A year ago, Richmond Hill High School’s Kamdyn Munro was on top of the Georgia high school wrestling world after winning the Class AAAAAA state title in the 152 pound weight classification.

But Munro, a recent University of Tennessee at Chattanooga signee, didn’t get a chance to defend that title after an injury put a premature end to his senior season.

There’s a good chance Munro would’ve repeated, his coach said. “He is super skilled and probably would’ve won a second state championship had he not been injured,” said Bill Evans, during a Jan. 21 ceremony to celebrate the signing at the RHHS media center. “He is a superlative wrestler. He is very competitive, he is super talented and he’s got a drive to get better.”

For his part, Munro seems mostly just elated to be able to keep wrestling, and to do so at Chattanooga.

The teen took a selfie with news cameras in the background during his signing ceremony, smiling broadly.

“I’m just very excited to sign at a school I really liked,” he said, noting he attended a wrestling camp at the school. “I went up there over the summer between my tenth grade and junior year and the campus was nice, the wrestling group was nice and the coaches up there know what they’re talking about. I’m just really happy to continue my wrestling career there.”

Munro has been part of what has rapidly become a wrestling dynasty along the Georgia coast and statewide, with the Wildcats claiming both team and individual championships. In 2019, Munro, William Shores and Jakeem Littles won traditional state titles in their respective weight classes under the tutelage of coaches like Evans and his predecessor and current associate head coach, Rob Parker, at least in part because of their dedication to the sport.

“To be successful you have to keep your foot in the water all year round,” Evans said.

That lends itself to instilling is a sort of extended family atmosphere to wrestling, similar to other sports where the athletes and coaches and parents log long hours together and invest in one another’s success.

Munro, son of Robert Munro and Angie Davita, was wrestling partner with Evans’ son, Tate – a 182-pounder who finished third in the Class AAAAAA tournament last season. Evans’ other son, Will, is a sophomore wrestler in the 157-pound class at Newberry (SC) College.

Kamdyn Munro said he might not be headed to Chattanooga were it not for the support of “my family and coaches and teammates and everybody else for pushing me to get to that point.”

“Sometimes I think I had the easy part,” he added. “My family and coaches did the hard work.” Munro said it hasn’t been easy to sit on the sidelines, and he’s ready to get to Chattanooga after graduation and start wrestling.

“I’m just ready to get back out there,” he said. “Just forget my injury and just go.” And though his own season ended due to the injury, Munro has continued to work with the team to help prepare for what’s next, state competition. “You’ve just got to deal with it and find another way to help out,” he said. “I’m trying to help them get ready for state.”

That led Munro to recall what it was like for him early on in the sport.

“I got beat up a good bit, but it was all for the good,” Munro said. “Hopefully the younger kids will want that too, and get that ring.”

That desire to excel is part of what makes Munro successful, Evans said.

“That kid is super motivated and he’s got a great persona, and he has contributed a lot to this team. It’s been great coaching him.”