oldwiseguy

I?m a frequent visitor to this website but I don?t post much. As a former coach, wrestler, and parent of a wrestler I just can?t believe you would say negative things about any coach let only Coach Maldonado or his supporters. Nobody makes themselves a hero or a role model society dose; so to say that you are tired of people thinking he is the 2nd coming is just crazy. He?s just a coach that is passionate about the sport and his kids. It sounds to me like your jealous. If memory serves me right I can remember people talking about Coach Pendowski being the greatest ever, or that Russian guy that spoke broken English from Griffith, or Coach Chandler who is now in IL, or even Coach Vega, but in the end they all moved on. High School Coaching is tough for coaches because they spend so much time and effort in helping their kids succeed on and off the matt with little or no credit or pay. I don?t think we praise our coaches enough. I just took a look in Ancient Elders book and it says that there have been 9 State Champs, 19 Finalist, and 60 place winners at Merrillville High School, and Coach Maldonado has coached 4 of the State Champs, 8 of the Finalists, 25 of the place winners in 7 years at Merrillville High School compared to all previous coaches combined at Merrillville. Now, I don?t know how long Merrillville High School has had a wrestling program but their first placer was 1968 which would make it 40 plus years, and as far as the team the IHSAA website said they had something like 10 Regionals and 6 Semi-States with Coach Maldonado they have won 5 of those Regionals and 3 of those Semi-States. Your right Merlyn we should praise all of our coaches, if we don?t continue to let our coaches know that their doing a great job and we appreciate what they do for the sport of wrestling we may lose them. But don't tire one coach down to make another seem better or worse. I?ve seen it time and time again, coaches get burned out and move on to bigger and better things; where they don?t have to worry about getting ridiculed and torn down by people who can?t measure up so they feel like they have to tire them down to make themselves feel better. I have talked to many coaches over the years and many of them feel the same way. They?re all frustrated at the whole situation wrestlers, parents, fans, administration, etc? If we are not careful on how we treat our coaches we are going to lose them, so the next time you see a coach make sure you let them know how much you appreciate what they do for the sport. And as far as Coach Maldonado, I?ve only had a few conversations with him but I have realized that he is wise beyond his age and I hope he continues to coach our kids in Da Region. Yes, I?m a fan of Coach Maldonado, but I?m also a fan of the Real Coaches of Indiana Wrestling. The ones that put their lives, families, and careers on hold to help raise, educate, coach, guide, mold other people?s children. Guys like Coach Watkins, Coach Joll, Coach Vlink, Coach Williams, Coach Foroute, Coach Snyder, Coach Al Smith, Coach Tonte, Coach Goebel, Coach Red, Coach Balish, etc? Please for give me if I didn?t name your favorite coach or missed spelled anyone?s name, because there are many more coaches with us and also those who have gone to a better place. The second coming, I don't think so! If he is then we are all in trouble. Food for thought: Coach Vlink has been coaching longer then Coach Maldonado has been a live, give the young coach time but don't knock him because other people praise him.