Living Legacy
More to Zionsville wrestling than what meets the eye By Mary Demarco, News and Sports Editor
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hile Zionsville wrestling may seem as intense and tough as the physique of the wrestlers, it’s more than just rigorous workouts and winning matches. “Our number one priority is creating good people,” Coach David Welch said. Assistant Athletic Director Jared Williams was the head wrestling coach for four years. ”One of the things that was really refreshing for me when I came here was just the family atmosphere in the program,” Williams said. One big factor that plays into the family atmosphere is the long history of wrestling coaches that have remained connected to the program over the years. “Coach [Bob] Brennan is still a teacher here and has been here since the late 80s, and really has established a culture of strong relationships between the coaching staff and the kids and the families,” Williams said. In addition to the coaches, there has been a long history of Zionsville families involved in the program; particularly the family of sophomore Chase Wagner. “Wrestling is definitely a big, big part of my family,” Wagner said. “My dad actually wrestled for Zionsville and he’s been assisting coaching for I believe 26 years now. My grandpa coached, and then I have two uncles that also wrestled. And then once my dad graduated, he put a lot of time and effort into helping his little brothers so that
A Quick Guide to Wrestling
they could make it as far as they could.” Three out of four brothers in Chase’s family have wrestled for ZCHS, with another brother currently in elementary school. Last year Logan Wagner, Chase’s older brother, was Zionsville’s first ever state champion. “They are a very close knit family and wrestling is something that they can share,” Welch said. Wrestlers also share the mental and physical strength it takes to succeed in wrestling, one of its most difficult aspects. Unlike other sports where you’re either Austin Parker, senior, about to begin his match against a Brownsburg opponent. offense or defense, photo by Ruth Cronin wrestlers take on both at the same time. There are tactics and techniques wrestlers “Your goal is to gain control of that perneed to know to help prevent injury and son and put them on their back,” Williams allow them to have the upper hand. said. “And once you become in a disadvan“The hardest part is the mentality, or taged position, your goal is to defend and the mental approach,” Welch said. “You get away.” really have to trust the process.”
1.) There are three two-minute periods. Whoever has the most points at the end wins 2.) To earn points, players execute certain moves 3.) If one person gets over a 15 point lead or one opponent is pinned it’s an automatic win 4.) For any rules violated, your opponent earns points
10 Sports
