Living Legacy

Living Legacy Living Legacy

More to Zionsville wrestling than what meets the eye

By Mary Demarco, News and Sports Editor

While 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 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 offense or defense, wrestlers take on both at the same time. “Your goal is to gain control of that person and put them on their back,” Williams said. “And once you become in a disadvantaged position, your goal is to defend and get away.” There are tactics and techniques wrestlers need to know to help prevent injury and allow them to have the upper hand. “The hardest part is the mentality, or the mental approach,” Welch said. “You really have to trust the process.”

Austin Parker, senior, about to begin his match against a Brownsburg opponent. photo by Ruth Cronin