Bob Davidson
Salina Journal

Jacob Marrs has encountered the several peaks and valleys in his first season as coach of Bethany's wrestling program, which is making its maiden voyage.

On the plus side, four Swedes -- all of Kansas natives -- have qualified for the NAIA national tournament in Des Moines, Iowa in March.

The team will have its inaugural home matches today when Wayland Baptist (Texas) and Concordia (Neb.) visit Hahn Gymnasium, starting at 4 p.m. Bethany wrestles Wayland Baptist at 4 p.m. and Concordia at 7. Wayland Baptist and Concorida tangle at 5:30. All area high school, middle school, club wrestlers and their coaches will be admitted without charge.

Bethany's 1-1 in dual matches this season, having beaten Briar Cliff, Iowa and losing to York, Neb.

Along with the successes, there have been some obstacles.

Marrs recruited 30 athletes to the program but is working with a squad of 18 -- the vast majority freshmen.

About a half dozen wrestlers who initially qualified for the NAIA tournament are no longer on the squad for a variety of reasons.

After agreeing to have practice sessions at Smoky Valley High School's new wrestling facility, the Swedes returned to campus when scheduling conflicts arose.

Marrs, who attended Clay Center High School and won a Class 4A state championship his junior year, says the wrestlers who are on the team are the foundation for the future.

"The guys we've gotten to stay and commit to the program are guys you want to stick around and do this for the next three and four years going forward," he said.

The national qualifiers consist of three freshmen -- Colt Rogers of Smith Center at 133 pounds, Courtney Strauss of Abilene at 141 pounds and Colby Crank of Hutchinson at 157 pounds -- and senior Brandon Goodwin of Lawrence at 125 pounds.

"For the first year, that's not too bad. We've got some legitimate chances for All-Americans if we keep plugging away," said Marrs, who wrestled in college at Nebraska-Omaha and was an assistant coach there before the school abruptly dropped the program just after winning the NCAA Division II national title last season.

Marrs and the Swedes have been similarly resilient, out of necessity, as evidenced by the change in practice venues.

"We were practicing at 6:30 a.m. (at Smoky Valley), and that was tough on our guys," Marrs said. "We've got a racquetball court in Stroble Gym. We got some old mats from Hutchinson High School and turned it into a make-shift wrestling room. My guess is it's the smallest in the nation.

"We go with split practices, 10 guys at a time. The little guys go at 3:30 and the big guys at 4:30."

Through it all, Marrs remains unfazed and optimistic.

"It's been a fun ride," he said. "I can't coach college wrestling any closer to home. I'm living the dream, there's nothing I'd rather do. It's what I was meant to do."