ago, Dunsmuir High School had no wrestling program. The sport which American settlers and Native Americans both clung to through the history of the area had no place in the list of sports teams. Wallace had faded from the sport. “After high school, I kept going and helping a little with the Shasta High and Enterprise High practices,” Wallace says. “But life and girlfriends drew me in a different direction.” He moved to other ventures in Sacramento, leaving wrestling behind. Life brought Wallace to Dunsmuir. It came to his attention that his good friend’s son was a wrestler, about to enter high school, and there was no team. Wallace approached the school board to inquire about beginning a team for Dunsmuir High. Two conditions were presented to him. A wrestling mat needed to be acquired for practices, and all funds for the program were to be raised by the team. Using his connections in Redding, Wallace asked Shasta High School about a mat. They donated one. The community began to stand behind the new coach and provided the needed capital to launch the team. The new season is year five for Wallace. His team has expanded beyond Dunsmuir, merging the Mount Shasta High wrestlers under his supervision, creating a unique hybrid of a team that practices together under one coach, yet competes against one another at each season’s dozen tournaments. Wallace and his assistant, Jimmy Palmer, donate all their time. Last year, the team helped raise money for the program by raffling off an electric scooter. The winner donated the scooter back.
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“Wrestling teaches kids how to be disciplined, have a good work ethic and find pride in themselves,” Wallace says. “It’s the hardest sport in high school. It takes every muscle of your body during those three rounds of two minutes. One wrestling match takes more energy for the athlete than a whole football game.” In December, Wallace is found with a dozen wrestlers on the mat, doing the most extreme conditioning of their lives. Here they find camaraderie, the push to excellence and skills, which will drive them for a lifetime. Wallace’s hand moves slowly over his head as through determined eyes he barks out the next drill. Behind the steeled stance and tense voice, there is brightness in his eyes and slight smile. He says, “I love this sport and I love these kids.” • Gary VanDeWalker grew up in Mt. Shasta, 12 years ago returning from the San Diego area with his wife Monica. Together they raise their three boys and manage the Narnia Study Center. A Ph.D. in philosophy, Gary is also an adjunct professor for Simpson University.