Sports

Wildcats drive toward maturity

For three seasons, the Cassville football team brought home some type of postseason hardware, and after a tough season marked by inexperience in 2021, the Wildcats are raising the bar this year. Clay Weldy, newly minted head coach entering his 15th season with Cassville, said inexperience was the challenge last year, and this year’s challenge is utilizing the growth from the last.
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‘Cats look to experience, off-season play

For the first year in many, the Cassville boys soccer team is returning a significant level of experience, including a goalkeeper that will expand his state-record in career saves. Jake Forste, Cassville soccer coach, said in all, the Wildcats return eight starters: senior goalkeeper Peter Littlefield, senior midfielder Lian Nung, senior forward and midfielder Reese Heiden, junior midfielder Jackson Ray sophomore forward Brody Osborne, and juniors Andrew Gray, Jackson Lindley and Ashton Wheeler.
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Good hands make plays

Wildcats dial in special teams starters BY KYLE TROUTMAN Football players called for key special teams positions have to have an equally special set of skills. Good hands, composure, consistency and playmaking ability are just a few of the things Cassville Coach Clay Weldy looks for in his returners, kicker, punter and long snapper.
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Trent takes over on the diamond

The Cassville baseball program will have a new skipper come spring, current softball coach Shawn Trent. An Ash Grove graduate and baseball player at Evangel University, Trent was the head baseball coach at East Newton for 5 years before moving to Cassville, where he has been the high school assistant softball coach and junior high head softball coach.
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Cassville defense taking shape

The best defenders for the Cassville football team in recent years have had one major characteristic in common — toughness. Clay Weldy, Cassville football coach, said this year’s cast of secondary and linebackers has that gritty nature, and they will need it.
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Wildcats lay lines in trenches

When it comes to offensive and defensive lines in the Big 8, the Cassville football team has neither the deepest or the biggest lineup, but the Wildcats aim to make up for that with heart. Clay Weldy, Cassville football coach, said last year the Wildcats were smaller than most teams, and this season will be much the same.
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Beat the heat on the gridiron

The Cassville football team is working this summer on the skills needed to beat opposing teams, all the while having to beat another opponent — the heat. Clay Weldy, Cassville football coach, said staying hydrated and healthy is the name of that game during July’s triple-digit heat wave.
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