When Lucas Smith joined the staff of Waynesville High School’s wrestling program a dozen years ago, it was at the height of the Iraq War, which had a profound effect on families at nearby Fort Leonard Wood.
This year marks the second for Herman, who had a tough act to follow when he got the job. For nine years, it belonged to Patrick Darby, the 2015 Ozark Conference Coach of the Year who has since gone on to coach high school in wrestling-mad Iowa.
Over the years, Ozark Tigers wrestling has been competitive. The usual storyline was that several would qualify for the state tournament, some would place and one or two would come home with championship hardware.
Given none of his wrestlers placed at the state tournament last year – and that the program opened a new room last season, too – Nixa High School wrestling coach Dustin Martin didn’t change his offseason strategy.
As wrestling has gained a foothold in the Ozarks, one program to keep tabs on is one out in Webster County. That’s where coach Matt Holt and the Marshfield Blue Jays are trying to build a winner.