By Kary Booher
How do you turn a challenging situation into a potential beneficial one? If you are Republic High School wrestling coach Jerry Morton, that’s simple.
Tell the guys to take advantage of the situation, that this represents an opportunity.
After all, the door is open after Republic graduated nine seniors off last year’s team, including four who combined for seven state tournament berths in recent years.
“Our first priority will be finding out who is stepping up and who is willing to take on leadership roles,” Morton said. “We’re going to push them pretty hard right off the bat.”
Republic returns only two state qualifiers in junior Hunter Pyle, likely to compete in the 195-pound weight class, and sophomore Michael Taylor, who may return to 106.
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That said, the Tigers have experience in other spots. Sean Cross at 120, Ian Malone at 170 pounds, Austin Moody at 182 and Julian Richardson at 220 are all returning starters and returning lettermen.
However, only two seniors are on the team. That is the lowest figure in Morton’s tenure, which is now entering its eighth year.
Thus, Morton sprang into action over the summer and early part of the fall semester.
“I started grooming some of them during the offseason,” Morton said. “I told the upperclassmen, ‘You need to set up the (schedule) and run it the way I expect out of you. That gave me an idea of who I could push and who had leadership qualities on this team.”
Leadership should come from Pyle, who enhanced his “beastmode” mentality. He competed at 171 and 182 much of last season, bumping up to 182 for district. That was enough to qualify for state, but proved difficult at the Class 3 state tournament as he was eliminated after only two matches.
“He’s put in a lot of great work this summer,” Morton said. “He did a lot of CrossFit stuff to get in shape. So he’s bulked up a little bit. And he’s a pretty tough kid to begin with.”
Taylor may open the season at 113. However, should he certify at 106 and qualify for state, his chances to bring home some hardware could be greater.
“If he can get back to 106, I look for him to get on the podium,” Morton said. “He was a strong 106-pounder last year. I don’t think he’d be (at a disadvantage) if he goes to 113, but it’d be a different technique.”
For the rest of the lineup, there is opportunity following the graduations of Zach Dickens (sixth at 195), two-time state qualifier Shayne Piles (285), three-time qualifier Brandon O’Connell and one-time qualifier Johnathan Beckett.
Richardson and Malone certainly have upside, though. Richardson reached the bubble match of the district tournament last season, while Malone competed well at the Kinloch Classic, only to need season-ending knee surgery. Both are back.
“(Malone) should be at full go from day one,” Morton said.
Cross should be in shape after running cross country.
“He was a .500 wrestlers as a freshman,” Morton said. “If we can improve on some things, we’ve got a good, solid wrestler.”
The rest of the projected lineup includes freshman Johnathan O’Connell at 126, Johnny Rexroat at 138, Payton Cron at 145, Michael Cox at 160 and Jordan Gold at 285.
Cox is in his third year of wrestler. Rexroat was behind a senior last year. Cron was competitive in JV. O’Connell has experience from the USA Kids Wrestling program.
“We’re hoping we have a great season,” Morton said. “We’re going to wrestle tough. Our guys are going to do the best we can.”
