SoMo Sports is proud to represent and contribute to the coverage of prep athletics for Joplin and its surrounding communities, and because of that, we’ve decided to continue our SoMo Sports Athletes of the Year series.
The SoMo Sports Athletes of the Year were chosen by reporters Jason Peake and Lucas Davis, who researched, discussed and agreed upon one athlete to represent for their school in each high school varsity sport from the fall, winter and spring seasons. The recipients were chosen by their athletic performances at the varsity level for the 2022-23 school year.
Without any further wait, the 2022-23 SoMo Sports Fall Sports Athletes of the Year.
FALL SEASON
FOOTBALL
Luke Gall, senior, Carthage
An outstanding player both offensively at running back and defensively at linebacker during his prep career, Carthage’s Luke Gall rushed for 2,000 yards and 40 touchdowns on 246 carries and made 106 total tackles during his senior campaign, playing a major role in Carthage advancing to the Class 5 state semifinals.
The area’s most-outstanding two-way performer, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Gall was named the Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year, the COC’s Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year and the Region’s Offensive and Defensive POY.
Carthage went 11-2 in ’22, with a 22-21 setback to Nixa the team’s lone regular-season setback. Eventual state champion Francis Howell defeated Carthage 35-13 in the Class 5 semifinals.
Gall and his classmates played for a program that finished a combined 42-6 overall during their four years of high school.
With his storied and remarkable prep career concluded, Gall has signed to continue his athletic career at the Air Force Academy in Colorado.
HM: Quin Renfro, junior, Joplin
SOFTBALL
Jacie Frencken, junior, McDonald County
McDonald County’s Jacie Frencken had quite the junior season for the Mustangs on the diamond.
The junior infielder clubbed her way to a .510 batting average while getting on base at a .574 clip. She provided plenty of power after slugging 1.010 and came up clutch time and time again with a .683 batting average with runners in scoring position.
In total, Frencken set a bevy of single-season school records with 16 doubles, 11 home runs and 53 RBI, earning herself the Big 8 Conference Player of the Year as well as earning first-team all-district, all-region and all-state while helping lead the Mustangs to a 23-10 record and a trip to the Class 4 state playoffs.
HM: Nevaeh Dodson, junior, McDonald County; Jill McDaniel, senior, Joplin
VOLLEYBALL
Parker Long, senior, Seneca
Parker Long finished her career in Seneca on a high note.
The 5-foot-9-inch outside hitter was a catalyst in the Indians’ 23-12-1 season that ended with a program-first trip to the quarterfinal round of the Class 3 state playoffs. Long led Seneca with 448 kills, 474 digs and 65 aces on the season.
She had a 40.1% kill rate with a .269 hitting percentage and averaged four kills per set.
Among the accolades Long earned this season, she was named first-team all-conference and district as well being the first Seneca player to earn Class 3 all-state honors as well.
HM: Kyah Sanborn, senior, Webb City; Lo Jones, senior, Carl Junction
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Hobbs Campbell, senior, Joplin
Joplin’s Hobbs Campbell capped an outstanding senior season by finishing fifth at the MSHSAA Class 5 Cross Country Championships.
Competing in the state’s biggest classification, Campbell toured the 5K course at Gans Creek with a time of 15 minutes, 42 seconds to earn all-state honors.
Ahead of the state championships, Campbell finished fourth at the Class 5 District 2 meet with a time of 15:36.
Also of note, Campbell won the Central Ozark Conference Meet with an impressive time of 15:21.
Campbell will continue his athletic career at the University of Kansas.
HM: Kip Atteberry, senior, Thomas Jefferson; Evan Stevens, junior, Webb City
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Abi Street, senior, Webb City
In a season full of highlights, Webb City senior Abi Street recorded a program-best finish at the state championships.
In a stellar conclusion to a standout prep cross country career, Street finished third in the Class 4 girls race with a time of 19 minutes, 6 seconds.
The third place showing is the highest place ever by a Webb City female at the state meet.
In addition to earning all-state recognition for the second straight year, Street captured district and conference championships during the fall.
Street was the top female finisher at the Class 4 District 2 meet (18:53) and she also took first at the Central Ozark Conference Meet (18:40).
Street will compete collegiately at the University of Kansas.
HM: Kendall Ramsey, junior, McAuley Catholic
GIRLS GOLF
Emree Cameron, sophomore, Nevada
Nevada High School sophomore Emree Cameron was the runner-up at the MSHSAA Class 2 Girls Golf Championships.
Cameron finished the two-day state tourney with a 2-over-par 146, just two strokes back of the state champion, Marshfield’s Marlene Edgeman.
In a stellar fall season, Cameron was the Class 2 District 3 champion with an even-par 70.
Cameron finished third at the Big 8 Conference Meet with a 2-under-par 68.
Cameron won 18-hole tournaments in Joplin, Lamar, Bolivar, Carthage and Nevada. She averaged a 69 on 18-hole courses last fall while averaging a 34.5 on 9-hole courses.
Cameron set a school record by shooting a 7-under-par 65 at the Frank E. Peters Municipal Golf Course on Sept. 23.
BOYS SOCCER
Alex Flores, senior, Webb City
Alex Flores’ final season with Webb City soccer was a strong conclusion to his prep career.
The standout forward helped lead the Cardinals to their program’s first district title since 1999 by finding the back of the net 28 times during his senior season.
Flores also added seven assists on the year, garnering him all-conference, district and state recognition.
BOYS SWIMMING
Micah Brouwer, junior, Webb City
Webb City’s Micah Brouwer finished as one of the top and most dynamic swimmers in the area.
He finished the season with Webb City as the Central Ozark Conference champion in the 100-yard breaststroke with a state consideration time of one minute, 4.94 seconds and was third in 200 IM.
Brouwer had a third-place time in the 100 breastroke of 1:03.39 in the SWMO Championships.
At the state meet, Brouwer finished 18th in the prelims of the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:03, just missing a trip to the finals.
GIRLS TENNIS
Emma Watts, senior, Joplin
Joplin High School senior Emma Watts concluded her stellar prep career by putting together a solid 2022 season.
Watts finished her senior year with a 21-7 record in singles play.
Along the way, Watts captured the singles championship at the Central Ozark Conference Tournament. It was Watts’ third conference championship, as she and Astrid Cardenas won COC doubles titles the two previous seasons.
Watts finished third in the singles bracket at the Class 3 District 6 individual tournament.
HM: Allison Ding, junior, Thomas Jefferson
