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 SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
BASEBALL
Treghan Parker, senior, Webb City
Webb City’s Treghan Parker finished his stellar senior season with a .429 batting average, 45 hits, 43 runs scored, seven home runs and 56 runs batted in, a single season school record. Parker recorded nine doubles and hit six triples, drew 20 walks, swiped 20 bases, only struck out seven times all season and had an .895 fielding percentage from the shortstop position. With Parker playing a key role, Webb City went 26-6 and advanced to the championship game of the district tournament. After the season, Parker was named the Central Ozark Conference Player of the Year and was a first-team all-state and all-district selection. Parker, who was also a standout on the football field, will play baseball at Missouri Southern.
Honorable Mention: Noah Southern, Carl Junction; Cole Martin, McDonald County; Kohl Cooper, Joplin
GIRLS TRACK
Addison Lawrence, sophomore, College Heights
Addison Lawrence had a remarkable spring. Just a sophomore, Lawrence earned four gold medals at the Class 1 state track meet, leading the College Heights girls to a team championship.
Lawrence’s inaugural high school season ended with her claiming state titles in the 100-meter dash, the 400-meter run as well as a member of the 4×100 and 4×200 relays. On the way to her four state titles, Lawrence also set school records in the 100, 200 and 400 as well as the 4×100 and 4×200 relays. Lawrence was also a part of the 4×400 relay team that broke the Galena, Kansas, meet record.
Honorable Mention: Ally Montez, Carl Junction
BOYS TRACK
Mekhi Garrard, senior, Webb City
Mekhi Garrard’s senior year at Webb City ended with not only an individual state championship, but also a team title. Garrard was the Class 4 state champion in the long jump ( 23-3.25) and also placed second in the triple jump (45-10). Garrard earned another state medal in Jefferson City, as he ran a leg of Webb City’s 4×400 relay that finished third. Garrard played a crucial role as Webb City’s boys track and field squad captured the Class 4 state championship. During the spring, Garrard won district and sectional titles in the long jump. He was also the conference and district champion in the triple jump. He qualified for state in four events, the long jump, triple jump, 200-meter dash and 4×200 relay. At state, Garrard joined the team’s 4×400 relay in place of the 200. Garrard, who was also a standout in football and basketball at WCHS, will join the track and field team at Missouri Southern.
Honorable Mention: Donovyn Fowler, Joplin
BOYS TENNIS
Ian Ding, junior, Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson’s Ian Ding left no doubt as to who was the Joplin area’s top boys tennis player. Ding capped a stellar junior season by competing at both the individual and team state tournaments. Individually, Ding finished fourth in the singles bracket at the MSHSAA Class 2 state tournament. Ding finished the season with a singles record of 27-4. Ding also saw success in doubles with Hari Nagarajan. The Cavaliers, who went 15-1 in duals this past spring, finished as the state runner-up in Class 2 for coach Tom Brumfield.
SPRING SOFTBALL
Lauren Schallert, senior, Purdy
A standout in the circle and at the plate, Lauren Schallert led Purdy (30-1) to its first state spring softball championship. As a pitcher, Schallert went 25-1 with a 0.36 ERA. She struck out 265 in 137 1/3 innings, walking just 18. Schallert fanned 16 in the state semifinals, a state record. In the batter’s box, Schallert batted .592 with 10 homers, 45 RBI and 45 runs scored. Schallert, who is headed to Cameron University, earned first-team all-conference, all-district and all-state honors.
Honorable Mention: Maddy Colin, College Heights
GIRLS SOCCER
Grace Bishop, senior, College Heights
With her solid overall play from the forward position, Grace Bishop led McAuley Catholic/College Heights to a 14-3 record and a berth in a district championship game. Bishop, who has signed to play college soccer at John Brown University, scored 30 goals, handed out 11 assists and recorded a hat trick in five contests this spring. Bishop recorded eight goals in three games to lead the Warriors to the Hillcrest Tournament championship. For her efforts, Bishop was recognized as all-district, all-region (Co-Player of the Year) and all-state. In fact, Bishop was an all-state performer in three sports as a senior—cross country, track and field and soccer.
Honorable Mention: Anea Bemo, Webb City
BOYS GOLF
Fielding Campbell, senior, Joplin
Fielding Campbell, a Missouri Southern commit, had a standout senior season on the standout golf team in the area. For Joplin, 
which took fourth as a team at state, Campbell capped off his final year as an Eagle with a 79-72—151 in the Class 5 meet at Sedalia Country Club to finish in a tie for 32nd place. Leading up to the final tournament of the season, Campbell took first place in the Bird Dog Invitational with a 78, sixth in the Horton Smith Invitational with an 80, tied for third in the Joplin Invitational with a 78, tied for fourth in the Ozark Tournament (77) and finished in fifth in the Sonic Invitational with a 74. Campbell tied for second at the COC Meet with fellow Joplin Eagle Wyatt Satterlee, who finished tied 27th at state with a 75-75—150, after both players shot a 76 to earn first-team all-COC honors. Campbell also carded a 75 in districts to take fourth place and earn all-district honors in the process.
Honorable Mention: Wyatt Satterlee, Joplin
