courtesy photo/Sees the Moment Photographycourtesy photo/Sees the Moment Photographycourtesy photo/Sees the Moment Photographycourtesy photo/ Shawana Coxcourtesy photo/Sees the Moment Photography

Willow’s Ready for Some Football

The anticipation for football season in Willow Springs is electric as the Bears head back to school. The season’s first game at home against Clever is set for Friday, and the team will compete for the first regular season game under the leadership of newly hired coach, Joel Wyatt. 
It is no secret that Wyatt’s return to Bear football is the reason Willow Springs can’t wait to pack Palenske. Wyatt, WSHS Class of 1988, brings a career record of 111 and 24 to the program. A proven winner for teams in the bootheel, Wyatt led the Green Wave program at Malden to two Final Four appearances, including a trip to the State Championship game in 2015, which they lost to Lamar. In an overall record of 69-16, Wyatt secured three conference and three district championships. 
At Kennett, Wyatt led the Indians to four conference and three district championships with a four-season record of 42-8. The program went to the Final Four in 2019. 
Wyatt returns to Willow Springs for family reasons, he said. His mother passed away recently, so he has returned to his hometown to be close to his father, who travels to all Wyatt’s games. 
“It was a good move for family reasons,” he said, “It’s about me wanting to give back to the community and my high school.”
This year's roster of Bears has been at work in the weight room since June.
“We’re gonna coach them hard and hug ‘em later,” Wyatt said in a summer interview with Howell County News, “We’re not going to let them cut corners.”
Content Paywall Trunction: 
Free

Howell County News

110 W. Main St.,
Willow Springs, MO 65793
417-252-2123

Comment Here