Adam Rains Moves Up To Lead Walker Valley Wrestling Program

CHARLESTON, Tenn.— For Walker Valley assistant wrestling coach Adams Rains, the time to step into the spotlight has arrived.

Ever since taking the assistant job with the Mustangs some 15 years ago, Rains has continued to grow with the program and expand his skills as a leader with the team.

Now, with head coach Al Morris stepping down, Rains will continue to build the stable and push for continued success as head coach of the Herd wrestling team.

“I feel pretty good about it. I've been here for around 15 years and I feel real comfortable here at Walker Valley High School. Getting to take the next step with the wrestling program is exciting,” Rains said of his new position.

“Taking over feels good, but at the same time it will put more responsibility on me. Al will still be there to mentor me. Any questions I have, he's there. But, it's 'The buck stops here' type thing now. It's exciting, but it's also business as usual. We're still trying to get kids to get from where they are to where we think we can get them.”

Morris, whose recent health issues played a major role in his stepping out of the spotlight, has been the head coach of the Mustangs from the program's inception. He has every confidence in the transition and says Rains - a product of the storied Bradley Central organization - will easily and quickly put his stamp on the Herd wrestlers.

“Adam is going to do a great job. Honestly, it hasn’t been and won’t be much of a transition because his fingerprints are already all over the program. With my health issues over the past couple seasons, he has already been making important decisions and directing the program,” said Morris.

“I’ve had a front row seat to watch him grow and develop as a wrestler, coach and man. He’s been ready to be a head coach for a long time, now it’s official. I’m excited for him, I’m excited for the program, and I’m excited he’s letting me hang around as one of his assistants now. As much as my health will allow, I’ll get to keep that front row seat.”

As a wrestler for the Bears Rains, who graduated in 2002, finished third in the state as a sophomore and progressed upward to second place as a junior and capped his career as state champion his senior year.

The newly minted Mustangs wrangler said the head coaching nerves haven't caught up with him just yet, but at some point during the upcoming season they may tap him on the shoulders.

“The past three years I kind of took on more responsibility as Al hasn't been able to do as much as he has in the past. It's summertime right now, but once we get into the middle of the season, when we're trying to figure out who's going to go where in dual meets, it's not just going to be suggested and Al saying 'yea' or 'ney' it's going to come down to what I think,” he said.

Rains plans to enjoy the services of a reasonably large staff with almost everyone from the previous years coming back. 

Among the returning coaches, led by assistant Andy Morris, are Al Morris, Nikki Swafford, Tim Dyszkiewicz and JD Dunbar. Rains plans to add a few former Mustang wrestlers in Joe Munoz, Kallum Lowe and Heath Tanksley. Rains said Zane Smith will be adding more help along with Ocoee Middle School head coach Bill Connor and Colts head football coach John Weiss.

With the summer schedule still in effect, Rains plans to mainly focus on fund raising, but when the time comes to take to the mat for real there should be no major changes in the way the program rolls.

“I don't plan on making any major changes right now. We're going to focus on raising money and purchasing practice mats. We'll be focusing on fund raising for a short period of time then get back to our normal level of fund raising after that,” said the coach. “But, major changes to the way the program is run, not a ton. We're just going to make small changes, nothing major. Wrestling is wrestling. We need to focus a little more on kids' club and middle school. That way when they get to high school they are already decent at wrestling. Then we will refine them from there.”

Rains said another focus of the staff will be getting a 14 person roster that has a bit of wrestling knowledge feeling it will shorten the process of progression and hasten the program's improvement.

Both Morris and Rains say the transition from one coach to another will be nothing but smooth particularly since the incoming coach is so familiar with the Mustangs and the system in general. However, Rains acknowledged there will undoubtedly be a bump in the road from time to time.

“Small changes, sometimes kids don't react well to them. Sometimes coaches may not react well to them. But, I think with major changes there's a bigger chance of that,” he said. “That's why I'll try to keep it small transitions, small changes. That way even the small transitions people struggle to adapt to aren't major and more people can adapt to them over time.”

The coach said there will be some changes the way practices are run, but the majority of those have taken place over the spring and summer and the wrestlers are aware of those and have adapted. The biggest changes will come in the way practices are formatted and the way the Mustangs will have the freedom in what they work on.

Overall Rains knows he is ready to assume the role of head coach and with the returning veterans, rookie Ponies and staff the outlook is on the plus side.

“I've got a positive outlook for sure,” he said. “I feel like with the team we have coming back and some of the incoming freshmen I think we're going to be competitive. Now, competitive to who? That's another equation. But, compared to our team last year I feel like we're going to be strong. I feel like we were OK last year.”

Getting a full complement of 14 wrestlers is going to be a huge key to the success of the Walker Valley team. At times last season the Mustangs were forced to forfeit weight classes du to lack of bodies at certain weights.