Kyle Troutman

An 11-11 campaign for the Monett baseball team ended with in a district semifinal loss to Aurora last season, and while the bitter taste of a defeat to its rival was a tough pill to chew on all off-season, the 2024-25 season brings a chance at a fresh start and redemption.

Monett’s Henry Reed went 2-1 on Feb. 26 at the MSHSAA State Wrestling Championships at Mizzou Arena, but he lost in the medal bubble match the following day to finish outside the top 6 at 165 pounds.

Monett's Jayden Apostol maneuvers for 2 in a win over Cassville earlier this season. The Cubs were the No. 5 seed in the Class 4, District 12 tournament and played No. 4 Seneca on Monday, picking up a 55-45 upset. The Cubs face No. 1 Aurora March 5 at 6 p.m.

It's human nature to strive for greatness; whether that’s in sports, in life, or even in something as simple as shopping for a car. We often fantasize about owning the fully-loaded model that boasts heated seats, a massaging function and self-driving capabilities. But in reality, we usually end up settling for something more affordable.