Sports

Friday morning was a flurry of activity as the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) released its state classification and district assignments for its fall sports members. For Monett, the biggest change comes to its football program...

While the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) made huge classification changes and district moves to some schools, it was the Pierce City volleyball team that was bumped up in classification. Pierce City’s enrollment numbers swelled enough to push the Green and White up from Class 1 to Class 2 this season...

With 10 returning runners and lots of experience, the Monett cross-country team is hoping the 2018 season will be one worth remembering. The squad is led by seniors Santiago Granados and Erin McCaffrey. Granados was named the team’s Top Male Runner last year and has qualified for the state meet the last two seasons...

District titles and deep playoff runs have become the standard for the Monett soccer team. The Cubs have reached the state quarterfinals in Class 2 in three consecutive seasons, including a state runner-up finish in 2016. The team’s runs have been fueled by opportunistic scoring and senior leadership...

There are two huge factors working in favor of the Monett swimming and diving team. First, the Cubs have the experience of a state qualifying medalist returning, and second, they have a large crop of young, talent swimmers incoming. It is a mix that could propel the Cubs up the state leaderboard and into unchartered waters of success...

Fall sports fans get their first true look at the Monett sports teams on Friday and Tuesday with the annual jamborees commence around the area. While it may be nothing more than a dressed up practice, the jamborees serve as an opportunity for coaches to get a close look at certain players or positions without the pressure of a win or loss hanging over their heads...

Last season was a rough and rocky road for the Monett football team. Coming off a state championship and the graduation of a large senior class, along with some key injuries, led to a 3-7 overall record and 1-6 mark in Big 8 Conference play. This year, out of necessity, the team has turned to its youth for help...

The Monett WaterThrasher swimming season culminated with its annual end of of the year banquet and election of board members. Jay Apostol was tabbed for a a two-year term as board president and Travis Coffey will serve a one-year term as vice-president...

Friday marked the end of the first week of fall practices for sports in Monett.

It was a magical ride in 2017 for the Pierce City football team that took them all the way to the district championship game. The Eagles, 11-1, used a deadly combination of size and skill to decimate opponents in a season to remember. “We made a lot of strides last year and [this year] should have outstanding upperclassmen leadership with a mixture of talented underclassmen,” said Brad Hocker, Pierce City coach. ...

Most schools are still a few days away from officially starting classes, but for its student athletes, preparations and practices are already underway. While some students are just breaking in their back-to-school clothing, varsity sports programs are already announcing tournament action...

Fans looking to help Monett sports this season have multiple opportunities. Traditionally, the programs have had major purchases such as uniforms and some train equipment acquired by monies raised by the Monett Athletics Booster Club. Currently, the Club’s membership drive is underway and will be in full force next Saturday at the annual Fall Sports Pride Night...

The Missouri Southern football team will start up fall preseason practice this Monday night inside of Fred G. Hughes Stadium. The Lions will report to campus on Saturday and Sunday with meetings on both days. Monday will be the first full day of workouts with meetings and physicals throughout the day and practice number one starting at 7:30 pm...

For the first time since 2013, Missouri State will have six home football games on its upcoming season slate, and fans wishing to catch all of the Bears’ action at Robert W. Plaster Stadium can begin purchasing single-game tickets on Monday. Single-game tickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. at MissouriStateBears.com, in person at the Athletics Box Office at JQH Arena, or by phone at 417-836-7678...

On Friday, representatives from all 14 Big 8 schools and Pierce City attended the annual cover shoot for the Gridiron Guide football magazine.

Not many individuals can lay claim to the title of World Champion, but not many people have the dedication and love of horses as Stan Patton. Patton, who owns a farm just north of Purdy, partnered with Jane Rogers, of Monett, on three Buckskin horses...

The Monett WaterThrashers swim team will wrap up its season this weekend by hosting the Tri-State Swim Conference A Championships at the Monett Area YMCA. According to Charles LaGarce, head coach, 50 of the 123 Monett swimmers participated last weekend in the Conference B championships in Siloam Springs, Ark. Twenty advanced to the finals, and many scored times high enough to qualify them for this weekend’s event...

After mulling the decision for the last few years, Monett Athletic Director Daryl Bradley and Assistant Sports Director Michael Calhoun made an official presentation and requested to the Monett School Board add middle school softball and baseball to its sports offerings...

Part of the job of a small town sports editor is to be sociable — or at least that is what I tell myself. As a matter of fact, I enjoy working in a community that supports and follows its local sports teams. The added bonus has been that those sports teams have had tremendous success on the field and they have the state hardware to prove that to be true...

The Bruner’s Pharmacy T-ball team of the 2018 Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League.

The Answered Pest Management T-ball team of the 2018 Monett Youth Baseball and Softball League.

Monett High School will hold its annual Fall Sports Pride Night at the Burl Fowler Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 11. Pride Night provides an opportunity for the community to enjoy a football scrimmage and meet the athletes, cheerleaders and marching band representing Monett High School during the 2018-2019 fall sports season...

Hyperbole in sports programs is as woven into the makeup of the team’s fabric as the official school colors. Fans don’t bat an eye when a coach tells them that he expects his players to give a mathematically impossible 110 percent each play. Cassville and Monett simply cannot both have the best high school football teams in the state each and every season, but its fans would have you accept that as fact...