LUDOWICI — The Long County Blue Tide added wrestling as a new winter sport option in 2021 and it seemed to have success from the start. The team will be under new leadership going into the 2024 season and new head coach Bryant Versprille is excited about the team’s prospects.
Versprille comes in inheriting a wrestling program that has had success over the last three seasons. The boys team won the region wrestling titles in 2022 and 2023, advancing to the state duals tournament last season. He knows that the team has some talented wrestlers and he knows it is thanks to the preparation done by both the previous coaching staff and Jake Gardner, a local business owner who also runs the Genesis Wrestling Club in town.
Versprille specifically mentioned Gardner as one of the biggest reasons why so many of the wrestlers are well-prepared to hit the mat. He also recognizes, however, that is his and his coaching staff’s job to make sure the wrestlers continue to be prepared so they continue to be successful.
“Our job as the coaching staff is to make sure our wrestlers do not become complacent with their previous success, but instead stay hungry for the success yet to come,” Versprille said. “Our philosophy is to show them everything we know so that they have an arsenal to choose from when they are on the mat. If we can find the strengths of each wrestler and hone in on those skills individually, then we will get to the next level as a team.”
With Versprille being a young coach in his first head coaching role, you would think there would be some nervousness associated with the job. However, he is confident that the team will continue to be successful and is excited to bring “new expectations” to the team.
“As with every first-year head coach, there are concerns about how the players will react to my coaching style and adapting to my expectations, however I have zero doubts that our program will be successful,” he said. “I look forward to bringing a new level of expectations to the program and continue to bring success to Long County High School wrestling.”
Part of Versprille’s confidence may come from the fact that his parents, Kristy and Steve, will both be joining him on the coaching staff, with Kristy taking the lead on the girls’ team and Steve serving as an assistant for both.
He said he ready for the “adventure” that it is going to be and that he “wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“All three of us have been around wrestling for a long time and we love it,” Versprille said. “Being a first-time head coach, they are people that I can fall back on and ask for guidance.”
Wrestling has been said to be a sport that equates to success in just about every other sport in high school with so many athletes wrestling in their other sports’ offseasons. Versprille recognizes it and even quoted Pro Football Hall of Fame football coach John Madden.
“I would have all of my offensive linemen wrestle if I could.”
“There is a strong correlation between a quality wrestling program and other successful programs at the school,” Versprille said. “Whether it is the benefits of conditioning, body control, or overall strength, wrestling contributes significantly to many different sports.”
Versprille took a careful look at the team’s schedule this season and purposefully scheduled some of the best teams in the state to help prepare the team for the sectionals and state meets later in the season. He believes that is going to be the difference maker.