Prolific attacker for Cassville signs to play in college
Cassville senior Ashton Wheeler may have just set a school record in long jump, but his passion for sports is taking him another direction after graduation.
A three-sport athlete in soccer, football and track and field, Wheeler signed for the former on April 1, deciding to play soccer at Crowder College in Neosho.
“It feels great,” Wheeler said. “I don’t really have words. Hard work always shows in the end.”
Jake Forste, Cassville soccer coach, said Wheeler has been a key to the Wildcats’ competitiveness in recent years, as the team went from only two wins four years ago to tasting victory 15 times last fall, as well as scoring 85 goals while allowing only 20.
“I’m very excited for Ashton,” Forste said. “With him, It’s all about speed. Some of his best clips are just him out running a flat back-four. He’s great in space, and at times he dropped to center back to preserve a win.”
Wheeler moved to Cassville his sophomore year and immediately earned a starting position, and nowhere does his growth show greater than in the stat book.
As a sophomore in 2021, Wheeler contributed 1 goal in a 3-19 season. In 2022, the Wildcats posted a 12-11-1 mark, with Wheeler netting 12 goals and assisting another 7. Last fall, Wheeler took marked control of the attack, scoring 24 goals and assisting 12 in a 15-8-1 season, tallying the most wins for any Cassville boys team since 2007, as far back as Missouri State High School Athletics Association keeps records.
“He just wants to play and help the team,” Forste said. “He does his best work on the wing because he can get wide backs to move laterally, and with one cut, he can create a foul or goal-scoring opportunity.”
Wheeler said the best part of playing for Cassville was growing as a team to performing as they did last fall.
“I loved being part of turning the culture and team around, and breaking some records,” he said. “We made soccer more popular and played to our full potential.”
Scoping his options, Wheeler said he settled on Crowder for multiple reasons, including simplicity.
“It was the easy and simple option, kind of a no-brainer,” he said. “I’ve always liked the program, the facility is really nice and it’s close to family.”
This fall, Wheeler hopes to continue that progression he’s made in the last three years.
“I’m excited to get better,” he said. “I had a good time at Cassville, and I plan to grow and learn — not just in soccer, but in life.”
Wheeler is the son of David and Jessica Wheeler, of Shell Knob. He plans to major in business administration.
