SAYLER RESIGNS AS WRESTLING COACH, TEACHER

Chris Sayler, who returned to Freeman Public in 2008 and has been highly active in the Marion-Freeman Rebels wrestling program ever since, told his team at practice on Monday that he had submitted his resignation as teacher and coach that afternoon, but that he will finish out the remainder of the year.

“It’s not something I want to do — I’ve battled with myself over and over about this — but I can’t discuss anything about that,” Sayler told the team. “It may not be over yet, but as of right now I won’t be your coach next year.”

The news from Sayler — who in addition to his role as head Rebels coach has had a strong influence on state and national AAU wrestling — comes less than a week until Marion-Freeman takes the mat in what could be the strongest region tournament since the coach returned to his alma mater in 2008. The Rebels’ bottom five weight classes — Logun Pankratz, Brody Gossen, Easton Tschetter, Finley McConniel and Keaton Preheim — have a combined record of 185-52 and Sayler says the team could see as many as seven advance to the state tournament when it competes at the Region 2B competition at Canton on Saturday.

“I don’t know what the future holds right now, but I do know this,” he told the team Monday afternoon. “The focus right now isn’t on this. The focus is on you guys putting the work in, showing up at regions and getting as many people to the state tournament as possible. That is my focus, as well.

“We’ve been turning heads all year,” Sayler continued. “We’re going to keep turning heads and showing people what we’ve got. We don’t have a lot of kids, but we’ve got great kids.

“Just know I wouldn’t trade this group for anybody; I love this group and we are building something special.”

A motion to accept his resignation is included with the school board agenda for its regular monthly meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 14.