TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Kendric Maple was a legendary wrestler at Wichita Heights High School, winning a pair of State Titles.

He went on to win a National Championship at the University of Oklahoma in 2013, becoming just the tenth Kansan to do so.

After a few successful years of wrestling professionally, Maple moved his focus off the mat, to coaching.

” I just got to really sit down and think, like, what am I going to enjoy?“ Maple said to 13 Sports. ”Like don’t even think about money or anything else, just think about what I’m going to enjoy on a day-to-day basis and I sit here and look over at my coach, and he’s able to go and wrestle with us every day, he’s running private individuals.”

Maple initially returned to his alma mater to coach. He then left for the University of Missouri, where he’s been Associate Head Coach for the last three years.

“Me and my family were searching for that right home…the right mentors id be around, the right believe and the right culture. and that’s really what’s set at home. My family loves it here, we love the people we’re around,” Maple said.

Maple tells 13 Sports its the small moments day-to-day that keep him coming back to coaching.

“Those are the times that, you know, those become some of your more fond memories. Because it’s just the day to day that makes this job great,” Maple said.

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