By Kary Booher
Years ago, long before he would become the wrestling coach of McDonald County High School, Josh Factor was another was just another aspiring wrestler but not for just another program.
No, Factor was a three-time state qualifier for San Diego’s Poway High School. That school has won four state titles, had six runner-up finishes and 15 state champions – all in one-division California and for coach Wayne Branstetter, the winningest coach in California.
But after relocating to southwest Missouri more than a dozen years ago, Factor is trying to give back to the sport by leading a McDonald County wrestling program that, like all small schools, struggles to fill every weight class.
“It’s been a great family atmosphere,” said Factor, whose wife accepted a job with a national retailer headquartered in the area, prompting the family to move here in the early 2000s. “I’ve had a son (Cody) who has gone through here from the eighth grade through high school and is now an assistant on staff. And my daughter (Kaycee) is on the volleyball team.
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“They had the opportunity to voice their opinion a few years ago to go back to California, but they like it here.”
Factor joined the staff as an assistant in the fall of 2004 and was promoted to head coach in the fall of 2009. Because he teaches history and is not a physical education teacher, Factor makes it a point to visit the weight room on a weekly basis.
“We’re always trying to get some better athletes,” said Factor, who wrestled one season at the University of Oregon before finishing at Cal State-Fullerton. “Last year, we finished with 22 wrestlers. We’re trying to get to 30 athletes and that will give us a better shot at fielding all our weight classes.”
McDonald County returns two state qualifiers in 113-pound Jacob Gerow and heavyweight Tinker Kinser.
“One big thing is trying to keep all of our guys healthy,” Factor said. “With Gerow and Kisner, they’re going to be our strongholds. We’re one of those Class 3 schools without a state champion. So I’m hoping they step up and move up the podium from last year.”
Truman Craig is a three-year letterman who could be at 152 or 160, and 138-pound Christian Willmann is a two-year starter.
A handful of candidates will compete at 106, including freshman Oscar Ortiz, Erin Yang, Caleb Misener and Keagon Spurgeon. Johann Delacruz is expected to move up from 106 to 113.
Freshman David Lazalde could be in the mix in the lower weights, too. Freshman Jack Bowers could be at 138 or 145, while senior Nathaniel Johnny and freshman Omar Manuel are listed at 152. Timber Bowers at 182, and transfer Kammeron Barnes at 195 also could see varsity time.
However, the 126-, 132-, 170- and 220-pound weight classes are wide open.
“We’re a pretty young team for the most part,” Factor said. “But I think we definitely have a few guys with experience.”
