Published: July 08, 2008 11:25 pm            

Wildkats add new coaches

Wells to coach wrestling team; Morrison to lead boys soccer team

Kokomo High School welcomed two new coaches into the fold Monday night at the KHS school board meeting. Ryan Wells was named the new wrestling coach and Kismet Morrison was approved as the new boys soccer coach.

For Wells, getting to be Kokomo’s coach is a storybook turn. He wrestled for the Wildkats, graduating in 2001.

“It’s a dream come true, it really is,” Wells said. “I got my ultimate dream job right out of college. It’s almost too good to be true. I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity.”

Wells graduated from Indiana University with a degree in physical education. He was a student teacher and assisted the wrestling program at Western during the first semester of the 2007-08 school year, then landed a job at KHS for second semester and assisted former coach Rob Leavitt.

The new coach is excited to see 10-15 grapplers show up to wrestle once a week over the summer and plans to bring a breath of fresh air to the program.

“I’m just going to try to emphasize my pride as a Wildkat,” he said. “Since I went to school there, I expect a lot out of them. I was a pretty aggressive wrestler myself. I’d like to emphasize mentally and physically and emotionally being tough. Maybe if we’re not the best wrestlers technical-wise, we’re still going to be tougher than you.”

Morrison expects a smooth transition to coaching the soccer squad after five years as an assistant to former coach Wil Hendrickson.

“It’s not going to be radically different from what Wilford and I did,” said Morrison, who has discussed the program extensively with Hendrickson since learning he’d take over. “We need to tap into a new set of players. It’s basically a new team.

“Two things will count in our favor. One is attitude — the guys we have left have an outstanding attitude. And second we need to rely on the two or three individuals who are talented to bring the best out in the other players. Hopefully that will give us a reasonable season.”

Morrison said the Kats lost a dozen players to graduation last season so they have to find a lot of new parts. To help in the future, the Maple Crest Middle School English teacher wants to create a middle school soccer program to feed the high school.

He’s eager to get going this fall.

“I really can not wait to get out there,” Morrison said. “Even though we’re going to be shy in numbers, in terms of attitude and enthusiasm from the guys, it should make for a wonderful season.”

        

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