“AMAZING” ATHLETES AWARDED

Celebrating a year of Yellowjacket athletic successes, Wehmeyer, Stauffer draw top honors at Meridian Athletic Awards Banquet

MERIDIAN – As the 2023-24 school year comes to a close following a host of seasons filled with individual and team accomplishments, the Meridian High School athletic program celebrated with its annual Meridian Athletic Awards Banquet last week.

“Meridian Athletics has had another exciting and successful year,” Meridian athletic director and football head coach Jim Kerbow said. “Many of our athletes have accomplished some amazing things this year, and it has been great to watch our athletes grow throughout the year.”

Examples of Meridian athletic successes include: Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, and Baseball all qualifying for the playoffs, the Lady Jacket Girls Basketball team capturing a District Championship, the Jacket Baseball won a Regional Quarterfinal Championship in exciting fashion for only the second time in school history, the Meridian Cross Country teams qualified three girls and three boys for the Regional Cross Country Meet.

Meridian Powerlifting had one girl and four boys qualify for Regionals with the young lady advancing to the State Meet, Meridian Boys and Girls Track had 21 athletes compete at the area meet, 16 qualifying for the Regional meet and the Jacket Boys 4x200m Relay advancing the State meet, and the Meridian Tennis team sent six athletes to the Regional tournament after four individuals were District Champions.

Receiving the Meridian’s top athletic honors, senior Brayden Wehmeyer was named the boys’ Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year, while junior Journey Stauffer was named the girls’ Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year.

“Brayden has gone above and beyond for our athletic program,” Kerbow. “He has been a strong leader and has played a key in our success over the past two years. And we’re excited to be getting Journey back for another year.”

Also receiving top honors, Lady Jacket senior Raechel Ramirez and Meridian boys senior Noah Alvizo were named the recipients of the Darcy Cassidy Fighting Heart Award.

“Raechel is a young lady with great character and has a strong work ethic,” Kerbow said. “Noah is one of the hardest working young men I have had the pleasure to coach. He never missed a practice or a workout, and he gives 110 percent on and off the field.”

The most outstanding performers in each sport included: Baseball – Brayden Wehmeyer, Boys Basketball – Jesus Martinez, Girls Basketball – Evelyn Dirkse, Cheer – Hope Cabrera, Girls Cross Country – Journey Stauffer, Boys Cross Country – Hayden Cummings, Football – Noah Alvizo, Girls Golf – Raechel Ramirez, Boys Golf – Noah Smith, Girls Powerlifting – Raechel Ramirez, Boys Powerlifting – John Wyatt, Softball – Journey Stauffer, Girls Tennis – Mackenzie Borhofen, Boys Tennis – Kenneth Martin, Girls Track – Journey Stauffer, Boys Track – Matthew Jones, and Volleyball – Canyon Stauffer

“Every one of our graduating seniors Hope Cabrera, Evelyn Dirske, Canyon Stauffer, Raechel Ramirez, Noah Alvizo, Austin Pogue, Luke Smith, Brayden Wehmeyer, and John Wyatt have all had a hand in bringing back pride to Meridian athletics. They have all been tremendous leaders in their respective sports.

“But we only graduate four girls and five boys, so we have the majority of our athletes coming back that have experienced success and have seen their hard work payoff the past two years. So, we look forward to having a great 2024-2025 season.”