With the closing of the 2010-11 wrestling season I figure it is time enough for me to compose my first blog entry of the year. I want to apologize to the few readers of this blog, as I found myself busier than expected during the fall and winter months. At my real job, as the Health and PE Department Chair at Meadowbrook High School we had four new teachers imported to my department, two of whom are relative newcomers to education so I am serving in more of a mentoring capacity than ever before. It's been a lot of fun so far, but it does keep me on my toes.

     It's hard to believe that the high school wrestling season is already over. It seems as if it were only yesterday that newly hired Athletic Director/Head Wrestling Coach John Gordon began pre-season workouts with a handful of guys. And here we are months later, looking back on another very successful season for St. Christopher's wrestling.

     After last year's monumental successes on the mats and loss of a huge group of talented seniors, most Virginia private school wrestling coaches, writers, and fans thought that St. Christopher's almost decade long domination was going to end. "How can they win Prep League and States when they lost all of their studs? Even Jeske left!" is what I heard time and time again. It was like the beginning of a Bad News Bears movie about high school wrestling. So people thought.

     Enter John Gordon. All Coach Gordon did in his tenure at Wyoming Seminary was take a very young and inexperienced program and develop it into a national powerhouse! Look at Seminary's results over the past three years and you will see what Gordon built. That is why I was so excited to have him on board at St. Christopher's. His reputation alone awe-struck a lot of St. Christopher's people. And then I met the man and began to work with him. That's when the real truth about John Gordon came out.

     We know John is a fantastic wrestling coach, but he is also a fantastic teacher, motivator, and leader on and off the mat. I am sincerely grateful to have the opportunity to work with an incredible man. I definitely believe I improved as a coach and leader this year because of him. The way Coach Gordon works with the wrestlers is amazing. No yelling after matches, only constructive criticism, a pat on the back, and a "shot of water". Moreover, John Gordon believed in all of our guys- not just David Wesley, Trey Tarr, and Robert Janis. He helped the young kids: William Kelly, Matt MacLeod, Quent Alcorn, Marshall Hollerith, etc. believe in themselves and helped improve their wrestling throughout the season.

     Take Quent Alcorn and Marshall Hollerith. Before this season the tandem wrestled a handful of varsity matches, and now they were thrust into the spotlight with little experience. All they did was improve and get better each week of the season, slowly churning their "what if" and "maybe" thoughts into "I can" and "I will" actions. Quent ended up winning a State title and Marshall finished third at States. Not bad for guys who didn't start last year.

     Take Josh Setliff and David Austin. Again, no big experience on the varsity team. But each week they worked hard and began to believe in themselves. Josh was unseeded at States and ended up taking fourth. David went from not wrestling well in varsity matches, almost expecting to lose, to going after his opponents with great shots and tilts from the top.

     And what about Matt MacLeod, the precocious, undersized 112 lber who never missed a practice session? MacLeod was the team's Rocky Balboa, who kept getting knocked down, only to get up again and again never wavering or quitting. The kid went 3-2 at States and scored some big points for the Saints. Talk about a huge upside!

     We can't forget the leaders of the 2011 team: David Wesley, Trey Tarr, Robert Janis, Ben Thompson, Andy Pitts, and William Kelly. Each wrestler had big expectations, but never had additional pressure put on them by Coach Gordon or any of the assistants. They knew that they had responsibilities on the mat and in the practice room to work harder than their opponents (and teammates) and took their wrestling to another level. Coach Gordon didn't need to shout, scream, use negative reinforcement, etc. to motivate these kids. All he did was believe in them.

     It's amazing to see what kids can do when people believe in them. They achieve. They succeed. That's all any athlete or student needs to be successful in whatever they do- somebody who believes in them and who helps them reach their goals.

     Our wrestlers weren't burned out or hit their peak before States like in previous seasons. By the time States rolled around, this wrestling team was still getting better. The daily practice routine definitely helped, but a relaxed atmosphere in the wrestling room worked wonders. All of the guys had great attitudes and were in great shape this tournament season. They knew that John Gordon and his coaching staff were right there with them, believing what no other person in Virginia thought: VISAA State Championship number ten in a row. What a fitting way to end his first season at St. Christopher's. Thanks John, for keeping me around to help you through your first season in Virginia. It was an extreme pleasure getting to know and work with you.

     Now I know why Seminary developed into a powerhouse.