Mulvane Wrestling Coach Rick Langerot made his last trip to state as he announced his retirement from coaching.

MHS - Wrestling / March 9, 2020 By Kasey McDowell


It was another trip to state a couple of weeks ago for the Mulvane Wildcats Wrestling coach Rick Langerot, one of many in his coaching career but a special one this year as he has announced his retirement from coaching after the conclusion of this season. Rick has been the head coach of Mulvane High School wrestling for 32 years since its beginning in 1989. Coach Langerot has taken at least one wrestler to state in each of his 32 seasons and this year he took 5 wrestlers to the boy's state and 1 wrestler to the girl's state tournament.

Coach Langerot has brought home 7 state champions during his tenure:
* Jeff Riedinger - 103 lb (1994)
* Kyle Breese - 135 lb (2002)
* Lucas Weller - 160 lb (2003)
* Garrett Gage - 103 lb (2005)
* Anthony Scantlin - 132 lb (2015)
* Anthony Scantlin - 145 lb (2016)
* Anthony Scantlin - 152 lb (2017)

He has also brought home 49 state medalists over the years: 9 second-place finishes, 7 third-place finishes, 11 fourth-place finishes, 11 fifth-place finishes, and 11 sixth-place finishes (a complete list can be seen here).

Coach Langerot has many accomplishments over his years of coaching and earned many awards. Below are some of the highlights of Langerot's career:

- Wrestling Coach – 43 years coaching at High School level
- Dual Wins - 357
- 62 Individual state Medalist
- 8 Individual State Champions
- 64 Individuals All-League 1st team
- 32 ALL-State 1st team Academic Team - KWCA
- 7 League Championships
- 2 team Regional Championships
- 3rd place team at State 2001-2002
- KWOA 4A Coach of the year 92-93
- 21 Wrestlers with 100 plus wins
- Coached in 44 State Wrestling tournaments
- 19 Wrestlers who have gone on to coach in High School or Middle School.
- Regional Coach of the year 2010
- 4-time AVCTL Coach of the year 2011, 2012, 2015, 2018
- Inducted into Fort Scott Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2019
- 2018-2019 KCA Wrestling Coach of the Year.
- 2018-2019 NFHS Kansas Boys Wrestling Coach of the Year.
- Coached Football for 19 years
- Coached Soccer for 15 years
- Official KWOA 1972-1977

Q&A with Coach Langerot:
1. You have been coaching for over 40 years, what will you miss most about coaching?

I will miss the relationships with the kids, coaches, and wrestling families. The joy of watching 2nd generation wrestlers come into the wrestling room. Watching my past wrestlers instill the "love of the sport" to their children.
I will miss the sport itself.  I will miss the mat-time, the tournaments, duals, competition. . .
It will be hard. . . Missing "the end of the story" with my wrestlers today. 

2. When you reflect on your coaching career, what memories stick out the most?

It is exciting to place at the State Level. It is wonderful to have State Champions and State medalists. . . But my best memories are the individual success stories. To watch young men and women develop, overcome obstacles, and grow into strong confident individuals - on the mat- in life. It does not matter if it be a JV wrestler or State Champion, all are important and can find success with encouragement and time.

3. What advice do you have for the young kids coming up in wrestling?

 * Approach wrestling, approach life with a positive attitude.
 * Commit to the sport
 * Work hard
 * Give 100% at practice and competition 
 * Be patient with yourself 
 * Believe you can
 * Remember you are part of a team...How you work with your teammates will reflect the success of the team and success in life.
 * Listen to your coaches  

4. Final thoughts from Coach Rick Langerot:

Wrestling has been a part of my life, my passion, for 52 years. Competing at High School and College level, officiating, and coaching young people in the past 43 years.

It is my goal to promote the sport of wrestling - the love of wrestling.
I helped start the Jr. College Wrestling Program at Fort Scott Community College in 1973.
I started the Kids Wrestling Program in Fort Scott in 1978.
I started the Mulvane High School Wrestling Program in 1989.
I helped start the Mulvane Middle School Wrestling Program in 1992.
I officially started the Mulvane High School Girls Wrestling Program in 2018.

22 of my former wrestlers have gone on to be coaches at the middle school and/or high school level.  These individuals are coaching in Kansas, California, Missouri, and Colorado. I have wrestlers on the executive level of KSHSA and the Kansas USA Kids Wrestling Association.  Dozens more are involved/coaching in Kids Wrestling Programs across the country.

To see the 'love of wrestling ' passed on to young people- to see it grow each year . . .

I am grateful to have been a part of promoting the sport of wrestling.



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