Kelly expands athletic offerings, adds wrestling and volleyball

BENTON, Mo. — Kelly High School is expanding its sports program, adding wrestling and volleyball teams starting in the 20024-2025 school year.

This move provides new opportunities for student-athletes and aligns with the school's growing enrollment.

“These two sports are great additions to our school and athletic program,” said Kelly Athletic Director Melanie Heuring. “There is a lot of interest in both sports and with the bond issue giving us a new weight room and more locker rooms it only makes sense to add additional programs for our students.”

Trent and Amanda Hurley of the Kelly Football Booster Club present a check to Principal Jerry Winberry to support the school's new wrestling program.Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

The addition of wrestling has been championed by Kelly football coach Lance Powers, who sees it as a valuable cross-training opportunity for athletes to develop their skills during the winter months.

"We are a growing school and we needed to add more opportunities for the students while they are here," Powers said. “I wanted to see it here at Kelly for a while."

Powers' perspective aligns with the findings of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), which highlight the benefits of wrestling participation for athletes in other sports.

Evan Urhahn and Jerret Nicoson from 1st Tire and Wheel Inc. present a check to Principal Jerry Winberry to support the school's new wrestling program.Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Wrestlers consistently rank among the strongest athletes pound-for-pound, and the sport's emphasis on mental toughness helps participants push through adversity — qualities that benefit them in any competitive sport.

Similarly, volleyball develops agility, hand-eye coordination, and strategic thinking — skills that translate to success in various athletic endeavors.

Kelly has a successful track record of launching new sports programs. In 2014, the school added both football and girls' soccer. These programs experienced initial challenges but have since demonstrated significant growth and success.

The football team, after going 8-32 in its first four seasons (2014-2017), has not had a losing season since, compiling a 37-25 overall record. The girls' soccer team also succeeded quickly, securing a winning record in its third season (2016).

“More opportunities for our student-athletes to compete and be a part of a team are always a positive,” Powers added.

Preparations for the new teams are progressing well, laying a solid foundation for the inaugural seasons. The initial steps involved assessing student interest to ensure the programs would be sustainable. With both sports garnering enthusiasm, the focus shifted to securing qualified coaches, and the school will announce those positions soon.

“Equipment is ordered and arriving daily,” Powers said. “We are also planning on offering junior high wrestling and volleyball. We expect somewhere between 30 to 40 for wrestling and 25 to 30 for volleyball.”

Volleyball competition will begin in the fall of 2024, with wrestling starting in the winter. Like any new program, the teams will face challenges, but they understand that success takes time.

Above all, these additions will provide students with new avenues for growth and competition.