At SoMo Sports, we understand the importance of student-athletes competing in prep sports in terms of development, both mentally and physically, for young adults who are preparing for life after high school.
Not only does competing in prep sports help build character, but it also provides student-athletes with tools such as communication, leadership and self-drive that will benefit them as they continue on life’s journey.
With that in mind, SoMo Sports wanted to honor the top athletes in the area who put in countless hours of hard work during practice, workouts, games/meets as well as on their own time by naming them as a SoMo Sports Athlete of the Year.
The Athlete of the Year selections go out to the top area athlete in each sport during the fall, winter and spring prep seasons.
The standout athletes are chosen by SoMo Sports reporters Jason Peake and Lucas Davis, who tirelessly cover prep sports for Joplin and its surrounding communities during the school year. Along with nominations by area coaches, SoMo Sports used individual accomplishments during the regular season and postseason as well as team success as factors for choosing each Athlete of the Year.
The SoMo Sports Athletes of the Year awards will be divided up in three stories—fall, winter and spring. Each sport will have an Athlete of the Year, and if warranted, there may be one or two honorable mentions per sport as well.
The SoMo Sports Athletes of the Year three-part story is sponsored by Cell Phone Medics.
SOMO SPORTS FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
FOOTBALL
Devrin Weathers, senior, Webb City
Webb City’s Devrin Weathers had a remarkable high school career. A 6-foot-1, 190-pound running back who was a three-year starter for John Roderique’s powerhouse Webb City Cardinals, Weathers earned numerous all-state, all-district, all-region and all-conference honors over the course of his standout prep career. Weathers was named the 2020 Central Ozark Conference Offensive Player of the Year and the Southwest Missouri Football Coaches Association’s Offensive Player of the Year for Class 5 after he rushed for 1,782 yards and scored 29 total touchdowns as a senior. A Kansas State-signee who also returned kicks and caught an occasional pass, Weathers compiled 2,069 all-purpose yards in 2020. The Cardinals went 26-4 in Weathers’ last two seasons, with a Class 4 state championship in 2019 and a Class 5 semifinal appearance in 2020. Weathers compiled more than 4,100 rushing yards and 59 rushing touchdowns during his memorable high school career.
Honorable Mention: Nathan Glades, senior, Joplin; Patrick Carlton, senior, Carthage
SOFTBALL
Haidyn Berry, senior, Webb City
Haidyn Berry was a dominant two-way performer for the Webb City Cardinals. As a senior, Berry led the Cardinals to a state runner-up finish by excelling in the circle and inside the batter’s box. As a pitcher, the right-handed Berry went 25-6 with 234 strikeouts and just 27 walks in 194 innings. She had a 2.23 ERA for the season. At the plate, Berry hit .444 with a .981 slugging percentage and a 1.501 OPS. Berry recorded 48 hits with 18 home runs and 49 RBI. The 18 homers in a season not only set a school record, but also put Berry second all-time in the state of Missouri. Berry was the Central Ozark Conference’s Player of the Year for the second straight season and also garnered first team all-state, all-region and all-district honors.
With her standout prep career concluded, Berry will play college softball at the University of Central Missouri.
BOYS SOCCER
Alberto Robledo, senior, Neosho
Robledo, a forward, had a memorable senior season for the Wildcats, who finished with a 19-2 record on the way to a trip to the Class 3 quarterfinals. Robledo finished his final season in Neosho with 31 goals and two assists on the way to earning Class 3 Offensive Player of the Year honors. In addition, Robledo earned first-team all-region and district recognition.
BOYS SWIMMING
Ben Wardlow, senior, Joplin
Wardlow, a William Jewell commit, saw his strong senior season culminate with four events at the Class 2 state meet. Wardlow placed 21st in the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 50.54 while taking 22nd place in the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 22.65. Wardlow was also the lead leg in Joplin’s 200 freestyle relay team which took 20th at the state meet. Wardlow also won the 50 free at the Central Ozark Conference meet in a time of 23.21 seconds and received all-conference in that event as well as the 100 breaststroke. At SWMO, Wardlow got his personal best in the 100 freestyle and placed sixth in a time of 50.67.
VOLLEYBALL
Salma Lewis, senior, Carl Junction
With her stellar play at the net, Salma Lewis led the Carl Junction Bulldogs to a 24-7 record and a district championship in 2020. A 5-foot-10 outside hitter, Lewis recorded 412 kills as a senior. Lewis finished her prep career with 1,229 career kills, a school record. According to the MSHSAA website, Lewis is just the 19th player in state history to record 1,000 career kills. A force at the net throughout her four-year prep career, Lewis has earned multiple all-state, all-district and all-conference honors. After capturing a district championship, the Bulldogs ended the season with a five-set loss to eventual state champion Willard. Lewis, who was also a standout in track and field, will play college volleyball at Drury University.
Honorable Mention: Maddy Peeples, senior, Webb City
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Joe Kremp, senior, Lamar
Kremp capped off his senior season with the Tigers with a third-place finish at the Class 3 state meet. He recorded a PR in his final cross country event, crossing the line in 16 minutes, 2.8 seconds. Kremp was also the Big 8 Conference champion with a time of 16:12.61, earning three total wins and finished in the top three eight times in his final season with Lamar. In nine of the 10 meets in which Kremp competed, he ran a time of 16:31 or better.
Honorable Mention: Joseph Dawson, senior, Webb City
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Jennalee Dunn, junior, Joplin
In a stellar junior season, Jennalee Dunn became Joplin High School’s first female state medalist in cross country. Dunn was the runner-up in the girls race at the Central Ozark Conference Meet (19 minutes, 16 seconds) and then finished second at the Class 5 District 6 meet (19:20). Competing alongside the state’s best at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia last November, Dunn finished 18th at the Class 5 state meet with a time of 19:11. Dunn, who attended Thomas Jefferson Independent as a freshman, has advanced to the state cross country meet in every year of high school.
Also a standout in track, Dunn holds the school record in three of the four distance events—19 minutes even in the 5K, a 5:08 in the 1600 and a 2:22 in the 800.
Honorable Mention: Kiersten Potter, sophomore, Lamar; Riley Hawkins, junior, Webb City; Grace Bishop, senior, College Heights
GIRLS TENNIS
Astrid Cardenas, junior, Joplin
For the second straight year, Astrid Cardenas represented Joplin High School at the state tennis tournament. After advancing to state in singles and going 22-3 as a sophomore in 2019, Cardenas and Emma Watts were the top doubles team in the region during the fall of 2020. The JHS duo won the No. 1 doubles crown at the Central Ozark Conference tournament, took second at the Class 3 District 6 tournament and then advanced to the consolation quarterfinals of the Class 3 state tournament. Cardenas and Watts went 15-7 on the season, but were 14-3 after both players returned to action from injury or illness. A back injury plagued Cardenas throughout her junior season. Both Cardenas and Watts will return for the Eagles this fall.
GIRLS GOLF
Lily Allman, senior, McDonald County
Allman, a Missouri Southern commit, capped her incredible high school career with a third-place finish at the Class 3 state meet with a 81-82—163 at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club for the Mustangs, finishing just four strokes back of first place. Among her many accomplishments during her senior season, Allman, a founding member of the McDonald County girls golf program, garnered all-Big 8 honors while winning the Class 3 District 3 tournament with a six-over-par 76. Other notable wins for Allman during her senior year were the Joplin Lady Eagle Invitational, Carl Junction Tournament and the eCarthage Invitational.
Honorable Mention: Hailey Bryant, junior, Carthage
