Cassville returns state qualifier, sports squad of 10

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

With 10 wrestlers out for the season, the Cassville High School girls wrestling team enters the winter focused on youth, leadership and momentum from last year’s state run — and the Lady Wildcats started off solid with a runner-up finish at their 7-team home tournament on Friday.

Casey Parsons, Cassville girls wrestling coach, said one of the central storylines is the return of state medalist Analeigh Winchell following her fourth-place finish a year ago.

“Any state match is tough, but we knew going into the state championship tournament Analeigh was going to have to depend on her wrestling skills, technique and mental state of mind since she was 24 pounds lighter than most of the girls in her weight class,” Parsons said. “Analeigh was able to stay out of her head and let that first match go while using it as fuel to push forward to make the podium.”

Parsons said expectations are high for Winchell, who took first at 170 pounds in the tournament on Friday, as she begins her junior campaign.

“I expect her to be at the top of that podium this year and to be a leader for our team,” Parsons said. “With her state tournament experience, she will be able to motivate the other girls.”

Winchell begins the season at a higher weight but may adjust as the year progresses.

“She will start the year at 155, but I look for her to drop to 145 or 140,” Parsons said.

Three returning varsity wrestlers anchor the lineup behind Winchell, covering a wide range of weights and experience.

“Allison Deaver, a sophomore, will return this season and will wrestle 100 or 105,” Parsons said. “Anna Vanderhoef, a sophomore, will return this season and will wrestle 140 to 155 range.”

Parsons said the team also brings back sophomore Molly Pickett in the varsity group.

Leadership will be a key component for a roster Parsons described as young but eager.

“Analeigh and junior Isabella Bauman will be our leaders this year,” Parsons said. “We are a young team, both in age and experience, so I am looking to these two young ladies to motivate and help push our team.”

Parsons said Winchell’s high-level experience will be a steadying force throughout the season.

“Analeigh has the experience and knowledge at the next level of wrestling while always being willing to help anyone in the wrestling room,” Parsons said.

Bauman’s return brings both ability and energy back onto the mat.

“Bella will add experience on the mat along with the positive reinforcement for all the girls,” Parsons said. “They both bring enthusiasm and encouragement to the team.”

Parsons said Bauman’s offseason stood out after she recovered from an injury that cost her last year.

“Bella is going to a key aspect to our lineup, she is returning after an accident put her out last season,” Parsons said. “She came back into the wrestling room motivated and ready to work hard.”

Bauman is not the only returner making strides.

“Anna Vanderhoef is also bringing some experience to our team,” Parsons said. “She looks to make some big moves this season after her freshman year. With more mat time and experience, I have high expectations for her,” Parsons said.

Another key wrestler, AJ Deaver, enters the season hungry after narrowly missing a trip to Columbia last year.

“AJ missed qualifying for state by one match last year, so she is looking to redeem herself,” Parsons said.

Fresh faces will also play a major role in shaping Cassville’s depth, particularly in the middle weights.

“Some newcomers to the mat, freshmen Hopelyne Thompson, Gracey Farsungchin and Estrella Garcia, are looking to make the varsity line up,” Parsons said. “Hopelyne is the only one with experience, but these three freshman are motivated and looking to make our varsity line up stronger in those middle weight classes.”

Parsons said she expects the group to make an immediate impact.

“The three freshman I just mentioned because of their athletic abilities and dedication to getting better each day,” Parsons said.

Overall, Parsons said this year’s group brings intangible strengths that can elevate the team beyond its youth.

“This year’s team is motivated, willing to learn, and wants to be in the wrestling room,” Parsons said. “These girls push each other daily to get better and work harder.”

Those qualities, Parsons said, could become deciding factors as the season unfolds.

“We may be a young team but we have a group of girls willing to put the work in each day and that is how they are going to reach their goals for the year,” she said.

For Parsons, success will depend on mindset, commitment and daily improvement.

“For this to be a successful season, the girls need to maintain their motivation, positive attitudes and dedication to the sport and the team,” she said. “Learn from mistakes and learn something from each match to be better for the next match.”

Parsons said team-wide growth will come from veterans stepping up and younger wrestlers closing gaps quickly.

“We will have to keep pushing each other; my girls with experience are stepping up and helping the younger girls improve on the mat each day,” she said.

Results from the Cassville Girls Scramble 2025 on Friday include:

105: Isabella Bauman (4-0) placed 1st and scored 18.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Isabella Bauman 4-0 won by fall over Jaelee Wihour (Wyandotte) 1-3 (Fall 1:27)

• Round 2 – Isabella Bauman 4-0 won by fall over Hayden Wright (Holden) 4-3 (Fall 1:28)

• Round 3 – Isabella Bauman 4-0 won by medical forfeit over McKenna Hartsell (Holden) 2-1 (M. For.)

• Round 4 – Isabella Bauman 4-0 won by fall over Katie Houtz (Reeds Spring) 0-4 (Fall 0:25)

110: Allison Deaver (5-0) placed 1st and scored 26.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Allison Deaver 5-0 won by fall over Primrose Paw (Green Forest High School) 0-5 (Fall 0:24)

• Round 2 – Allison Deaver 5-0 won by fall over Ella Hart (Wyandotte) 3-2 (Fall 0:59)

• Round 3 – Allison Deaver 5-0 won by fall over Camryn Storkson (Aurora) 1-4 (Fall 0:36)

• Round 4 – Allison Deaver 5-0 won by fall over Emmaleigh Broward (Wyandotte) 3-2 (Fall 0:40)

• Round 5 – Allison Deaver 5-0 won by fall over Addison Brooks (Holden) 6-4 (Fall 1:26)

125: Hopelyne Thompson (1-2) placed 3rd and scored 5.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Ansley Steinbach (Wyandotte) 2-1 won by fall over Hopelyne Thompson 1-2 (Fall 2:19)

• Round 2 – Mila Turpin (Holden) 5-2 won by fall over Hopelyne Thompson 1-2 (Fall 1:25)

• Round 4 – Hopelyne Thompson 1-2 won by fall over Brooke Holman (Green Forest High School) 0-3 (Fall 0:11)

130: Gracey Farsungchin (0-2) placed 3rd and scored 3.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Ady Yoder (Holden) 5-1 won by fall over Gracey Farsungchin 0-2 (Fall 0:26)

• Round 4 – Naomi Orellana (Monett) 1-1 won by fall over Gracey Farsungchin 0-2 (Fall 1:14)

135: Emma Roney (1-4) placed 5th and scored 7.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Layla Seiz (Holden) 4-5 won by fall over Emma Roney 1-4 (Fall 1:49)

• Round 2 – Halyn Schneider (Wyandotte) 2-3 won by fall over Emma Roney 1-4 (Fall 0:45)

• Round 3 – Emma Roney 1-4 won by fall over Valeria Maravillas (Green Forest High School) 0-5 (Fall 0:20)

• Round 4 – Mackenzie Kugler (Reeds Spring) 4-1 won by fall over Emma Roney 1-4 (Fall 1:50)

• Round 5 – Case Parnell (Aurora) 5-0 won by fall over Emma Roney 1-4 (Fall 1:27)

140: Molly Pickett (1-3) placed 5th and scored 2.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Zoe Bohstedt (Reeds Spring) 1-3 won by fall over Molly Pickett 1-3 (Fall 1:35)

• Round 2 – Olivia Kingsley (Reeds Spring) 2-2 won by fall over Molly Pickett 1-3 (Fall 1:05)

• Round 4 – Addie McGowen (Wyandotte) 4-0 won by fall over Molly Pickett 1-3 (Fall 0:37)

• Round 5 – Molly Pickett 1-3 won by fall over Penny Caldwell (Holden) 2-5 (Fall 4:57)

145: Estrella Garcia (0-2) placed 3rd and scored 3.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Chloe Randall (Wyandotte) 1-1 won by fall over Estrella Garcia 0-2 (Fall 2:56)

• Round 5 – Jasmine Koehler (Aurora) 2-0 won by fall over Estrella Garcia 0-2 (Fall 0:39)

155: Anna Vanderhoef (1-1) placed 2nd and scored 8.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Anna Vanderhoef 1-1 won by fall over Alexa Robles (Monett) 0-2 (Fall 0:24)

• Round 5 – Bobbie Diibon (Holden) 5-2 won by fall over Anna Vanderhoef 1-1 (Fall 3:31)

170: Analeigh Winchell (5-0) placed 1st and scored 26.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Analeigh Winchell 5-0 won by fall over Leanny Sandoval (Monett) 2-3 (Fall 1:37)

• Round 2 – Analeigh Winchell 5-0 won by fall over Amethyst James (Monett) 3-2 (Fall 2:00)

• Round 3 – Analeigh Winchell 5-0 won by fall over Elaina Shiels (Wyandotte) 3-2 (Fall 0:11)

• Round 4 – Analeigh Winchell 5-0 won by fall over Mistie Hughes (Green Forest High School) 0-5 (Fall 0:12)

• Round 5 – Analeigh Winchell 5-0 won by fall over Fatima Deleon (Green Forest High School) 2-3 (Fall 0:26)

190: Alexis Lands (2-2) placed 3rd and scored 13.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Taylor Hubbard (Holden) 5-3 won by fall over Alexis Lands 2-2 (Fall 2:26)

• Round 3 – Alexis Lands 2-2 won by fall over Maria Perez (Green Forest High School) 1-3 (Fall 0:15)

• Championship Bracket – Arianna Galarsa (Monett) 4-1 won by fall over Alexis Lands 2-2 (Fall 0:27)

• 3rd Place Match – Alexis Lands 2-2 won by fall over Taylor Thieman (Wyandotte) 2-3 (Fall 3:15)