Monett Monthly Sports

A field of dreams
A plan five years in the making was finally realized in March, as the Monett High School baseball team played its first game on its new turf field.
Experienced Cubs ready to drive the links
With three returning varsity golfers, Monett looks to leads the Big 8 field in an already underway 2025 season.

From Monett to All-American
Joey Semerad, Monett alumnus and former Missouri High School state wrestling champion, earned NCAA Division II National Championships All-American honors with a seventh-place finish in the wrestling championships in Indianapolis, Ind., last month.
In her prime at 55, Monett dirt ready to fly
The sounds of loud motors and fan-packed stands will soon invade town, as the Monett Speedway is set to open its 55th consecutive racing season.

Jared Lankford: Holding on until the end
During the offseason, rule changes for what are considered unfair advantages in sports occur regularly.
Take the “Tush Push,” made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL. Effectively, it is a glorified quarterback sneak with the twist of having over 600 pounds of men gently nudging the quarterback forward to gain the necessary distance for a score or first down.

Diamond Cubs to lean on experience
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.
Lady Cubs have goals in mind
Goals are set high for the Monett girls soccer team this season. The Lady Cubs are coming off a 5-14 season and will need to rebuild after graduation hit the team hard.

Cubs wrestlers compete at state
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.

District tourney playing out this week
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.

Jared Lankford: Pound for pound — The best around
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.