned honorable mention recognition in the COC after recording 255 digs.
“Sage is captain of the defense at all times,” Lawrence said. “She gets more pressure to help the others and expectations are high for her to have an even better year. Defensively, she understands she keeps the other team from scoring, giving the best ball so our other players can have the best opportunity to score.”
Lawrence expects Crane to take her level of play to another level this season.
“She’s just continued to step up each year,” Lawrence said. “She’s fought and is never satisfied, which is key for a defensive player. Her consistency of platform is unmatched.”
Senior setter Anna Hettinger and senior defensive specialist Abby Stork are Webb City’s other top returning performers.
Lawrence said the 5-9 Hettinger, who handed out 296 assists last year, will take on a bigger role this fall.
“She’s grown to be more aggressive and is definitely a threat on the front row too,” she said.
The 5-8 Stork gives the Cardinals a “dynamic duo” with Crane on the back row.
“I need both of them to take as many serve-receives or digs as possible,” Lawrence said. “Abby brings some extra energy to the floor for us.”
Newcomers expected to contribute this season are junior middle hitter Makenzie Storm and sophomore outside hitter Brenda Lawrence.
“Makenzie has worked extremely hard in the offseason and has become a leader and a calm for everyone when she’s out there,” Coach Lawrence said. “Her long reach makes the back row feel much more comfortable because she touches a lot of balls. Brenda has a heavy arm that everyone will take notice of when she hits the ball. Her power is evident, but she’s growing to be a more multi-threat. She helps take the pressure off of Maddy.”
Webb City went 28-7 in an outstanding 2019 season. It was one that saw the Cardinals win the Carl Junction Classic and capture a district championship before falling to eventual Class 4 state champion Nixa in the sectional round.
“Our team was the best example of how a team should work,” Lawrence said. “No one cared who got the credit. We had multiple options that were hard for others to shut down…one of my all-time favorite teams I’ve had because of that. They loved to compete out there to find a way to win.”
The Cardinals must overcome the loss of four seniors from last year’s squad, including all-conference performer Anna Swearengen, who led the team in kills in ‘19.
In a big change this season for teams in the Show-Me State, all regular season and postseason matches will use a best-of-five sets format. Tournaments may use a best-of-three format.
“It’s more playing time for the teams and that will translate to even higher quality of play, especially in our COC,” Lawrence said. “There will have to be some extra care for injury prevention so that we don’t overuse or overtrain the starters. I think it’ll bring more players getting in the game to make an impact so we’re able to maintain efficiency from our ‘go-to’ players.”
Overall, Lawrence noted the expectations are set high in Webb City.
“I think this year is an adjustment due to personnel but I’m excited,” she said. “I see some of the young ones starting to really make their mark and building that trust like we had last year. I definitely believe we will surprise some people yet again this year.”
Webb City is scheduled to host Mount Vernon for a jamboree on Aug. 27.
Carl Junction’s Salma Lewis enters her final prep volleyball campaign as a two-time all-state performer.
With that, it’s safe to say Lewis will once again lead the Bulldogs on the court.
A do-it-all 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter, Lewis recorded 466 kills and 213 digs last season, leading a young squad to 18 wins. A Drury University recruit, Lewis earned first-team all-Central Ozark Conference honors in ’19 and was a second-team pick in ’18.
“She will once again be a go-to player for us,” Carl Junction coach Cheryl Sharples said. “We will look for her to be a leader. She is getting close to breaking the 1,000 (career) kill mark. That doesn’t happen often in high school, so we are excited for her. She can be a dominant player at every skill.”
Lewis slammed 241 kills during her sophomore season.
Carl Junction won’t rely on Lewis alone, as the Bulldogs return a solid core from last year’s group that advanced to a district championship game.
Sophomore setter Logan Jones handed out 817 assists (9.5 per set) and had 173 digs last year in a breakout freshman season that saw her earn second-team all-conference honors.
Sharples said Jones, who received preseason recognition from PrepVolleyball.com as a top 150 player in the Class of 2023, is an improved player heading into the 2020 campaign.
“Logan is a very skilled and confident player, so she didn’t fear stepping into a 5-1 and running our offense,” Sharples said. “She is physically stronger. Her attack and blocking are much improved.”
Other key performers for the Bulldogs are senior middle hitter Jillian Kennedy, junior outside hitter Jessa Hylton and junior libero Olivia Vediz.
Hylton recorded 241 kills a year ago, while Kennedy had 87 kills and 38 blocks. Hylton led the team with 55 aces, while Vediz had 168 digs last season.
Juniors Maggie Brown (middle hitter), Abigale Wilson (outside hitter/defensive specialist) and Ellie Lawson (defensive specialist) and sophomore defensive specialist/outside hitter Destiny Buerge are other returning players who are expected to contribute nicely this season.
Newcomers that may see varsity playing time include sophomores Jocelyn Brown and Chloe Taylor and freshman Kylie Scott.
As far as the switch to best-of-five set matches, Sharples said she’s in favor of the change.
“I love it,” she said. “I think it’s great that we have finally made that jump. It will be a test of mental and physical stamina.”
Another change this fall is an expansion of classifications from four to five. That change will benefit schools like Carl Junction, as the Bulldogs will no longer run into the state’s biggest schools in the postseason.
Sharples is confident this year’s team has the talent, experience and depth to put together a stellar season.
“We are looking to have a very strong season and be a contender at the end of October,” she said.
The Webb City football program is in an all-too familiar position entering the 2020 season.
After capturing the school’s seventh state title in 10 years, the Cardinals are once again beginning a campaign as a defending state champion.
In a memorable and historic 2019 season, Webb City went 14-1 and secured the Class 4 state championship, the program’s 15th overall, which is tied for the most all-time in the Show-Me State.
Guided by hall of fame coach John Roderique, who is now 287-26 with 12 state championships and a pair of runner-up finishes at his alma mater, the Cardinals rolled to a dominating 48-0 win over Platte County in the Show-Me Bowl in Columbia, capping a stellar season in a big way.
John Roderique
“What a team,” Roderique said. “I think about where we were in the beginning versus where we ended. We became a really, really good football team last year. From Week 1 to Week 15, it was an incredible improvement our team made.
“As like many years, we started several seniors, many of who only started for one year. They really came together as the season progressed. We overcame some early injury problems at QB and were able to play our best football at the end.”
Webb City outscored its opponents 656-155 last year, knocking off four state-ranked teams in the postseason. The Cardinals, who won a district championship for the 20th straight season, ended the year with 13 straight wins, including the one-sided title game.
“Looking back, when you get the opportunity to play in the state finals it’s always a big deal,” Roderique said. “We were very proud to represent Class 4 in Columbia in what was a historic year for SWMO football with four teams reaching the title game.”
As always, the Cardinals must replace a talented group of seniors that left their mark on the program.
At the same time, Webb City returns a solid core with nine starters back this fall. Seven returning players earned all-conference recognition and five garnered all-state honors.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with some great players and coaches,” Roderique said. “Our success will be directly related to the leadership we receive from our senior class.”
OFFENSE
Webb City will feature one of the top running threats in Missouri in speedy senior Devrin Weathers, a Kansas State recruit.
During a standout junior year, Weathers ran for 1,386 yards with 22 total touchdowns on the season. For his efforts, Weathers earned first-team all-state recognition from the Missouri Football Coaches Association.
A varsity performer since his freshman year, Weathers verbally committed to Kansas State in June. Weathers has compiled 2,373 rushing yards and 37 total touchdowns ahead of his senior season.
“The production he’s had the last couple of years has been amazing,” Roderique said.
Another option in the backfield is junior Cade Wilson, who saw action in 13 games in ‘19.
The Cardinals will have a new starting signal-caller this season, as Kade Hicks graduated. One option under center is senior Eli Goddard, who is battle-tested after gaining valuable experience as a junior. Goddard completed 39 passes for 695 yards and 13 touchdowns last fall.
Senior Cole Gayman is also in competition for playing time at QB. A Missouri Southern baseball recruit, Gayman missed last season after having elbow surgery.
The Cardinals possess a wealth of experience at the receiving corps.
Gary Clinton is an all-state tight end who has verbally committed to NCAA Division I Arkansas State. He caught seven passes for 119 yards and two scores in ‘19.
Senior Mekhi Garrard and junior Cohl Vaden also return after contributing nicely last season. Garrard scored four touchdowns and hauled in 15 passes for 347 yards, while Vaden had a pair of touchdown receptions and 146 yards receiving on nine receptions.
Garrard may not be available at the beginning of the season after he suffered a basketball injury over the summer.
The Cardinals return three starters on the offensive line—seniors Zetthew Meister and Grant Goltra and junior Buddy Belcher.
Meister and Goltra were all-state selections a year ago. Goltra (6-3, 265) has offers from both Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State. Hayden Bebee, Christian Kenney and Braeden Jackson are other possible starters on the o-line.
“We’ve got some of the parts as far as our o-line,” Roderique said. “In others, it’s just a matter of trying to develop those guys.”
As far as the kicking game, Cameron Clark returns. Clark made 79-of-87 PAT kicks last year.
DEFENSE
Webb City’s defense will have newcomers at many of the linebacker and lineman positions.
“Right now, we have a lot of guys to replace on defense from last year,” Roderique said. “That’s the biggest thing. We only have a few returning starters with our defensive line and linebackers. We’re replacing quite a bit.”
One leader of the defense will be senior Treghan Parker at free safety.
During a standout junior year in which he earned all-state, all-district and all-COC recognition, Parker made 91 tackles and grabbed six interceptions. Parker has a number of college offers on the table, including Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State.
Shane Noel is also a returning starter at cornerback. He made 22 tackles and had one interception last year. Cale Stephens and Eric Fitch are other possible defensive backs.
Jaystin Smith is a returner at linebacker. He made 40 tackles last season. Other candidates at the position include Roger Carranco, Brentan Wilson, Braden Hollingsworth, Jacob Ott, Gavin Stowell and Cooper Crouch.
Defensive end Matt McDaniel returns after recording 45 tackles and 6 ½ sacks last year, while Cade Emery and Lucas Ott are newcomers to watch up front.
KEY LOSSES
Among the 13 departed seniors, Webb City must replace the likes of Terrell Kabala, Hicks, Cale McCallister, Trenten Thompson, Brayden Bond, Ruben Lenker, Gavin Surber, Tanner Rogers and Ethan Ott.
Thompson, Hicks and Surber all signed to play football at Pittsburg State, while Ott inked with William Penn. Kabala is playing basketball at Arkansas-Fort Smith, Rogers is playing basketball at College of the Ozarks while McCallister signed to play baseball at Missouri Southern.
TEAM OF THE DECADE
MaxPreps recently named Webb City the state of Missouri’s most dominant high school football program of the 2010s.
The Cardinals won seven state championships during the decade (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’17 and ’19), along with a runner-up finish in ‘15.
CBC and Blue Springs were second and third, respectively, in the MaxPreps poll, with Rockhurst and Lamar fourth and fifth.
BIG OPENER
The Cardinals, who may bump up to Class 5 this year, open the season on Friday, Aug. 28 at Joplin, last year’s Class 6 runner-up.
Entering his 24th season at the helm, Roderique noted the season is beginning with some question marks off the field due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its possible impact.
“This year is certainly going to be one to remember,” Roderique said. “With so much uncertainty surrounding the upcoming school year and football season, we are hoping for the best and preparing like always.”
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.
As the 2020 prep football season arrives in Southwest Missouri, two lingering questions come to mind.
First, can the Central Ozark Conference possibly top its stellar 2019 season? And secondly, what impact will the COVID-19 pandemic have on the schedule?
Before we look ahead, let’s reflect.
In a year for the ages, three teams from the COC advanced to state championship games in their respective classes last fall, with Webb City (Class 4) and Carthage (Class 5) bringing home titles and Joplin (Class 6) securing a runner-up plaque.
Will those three teams repeat last year’s success, or will another squad from the always-competitive conference ascend to become the COC’s top dog in 2020?
Next, will the coronavirus pandemic disrupt or even eliminate the football season? Will the full schedule get played? If games are played, will fans be allowed in attendance?
For all of those above questions, the answer is the same—only time will tell.
But what is certain, if the games are contested this fall, is that this year’s COC slate will once again feature a number of intriguing matchups involving Joplin-area teams.
For starters, there’s a huge clash right away in Week 1 on August 28, as Webb City travels to Joplin in what will be a highly-anticipated rivalry game at Junge Field.
Webb City vs. Joplin—not a bad way to begin a season, huh?
The two teams had an emotional and thrilling meeting a year ago at Cardinal Stadium, with the Eagles coming out on top 35-28 just days after the death of one of their players, Kadin Roberts-Day.
The season opener is just the beginning of games you won’t want to miss.
Joplin has its other local rivalry games on the road, as the Eagles are at Carl Junction in Week 4 on Sept. 18, at Carthage in Week 7 on Oct. 9 and at Neosho in Week 9 on Oct. 23.
Webb City has all of its matchups with local conference rivals in the first five weeks of the season.
The Cardinals host Neosho in Week 2, and then have back-to-back home dates with Carthage and Carl Junction in Weeks 4 and 5, respectively.
The Sept. 18 date with rival Carthage will of course be a matchup of two defending state champions. It could be the first of two meetings between the longtime rivals if Webb City bumps up to Class 5 this fall.
Carthage has three of four dates with the local COC squads in the first four weeks, with a road game at Carl Junction in Week 2, a home game with Neosho in Week 3 before the road date at Cardinal Stadium in Week 4.
When Carthage hosts Joplin in Week 7, the Tigers and Eagles will meet for the first time since last year’s barnburner, a 56-55 Joplin win that wasn’t decided until the final play of the game.
Will this year’s matchup be another instant classic? Again, we’ll just have to wait and see.
In another local rivalry game, Neosho hosts Carl Junction on Oct. 2.
Again, there are a lot of unknowns heading into the season, due not only to question marks on every team, but also the possible impact of COVID-19.
What I’m sure of is this—each local rivalry matchup mentioned above will be a “can’t miss” game.
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.
That is the biggest question I had when I saw the Twitter push notification pertaining to the NCAA Division II Presidents Council’s decision to cancel the upcoming fall championships.
“After reviewing and discussing the Board of Governors’ directives, the Division II Presidents Council made the difficult decision that holding fall championships in any capacity was not a viable or fiscally responsible option for Division II,” Sandra Jordan, chancellor of South Carolina Aiken and chair of the council, said in a press release. “This decision was discussed very thoroughly, and I assure you, it was not made lightly. It is important to note that fall student-athletes will be given eligibility-related flexibility to allow them championship opportunities in the future. As we move forward, we will continue to focus on providing the best championships experience for our winter and spring student-athletes who were not afforded those opportunities at the beginning of this pandemic.”
Last I checked, it is August, and most of these fall postseason championships aren’t taking place until October or November at the earliest. Teams haven’t even truly begun preparing for the season and the NCAA decided it was a good time to take away any hope of a postseason championship.
There was no reason to make this decision at this time when a lot can happen between now and when the postseason was scheduled to take place. Not only could infection rates drop, but there could even be a vaccine available in that span of time as well, which changes the entire dynamic of how we battle COVID-19.
Don’t get me wrong, the fall championships may very well need to be canceled if the pandemic continues to get worse, or spikes during the winter months. My problem is the timing is all wrong.
To me, this just gives the individual conferences more reason to cancel their regular season contests as a result of there being no postseason, which I feel was the Presidents Council’s goal in part with this decision. With no incentive of a championship to play for, canceling the regular season is an easier pill to swallow.
The NCAA did make it a point to grant extended eligibility to the senior student-athletes should they want to return next season, but it is my feeling that a majority of the seniors who just lost the fall championship season are not going to wait around for a year, accruing more debt by taking on another year of tuition costs and class prices in the process, just to maybe be able to participate in the fall championships next season. For all we know, they could cancel fall championships next season and then what? The student-athletes who returned are just stuck with more debt, while they delayed getting their life as an adult started.
Obviously, there are plenty of student-athletes who come from a wealthier background that may be able to wait around in limbo for a year, but a lot of Division II athletes simply can’t afford to sit on their degree they spent four years earning, particularly in these economically trying times.
This very well may end up being the right call by time the postseason was scheduled to start, but again, waiting a few more months to make the final decision would have been the better move for the sake of the student-athletes.
The NCAA Division II Presidents Council’s decision to cancel the upcoming fall championships will probably end up costing a lot of seniors their last chance to play a sport they’ve loved since childhood ever again in an organized setting, a sport that set them up with a college degree and a chance for a bright future. Personally, I feel sorry for each and every DII senior student-athlete who had to read that news.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association made the right call on Aug. 7 when they granted several significant changes to the MSHSAA Constitution for the 2020-21 season.
The biggest change was allowing schools to govern themselves on whether or not it is OK for its student-athletes to participate in activities even if the school chooses to forgo in-school instruction in favor of virtual learning. Under normal circumstances, for a MSHSAA Member School to participate in activities, it would have to have in-building instruction.
“After a long discussion, the Board determined this should be a local school decision,” the MSHSAA release stated. “Upon the approval of the Board, a member school may now determine if its teams will participate in MSHSAA activities while its students are receiving virtual instruction only, while following all requirements and guidelines set forth by their health department officials.”
This change significantly increases the likelihood that some if not most of the schools in the major metropolis schools in the Kansas City and St. Louis area would be able to participate in activities for the upcoming school year. This also allows other areas of the state who might be on the fence about virtual learning to move forward with it since it will no longer sacrifice extracurricular activities. To me, this was a no-brainer in order for there to be sports this year with so much uncertainty still remaining about COVID-19.
Another change was centered around preseason jamborees, which previously mandated every school must have two additional teams to compete against, but no more than three additional teams. For this season, schools are granted the option of participating in a two-team jamboree.
“The (MSHSAA) Board also took up two requests for relief of By-laws for the 2020-21 school year,” the release stated. “The first was concerning By-Law 3.16.6 and in conjunction with Board Policy 23. These two areas of the MSHSAA Handbook define a “preseason jamboree”. The Board granted relief from a portion of the terms and conditions to allow for an additional option of a two-team jamboree. This action was done to help schools wishing to take part in a preseason jamboree.”
This decision was another positive step for the safety of players and coaches because a school would still be allowed to participate in a jamboree, getting game-like experiences before it counts, while limiting the exposure of person-to-person contact by decreasing the number or student-athletes congregating on a field/court at the same time.
Lastly, the MSHSAA Board made changes to postseason eligibility for teams.
“(By-Law 5.1.2) states ‘To be eligible to enter a team or individual in any preliminary or state event, a school must have competed in at least half of the number of contests permitted under the by-law pertaining to that particular sport.’,” the release stated. “Given the sudden changes that may occur during the season, the Board voted to grant relief of this section of the by-law to allow teams that complete less than half of their scheduled contests to remain eligible for the postseason in their sport or activity.”
As with the virtual learning rule change, this was an amendment that absolutely had to happen while we continue to deal with COVID-19 cases. Essentially, this change allows for teams to still compete in postseason play even if they have to forfeit or cancel games due to isolating themselves if there is a cluster outbreak. Now, teams don’t have to worry about rushing back just to get enough games in. They can play it safe and make sure everything is back to being healthy and safe before returning to competition.
MSHSAA clearly had safety in mind when they made these changes for the upcoming season. It is my belief that any rule change that gives us a better chance of having 2020-21 prep sports is a good rule change, and each of these changes has done that.
We’re a new local sports website that will strive to provide exceptional and experienced online sports coverage for Joplin and its surrounding communities.
Somo-sports.com is an independent media outlet, co-owned by Bobby Landis, Lucas Davis and Jason Peake, with a goal of recognizing and celebrating the successes of area teams and athletes by providing the best coverage possible.
You’re likely familiar with all three of us.
Bobby has a long connection to Joplin, and is the owner of the Fox Sports Joplin radio affiliate, where he and Kevin Welch are the voices of the Joplin Eagles and Missouri Southern Lions.
Experienced and trusted award-winning sports reporters, Jason and Lucas are no strangers to the local sports scene, covering prep and college sports in Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas for a combined 22 years.
Having previously worked for local newspapers, Jason and Lucas each possess a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Joplin area sports.
Now, we’re bringing their expertise and experience to you with a free-to-view sports website focused extensively on local athletics. That’s right, all articles and content will be free to read and share with zero paywall restrictions. We also have plans for a weekly podcast, which will also be free to listen to.
Joining Jason and Lucas on a part-time basis will be a number of talented photographers and experienced sports reporters who are also quite familiar with the area, ensuring Somo-sports.com readers the best possible coverage.
Our objective and hyperlocal sports coverage will revolve around high school and collegiate athletics, with prep coverage focusing on Joplin, Webb City, Carl Junction, Carthage, Neosho, College Heights Christian, Thomas Jefferson Independent and McAuley Catholic as well as several other schools in the region. Collegiately, Somo-sports.com plans to provide coverage for Missouri Southern State University, Pittsburg State University and Crowder College.
We’re confident you’ll come to love Somo-sports.com. Our website was professionally designed by BigPxl, an award-winning digital marketing firm in Springfield.
You, our readers, may be wondering why we are doing this?
Simply put, Jason, Lucas and Bobby, along with all of the contributors at Somo-sports.com, have a passion for local sports and a desire to give them the proper coverage they deserve. We know prep and collegiate athletics bring communities together and are a source of pride for the entire region. For years, we’ve witnessed firsthand how passionate and supportive fans in Southwest Missouri are when it comes to local sports.
With that in mind, Somo-sports.com simply wants to recognize our local teams and athletes in a positive and professional manner, rewarding them for all of their hard work.
We pledge to provide unbeatable, exclusive and comprehensive coverage of Joplin area sports like no one else can. And we’ll do it with integrity on a daily basis.
To accomplish our mission, we’ll need the support of local coaches, administrators, athletes, parents, grandparents and fans in order to provide you with the best possible coverage.
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A pair of three-year starters are expected to lead the way for the Joplin High School volleyball team this fall.
Seniors Aubrey Ritter and Addison Saunders are both varsity veterans ahead of their final prep seasons.
And Eagles coach Staci Saunders is confident both players will perform well on the court.
Ritter is a 5-foot-7 outside hitter.
“She brings lots of experience and confidence to our team,” Coach Saunders said. “She led our team in kills last year and also does a great job on serve-receive defense.”
A former outside hitter, the 5-9 Addison Saunders is moving to the setter position this season, where she’ll run the team’s 6-2 offense.
“This will be her first year moving to setter, but Addison has played setter on her club teams,” Coach Saunders said of her daughter. “She is a leader on and off the court.”
Joplin also returns three juniors who saw significant varsity playing time last season in Kacy Coss, Angelina Schramm and Allie Lawrence.
Coss is a 5-11 middle hitter who had some big moments for the team last year.
“Kacy does a great job seeing the floor and hitting different hits effectively,” Saunders said. “Kacy Coss loves to compete and does a great job hitting different spots on the net.”
Schramm earned playing time at middle hitter/middle blocker in ‘19.
“She will be hitting middle and right side for us this year,” Saunders said. “Angelina brings a lot to the floor. She brings charisma and a winning attitude.”
Lawrence was a defensive specialist a year ago, but will be an outside hitter this season, Saunders said.
“Allie Lawrence has worked hard in the offseason to move to outside hitter,” Saunders said. “She is a smart player who can get the job done.”
The three juniors give the Eagles five key returning performers.
“We have a good group of returning starters or players that played key roles last year,” Saunders said.
The Eagles will look to a number of varsity newcomers to make an impact.
For starters, junior Emma Floyd is a transfer from Rolla, as her father Luke is Joplin’s new girls basketball coach.
“She will make an immediate impact as a middle hitter/blocker,” Saunders said. “We are excited to have her in Joplin.”
Senior Kaylie Anderson is a possible starter at the libero position after sitting out last season due to a knee injury.
“She does a great job reading defenses and is a quick and smart player,” Saunders said.
Seniors Baileigh Riley, Mya Johnson and Shahla Kellhofer are other players Saunders expects to contribute nicely.
Riley was the JV team’s setter the last two years, while Johnson did not play volleyball in ‘19 in order to play club soccer.
“Mya will be competing for the outside hitter and defensive specialist positions,” Saunders said. “She is a great player to have. She will play anywhere you need her to play.”
Kellhofer is another defensive specialist.
One change in prep volleyball in the state of Missouri this year is the transition to a best-of-five-sets match.
“It’s time,” Saunders said. “It is going to be an adjustment. We have played Kansas and Arkansas schools that already do it, and it’s just as much a mental toughness adjustment as a physical one. But we’re excited for the change and ready to start putting in work.”
Joplin won 13 matches last year and took second at the Neosho Tournament. The Eagles must overcome the loss of two standouts—setter Mari Katheryn Saunders and libero Jeanie Juneweeranong.
Coach Saunders is confident her squad can have a successful 2020 season.
“I think we are going to surprise some people,” Saunders said. “We lost 10 games last year by two points. We competed, but did not get the job done in the COC. I expect us to do better in the COC and would love to be competing for a district championship.”
Saunders noted there’s a lot to like about her team.
“We have a very selfless group of girls who love to play volleyball,” Saunders said. “They are willing to work hard and work together as a team. If we can continue that team chemistry, I believe we will have a successful season. We are looking forward to this season. These kids are not taking playing volleyball for granted this year.”
Saunders noted the COVID-19 pandemic limited the team’s summer activities.
“I feel like I changed our summer schedule 100 times,” Saunders said. “We did not get to do a lot of team activities and play this summer like we have done in the past.”
Joplin is scheduled to compete at Carthage’s jamboree on Aug. 25.
A quick check of last year’s All-COC Football Team shows that Webb City has seven returning players who garnered all-conference recognition in ‘19, while Joplin has five returning all-COC performers, Carthage and Carl Junction have four apiece and Neosho returns two.
A team-by-team look of returning all-COC players is listed below.
WEBB CITY (7 players)
First team: Devrin Weathers (Sr. RB), Gary Clinton (Sr. TE), Zetthew Meister (Sr. OL), Grant Goltra (Sr. OL), Treghan Parker (Sr. DB).
Second team: Buddy Belcher (Jr. OL), Weathers (KR).
Third team: Mekhi Garrard (Sr. WR).
JOPLIN (5 players)
First team: Alex Curry (Sr. OL)
Second team: Nathan Glades (Sr. WR), Scott Lowe (Sr. LB)
Third team: Sergio Pineiro (Sr. OL), Donovahn Watkins (Jr. DL)
CARTHAGE (4 players)
First team: Aiden Logan (Sr. OL)
Second team: Patrick Carlton (Sr. QB), D.J. Witt (Sr. DB)
Third team: Justin Sneed (Sr. DB)
CARL JUNCTION (4 players)
First team: None
Second team: Cole Stewart (Sr. WR), Jesse Cassatt (Sr. DL), Noah Southern (Sr. LB)
