2026

Amber Berry

Athlete 

Amber Berry built an accomplished athletic career at Monett High School, where her determination, work ethic, and willingness to challenge herself helped shape a path that would eventually take her from the Monett track to national collegiate competition.

Berry was a four-year letter winner in track from 1994 through 1997 and also earned two letters in volleyball. During each of her four years, the Monett girls track team won the Big 8 Conference Championship. Her individual success began early. As a freshman, Berry qualified for the state meet in the 1600-meter run, an event that would become one of the defining races of her high school career.

In 1995, she broke Monett High School’s 1600-meter record with a time of 5:31. One year later, she lowered her own record to 5:26, a mark that has stood for more than 30 years. As a junior, Berry placed seventh at state in the 1600 and also qualified in the 3200-meter and 1600-meter relays. She was named the Monett Girls Track MVP and earned conference championships in the 1600, 1600-meter relay, and 3200-meter relay.

Berry continued that success as a senior. She placed eighth at state in the 1600, qualified for state in the triple jump and 3200-meter relay, and was named Monett’s Outstanding Senior Athlete in track. She also earned conference championships in the 800, 1600, and triple jump and received All-District recognition in several events. In volleyball, she helped Monett win a district championship and earned All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition.

Remarkably, Berry’s running career began with some hesitation. After moving from Pierce City to Monett, she was unsure about joining track as a freshman. Her father encouraged her to give it one season, and the experience she found with her teammates and coaches, including Coach Bauer and Coach Doss, changed the direction of her life. What began as one reluctant season ultimately led to a scholarship to compete in cross country and track at the University of Central Missouri.

At UCM, Berry continued to grow as a distance runner. She was a member of the 1999 MIAA Cross Country Championship team, qualified for the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Meet in 2000, and became a national qualifier in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 2001, the first year the event was officially contested for women at the collegiate level. She was also named UCM’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete in 2001 and earned Academic All-MIAA recognition during her collegiate career.

Berry continued challenging herself after college, qualifying for the Boston Marathon and completing three full Ironman races. She also helped start a cross country league for elementary and junior high students and spent several years coaching both cross country and volleyball. She considers the opportunity to help young athletes build confidence, improve their skills, and grow through sports among the most meaningful parts of her athletic journey.

Berry’s accomplishments reflect not only athletic ability, but also perseverance, gratitude, and a willingness to make the most of every opportunity placed before her. From a freshman who was unsure she even wanted to run track to a record-setting athlete and national collegiate competitor, her journey has continued to influence the athletes who followed.

Stan Fellwock

Athlete

Stan Fellwock built an outstanding athletic career at Monett High School, earning recognition in both football and basketball while becoming a respected leader and competitor for the Cubs.

On the football field, Fellwock became a key member of the 1971 Class AA State Championship team. The Cubs finished the season with a perfect 12-0 record, and the defense recorded seven shutouts along the way. Fellwock helped anchor that unit from the secondary and became one of its most productive playmakers.

As a senior, he set a Big 10 Conference record with 13 interceptions in a single season. Three of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns, providing crucial points for a defense that consistently changed the course of games. His senior season earned him First Team All-State recognition, First Team All-District honors, and a place on the Joplin Globe All-District team, where he was the top vote-getter. He was also named First Team All-Conference in both his junior and senior seasons and received All-District Honorable Mention recognition as a junior.

Fellwock’s success extended beyond football. On the basketball court, he earned First Team All-Conference honors during both his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, he also received All-District Honorable Mention recognition. His ability to earn high-level honors in both football and basketball reflected his versatility, competitiveness, and commitment to his teams.

Leadership was another important part of Fellwock’s senior year. He served as a co-captain of both the football defensive unit and the basketball team, a role that reflected the respect he had earned from teammates and coaches.

Although Fellwock received opportunities to continue playing football after high school, including scholarship and walk-on offers from multiple schools, he chose not to pursue a collegiate playing career. His accomplishments at Monett, however, remain an important part of the school’s athletic history.

Looking back, Fellwock is quick to share credit for his success. He remembers the constant support of his parents, who followed him through years of Little League and Pony League baseball and then through four years of high school football and basketball, rarely missing a game. He also credits his teammates, recognizing that the success they shared came from a group of athletes working together toward common goals.

That team-first perspective is reflected most clearly in the legacy of the 1971 football team. The state championship, undefeated season, and dominant defensive performances were the result of a group that trusted one another and competed together at a high level.

Fellwock’s individual honors, leadership, and contributions to a state championship team helped establish his place in Monett Athletics history. Just as important to him are the teammates, coaches, and family members who shared in those experiences and helped make them possible.

Blake Hohensee

Athlete

Blake Hohensee’s time as a Monett Cub was shaped by competition, discipline, and a commitment to becoming better each time he stepped onto the mat. At Monett High School, Hohensee participated in both football and wrestling, with many of his most significant athletic accomplishments coming through the wrestling program.

Wrestling became an important part of Hohensee’s high school experience and provided opportunities to accomplish goals that once seemed beyond his reach. Through consistent training, determination, and the guidance of his coaches, he earned the opportunity to compete at the state level and place at the state championships. While those accomplishments remain an important part of his Monett career, Hohensee remembers the effort he gave to the sport and the passion he had for competing just as strongly as the results themselves.

For Hohensee, wrestling also became an important teacher. The sport required individual accountability while reinforcing the importance of contributing to something larger than oneself. Every practice, match, setback, and success provided lessons in preparation, perseverance, confidence, and responsibility.

One of the greatest challenges Hohensee faced as an athlete was learning to manage his fear of failure and losing. Through disciplined training and the guidance of Coach Darryl Bradley, he developed greater confidence and the mental toughness needed to compete at his highest level. Hohensee credits Bradley with seeing potential in him that he did not always recognize in himself and with continually challenging him to move beyond what he believed he could accomplish.

One lesson from those years has remained part of Hohensee’s life long after his final match. Coach Bradley often used the phrase “TCOB,” short for “Take Care of Business.” His message was  simple with a powerful meaning: stay focused, be accountable, and handle what needs to be done. Hohensee carried that mindset with him beyond athletics, and the phrase remains one that his own family continues to use today.

Those lessons have also influenced his professional life. Over the past decade, Hohensee has worked in production management for large local organizations, with an emphasis on developing both people and business. He later transitioned into business ownership, successfully operating a property management and nightly rental company. Becoming a business owner fulfilled a longtime goal while also challenging him to rely on many of the same qualities he developed through athletics: perseverance, adaptability, determination, and the willingness to work through uncertainty.

Hohensee considers helping others reach their potential to be one of the most rewarding parts of his professional career. Whether developing employees, building a business, or navigating challenges of his own, the lessons learned through Monett Athletics have continued to influence the way he approaches leadership and life.

Looking back, Hohensee is grateful for the coaches who believed in him, the opportunities athletics provided, and the experiences that helped shape the person he became. His journey reflects the lasting impact high school athletics can have far beyond competition, carrying lessons of discipline, confidence, faith, and hard work into every stage of life.

Spenser Witt

Athlete 

Spenser Witt built an impressive athletic career at Monett High School, competing in football, basketball, and baseball throughout all four years as a Cub. Across three sports, he earned the opportunity to contribute at a high level while helping the Cubs achieve some of the program’s most memorable team accomplishments.

Baseball became an important part of Witt’s Monett career from the beginning. As a freshman, he earned a starting position in the outfield and helped the Cubs make school history by winning the program’s first district championship. The achievement was made even more special because he shared the season with his older brother, Adam. He remained a four-year starter, playing in the outfield and later taking on pitching responsibilities during his senior season.

By the time his high school baseball career was complete, Witt had earned three All-Conference selections, three All-District selections, and three selections to the Joplin Globe All-Area Team. He was also a two-time All-State selection and earned All-Ozark recognition as a senior. That same senior season brought another district championship, this time with his younger brother, Jarred, giving him the rare opportunity to share championship seasons with both of his brothers during his Monett career.

His contributions extended well beyond the baseball field. In football, Witt became a starter at defensive back during his sophomore season as the Cubs went on to win a district championship. He started at defensive back and wide receiver during his junior and senior seasons and earned two All-Conference and two All-District selections. As a junior, he helped Monett complete a 10-0 regular season while earning conference and district championships.

On the basketball court, Witt lettered as a sophomore before becoming a starting guard during his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, he earned All-Conference recognition, adding another honor to a high school career defined by his ability to compete and contribute in multiple sports.

Witt was not always the biggest athlete on the field or court, but he learned early that preparation, determination, and a positive attitude could create opportunities. He worked to earn his position in each sport and remained determined through the injuries and challenges that came with competing year-round. As he reflected on his athletic career, one lesson stayed with him: pressure is revealed when you are the last line of defense.

Following graduation from Monett High School, Witt continued his baseball career at Crowder College.

Looking back, he credits Monett Athletics with providing far more than wins and individual honors. The friendships, coaches who consistently believed in him, the sacrifices and support of his parents, and the experience of competing in front of the Monett community became lasting parts of his life. From Friday night lights to district championships shared with his brothers, his years as a Cub created memories that have remained with him long after his final high school game.

Adam Martin

Athlete

Adam Martin’s athletic career at Monett High School was defined by record-setting performances and a state championship in track and field. His success as a Monett Cub opened the door to collegiate competition and eventually to a coaching career focused on developing the next generation of athletes.

Martin competed for the Monett Cubs in football during the 1998 and 1999 seasons and in track and field during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. In track, he specialized in the shot put and discus, events that would become the defining part of his athletic career.

As a junior, Martin qualified for the state meet in both the shot put and discus, setting the stage for a memorable senior season. In 2000, he won the Missouri state championship in the shot put with a throw of 59 feet, 1 inch, establishing a Monett High School record that still stands. He also set the school record in the discus with a throw of 156 feet, 5 inches, another mark that remains part of the Monett record book.

Martin credits Coach Jerry Hudson with playing an important role in his development as an athlete. Through coaching, training, and competition, Martin continued to improve both technically and mentally, with his junior year becoming an important turning point in his ability to compete at a higher level.

His success at Monett earned him an athletic scholarship to the University of Memphis, where he continued competing through 2004. At Memphis, Martin expanded beyond the shot put and discus to compete in the hammer throw and indoor weight throw as well. He regularly finished among the top competitors at conference meets, and in 2003 he earned one of the most significant accomplishments of his collegiate career by winning the Conference USA Indoor Shot Put Championship.

The lessons Martin learned through athletics eventually followed him into coaching. He now coaches football and track at Lamar High School in Lamar, Missouri, where he has continued building a career centered on developing student-athletes. As a member of the coaching staff, Martin has contributed to state football championships in 2023 and 2024 and a team state championship in track in 2025.

His impact can also be seen in the individual athletes he has coached. Martin has guided throwers to four individual state championships, along with numerous conference, district, and sectional titles. Since joining the Lamar track program in 2021, athletes he has coached have established three of the school’s six throwing records.

For Martin, however, the value of athletics and coaching extends beyond championships, records, or wins and losses. He believes the true measure of a coach is the impact made on athletes and the community. That perspective has shaped the way he approaches his role and the priorities he carries into each season.

From record-setting performances in a Monett uniform to collegiate success and now a career helping other athletes reach their potential, Martin’s journey reflects the lasting influence of hard work, discipline, and strong coaching.

Richard Mettlach

Contributor

Richard “Whitey” Mettlach left a lasting legacy on Monett Athletics, not only through the programs he helped build and the athletes he coached, but through the relationships he formed and the care he showed for the Monett community. To generations of students, athletes, colleagues, and families, Whitey was more than a coach. He was a familiar and trusted presence whose influence reached far beyond the field, court, or course.

During his years at Monett, Mettlach coached middle school basketball, freshman basketball, high school cross country, and high school baseball. His impact on the baseball program was especially significant. He became Monett’s first baseball coach, helping establish a program that would become an important part of the school’s athletic tradition. His leadership and dedication were recognized when he was named Big 8 Coach of the Year in both 1992 and 1994.

Mettlach also played an important role in the growth and continued success of Monett’s cross country program. He began coaching the sport during its second year and continued leading the program through the end of his teaching career. Over the years, countless student-athletes benefited from his steady encouragement, guidance, and commitment to helping them grow through competition.

What made Whitey special, however, could not be measured only in wins, awards, or seasons coached. He was deeply connected to Monett Athletics and continued to support students and programs long after his formal coaching career had ended. He remained involved in a variety of capacities, helping with meets, teams, and athletic events whenever he could. His willingness to continue serving reflected the kind of person he was and the place Monett held in his life.

Following his passing on February 19, 2021, the Monett community found special ways to honor the legacy he left behind. On September 14, 2021, Monett’s cross country meet was renamed the Richard “Whitey” Mettlach Invitational, recognizing his longtime commitment to the program and the many athletes he influenced.

On April 23, 2022, another lasting tribute was established when the Monett High School baseball field was officially renamed Whitey Mettlach Field. For a man who helped begin Monett’s baseball program, the honor serves as a fitting reminder of the foundation he helped build and the generations who continue to compete on that field today.

Those tributes also reflect something larger than coaching accomplishments. They speak to the affection and respect Whitey earned throughout the Monett community. He is remembered not simply because he coached, but because he cared, showed up, encouraged others, and became part of the lives of so many people around him.

Richard “Whitey” Mettlach’s legacy lives on in the programs he helped shape, the athletes he influenced, the events and facilities that now carry his name, and the memories shared by those who had the privilege of knowing him.

Alan Spencer

Coach

Alan Spencer, CAA, has spent a lifetime in athletics, first as a standout competitor and later as a coach, educator, athletic administrator, and advocate for student-athletes. His career has taken him to schools and athletic programs across Missouri and beyond, but his years at Monett High School became an important chapter in a life devoted to education and athletics.

Spencer’s athletic success began at Webb City High School, where he was a state champion in the M Long Jump in 1968 and placed third at state in 1969. He also earned All-State recognition in basketball and All-Big 10 Conference honors in football. His accomplishments earned him a football and track scholarship to Pittsburg State University, where he became a four-sport athlete and three-sport letterman.

At Pittsburg State, Spencer continued to excel in both football and track. He earned NAIA All-American honors in football in 1973 and completed his collegiate career holding six of the university’s eight receiving records. That same year, he was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 12th round of the NFL Draft and later participated in training camp with the Detroit Lions. His collegiate accomplishments eventually earned him induction into the Pittsburg State Athletic Hall of Fame.

After his playing career, Spencer dedicated himself to education and coaching. His career included stops at Neosho, Nevada, Springfield Parkview, Springfield Central, Rogers High School, and other programs before bringing him to Monett High School in 2001.

During his nine years at Monett, Spencer served as athletic director, head football coach, girls track coach, physical education teacher, and department head. Under his leadership, Monett football earned Big 8 Conference championships in 2004, 2007, and 2008. Spencer was named Big 8 Football Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2008.

His girls track program also experienced sustained success, earning Big 8 Conference championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2008. Spencer received Big 8 Girls Track Coach of the Year honors during each of those championship seasons.

His influence reached far beyond wins and championships. As athletic director, Spencer oversaw Monett’s athletic programs, helped lead improvements at Burl Fowler Stadium, and worked to strengthen the overall experience for student-athletes, coaches, and the community. During his tenure, Monett earned both the Big 8 Sportsmanship Award and the Big 8 All-Sports Award, accomplishments that reflected success across the district’s athletic programs.

Spencer’s service to athletics continued long after his years in Monett. He has received numerous professional honors, including recognition as the MIAAA Southwest District Athletic Director of the Year, induction into the Missouri Football Coaches Hall of Fame, and the MIAAA Gerald Linneman Lifetime Award. In 2016, he was also inducted into the Webb City Athletic Hall of Fame, recognizing the accomplishments that began during his own high school athletic career. He has continued serving Missouri athletics as a certified track and field official, state meet starter, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame board member, and longtime member of professional athletic organizations.

Across more than five decades in education and athletics, Spencer’s career has been defined by service, leadership, and a commitment to creating opportunities for others. His impact can be found not only in championships and awards, but in the generations of student-athletes, coaches, and athletic programs he has helped develop along the way.

Danny Lynch

Legacy

Danny Lynch’s years at Monett High School were defined by success across multiple sports, strong relationships with his athletes, and a lasting impact on the Cubs’ athletic tradition. During his nine years in Monett, Lynch helped lead teams to championships, state tournament appearances, and some of the most memorable accomplishments in school history.

A native of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Lynch was a standout athlete at Siloam Springs High School before attending Arkansas State Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas. He played baseball for the Bears, served as team captain during the 1967 and 1968 seasons, and earned All-Conference honors both years. After graduating in 1968, he began his teaching and coaching career at Cassville High School, where he taught English and coached football, basketball, and golf.

Lynch came to Monett in 1976 and quickly became part of a successful era in Monett Athletics. As an assistant football coach, he was part of the staff that helped lead Monett to the 1977 state championship and conference championships in 1977, 1979, and 1980.

He became Monett’s head basketball coach in 1977 and led the Monett Cubs to back-to-back district championships in 1978 and 1979. Those remain the most recent district championships in Monett boys basketball history. One of Lynch’s favorite memories came during the 1978 district championship game against Mt. Vernon. With Monett trailing by one point late in the game, Lynch prepared to call a play only to see Craig Kelley already organizing his teammates and calling the same play. The Cubs executed it and scored the winning basket with fewer than 10 seconds remaining, a moment Lynch remembers as a reflection of the team’s chemistry and trust.

His basketball teams continued to find success. The 1980 Cubs won 19 games, setting a school record that stood for more than 20 years. Monett later earned conference championships in 1983 and 1984, and Lynch was named the Joplin Globe Coach of the Year in 1980.

Lynch also became Monett’s head golf coach in 1980, guiding the Cubs to conference championships in 1981 and 1983 and district championships in 1980, 1981, and 1982. His teams qualified for the state tournament in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1985, finishing as state runner-up in 1980.

Among the golfers Lynch coached was Tim Wilson, who qualified for the state tournament all four years of his high school career, three times as part of the team and once as an individual during his senior year. Lynch remembers Wilson’s accomplishment as one of the proud moments of his coaching career and valued the opportunity to work with such a talented golfer. His proudest golf memory, however, came in 1980 when he walked toward the 18th green and watched Don Rundle make a difficult six-foot putt to become Monett’s individual state golf champion.

Looking back, Lynch credits the athletes themselves for much of the success they shared. He remembers teams filled with competitors who possessed skill, work ethic, character, and the confidence to pursue success. In eight of his nine years at Monett, his teams either added a trophy, qualified for state competition, or accomplished both.

Lynch retired from coaching in 1985, but the accomplishments and relationships built during his years at Monett remain part of the school’s athletic legacy. For Lynch, the opportunity to coach those athletes, share in their successes, and simply “ride the bus” with them remains an experience he will never forget.

2008 Wrestling Team

Team

The 2008 Monett High School Wrestling Team made school history when the Cubs won the Class 2 State Championship, becoming the first boys wrestling team in Monett history to win a state title. Their championship season marked an important moment for Monett Wrestling and established a legacy that would influence the program for years to come.

The road to the championship was anything but predictable. Just one week before the state tournament, Monett finished third at the district tournament. The Cubs advanced seven wrestlers to the state competition: Jantsen Boucher, DJ Dunmire, Ethan Davis, Kyle Meyer, Kellen Bounous, Michael Merritt, and Chris Heeter.

With only seven state qualifiers, every opportunity to score mattered. The Cubs responded with outstanding performances across multiple weight classes, demonstrating the work ethic, toughness, and commitment to team success that had defined the group.

Four Monett wrestlers advanced all the way to the state championship match, and three finished the tournament as individual state champions. Ethan Davis, Kyle Meyer, and Kellen Bounous each earned first-place finishes in their respective weight classes, while Michael Merritt finished as the state runner-up. Their performances, along with the contributions of each of Monett’s state qualifiers, allowed the Cubs to accumulate the points needed to win the overall Class 2 State Championship.

The accomplishment was especially impressive because of the relatively small number of qualifiers and state placers contributing to the team total. After finishing third at districts, the Cubs made the most of every opportunity at the state tournament and turned strong individual performances into a historic team achievement.

Beyond the results, the 2008 Cubs were remembered as a hardworking and close-knit group. They were serious about competing and willing to put in the work required to succeed, but they also loved to have fun together. That combination of discipline, competitiveness, camaraderie, and pride helped create a team culture that carried them to the highest level of competition in Missouri.

The influence of the 2008 championship extended well beyond that season. Their success showed younger wrestlers what was possible at Monett and helped inspire future generations to continue building the program. The example set by the 2008 team helped strengthen a tradition that would eventually include additional state championship teams in 2019 and 2020.

More than a state title, the 2008 team represented the strength and unity of the Monett Wrestling program. Their championship remains an important part of Monett High School history, and the standard they established continues to be reflected in the generations of wrestlers who have followed.