Republic’s wrestling team honored three seniors wrestlers and its senior manager with a pair of victories at their last home meet Tuesday night. The Tigers thumped Carl Junction 45-21, then beat Marshfield 47-24. (Click here to view detailed results.)
It was also a night to honor four seniors who have played very different roles for the Tigers over the past four years. Two of them, Cody Sandridge and Zac Crowley, have wrestled for four years. Sandridge is one of the most successful wrestlers in Republic history, and is the only wrestler to ever receive a medal at state as a freshman.
“He’s always been a leader. Not so much a vocal leader, as by his actions,” says coach Jerry Morton.
Fellow senior Zac Crowley stepped up to varsity after spending previous seasons on the JV squad. He has increased his role accordingly.
“He’s made it onto the varsity level this year and he stepped right into that leadership role, taking control over practices and getting things done,” Morton says of Crowley.
The Tigers’ third senior wrestler, Jared Jensen, joined the team this year. Morton says Jensen was “gung ho” about particpating, but suffered an injury in practice after wrestling at one tournament. Still, Morton says he liked what he saw from Jensen.
“It makes you think, ‘Wow, I wish we could have had you for three other years.’ You see what they do here, and you see how quickly they pick up on things, and you think, ‘Where would he be right now?'” Morton says.
Republic’s fourth senior honored Tuesday was Nichol Anderson, who’s been a manager for the team for four years. Morton says she’s been a valuable asset to the team since she signed up.
“It’s hard to find people who know anything about wrestling, or find people who want to hang around wrestlers that long,” Morton says. “She’s always gotten along great with the guys, and she’s done a great job. Anything we’ve ever asked of her, she’s done it, above and beyond, usually.”
The Tigers are back in action Wednesday at Parkview.