By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The day before he graduated from Munford High School, Cougar Wrestling senior Wemawamungu Moktani put the cherry on top of his ice cream sundae of a career.
Competing for four years in the program of Head Coach David Cline all four years, the wrestler known better as “Mo” improved each season crowning his time on a high school mat as 2022 Tennessee State Champion in the 132-pound division.
Mo’s final act as a Munford Cougar wrestler took place May 19 in the MHS Gymnasium in front of friends, coaches, administration, teammates and his mother Senjiyunda Jeannete. Mo signed his national letter of intent to wrestle for the University of the Ozarks in Arkansas.
“I am proud of the program that everybody has helped build,” Cline said. “It’s been a lot of effort from the coaching staff to the administration and even the kids. After Mo’s championship match, one of our other college signees Keegan Schulz was there. Keegan congratulated him and Mo gave Keegan credit for his State championship.
“And that’s what we’re building here, not just humility but sharing credit like that,” he added. “We all help each other. The kids who leave and graduate come back and help with the program. That’s definitely the type of culture we want to maintain.”
Jeannete, a native of Tanzania, said she is grateful for the Cougar Wrestling culture and what it has given her son.
“It makes me feel good,” she said. “I love the support he has and all the love he has from his fellow students. I know he’s going to a good place too and they will take care of him.”
Mo is heading to Clarksville, Ark., with a vast knowledge of Head Coach LeRoy Gardner III’s Eagle program. Mo’s cousin Ndayambaje John attended the Ozarks after wrestling at Kingsbury High School.
John posted a 31-15 overall record in 2022, going 21-12 in individual matches and 10-3 in duals. John was fifth place at his final State competition before attending college.
“I love this program,” Cline said. “They’re head coach is a great guy. His cousin wrestled there and did a great job. I think he’s going to be very successful when he goes up there.”
Mo had his share of success while at Munford. Getting interested in the sport because of his big brother’s involvement and bullying, Mo joined the Cougar Wrestling Team as a 120-pound freshman.
“The past four years have been amazing and absolute hell sometimes,” Mo said with a smile. “I started off at 120 and I wrestled this year at 132.”
Mo was the last man standing in 132 in 2022 and brought the gold medal back to his adopted hometown and wrestling family.
“It was amazing but it’s so hard to describe,” he said. “The year before I felt the exciting feeling of medaling. I knew what it was like but doing what the coaches hoped for me to do and exceeding it was amazing.
“My teammates were the ones who pushed me in practice everyday like my practice partner Perez,” Mo added. “Every single day we practiced together. My coaches taught me what I knew and my past teammates drilled it into me.”
Cline was there for the championship moment and had the pride of a father during the celebration in Franklin.
“He’s like a son,” he said. “Mo knows where my snack cabinet is. He comes into the house and raids my cabinets. It’s like his house. He calls my wife ‘mom.’ To me they’re all like my sons.
“One of the things we liked best about Mo, he doesn’t look like he’s trying,” Cline added. “We gave him a hard time because he has kind of a lazy stance. It would confuse a lot of other teams and coaches. They will shout out, ‘He’s tired! He’s tired!’ Mo never got tired. To us it was one of those we joked about.”
Maybe Mo’s easygoing nature on the mat comes from the name bestowed upon him by his parents.
“My actual name is Wemawamungu Moktani,” he said. “It’s Tanzanian, my parents were born in Borda. I was born in Tanzania . They gave me the name and it means God’s love.”
Cline said Mo exemplifies his name and will continue to in the future.
“As far as all of his successes, it was great to watch him grow and go through this process,” he said. “It those things I will really remember.
“Mo is just a good guy,” Cline concluded. “He’s a good friend. He’s pure at heart. He’s very lovable. I can’t say enough about this kid and how proud I am of him. I’m so happy to see him progress to the next level.”
