JEFFERSON CITY – One year later and the name on the front of the uniform still speaks volumes.
Joplin had two state qualifiers – Ryun Snyder and Miriah Johnson – representing the school and community that were devastated by a tornado one year ago this past week. They were in agreement that nothing will ever erase what happened, but there are still positives uncovered almost daily.
“It’s been in our heads all throughout this entire year,” Snyder said. “It kind of helps us out though because we always have it the back of our heads as momentum to keep us going.”
Although the high school was lost to the storm, the stadium remained. The track team had a place to practice this spring, allowing Sanders and Johnson to compete and qualify in the high jump.
Snyder cleared 6 feet to finish 12th in the Class 4 state meet at Lincoln University’s Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
“I really didn’t think I would make it this far, and no one else did either,” Snyder said. “So I’m excited to be here that’s for sure.
“It’ll never be behind you. It’ll stick with everyone from Joplin forever. That was going through my head on my last attempt at 6-2, ‘Represent Joplin.’”
Johnson earned a medal for her efforts at the state meet. She cleared 5-3 on her first attempt. Three tries at her PR height of 5-4 knocked her out of the competition.
“My second attempt, I barely nicked it on my heels, and then the third attempt my ankle rolled so I didn’t really have a chance on that,” said Johnson, who tied for seventh.
Johnson knew that competing and being at the state meet carried with it the expectations and pride of an entire town.
“It’s motivation because you know they’re watching you; you know they’re there to back you up when you fall or when you’re going strong. They’re always there for you,” Johnson said.
Snyder and Johnson also had the privilege of meeting President Barack Obama at the school’s graduation ceremony, which also served to recognize the year anniversary of the tornado. Snyder said he shook the President’s hand, while Johnson said his address contained a resounding message to everyone in Joplin.
“During his speech, he says ‘Because you are from Joplin’ which means that every time he said that he was like, ‘You guys are strong. You come out of the brush. You guys go strong and drive every time, all the time.’ Which made it like, ‘Yeah, we do,’ when you think about it, because we are Joplin.”