Sports

Two state medalists and a state qualifier return this year to the Cassville boys wrestling team, one which is growing in size and full of youth. With only one senior and 13 freshmen, the Wildcats are building a program hoping to contend for a team state title in coming years.

Cassville Volleyball Coach Paige Huddleston said many teams may have written off the Lady Wildcats this year due to last year’s 2-27 record — that was a mistake. Returning all but one senior from the 2022 squad, the Lady Wildcats turned things around in a big way, finishing the year at 17-15-3 and breaking four school records in the process.

The Cassville girls wrestling team is primed for action this season, returning a pair of state qualifiers, one of whom was a runner-up in her weight class. Nathan Fortner, Cassville wrestling coach, said goals are set for the team throughout the season, but improvement if the over-arching aim.

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.

The Purdy boys basketball team turned in a 17-win season last year, and although the team has a new look, the Eagles have set their sights on a 20-win campaign, and with plenty of returners to accomplish that goal. Heath Carmichael, Purdy boys basketball coach, said the Eagles intend to be in the mix for a conference title and in good positioning for district play.

Hailey Buckner, 8, of Cassville harvested her first deer, a doe, on Nov. 11 while hunting with her father, Dan Buckner, in Shannon County.

It has be come a habit for the Cassville girls basketball team to win 14 games in 28 tries, and it’s one the Lady Wildcats want to break. At 14-14 for two consecutive seasons, Cassville Girls Basketball Coach Clayton Bagby said one of the main goals this season is to finish above .500.

Clayton Bagby, Cassville girls basketball coach, speaks at the inaugural “Meet the Squad” event on Friday night.

The Exeter trap team recently competed in its conference shoot, with two boys and two girls taking first and second. Jeremiah Reed placed first for the boys, and Star Xiong was first for the girls. In second place were Tristan Voyles for the boys and Lily Stephenson for the girls. Team members in picture include: Jeremiah Reed, Tristan Voyles, Lily Stephenson, Jacob Stevenson, Briley Hargus, Brexton Bowman, Coy Aldridge and Ava Aldridge. Not pictured: Star Xiong, Rain Xiong, Tanner Raney. The team’s coaches are Lee Tripp and Donnie Gautney.