Winning a match at Loras
I played organised sports starting at the age of 7 with grid-iron football, then baseball. I don’t remember the coaches that well from those early years, but I know they had an impact on me in a positive way because I kept going back to the sports. I played these sports for several years until I got into wrestling in year 7. I didn’t know it at the time, but wrestling would be my sport of choice from high school through university.
The coach I had for my first two seasons (year 7 and 8, which were only a month or two long) just kept drilling the basics into us. I was new to the sport, so just went to practice and did what the coach told me to do. I became efficient at single leg takedowns, the half nelson, cross-face cradle, and the stand up because that is what we drilled every practice. I really didn’t get tired of drilling the same moves over and over, I just got better the more we practiced the moves. The coach was supportive and encouraging with a positive attitude every practice. I learned to love wrestling and was shown the kind of care we all crave from adults at this young age.
When I got to high school (year 9) I had a new coach, Rocky Streb. He had a similar style of teaching the basics and with a little time spent on some more advanced moves. He didn’t only focus on the wrestling, Rocky wanted us to do well in school so our education could take us places in the world. Rocky was a father figure. We could talk to him if we had issues and didn’t want to talk about them with our parents. He and the assistant coaches picked us up when we were feeling down and supported us in any way they could to help us become successful in wrestling and life. Rocky and his team of assistants weren’t afraid to tell you the truth either. If we got out of line (and I did a lot as a cocky teenage wrestler, with a chip on his shoulder), they told us so. Clearly, young men (and women) going through the difficult teenage years need support and discipline alike. There aren’t a lot of things I look back at fondly during my high school years, but wrestling is the one thing that I will never forget. I contribute most of this to the way Rocky dealt with me, giving me the support when I needed it and was strict when I was out of line.
I must add Larry Hester, one of the assistant coaches, went above and beyond to help us wrestlers become the best as well. Wrestling wasn’t his passion, but as a teacher and coach, he guided young men and women toward becoming strong, successful people. He’s also an essential person in helping me become the person I am today. Larry’s generosity of his time and patience with an aggressive teenager like me was outstanding.
At the university level, Ron Mirikitani, a soft-spoken, caring man was my next coach. He was a master at teaching technique in the wrestling room. Ron made improvements to the basic moves with just the slightest change to positioning. He also brought in the knowledge of advanced moves. Ron also encouraged us to have the confidence in ourselves to be the best version of yourself. He encouraged us to work hard so we knew each time we stepped on the mat we had outworked our opponent. Most importantly, he opened more doors for me than I thought previously available. Ron wanted us to excel in our studies because he knew we couldn’t live on just our sport, we had to be educated. Ron spent time working on our mental toughness with practice days that were meant to test us mentally and physically. It was sessions like this that make a challenge in my daily life seem a bit easier to deal with.
Randy Steward was my final wrestling coach in my competitive years of wrestling. He also made sure we practiced the basics and brought in some advanced moves. I learned more from Randy about how to coach others because I worked for him as an assistant coach after completing my wrestling career. In my role as an assistant, Randy showed the same attributes as the coaches above in coaching me to be a better person and coach.
National Champion Loras 1995
I had a successful career as a wrestler taking 2nd in year 7, 1st in year 8. I was a four-time state qualifier in high school with a 2nd (1988) and 5th (1989) place finish. At the university level, I was a four-time All-American placing 7th (1993), 1st (1994), 1st (1995), and 5th (1996). I competed internationally for the Junior College National Team in Austria in the summers of 1993 and 1994. My success is hugely due to my coaches guidance as they found out how to get the best out of me even if I struggled to see the best in myself.
None of my coaches overlooked the basic moves in wrestling. We drilled the basics the most. Every one of my coaches expected me to get an education. They all supported, encouraged, and believed in me through the good and bad times (wrestling, school, and life). All of these coaches opened doors I never knew existed. I will always have respect and appreciation for the help each one of these coaches gave to me. I certainly wouldn’t be the person I am today without any of them in my life.
These coaches are the reason I became a teacher, a personal trainer, and a wellness coach. I’m passionate about giving people the support they need during the challenges in their life as well as through the successful times.
Comment below if you realise the impact a coach has made in your life?
