Ezekiel Ramirez is expected to lead the way for the Carthage High School boys swim team this fall.
A senior, Ramirez is the team’s lone returning state qualifier. As a junior, Ramirez advanced to state in both the 100 and 200 freestyle.
At the state swimming championships, Ramirez finished 21st in the 200 free and 22nd in the 100 free.
Senior distance swimmer Declan O’Brien is also back for Braden McBride’s Tigers.
Other swimmers who should contribute nicely this fall are juniors Will Wallace (distance), Eli Cox (butterfly) and Landon White (butterfly) and sophomores Kellen Frieling (backstroke) and Noah Blackford (backstroke).
Freshman Braxton McBride is a newcomer who will contribute in the breaststroke and the sprint events.
Coach McBride said the team’s relays should be a strength of the Tigers, while continuing to work hard in practice will be the main key to success.
The Tigers will host the Carthage Relays on Aug. 31 at the Fair Acres Family YMCA.
The Webb City boys swimming and diving team captured a Central Ozark Conference championship and went 15-1 in duals in 2020.
And there’s bad news for the rest of the COC — the Cardinals have a solid core back in 2021.
Webb City will rely heavily on eight returning swimmers this fall, including a pair of state qualifiers. With that prior experience and overall team depth, the expectations are set high.
Cardinals coach Shawn Klosterman feels team chemistry is a strength of this year’s group.
“The real strength of this team is how close they are,” Klosterman said. “They motivate each other well and they know how to have fun while still putting in the work. We also have a deep enough team that I don’t feel we have any weak spots for the conference roster.”
Returning seniors are Carson Forcum, Zion Wood and Ethan Shipley.
In 1-meter diving, Forcum was the COC champion and a state qualifier. Wood was the conference runner-up in the 100 breaststroke a season ago, while Shipley took second at the COC Meet in both the 100 and 200 freestyle.
Also back are juniors Emiliano Vasquez, Judah Ritchie and Cody Herndon. Vasquez finished second in two events at last year’s conference meet, the 50 free and the 100 butterfly. Ritchie took fourth at the conference meet in the 100 backstroke.
Sophomore standout Micah Brouwer was last year’s conference champion and a state qualifier in the 100 breaststroke.
Sophomore Steve Kenlee and Herndon will play vital roles on relays. Carter Forcum and Adrien Black are newcomers who could contribute on the varsity.
Klosterman hopes to have a large group qualify for state.
“Last year these boys swam incredibly well on relays but were left out of the state meet due to the COVID restrictions reducing the number of teams allowed to qualify,” he said. “I know that state is a big goal for them before we even sit down to talk about the season.
“The big concern is the same as always,” Klosterman added. “Swim shape is not the same as being ready for other sports. We need to get right to work building up the frame and making the engines more efficient.”
Klosterman noted staying healthy and staying positive when it gets hard are main keys to success.
“And remembering how it felt to win last year and also how it felt to lose out on those relays getting into the MSHSAA Championships,” Klosterman said. “We want to end this season feeling we have taken a large step forward as a program.”
Carl Junction softball is tasked with making up for the loss of six seniors from last year’s team, relying on three returning starters and the upside of the underclassmen to turn the corner in 2021.
“(We will have to) overcome the lack of experience,” CJ coach Zak Petty said. “We may very well have four freshmen on the field at one time during the season. With only three returning starters, and possibly only one of them playing the position they did last year, we’ve got a lot of learning to do. And we will have to do it on the fly.
“Our girls are working hard to get where they need to be. It’s going to be a learning curve for some of them. However, we’ve got a great group of girls. They can push each other, and we will see where that takes us.”
The Bulldogs, who finished last season with a 7-16, 1-8 COC record, welcome back five seniors for the upcoming season—Allison Plumlee (four-year catcher), Dalaynie Hallacy (OF), Jamie Fabozzi (2B), Tavia Rodriguez (UTL) and Addie Brock (3B/OF).
Also returning to the varsity squad is sophomore Izzie Southern (1B), while sophomore Hanna Cantrell (SS/P), freshman Madi Olds (UTL), freshman Dezi Williams (OF), freshman Hanna Cole (P) and freshman Alivia Haase (UTL) are expected to contribute at the varsity level. Junior Emma Fleming (P/OF) is also in the mix.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs will be without junior Sammie Sims because of a leg injury. Sims was projected to be the leadoff hitter while starting at shortstop for her third straight season.
The biggest strength for Carl Junction this season will be at the plate, according to Petty.
“Offensively, I feel that’s our brightest spot,” he said. “I feel really confident in the top five or six spots in our order. If the bottom half of the lineup can put some things together, then we will be just fine on offense.”
The biggest obstacle standing in the way of the Bulldogs this season on the diamond will be the lack of varsity pitching experience.
“We will need our young pitchers to carry us,” Petty said. “We have zero innings of varsity experience in the circle. … Hannah Cantrell, Hannah Cole and possibly Emma Fleming are our three primed to pitch for us. Our plan and hope is that one or more of them step up to the challenge. I am confident they will.”
Carl Junction’s jamboree is set for Aug. 24 before the Bulldogs kick off the season hosting Cassville at 4:30 on Aug. 30.
Webb City girls golf will look to improve on several positive notes from last season behind the experience of four returning golfers to the varsity squad in 2021.
The Cardinals finished fifth in the Central Ozark Conference Tournament last season and added a second-place finish in the Nevada Invitational while sending a pair of golfers to the state tournament—Sarah Oathout and Sydney French.
Though Oathout graduated, the Cardinals will be led by French, who shot an 87 to finish in a tie for ninth at districts last season. French returns for her senior season along with fellow seniors Laya McAllister, an all-conference selection last year after taking ninth in the conference meet with a 95, and Sophia Coulson.
Also back on the varsity team for Webb City is Eve Cartwright. Several golfers are also in the mix for varsity action this season for the Cardinals, including Jacie Crouch, Emerson Boulware and Langlee Walker.
One of the biggest keys for the Cardinals this season will be how well the team can strike the ball off the tee, according to coach Jackson Boyer, who is entering his fourth year at the helm. Of course, as with any team in the area, keeping the short game on point by focusing on it daily in practice will be vital to any success Webb City has this season Boyer added.
Webb City opens the season with the first round of the Papa John’s March Play on Aug. 30 with Joplin, Carl Junction and Carthage also competing.
Brian Crigger is the new man in charge of the Carthage High School cross country program.
Crigger is now in his 16th year teaching and coaching in Carthage. He’s been the middle school track and cross country coach and also previously assisted Andy Youngworth at the high school level.
Crigger was a standout distance runner at Parkview High School before competing collegiately at Missouri State.
Mariques Strickland is a returning state qualifier for the Carthage High School cross country team.
The Carthage boys, who finished second at last year’s Central Ozark Conference meet, will be led by senior Mariques Strickland, a returning state qualifier.
Strickland was the runner-up at the conference meet, took ninth at the district event and finished 62nd at the Class 5 state meet.
“We expect Mariques to lead the boys team as he is our only returning state qualifier,” Crigger said. “He’s been training with Miguel Solano and Joseph Wyrick this summer and they have all gotten themselves in great shape and should be ready to have a great season.”
Seniors Landen Schrader and Wyrick and junior Solano also return with varsity experience. Solano had a solid track season, as he earned a state medal by placing sixth in the 800-meter run.
Other seniors are Seth Cannon, Robin Hernandez, Joel Pugh, Bryant Arias-Ramirez and Sabriel Thomas.
Others in the mix for the varsity spots are juniors Caleb Fewin and Michael Lanyon, sophomores Eddy Fuentes and Indiana Gray and freshmen Emerson Ixcol and brothers Colt and Dylan Pugh.
“Our boys have been working hard all summer and are ready to begin our competitive season,” Crigger said. “These guys are great at including everyone on the team and having a great team environment. They are excellent young men and it’s been an honor to coach them so far. Our senior leadership is one of our strengths.”
Brian Crigger
Crigger said the keys to success are simple.
“The key for the boys will be for them to be consistent with their training and to trust the system,” he said. “We have several boys that could potentially make some noise on the state level. In order for our team to compete on the conference and potentially state level, we’ll need our No. 4-7 runners to step up. We just need to make sure we are pushing our new varsity runners to run their best and that our experienced boys are putting in the work and leading the team throughout the season.”
The Carthage girls, who finished eighth at last year’s COC meet, feature three returning varsity performers in sophomore Jenna Wilson and juniors Alyssa Williams and Mildred Elias.
Freshmen Maggie Boyd and Katy Witherspoon are two runners who have impressed Crigger during the summer.
“Jenna, Maggie and Katy have been our leaders during the summer,” he said. “I expect more of the same during the season. Jenna has improved a great deal and is poised to have a breakout season. It’s a lot to ask freshman girls to step straight into leadership roles, but if any two girls can do it, it’s Maggie and Katy.”
Other athletes who could earn varsity spots are Kaylee Reyes-Donis, Jennifer Rodas, Sonia Lopez and Hailey Najera.
“We have a very young group of girls that have a lot of potential to do great things over the next couple of years,” Crigger said. “I was their coach in junior high and they all work very hard and have great attitudes. I’m excited for not only this season, but for the future as well.”
Crigger noted the girls team will be young and inexperienced.
“My goal for the girls team is to continue to train hard, race hard and see what happens,” Crigger said.
The Tigers will attend Joplin’s practice meet on Aug. 28 at South Middle School. The season-opening SWCCC Meet is Sept. 4 in Bolivar, while the Carthage Invitational is slated for Sept. 9.
The College Heights Christian cross country program reached new heights in 2020, as both squads won Ozark 7 Conference titles before the girls team captured the Class 1 state championship.
The College Heights girls lost three runners from last year’s championship squad, including their top performer, Grace Bishop.
But CHC coach Phillip Jordan has a solid group back.
Jayli Johnson, Madelynn Jordan, Madi Carson and Sophia Moore all return with prior varsity experience.
A junior, Johnson placed fifth at last year’s district meet and finished 32nd at the state meet. She also had a fine track season, contributing nicely as the Cougars won a state championship.
Madelynn Jordan and Carson are both sophomores who competed at state as freshmen. Jordan took ninth at the district event and finished 61st at state, while Carson placed 15th at the district event and was 80th at state.
Newcomers Stella Moore and Cloee Shackleford are expected to contribute.
“The girls’ commitment and positive mindset will push our team success,” Coach Jordan said. “We will rely on several young athletes who haven’t competed on the varsity level.”
The College Heights boys return a large group from the conference championship team.
The team’s lone returning state qualifier is sophomore Caleb Quade, who advanced to state as a freshman after a 14th place finish at the district meet. He placed 76th at state.
Also back are juniors Derrick McMillan and Corban Thomas and sophomores Rolen Sanderson, Steven Calandro and Brayden Youngberg.
McMillan was 17th at last year’s district meet, while Sanderson, Thomas and Calandro were 21st, 24th and 28th, respectively.
During the spring track season, CHC’s 4×800-meter relay team featuring McMillan, Sanderson, Thomas and Quade placed second in Class 1.
Newcomers are Jace Edwards and Dane Sanderson.
“We are young and have more confidence coming off a successful track season,” Jordan said of his boys squad. “The majority of our team will play soccer and will not have the full conditioning they need to be at their best. However, they are all hard working kids who will give their best.”
The Cougars will kick off the season on Sept. 4 at the SWCCCA Invitational in Bolivar.
