Tarleton wrestling looks to reload, not rebuild, as new season begins

BY KELLAN BYARS

Digital Media Director

Success can put a target on a team’s back and give their opponents a reason to show them up. The ability to perform at a high caliber through the new challenges and not look back is how champions stay at the top.

For Tarleton State University wrestling, the challenge entering the new season is not simply living up to last year. It is finding a way to move forward when parts of the program are different. Familiar faces have moved on, and a new group of wrestlers are ready to make their mark.

The women’s team enters the season with back-to-back championships to its name and expectations ahead. The men’s team, ranked No. 1 in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association preseason rankings with 102 points, aims to stay on top with a new lineup of wrestlers.

Both teams have work to do. Neither is interested in looking backward for long.

When asked about the pressure of defending past titles, women’s coach Jason Moorman dismissed the idea of worrying about a target on the team’s back.

“We're just trying to get better. Last year we did the same. We test our skills against the very best country and NCAA and NAIA. And so that's what we're gonna do this year. We try to get better. See where it falls,” Moorman said.

That mindset matters for a team working through roster changes of its own. The women’s lineup includes returning All-Americans and national-level talent alongside new wrestlers who will have opportunities to contribute. The group may look different in places, but the goal remains to develop its athletes and keep moving forward.

Moorman also wants the team to embrace the process instead of being afraid to make mistakes. Progress does not always show up immediately on a scoreboard. Sometimes it starts with the willingness to take risks, learn from a loss and return to practice ready to improve.

The men’s team is approaching its own reset with a similar determination, although its message to opponents is a little more direct.

“I think we’ll shock some people,” junior at Tarleton Ty Parker said.

The preseason ranking brings recognition, but it does not guarantee anything once competition begins. The men have lost wrestlers to transfers and the end of their college careers. New faces have joined the room, weight classes have shifted and injuries have added another layer of uncertainty to the lineup.

Still, the team believes it has the talent to compete.

“It’s good to get that recognition, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t change what we do on a day-to-day basis,” Club President Laird Borbon said.

That attitude is especially important under head coach Dalton Brady, who took over the position after the previous coach accepted a job in Rockwall. Brady said he had opportunities to pursue other coaching positions, but it felt right to stick with the Tarleton program and with wrestlers who knew and trusted him.

“There was no other option, honestly, I love those kids,” Brady said. 

The transition has required adjustments, especially as new wrestlers learn the expectations of collegiate competition. Brady said some athletes arrive with years of experience while others began wrestling later in high school. His job is to help bring those different backgrounds together while developing their technique, knowledge of the sport and confidence on the mat.

“We’ve been training for months now,” Brady said.

Brady described the work that began before the season. The team has focused on conditioning and strength alongside wrestling practices, building a foundation before the first matches provide a clearer picture of where they stand. 

Brady mentioned that at this point, the team has wrestled enough live matches with each other to fill a typical full season’s worth of matches. The dedication to progress is what keeps these individuals at the forefront of the nation in their league.

Brady sees potential in the changing lineup, but he also recognizes the importance of depth and keeping athletes healthy. Talent can make a difference, but it must be developed and available when the team needs it.

That work extends beyond the practice room. Borbon said turnover has made it important to help newcomers feel connected to the program and understand its values. Team dinners, a field day and everyday leadership have become part of the effort to make the group more than a collection of individual wrestlers.

“We’re trying to really prioritize team camaraderie this year,” Borbon said.

Along with team culture, Brady has prioritized making sure each athlete is familiar with what college wrestling looks like. He has newcomers learn about their opponents and keep up with wrestlers making waves to help them become better themselves.

“Making them become students of the sport and explaining how things are going to be done is important,” Brady said.

In a sport where every wrestler has an individual opponent, team connection can shape the sport as a whole. Experienced athletes help set the standard while newcomers bring fresh energy and ambition. The goal at Tarleton is to make sure talent does not simply arrive but grows once it gets there.

Now both teams have to turn that work into results, one practice and one match at a time.