November 2022

A highly athletic Verona basketball team is aiming to give opponents fits this season, relying on a few returning starters to make a return to district championship contention. Brad Steward, Verona boys basketball coach, said the Wildcats lost two starters but retained three, including junior Jacob Stellwagen, Second Team All-Ozark 7 and First Team All-District last season.

The Purdy girls basketball team is under new management this season, as a former Monett assistant has taken the reins of a program returning five players, including last season’s leading scorer. Drew Williams, three-year assistant for the Monett boys team now in his first head coaching job, said he is excited to return to his alma mater.

Three multi-sport Monett athletes narrowed their future careers to the greatest games on dirt, signing to play baseball and softball at three separate universities. Marcus Young penned his name to Missouri Southern State University, Jason Garner selected Arkansas State University-Mountain Home and Allyson Inman picked Friends University in Wichita, Kan.