IFL Awards John Pettit Person of the Year to Krystal Soto
IFL Awards John Pettit Person of the Year to Krystal Soto
DES MOINES - The Indoor Football League has awarded Krystal Soto, Vice President of the Tucson Sugar Skulls, with the John Pettit Person of the Year Award following the 2026 season.
This award is named after the late John Pettit who was the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Iowa Barnstormers until his untimely passing in December of 2020.
John Pettit was a pioneer of the indsutry and the list of his accomplishments, successes, and accolades is quite extensive; but you would never know it. He was humble, he was helpful, and he was honest. The Iowa Barnstormers meant the world to him and while he put countless hours into the organization at all levels, his priority was not just to see the Barnstormers succeed it was to see the entire Indoor Football League succeed. John always found extra hours to be available to help other teams or individuals because he knew that in order for one team to be strong, every team needed to be. John was a rare breed and he will always be missed.
Each season, the Indoor Football League presents the John Pettit Person of the Year Award to the individual who demonstrates exceptional dedication and exemplary service to their team as well as their community. This award recognizes caring individuals who always have the best interest of their team, fan base, community, and the Indoor Football League in mind.
"On behalf of my family, I want to thank the Indoor Football League for continuing to honor my dad and the impact he made by having this award in his name," said Juli Pettit. "So much of the work that keeps an organization and a league moving forward happens behind the scenes and often goes unrecognized. This award is intended to celebrate the individuals who give their time, energy, and heart to their organizations and Krystal Soto embodies those qualities. I am incredibly proud to see her name added to the growing list of recipients."
The Tucson Sugar Skulls celebrated Soto's recognition in a statement shared on the team's Facebook page.
"If you know Krystal, you know just how deserving this recognition is," the organization shared. "Her passion for the Tucson Sugar Skulls and the Tucson community goes far beyond her title. She shows up, speaks up, and always goes the extra mile for the people, team, and community she loves."
The Iowa Barnstormers would like to congratulate Krystal Soto on being the 2026 IFL John Pettit Person of the Year. Our organization continues to be proud of the John Pettit Person of the Year Award and especially proud of the standard that has been set for future recipients. We look forward to continuing to celebrate all of those who earn this honor in the future.
John Pettit Person of the Year Recipients:
2021 - Juli Pettit (Iowa Barnstormers)
2022 - Ryan Hopson (Green Bay Blizzard)
2023 - Kathy Treankler (Green Bay Blizzard)
2024 - Doug Bland (Quad City Steamwheelers)
2025 - Destiny Brown (Quad City Steamwheelers)
2026 - Krystal Soto (Tucson Sugar Skulls)
