April 4, 2011
casadySPORTS
the CRIER
Born to be a wrestler
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McHargue’s background shaped him into a coach perfect for a youthful squad Eric Kaplan and Connor Morrison Editor in-Chief and Features Staff Wrestling has always been part of Mr. James McHargue’s life. After hearing stories from his father’s wrestling career as a young child, Coach McHargue instantly became mesmerized by the sport. “His detailed stories about individual wrestling matches made me feel as if I was living them myself. By that time I had already grown to love wrestling because it was something we did everyday, way before I could even understand English well enough to sit through a story. I was doing push-ups, situps, and single leg takedowns in diapers,” McHargue said. Coach McHargue’s own wrestling career began at Western Heights High School, the same high school his parents graduated from. Although he did not win a state title, Mr. McHargue nonetheless compiled a quite noteworthy tenure, highlighted by being an OWCA All-Star and a member of the All-State team his senior year. “I defeated 22 state champions in my career without ever winning one myself. I think that last statistic is the one statistic that most of the people that knew me then where really baffled about. Everyone thought I would win at least two state championships. I think God knew that I would be coaching other young men and he wanted me to experience everything that they would be experiencing, especially the agony of defeat,” McHargue said. After high school, Coach McHargue decided to venture out west to a small college in northern California to continue his wrestling
and academic careers. He ultimately settled on that school over others due to its supreme trout fishing, however, after one year, he decided to move back closer to home. A few years later he began coaching at Casady. “I began coaching at Casady, as an assistant, when I was junior in college. It has been more rewarding than any honor I could have achieved on my own,” McHargue said. The backbone of Coach McHargue’s coaching philosophy is the “Wrestling Bible,” a guide to anything wrestling created by his father’s college coach, Virgil Milliron, Olympic silver medalist and a hall of fame coach at both the high school and collegiate levels. The manual offers passionate advice on individual growth, wrestling fundamentals, personal relations, and tactical strategy. Coach McHargue distributes his version of it amongst his wrestlers at the beginning of each season, hoping that if his team adheres to its demanding yet essential plan they will fully capitalize on their potential. This past season was no different. Despite only having one junior and one senior on the team, Coach McHargue was still determined to push his team to the brink, hoping to not only prepare them for tough SPC competition this year but for the future as well. “I think it is a lot easier to coach a team with a lot to learn because we can all work together learning new moves and techniques instead of having some guys wasting their time learning things they already know,” McHargue said. Although no one medaled at SPC or received All-SPC recogni-
tion, the wrestlers gained muchneeded experience that will hopefully translate into more success next year and beyond. “John Stickler and Parker Brawley are extremely skilled and show the overwhelming ability in the underclassmen that will ensure a good future and more to come,” senior Carpenter Parham said. After strong performances in multiples meets this season, sophomores Stickler and Brawley will anchor the foundation of this program heading into the future. “Wrestling is a very tough sport but really rewarding when you win. I hope to keep improving each year and eventually win SPC as well as lead the team to winning duels,” Brawley, who was the SPC 125 lbs. runner up his freshman year, said. Coach McHargue continues to be confident in his team as he looks into the future. “It has been a while since Casady wrestling has had so many young wrestlers with the amount of potential that this group possesses. In two years this group can bring an SPC trophy home if they do the off-season work that I know their opponents will be doing. My goals for next year are to finish in the top three as a team at SPC, with three champions, two other finalists, and three others in the top three,” McHargue said. Mr. James McHargue was born to coach wrestling. His determination to persevere coupled with his willingness to teach his wealth of wrestling knowledge suit this squad practically as perfect as possible. “I love this quote from John Smith, the OSU head coach and most decorated wrestler of all time. When asked by one of our Casady parents why he always wakes up
Ready to attack
Sophomore Parker Brawley competes in the Kingfisher Invitational this past wrestling season, looking to capitalize on the right moment to take his opponent down. Brawley will continue to be a centerpiece of this team and influential towards its success for years to come.
at 4:00am to go running, John replied, ‘because my opponent isn’t’,” McHargue said. This quote personifies the heart of Coach McHargue and his team. Hopefully, the team will achieve much success in the near future.
Spring Sports Center Recent Scores
Baseball: 2011 Casady Baseball Jr. Mac Katigan Sr. Trace McMurrain
Sr. Ted Moock Jr. Casey Roberts
Sr. Connor Morrison
So. Michael Mullins
Sr. Matt Silver
DH: So. Tony Analla Senior Matt Silver
Sr. Mason Roberts
Jr. Austin McCrimmon
Trinity Valley School Festival vs. Bishop Dunne W 15–8 vs. St Mark’s W 8–4 vs. (Championship) Oakridge W 6–2 vs. OCS W 9–3 @ St. Mark’s W 2–0 @ ESD W 10–0
Tennis:
(Boys) @ St. Mark’s L 4–1 @ ESD L 5–0 (Girls) @ Hockaday L 6–0 @ ESD L 4–1
Softball:
@ Hockaday W 15–5 @ ESD W 16–10 Track: (Bethany Meet) Katy Jacobs– 1st place 3200 meter run Tiatjah Johnson– 2nd place 200 meter dash Long jump Boys– 11th place out of 16 Girls– 5th place out of 14
Upcoming Home Games Baseball:
4/1/11 @4:30pm vs. Trinity Valley 4/2/11 @11:00am vs. Oakridge 4/4/11 @4:30pm vs. Community Christian 4/5/11 @4:30pm vs. Mt. St. Mary’s 4/11/11 @4:30pm vs. Bethany 4/21/11 @12:30pm vs. Cistercian 4/21/11 @5:30pm vs. Holland Hall Tennis: (Boys and Girls) 4/1/11 @4:30pm vs. Trinity Valley 4/2/11 @11:00am vs. Oakridge 4/4/11 @3:45pm vs. OCS 4/5/11 @3:45pm vs. Bishop McGuinness 4/11/11 @3:45pm vs. Harding Charter Prep 4/18/11 @3:45pm vs. OCS Softball: 3/29/11 @6:00pm vs. Heat 4/1/11 @4:30pm vs. Trinity Valley 4/2/11 @11:00am vs. Oakridge 4/2/11 @11:00am vs. Oakridge 4/4/11 @4:30pm vs. Community Christian 4/5/11 @4:30pm vs. Mt. St. Mary’s Track: (Not at Home) 4/2/11 @8:30pm vs. Kingfisher Meet 4/5/11 @3:00pm vs. Piedmont Meet 4/15/11 @ OU vs. John Jacobs Meet 4/23/11 @9:15am vs. Chandler Meet Golf: (Not at Home) 4/11/11 @8:00am vs. PC North Invit. (Boys) 4/14/11 @7:30am vs. Del City Invit. (Girls) 4/14/11 @8:30am vs. Carl Albert Invit. (Boys) 4/18/11 @McGuinness Invitational (Girls)