Posted on Feb 02, 2009 11:23
Alright... Usually I do not see the need to get on public internet forums and voice my opinions on other wrestlers or what not. But after being told what was being said I felt the need to get on here and defend my 10 YEAR OLD wrestler. Note, he is only 10.
I am Zack Smith, Derek's Middle School wrestling coach. First I want to give you my take on the singlet incident. Derek loves his singlets like many of us when we were 10 loved our favorite football, baseball glove, or basketball. He gets singlets for christmas from his dad. This is what he wants and he has a collection of them. Obviously you have never been to a big national tournament where you see kids exchanging singlets like there going out of style and wearing them in the finals, while they are suppose to be representing their state. Hell, I remember going up to Jeff Jordan's my sophmore year and kids exchanging North Carolina singlets with Ohio singlets and then them kids wearing those same exact singlets for the finals of like Fargo or Tournament of Champions. I always had an alternative finals singlet when I was in high school. I understand most old school coaches frawn upon singlet changes but talk to Mr. Badida, who is about as old school as you can get, and he'll tell ya, why does it matter?? If the kid wants to do it let him, he is a kid. But back to what I was saying, Derek came up to me and asked me if he beats Erdmen can he wear his new singlet in the finals. What was I suppose to say, "NO". Your crazy, I told him "Hell yeah" now first lets go out there and beat Erdmen. He lived up to his end of the deal so I had to live up to mine. I do not see anything wrong with it, and I can assure you that if he makes it to the semi's or the final's at state he will be wearing what ever singlet he wants and I will encourage that.
Next Derek and his attitude. A big saying that I love to preach in the wrestling room and outside the room is, "the harder you work the harder it is to lose". I must say Derek has completely bought into that statement. He bust his butt in the wrestling room and in the off season and it shows on the mat. Him along with a few others makes all the time I spend coaching worth it. He is always listening, working hard, and trying to get better. He is not the least bit cocky, and if he every became that way his dad would quickly put an end to it. He called me up the other night and asked me if I thought he was good enough to win state. For this only being my second year as a coach, and to have a kid who I really enjoy call me up and ask me if I think he could win state shows how humble this kid is at such a young age. (By the way I told him I think he can) Just ask Mr. Wolnitzek who has spent countless practices and mat time with Derek, Derek knows he is good how could he not. He has completely dominated CWY which is no easy task and he has not lost to the same kid EVER more than once. Anytime someone has beat Derek with the exception of Sean Fausz, Derek has laid it on them the next time and the next time and the next time. Still after all the success he has had he has yet to let it affect his attitude, and his work ethic.
Anyways I have said enough, on saturday all the talk goes out the windown and the best kid will win. Wish everyone a safe trip down to state and "LETS...GET IT ON!"