Sports

Cassville High School Assistant Volleyball Coach Chris Seymour knew at some point in the fall he would have to assume head coaching duties for the volleyball team, but what he did not expect was the spring recognition he would receive for doing so. Seymour has been named the Class 3 Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association (MHSVCA) Assistant Coach of the Year. ...

An 0-3 start for the Purdy baseball team may have seemed dire, but the Eagles are finding their wings this season, ripping off eight wins in a row — and many big ones. After losses to Clever, Monett and El Dorado Springs, by a combined 7 runs, Purdy has outscored its opponents 89-17 and shut out two...

The Exeter softball team is making great strides this season, sitting at 8-3 at the start of this week and at 2-1 in Ozark 7 Conference play. Ashley Fly, Lady Tigers head coach, said things have gone well through the first half of the season. “We’ve learned to do a few things that we weren’t doing well at the beginning of the season, and we have capitalized on some of that progress and are improving every day,” she said. ...

The Wheaton track and field program is firing away this season, turning in some big performances so far and hoping to continue on a positive track. The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs competed in Diamond on March 29, with lone boys senior Chad Meyer stealing the show, taking first in the javelin, 100-meter and 200-meter events...

The Cassville girls track team earned a second-place finish out of 12 teams at the Reeds Spring Relays. Results include: 1st place 4x100 relay — Taitum Groves, Hannah Hackler, Sharayah Seymour and Kyren Postlewait Shot put — Kyren Postlewait 2nd Place...

Cassville hosted the Wildcat Invitational last week, competing in a field of 13 teams.

The Cassville boys and girls track and field teams have started the season out hot, melting the competition in Aurora’s Ice Box Relays on Thursday with a pair of first place team finishes. The boys earned six first-place medals, led by a trio of golds from David Oliphant in the 100-meter, triple jump and long jump...

Wheaton’s Alissa Mason throws a pitch in the Lady Bulldogs’ loss to Clever on March 30. Wheaton also fell to Southwest on Thursday, 16-0. The Lady Bulldogs host Pierce City on Friday at 4:30 p.m. Kyle Troutman/editor@cassville-democrat.com

The Wheaton baseball team has started the season out a little slow, but Coach Tucker Dermott believes his Bulldogs will be in shape by the end of the season to compete for a district championship. Dermott said Wheaton (2-4) worked some in the fall, and the process of building a winning mindset is constant...

The Southwest boys track and field team won the Diamond High School Track Invitational last week, finishing second in the 4x400 relay to outdistance second-place Jasper 86-83.  The Trojans also outpaced Diamond, Marionville, Pierce City, and Liberal. The Trojans won five events and medaled in 10. Senior Travis Sickles captured the 2-mile and 800-meter events, and Senior Isaac Starr won the shot put...

Cassville tied for first place after winning three of four contests in its Wildcat Wood Bat Tournament last week, defeating Central 11-1, Butler 8-7 and Sarcoxie 10-0, but falling to falling to Lighthouse Christian 17-6. Cassville settled for second overall, as the Wildcats (4-6) lost to Lighthouse head to head in the round robin format. ...

The Cassville baseball team managed third place in the Cassville Classic last week, going 1-3 in two doubleheaders, but also picking up the first victory of the season in a 3-1 win over Galena. The Wildcats (1-5 as of Monday morning) were set to play a doubleheader on March 22, but due to fears of inclement weather, the contests were pushed to Wednesday...

The Purdy baseball team is finding its legs in the dirt this season, starting out with three losses but winning its last two straight to take fifth place in its home tournament. Joshua Hughes, Purdy baseball coach, said the team has been shining offensively...

The Wheaton softball team is looking to overcome inexperience and is aiming to be the most-improved ball club this spring overall. Kaily Harvey, Lady Bulldogs softball coach, said the team is off to an 0-3 start, falling in all three contests in the Verona Tournament, and has missed a few other games due to rain. She said the team is excited to get more games in and gain some ground on the dirt...

Multiple area athletes have been recognized with All-Conference and All-District basketball awards. Those making the postseason lists include: • Corey Hilburn, junior, Exeter • Macy Barrett, senior, Exeter • Zac Leverich, senior, Wheaton • Jack Mitchell, senior, Wheaton...

The Cassville girls track and field team kicked off the 2021 season with an outstanding performance, scoring points in every event en route to a first-place finish at the McDonald County Meet with 163.5 points. Results by event include:  4x800 relay — Marianne McCrackin,Jolie Evans, Annie Moore, Jordyn Stafford, first...

Many athletics programs this year are suffering from a lack of experience after the cancellation of spring sports in 2020 — not Purdy softball. The Lady Eagles’ season kicked off on Friday against Pleasant Hope at home with a 10-0 victory, and they played on Monday and Tuesday in the Mt. Vernon Tournament...

The Cassville baseball team has strong numbers this season with 28 on the roster, but the Wildcats are having to overcome a lack of experience on the varsity level. Ron Hudson, Cassville baseball coach, said the team, which did not play last season due to COVID-19, was senior-heavy in 2020, meaning most varsity players have not seen live action since playing on the junior varsity and C team as freshmen...

The Cassville girls soccer team took second place in its four-team Cassville Kickoff Classic on Friday and Saturday.

The Purdy baseball team fell in a pair of contests on Saturday to Clever, 7-3, and Monett, 9-8. Clever was up 4-0 going into the fourth inning, where the Eagles plated 3 runs, but Clever added another 3 in the fifth to provide the winning score. Against Monett, Purdy led 8-5 in the seventh, but Monett walked off with the win with a 4-run inning. The Eagles are playing this week in their home tournament...

Eight Lady Wildcats softball players hit home runs in the books this season, earning Academic All-State designations.

After 12 hours of covering Class 2 state wrestling action on Thursday, I found myself in the back corner of a Culver’s asking some of the most hard-hitting questions of my journalism career. Cassville’s wrestling program emphatically rewrote its history book in Independence, with Annie Moore becoming the first ever state champion for Cassville, girls or boys, on Tuesday, then Zach Coenen following up her performance with the first ever championship for the boys on Thursday...

Cassville High School seniors Dylan Berndt and Zane Mebruer have been named Soccer Academic All-State.

The Cassville girls soccer team picked up a 1-0 win over Aurora and a 4-0 win over McDonald County in the McDonald County jamboree on Tuesday, with senior Olivia Holman netting all five goals for the Lady Wildcats. Contributed photo

Live updates of Zach Coenen's progress at the 2021 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships...

What's sweeter than winning a state championship? Why, cheesecake, of course! Annie Moore, who won the 112-pound state title Tuesday, made good on her promise to get a healthy slice of pie from the Cheesecake Factory today. Congratulations to Annie!

Cassville wrestler Zach Coenen got in one last practice today at the St. Joe Benton facility ahead of competing Thursday in the 2021 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships. Matches will start at 9:30 a.m. at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence. Live results will be posted at www.cassville-democrat.com/sports. Best of luck to Zach as he vies for another Cassville state title!...

The nerves were palpable for the Cassville girls wrestling team at the 2021 MSHSAA State Championships on March 9, but that did not stop the young Lady Wildcats squad from shining at the season’s biggest tournament. Cassville took four wrestlers and finished 8th as a team out of the 92 total competing, tallying 46 points. Lebanon won the tournament with 101, Lafayette was second with 81.5 and Washington was third with 61...

Cassville sophomore Annie Moore came into Tuesday with only one loss on her record this year, and the number did not change, as Moore pinned her way to the gold medal at 112 pounds in the 2021 MSHSAA State Championships. Moore went a cool three-for-three at the event, pinning quarterfinal opponent Josie Moody, of Waynesville, in 59 seconds, then semifinal opponent Aiva Meyer, of Carrollton, in 2:39, and championship opponent Chloe Sheckells, of Staley, in 3:02...

Cassville’s Zach Coenen is used to hearing the “freight train” chants during football season, but this week, the senior is taking his bulldozing talents to Independence and taking aim at dominating the 220-pound bracket at the 2021 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships...

It has been exactly 655 days since the Cassville girls soccer team has played a match, and the Lady Wildcats are hungry for their first taste of the 2021 season. Cassville got a couple weeks of preseason practice in the books in 2020 before COVID-19 wiped out the season, and while there was no shortage of disappointment a year ago, there is plenty of anticipation to go around this spring...

While no local schools will be represented in the Show-Me Showdown final fours next weekend, one local man will be on the floor for hopefully a few games. Joshua Hughes, of Purdy, was one of two officials in the Joplin Basketball Officials Association selected to officiate the final rounds of the state tournaments, set for March 11-13 at the JHQ Arena and Hammons Student Center in Springfield...

To honor a fallen friend, 40 of the top athletes in the sport of bull riding will return to Bill Hailey Arena in Cassville on May 8 for the second annual Ridin’ with Mason Lowe Invitational, a PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Touring Pro Division event...

Results from the girls wrestling 2021 MSHSAA State Championships are as follows:

It was a tough day for the Cassville wrestling team in Seneca on Saturday, as only one of the five Wildcats competing was able to punch a ticket to the State Tournament on March 11. Zach Coenen, wrestling at 220 pounds, earned a sectional title with an ultimate tiebreaker win over Osage’s Connor Arrowood. The match, at 2-2, came down to Coenen having to precent Arrowood from escaping in 30 seconds, a task he narrowly completed...

The Cassville girls wrestling team is searching for individual and team glory on Tuesday, as four girls will compete in the State Championships at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence. A total of 92 schools will have wrestlers on the mats, and as a team, Cassville has the opportunity to score well with four participants...

The Purdy boys basketball team went from playing three games in the month of February to vying for a district title on Saturday, and the Eagles came up just short in a loss to Miller, 43-27. Ryan Stokes, Purdy boys basketball coach, said the Cardinals played a great game...

District basketball tournaments have largely come to a close, with only one team remaining in contention. The Cassville girls picked up an upset over East Newton on Tuesday, 32-23, and the Lady Wildcats will play at Mt. Vernon on Thursday at 7 p.m. The two teams have not met yet this season...

The Cassville volleyball team showed it is just as serious about the books this season as it was about the sport. A total of 10 Lady Wildcats were recently recognized with Academic All-State designations, including six seniors on the team. Those earning the honor included:...

The Purdy boys basketball team had only played three games in the month of February, but no amount of rust was heavy enough to knock the Eagles off their game in the district semifinals Thursday. Purdy, 16-5 and the No. 1 seed in the Class 3, District 12 Tournament, bested No. 4 Sarcoxie, 48-38, and will host Miller Saturday for district title bragging rights...

Half of the Lady Wildcats competing in the girls wrestling Sectional 3 on Saturday punched their tickets to the state tournament, and as a team, Cassville finished second in the tournament. For Cassville, Annie Moore took first place at 112 pounds, Kailey Artherton finished third at 122, Hailey Roark earned third at 132 and Faith James took second at 137...

The Cassville boys wrestling team hits the road to Seneca on Saturday, aiming to punch as many as six tickets to the State Tournament on March 11. Competing for the Wildcats are: Kurt Deaver at 106, Matthew Whittenburg at 126, Gavin Moore at 132, Gabe Hunter at 138, Jake Anthonysz at 145 and Zach Coenen at 220...

The Cassville boys and girls basketball teams will both be on the road next week in their respective Class 4, District 12 tournaments. The boys (4-17) received the No. 6 seed and will head to No. 3 Reeds Spring (8-13) for a 7 p.m. tip on Monday. At the same time, No. 4 Aurora (11-11) will host No. 5 Seneca (4-18). The Reeds Spring-Cassville winner will face No. 2 Mt. Vernon (13-7), and the Aurora-Seneca winner will face No. 1 East Newton (23-1), with both semifinal games at 7 p.m. on March 3...

Kansas City NWSL announced Tuesday that Amber Cox, a 1992 Monett graduate with family in Cassville, has been named Chief Operating Officer for the team. She will be responsible for the club’s day-to-day business operations and brings not only years of leadership experience in professional sports, but a lifelong connection to the region...

A 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer on Monday was all the motivation Pierce City needed on Monday to push ahead for a quarterfinal district tournament win over Purdy, 48-36. Chelsey Puckett popped the shot from beyond the arc, giving the Lady Eagles a 30-22 advantage at the break, the tightest scoreline for the remainder of the game...

It was about as good a day as Cassville could have hoped for on Saturday, as all six of the Wildcats wrestlers competing in districts earned top-four placements and advanced to the sectional round in Seneca on Feb. 27. “We had all our kids place, so it was a good day,” said Nathan Fortner, Cassville wrestling coach. “We met our expectations, though there were a couple of weights we could have placed higher. But, we have two more weeks to work on things and get another shot at those same kids.”...

Eight Cassville girls will have the opportunity on Saturday to qualify for the state wrestling tournament, all searching for top 3 finishes at the sectional round in Harrisonville. Nathan Fortner, Cassville wrestling coach, said with the weather this week, preparations will be a challenge, but the Lady Wildcats are ready to meet it...

The Class 3, District 12 tournament brackets are set, giving the Purdy and Southwest boys and girls teams their postseason schedules. In the boys tournament, Purdy earned the No. 1 seed and received a bye, as did Miller as the No. 2. No. 3 Southwest will host No. 6 Diamond on Tuesday at 6 p.m., and No. 4 Sarcoxie will host No. 5 Pierce City at the same time...

The Wheaton boys and girls basketball teams will each host a district tournament contest this year, as Class 2, District 12 seeds were released this week. The Bulldogs earned a No. 2 seed and bye into the semifinals. Verona is the No. 4 seed and will host No. 5 Jasper at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. No. 3 College Heights Christian will host No. 6 Greenfield, also at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday...

The Exeter boys and girls basketball teams will have their seasons on the line Saturday, as both teams will hit the road for Class 1, District 4 quarterfinal action. The Tigers and Lady Tigers both earned No. 5 seeds. The girls will play at No. 4 Hurley at 11 a.m. ...

For months, Cassville senior soccer and basketball standout Carson Whittemire had a message on his wrist tape Wildcat fans may not have noticed — “For Mom.” On Sept. 23, 2020, Whittemire rushed his mother, Chris Whittemire, to Mercy Hospital for labored breathing, sure that she had been infected with the COVID-19 virus...

Five Cassville athletes made their collegiate intentions known on National Signing Day on Feb. 3, inking their names to play sports at four area institutions. Four football players signed to play at the next level, including Zach Coenen, to Pitt State University, Jaiden Reibert, to Evangel University, and Drake Reese and Hayden Sink, both to Missouri Southern State University. Rounding out the signings was Zac Acheson, who will play baseball at North Arkansas Community College...

The Cassville girls wrestling team took nine wrestlers to the District 5 Tournament on Friday and Saturday, and eight of the Lady Wildcats finished in the top four of their respective weight classes. As a team, Cassville finished third in the 22-team tournament. ...

Cassville’s Garrett Ewing drives past a Nevada defender during the Wildcats’ 64-23 loss to Nevada Friday.

Cassville’s Riley Morris slings a pass down the baseline after chasing down a loose ball during Friday’s game against Nevada.

A late comeback attempt fell a few points short on Monday, as the Lady Wildcats fell to East Newton, 36-31. Tom Hubbard, Cassville coach, said his team may have changed the result with better shooting, which will be a focus going into Friday’s Tip-Off contest against Nevada...

At this point in the basketball season, teams don’t necessarily like to have only one game over a week’s time, but for Purdy, a full week of preparation for Friday’s contest against Crane may be just what the Eagles need. Purdy (13-4) is coming off a 55-44 victory over Seneca on Homecoming night, a game Coach Ryan Stokes said was a challenging one...

Two local basketball players are roaring at the collegiate level, as one has set a single-game points and rebounds school record, and another is leading the team in minutes played. Sophomore center Madi Stokes and junior guard Layne Skiles, Cassville and Purdy graduates, respectively, are playing big roles for the Missouri Southern State University women’s basketball team...

The spring baseball season is on the horizon, and there is a need for the sport this season that does not rely on players or coaches — umpires. Dan Murphy, recruiting coordinator for the Mid-American Umpires Association, said fresh officials are being sought to cover games from Cassville to Camdenton and Wheaton to West Plains...

A hot start for the Wheaton girls basketball team produced a 50-44 overtime win over Pierce City on Thursday. The Lady Bulldogs (8-9) popped a trio of three-pointers, two from Allison Williams and one from Lori McNeill, for a 9-0 lead, then they extended the gap to 16-3 at the end of the first quarter...

The Purdy boys basketball team is gaining confidence, helped along last week by a 50-47 win over neighbor Pierce City on Jan. 19. The Eagles (11-4) were nursing a 2-point lead in the final minute of play, forcing Pierce City to foul. Purdy added free throws to extend the score and held on defensively to secure its first win over Pierce City in recent years...

The Cassville wrestling team brought home a handful of medals from the Big 8 Conference Tournament Friday in Seneca, including two golds in the 138-pound and 145-pound weight classes. Seneca won the event with 338.5 points, Marshfield was runner-up with 281.5 points, Monett was third with 180.5 points and Cassville finished fourth with 135 points...

After some scoring snafus that caused a day of reevaluation, the Cassville girls wrestling team was ultimately named co-champion of the Big 8 Tournament on Jan. 20. The Lady Wildcats and Marshfield each scored 152 points, and Seneca took third with 95...

As the girls basketball season comes into its final weeks of play, the Cassville squad is focused on one major goal — a Big 8 West title. Tom Hubbard, Lady Wildcats coach, said his players hold their destiny in their hands, as every team in the division is saddled with one loss...

No team shined as bright as Cassville in the 19-team Gem City Scramble in Diamond on Jan. 11, as the Lady Wildcats bagged their fourth team tournament title of the season. Cassville won the event with 173 team points, with West Plains coming in second at 148 and Jay High School (Okla.) third with 134.5...

The Cassville boys wrestling team has been missing some grapplers, but things are looking up for the Wildcats with the Big 8 Tournament around the corner. Nathan Fortner, Cassville wrestling coach, said the focus for his boys is on individual finishes, as the team is returning some wrestlers that have been out but are still missing some weights...

The Southwest boys basketball team is taking a page out of the Ricky Bobby playbook this season — they like to go fast. The Trojans (9-6) played three games last week, defeating Sarcoxie, 48-46, and Verona, 72-49, but falling to Cassville, 57-54. “It’s good to get to play, and we are in shape and used to it,” said Rusty Roe, Southwest coach. “We’ll have another three-game week this week at the Spokane Tournament. At this point, we are conditioned enough to make it through weeks like this.”...

The Cassville boys basketball team picked up a 57-54 win over Southwest on Friday.

The Cassville wrestling team had three athletes on the mats in Monett Saturday, each of whom brought home a medal. Gabe Hunter wrestled at 138 points and took second in the tournament, while Kurt Deaver (106 pounds) and Jake Anthonysz (145 pounds) each settled for fifth place...

For only the second time since November, the Purdy girls basketball team had all five of its regular starters on the floor Friday, and it paid off. The Lady Eagles overcame a 10-point deficit in the third quarter to come away from Cassville with a 46-41 win...

The Cassville boys wrestling team went 1-4 at the Diamond State Duals on Dec. 29, 2020, in Bentonville, Ark., but had several strong individual showings. As a team, the Wildcats defeated Fort Smith Northside (Ark.), 38-36, but fell to Bentonville West (Ark.), 45-30; Greenwood (Ark.), 43-31; Ozark, 63-18; and Springdale Har-Ber (Ark.), 48-27...

Multiple local athletes raked in more than just presents over the Christmas break. At the Southwest Holiday Tournament, six boys and seven girls from local squads were named to the All-Tournament teams. The Cassville girls were the stars of the tournament, taking first place and securing the Most Valuable Player award for Sharayah Seymour. Marionville won the boys tournament...

When it comes to fishing for trout at Roaring River State Park, not many can say they do it as often or as well as Tim Homesley. For about 50 years, Homesley, owner of Tim’s Fly Shop just north of the river, has been pulling out trout by the thousands, and he enjoys offering tips to anglers hoping to make the best of their fishing trips to the crystal clear waters of Roaring River...

In only its second year of official varsity status, the Cassville girls wrestling team is on track for some big accomplishments — and soon. This year, the team has wrestled in the NWA Tournament at Bentonville West (Ark.), the McDonald County Tournament and the Diamond State Tournament at Springdale Har-Ber (Ark.), taking third in the first tourney and winning the last two...

One of my favorite athletes of all time, Wayne Gretzky, once said, “The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it.” The Great One’s statement is spawned from sports, but it transcends the ice in his case and can just as easily be applied to life and a career...

Barry Sanders was one of the most gifted athletes I ever watched. His agility and sudden acceleration made him nearly un-tackleable by a solo defender. His exit from the NFL left a bitter taste in the mouths of sports fans, as Sanders, while in his prime, made the decision to retire...

The ultimate sign of respect for any prep athlete is to be named to the All-State team. The list contain the names of athletes that have not only excelled at during the regular season, but also displayed their talents in a playoff run. For Cassville, six athletes made the Class 3 list, including: Jericho Farris, Jaiden Reibert, Patrick Dunker, Drake Reese, Zach Coenen and Zach Carney...

The hottest basketball team in the area — without question — is the Purdy boys squad. The Eagles improved to 8-0 on the season Friday with a decisive, 52-19 win over Cassville in a game where Purdy was a step quicker on the floor all night long and held the Wildcats to just 5 second-half points...

The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) confirmed Monday that the 2021 MSHSAA State Wrestling Championships will not be held at the University of Missouri due to continued questions and uncertainty of venue availability relative to COVID-19...