A Cassville athlete has earned the state’s highest sports honor, and many other Wildcat and Lady Wildcats fall sports participants have earned conference and district awards.
Emerson Grossman, a senior and three-year starter for the Lady Wildcats volleyball team, was named Class 3 All-State by the Missouri Volleyball Coaches Association.
Along with the state award, Grossman earned First Team All-Big 8 West as an OH/DS, as well as Class 3, District 12 First Team honors. She is also a two-time Academic All-State honoree.
Three other players on the Cassville squad, which went 17-15-3 this season, earned postseason awards. Senior Pazlee Burbridge was named Second Team All-District and Second Team All-Conference; freshman Audrey Kennedy earned Honorable Mention All-District and All-Conference; and sophomore Emma Pryor was named Honorable Mention All-District.
In football, the All-Big 8 West team has been announced, but due to Seneca reaching the Class 3 state title game, set for Saturday, All-District awards are still on hold.
The Wildcats finished at 6-5, with all five losses coming to district champions and three to state finalists (Lamar once and Seneca twice). They saw seven players named to All-Big 8 rosters.
The highest honor for any Wildcat went to Ashton Wheeler, who earned a Second Team kicker designation. Honorable Mention awards went to senior offensive tackle Richard Fohn, senior offensive guard Joseph Reuter, junior running back Kyle Bailey, senior tight end Cosmo Rhoads, junior Bodee Rose (all-purpose back and punter), junior defensive tackle Isaac Pickett, sophomore linebacker Tristan Thompson and senior defensive back Bryson Jacobson.
The Cassville softball team, which turned in a 16-15 season and won its first-ever district title before falling to the eventual Class 3 state champion Fatima in the state quarterfinals, had six players earn postseason awards.
Sophomore pitcher Aubrey Stoufer was named First Team All-Class 3, District 6 and First Team All-Big 8; junior catcher Kalee Lowe earned First Team All-District and Second Team All-Conference; junior infielder Lauren Sparkman earned First Team All-District and Second Team All-Conference; junior Elly Ramaeker and junior Kyler Hayward were Second Team All-District infielders; and junior outfielder Kyla Bowling earned Second Team All-District and Second Team All-Conference.
The Cassville Boys soccer team, which finished at 15-8-1, had five players named to All-Class 2, District 5 or All-Big 8 rosters.
Senior forward Ashton Wheeler was named First Team All-District and First Team All-Conference; sophomore midfielder Diego Haros earned Second Team All-District and All-Conference; senior midfielder Jackson Ray earned Second Team All-Conference; and sophomore forward Cayden Rohde and senior goalkeeper Malachi Vincent each earned Honorable Mention All-Conference.