By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Rylee Murray had little to no interest in girls wrestling a year ago when the Kansas State High School Activities Association made it an official sport.
Now Murray can’t imagine not wrestling.
Seaman ended up with zero girls wrestlers for the 2019-20 season, but as Viking coach Patrick Kelly, his staff and athletic director Steve Bushnell continued their recruiting efforts, there was a gradual change of heart, with 21 Vikings making up the girls roster this winter.
Murray is one of those that took the plunge and is sure glad she did, particularly after a history-making performance in Friday’s Centennial League meet at Seaman.
“The coaches just pushed us girls to do it and just the people I’d be with, I knew it would be fun, so that’s why I decided to go out,’’ Murray said. “The coaches and girls have made it so fun.’’
Seaman junior 115-pounder Rylee Murray stands on top of the victory stand after winning a Centennial League wrestling title last Friday at Seaman. [Photograph by Rick Peterson]
And as Murray, who also plays softball, waded into her new sport, she discovered she was pretty good at it.
“That made it more fun,’’ Murray said. “Every week I feel like I get better.’’
Being new to wrestling and not knowing much about her competition, Murray didn’t set any specific goals for the current campaign.
“I really didn’t, just because I didn’t know much,’’ Murray said. “I don’t really have goals, just to keep winning, keep working.’’
Having said that, it’s probably safe to say Murray surpassed any expectations with her showing in the league meet.
The Viking 115-pounder went 3-0 on the day to improve to 12-1 on the season, becoming her school’s first-ever league champion.
Murray had her toughest match in the first round, pulling out a 9-7 overtime victory over Junction City’s Charly Goodwin.
She followed that with an 8-2 decision over Emporia’s Azia Obregon before clinching the title with a win by fall over Washburn Rural’s Kendall Reid.
Murray got a welcome surprise later in the day when she was named the outstanding wrestler of the meet.
“I had no clue, I’m super excited about it,’’ she said.
Jordan Best, who serves as Seaman’s head girls coach, is excited about the progress Murray has made, with postseason on the horizon.
“Out of the 20-some girls that I’ve got on the team only two of them had experience, with Rylee being one that had zero experience coming into this year,’’ Best said. “She has turned 180 degrees from where she started on Day 1.
“She’s got a bright future ahead of her and I’m super excited to see what she does in the next few weeks.’’
With Murray leading the way, Seaman finished third as a team in its initial league meet, and Kelly thinks better things are ahead for the program as a whole.
“If you go up to the practice room or watch them compete, they’re doing it for all the right reasons, they’re improving, and it’s a very legitimate program,’’ Kelly said.
