Republic’s wrestling squad is coming off its most successful season ever, with five state qualifiers in 2011-12. Coach Jerry Morton says a year ago, he was anticipating a drop-off this season because of all the senior leaders who graduated in the spring.

But as the 2012-13 season begins, his expectations are a lot higher.

“Looking at it now, I don’t think we’re going to take the drop-off that I originally thought last year,” says Morton. “Seeing how some of the kids worked over the summer, seeing some of the gains of those guys who were close (to qualifying for state), I fully think we’ll be, if not right where we were last year, a little better than what we were.”

Of the five state qualifiers, three are back this season. Kerik Crouse, Dustin Eby and Cody Sandridge will form the core of a wrestling team that is in the early stage of building a strong tradition. Overall, the number of wrestlers has more than doubled in a year, from 22 in 2011-12 to 49 this season.

“This year’s preseason, we had on average 9-10 guys in the room who weren’t doing a fall sport, which is a huge improvement over previous years,” says Morton. “I think those kids are going to carry it into the season and they’re going to start off way above the competition.”

One of the hardest workers in the offseason, according to Morton, was senior Kyle Campbell.

“He probably did more than anyone else to devote himself to the sport,” Morton says. “I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people and do extremely well this year.”

A huge freshman class of more than two dozen wrestlers will be a foundation for the program’s future. Morton credits the growing Middle School program for those numbers. But he’s also hopeful the freshman class may offer a surprise or two this season, just like Sandridge did when he qualified for state as a freshman last year.

“Is there a freshman standout like Cody was last year? Maybe,” says Morton. “I didn’t know last year that Cody was going to be the standout he turned out to be.”

Morton’s focus for this season, as always, is on the end of the year.

“I would love nothing more than to have more qualify (for state) than we did last year. In wrestling, our whole goal is the state tournament, so we’re looking forward to getting as many through as we can.”

The Tigers open their season today in Bolivar.