Senior studs, host of freshmen form Libby Greenchain
The Libby Greenchain will look a little greener than usual this year.
Thursday marks the first day of regular practices and Libby Coach Kelly Morford expects to break camp with 18 young men. The team counts five seniors, led by reigning state champion Garret Chapel, but includes no juniors and two sophomores. While Chapel will look to defend his 170-pound title, 12 freshmen will be learning the ropes.
“It is definitely a challenge for the coaching staff to have to work with factions,” Morford said. “You got the young kids and you got the vets who have been around the block. We’ll need to work to get them quality partners in practice.”
The youth movement is a welcome change for area wrestling. Like many sports, wrestling’s popularity is dwindling with local youth. For the first time in several years, Morford and his coaching staff will have plenty of bodies — albeit, raw, undeveloped bodies.
The lopsided construction of the squad highlights the autonomous beauty of the sport. Like a baseball game, a wrestling duel is a team event comprised of numerous individual battles. With such diverse levels of experience, the Greenchain will feature wrestlers with a full array of expectations. Team places will mean little this season as the Greenchain’s top three wrestlers will vie for state titles while a dozen freshmen work to build the foundation for a potentially deep team in a couple years.
Joining Chapel in his chase for a title is fellow senior Zach Crace. After a 1,000-yard rushing season for the Loggers football team, Crace will look to get over the third-place hump on the mat. After consecutive seasons of narrowly missing the title match, Crace will wrestle in a competitive middleweight division at either 145 or 152 pounds.
“The biggest thing for him is to believe in himself,” Morford said. “He just needs to wrestle aggressively against the tough opponents. He has the talent to compete with anyone in the state.”
Morford said he is also expecting demonstrable growth from 132-pound senior Dylan Roby. A fluid grappler, Roby has impressed Morford during the team’s open gym practices which began late October.
“He is showing a different mindset,” Morford said. “He needs to transfer his technique to the mat and show the determination you need to beat someone. He is showing the confidence to have a good season and earn a place at state. I think he can take a major jump.”
Senior Alex Yeadon is expected to enter the season at 160 pounds. The four-year wrestler from Troy has progressed each year, Morford said.
After finishing last season with eight wrestlers in the divisional tournament, Morford said he and fellow coaches John Love and Josh Chapel actively sought new blood. The attritious wear of a wrestling season — Morford said smart wrestlers began adjusting their diets months ago in anticipation of the season — is sure to eliminate a few young men, but the Greenchain could be looking at the core of what will be a B-C team starting next year.
Incremental improvements will measure the freshmen’s season, but anything less than a repeat title will be a step back for Chapel. The 170-pounder recently signed a letter of intent with the University of Great Falls. The university enters the wrestling season as the third-ranked program in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
“He’s not going to sneak up on anybody this year,” Morford said. “He’ll have a target on his back. He can handle it.”
The Greenchain open the season Dec. 5 in Havre. Timing could be a factor as Morford’s wife, Trish, is expecting the couple’s first child around that time. Kelly Morford admits he did a slight fist pump when he learned his first child will be a boy. The couple will name their son Drake Woodman Morford.