Resilient Richmond grapplers compensate for lost time
RICHMOND – Wrestling coach Cody Beck likes the resiliency his Spartans display.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Spartans had limited offseason reps, including some summertime open-mat sessions and preseason sessions during the fall, Beck said Nov. 17 by phone. But they were “working hard” and taking the lost time “in stride” as they prepped to open Wednesday at Excelsior Springs in a triangular with the Tigers and St. Pius X of Kansas City.
“They’re going to do everything they can to get better,” Beck, who is in his second season as head coach, said. “We missed some opportunities to get better in the offseason, but … they’re making up for it right now with … their attitude and their effort in the practice room.”
Beck’s hard-working group consists of one girl and 25 boys. The boys wrestlers included returning state qualifiers junior Conner Teat, and seniors Ryker Plymell and Zane Renfro.
Teat, a fourth-place finisher at the Class 1 state tournament, “wants to improve on…