Joplin High School Archives

Joplin football player one of 12 finalists for “Rudy” Award (VIDEO)

December 13, 2011 By Bill Pollock

Quinton Anderson

Joplin High School senior Quinton Anderson is a finalist for the High School Football Rudy Awards, after losing his parents in the May 22 tornado that left him critcally injured.

The Rudy Awards celebrate outstanding young athletes, not because of their statistical performance, but because of their ability to inspire teammates, classmates and communities. These awards honor players who demonstrate the exemplary values of football legend Daniel ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger, inspirational figure of the classic football film RUDY.

Anderson couldn’t play football this year but showed up at his practices and games and was named a team captain. His injuries suffered in the tornado required skin grafts, surgery for a lacerated spleen, lumbar implant surgery, emergency surgery to remove the cutaneou mucormycosis fungus and eye surgery.

As one of the 12 finalists he will share $25,000 in scholarships. He plans to major in molecular biology.

Watch his video.

Joplin football plays Ray-Pec at Arrowhead tonight (AUDIO)

October 21, 2011 By Bill Pollock

Arrowhead Stadium will host Joplin High School as it takes on Raymore-Peculiar High School tonight. All net proceeds from the game will benefit the Joplin Schools Tornado Relief Fund. General admission tickets for the game, which kicks at 7 p.m. are $15, with all net proceeds benefitting the Joplin Schools Tornado Relief Fund. Jeff Starkweather, the Athletic Director for Joplin schools, talks to us about how the city has rallied behind their team and how much this game means to a community that is slowing getting back on its feet.

Interview with Jeff Starkweather (5:00)