Two Mizzou teams were championships-bound. Instead, sports shut down and dreams faded
Missouri gymnastics coach Shannon Welker could feel his Tigers on an upswing. After steadily climbing the polls to No. 14, the postseason was right around the corner.
Then, during the middle of a practice in March, Welker got the call: All sports were being halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of boarding a scheduled flight for a meet against Georgia, the Tigers’ season was over.
It was a similar story for Missouri wrestling coach Brian Smith. His team was nearing the end of a bicycle workout when, in the middle of it, he was notified the NCAA had canceled all winter and spring sports championships. The Tigers, fresh off their ninth straight Mid-American Conference title, were barred from taking their next step.
“The bike workout was almost done, so I let them finish it, which was kind of cruel,” Smith said with a chuckle. “They were exhausted then I had to hit them with news. It was a tough situation because the seniors on the team were upset.”
The cancellations came at the worst possible time for Mizzou’s wrestling and gymnastics programs: right before the payoff point in their respective seasons.
“Obviously a lot of disbelief at that point in time,” Welker said. “Yeah, it’s just sports — but really, it’s more than that. Especially doing it at a high level. And the coaching staff as well, just what we do, who we are. It was a challenging time.”
‘A little bit disappointing’
Welker, the gymnastics coach, said the sudden cessation hurt a little more knowing his team performed superbly down the stretch. Mizzou had already mathematically qualified for the NCAA regionals and, with a goal of finishing the season top 12 in the country, the 14th-ranked Tigers were only a step away with a few weeks remaining.
“That’s the time of year really competitive people, they prep for,” Welker said. “That postseason is the time of year you train, you flip, you really build toward. In that respect, it was a little bit disappointing.”
Three seniors’ careers had come to an abrupt end: Mary Nicholson, Aspen Tucker and Morgan Porter had all used up their college eligibility. The NCAA Division I Council subsequently voted against eligibility relief for winter sports athletes; spring sport athletes were granted an extra year.
With the reality of real life ahead of them, Welker and his staff have tried to help Nicholson, Tucker and Porter focus on celebrating their accomplishments as college athletes, not regret the conclusion.
“You’ve gotta put yourself in their position a little bit,” Welker said, “just make sure that you try to give them their point of view, as well, and help them transition out. That’s our job as coaches, too, on the back end. Assisting them in the transition out of (the)sport.”
And if there is a bright spot for the program, Welker said, it’ll be found looking forward. MU’s underclassmen stepped up for the Tigers in 2019-20. Freshman Helen Hu, for example, was an All-SEC performer and was named SEC specialist of the year.
Welker said about half of the Tigers’ production came from freshmen and sophomores, which bodes well for next season.
“We made some strategic changes, how we were training and just some things with culture,” Welker said. “Those things really started to pay off. With our returning freshmen and sophomores that have a ton of experience with a great culture, I’m excited.”
One last meet
Smith’s wrestler were farther along in their season, already past the conference championships. After winning the MAC again, the Tigers had only the NCAA championships in Minneapolis remaining, with eight qualifiers for the event.
Now, six Tigers seniors’ careers are done: Alex Butler, Phyllip Deloach, Jake Bohlken, Connor Flynn, Sam Ritchie and Dylan Wisman. Flynn (174 pounds) and Wisman (184 pounds) qualified for the NCAA championships.
Amid the ongoing pandemic, Smith said he meets with his athletes at least once a week via calls. They have guest speakers weekly, too: So far, MU products J’den Cox and Ben Askren — who’ve gone on to Olympic and pro competition — have been among those who’ve shared their experiences and insight with Smith’s returning wrestlers.
Smith also walked 22 miles in honor of his 22nd year at Mizzou. He said he was inspired to do so after one of his wrestlers, Allan Hart, ran a marathon after eating oatmeal and noodles.
Smith was also one of five Mizzou coaches to take a temporary salary cut recently as the athletic department grapples with financial difficulties wrought by the pandemic.
“It was not a very difficult decision for me,” Smith said. “I want it to work out for the athletic department where we’re able to function and compete at a high level. … As a leader in the athletic department, I thought it was an easy decision.”
In terms of what comes next, the Tigers are reloading with another top-ranked recruiting class. Smith said he’s intrigued to see what the newcomers bring to the program.
“I’m real excited for next year just because I want it to be here so we can get together and practice as a team,” he said. “This class coming in, it’s definitely up there as one of the better recruiting classes.”