Newton’s Muckler extends wrestling career at Bellarmine University

Newton wrestling coach Adam Hale tried to shoulder some of the blame when it came to the way William Muckler’s wrestling career ended this past winter.

But Muckler was having none of it.

“His career here didn’t end how he wanted it to. And I took that hard,” Hale said. “I told him that I probably could have done some things differently. He told me that it was on him and not my fault. He’s always taking ownership. I wanted to shoulder some blame and I will shoulder some blame, but he is not blaming anybody. He just goes about things the right way and with the right attitude.”

One of things Muckler likes most about wrestling is that the outcome is ultimately decided by what he does on the mat.

He’ll get the chance to decide more matches on the mat in the coming years as he recently chose to continue his wrestling career at Bellarmine University.

Muckler drew a lot of interest for football where he played on the offensive and defensive lines for the Cardinals. He talked to the Central College wrestling coaches, too.

In the end, he chose to wrestle for NCAA Division I Bellarmine in Louisville, Kentucky, where he will walk on to the Knights program.

“It was a tough decision. I have never picked one over the other but I think I can really take off in wrestling,” Muckler said. “It is a Catholic school, which is something I looked into. They also just recently moved to D-I from D-II. It’s the right size for what I was looking at and wanted.”

Bellarmine just finished up its first season in Division I. The Knights compete in the Southern Conference against Campbell and Chattanooga, among others.

Muckler began his prep career 14-12 as a freshman and 15-11 as a sophomore.

He was 19-5 as a junior and finished third at districts. As a senior, Muckler was 22-11. He lost his second-place match 3-1 in SV-1 at the district tournament.

“He lost to two guys at districts who both made it on the podium,” Hale said. “He’s progressed and gotten better and better. He’s fun to watch on the mat and is someone I don’t have to worry about off it. He leads by example and just does what he’s supposed to do.”

Muckler wrestled heavyweight for most of his prep career. That will continue in college as they go from 197 pounds to heavyweight at that level. Muckler says he’s currently 260 pounds.

The Cardinal senior said Bellarmine University is about 8.5 hours from Newton. He has family down there but also is looking forward to being more independent.

Muckler picked the school first and then talked to the wrestling coach and decided to wrestle.

He plans to study something in business. The program he plans to get into will allow him to get a bachelor’s and master’s degree in 4.5 years. Muckler leaves in late June to begin the program.

As far as the wrestling goes, going to Bellarmine will allow him to create his own path at a program that is fairly new.

“The program is only five or six years old,” Hale said. “He’ll get some good competition there.

“And because they are so new he can come in and help them build from maybe not the ground up but the first floor up.”

Muckler is the third senior in Hale’s first senior class to commit to wrestling in college.

“That’s pretty cool, and it’s good to see him take advantage of that opportunity,” Hale said.