Morgan Krall rejoins Independence girls’ wrestling team with state podium goal

At the beginning of the season, Independence’s Morgan Krall was not listed on the roster. She wasn’t going out for wrestling.

That quickly changed after the Mustangs moved forward with their first practices of the season. Krall was fighting a void, and she knew she had to get back out on the mat.

“After experiencing the feeling of going to state last year, I knew I was going to miss it,” Krall said. “I couldn’t not do it. After the first day of practice, I knew I couldn’t not be there.

“I had to go out.”

Independence’s head coach, Kenzie Fischels, and the Mustangs got quite a surprise when Krall made the decision to rejoin the team.

As a state qualifier for Independence — finishing a match shy of reaching the podium last season — Fischels knew Krall was a solid competitor in the Mustangs’ lineup.

“Learning that she was coming back gave us more confidence,” Fischels said. “It was exciting to readjust our lineup and see the potential for the year. It was a great surprise.”

Krall got started in wrestling in eighth grade and is part of a wrestling family. Krall’s uncle, Brian Krall, is the head boys’ wrestling coach at Wapsie Valley. Additionally, her cousin Kaleb Krall is an assistant coach for the Warriors, while cousins Easton and Sawyer wrestle for Wapsie Valley.

In addition to her family, Krall has found another type of family among her Mustang teammates.

“The support from them is the best,” Krall said. “They are really there for you and are happy for you.”

During her sophomore season, Krall is hoping to stay focused and reach the podium at the state tournament in February. Dropping from the 115-pound weight class to 110 pounds has helped push Krall toward her goals this season.

“Going to 110 is a lot better for me,” Krall said. “I just can’t be hard on myself. If I have a tough match, I must go into it being strong and not be down on myself. If I win, I’m accomplishing my goals.”

Krall’s style of wrestling has the potential to aid her in going the distance this season. As a wrestler who knows the sport, she’s well on her way.

Fischels believes it, too.

“Morgan stays very cool and collected,” Fischels said. “You can’t really tell what’s going on in her head. But, once she goes out there, she’s focused. She’s a very independent wrestler, and she knows what’s going on and wrestles really hard and strategically.

“As long as she keeps wrestling hard and giving her effort in every match, that’s what’s going to get her there (placing at state).”

As for Krall’s fellow Mustangs, Fischels knows the team is right where they need to be and is optimistic about potential with the postseason on the horizon.

“If we compete, we are right there with so many teams,” Fischels said. “We are like underdogs — quiet and hidden. As long as we compete, like I think we can, and fix the little errors in our matches, we can flip the switch and have an exciting postseason.”