LETTERS: Wrestling mom takes exception to headline
To the Editor:
I would like to set something straight. The Hillsboro High School wrestling team has nothing to be "humbled" about. They are a great group of young men and are coached by two of the finest coaches possible.
As the mother of two of this year's varsity wrestlers, I took offense to the headline that stated that our boys were "humbled" by the state meet. These boys were disappointed in the outcome, but they all stepped on the mat and gave it all they had to give. While some matches didn't go the way we would have liked sometimes a medal comes down to the way the bracket falls.
For anyone not familiar with the sport of wrestling, it is nothing like what you see on TV, but is like what is seen in the Olympics. Wrestling is the oldest sport and one of the most physically and mentally demanding.
To quote the announcer at Hays, "Many wrestlers started a long and difficult season back in November and this weekend you will see the 'best of the best' compete."
We had 13 varsity wrestlers and to say that eight of our boys are among the "best of the best" says something for what these boys and their coaches accomplished.
I felt that the main point of the article was on the fact that these boys let people down, whether it be themselves, their coaches, fans, whoever, by not bringing home more hardware from the state meet.
The article should have accentuated what they did accomplish. This group of young men gave up every Saturday, usually from sun up to way beyond sundown. Not to mention the practices and duals in between.
The Trojan wrestling team was co-champion in the league for duals, with a record of 13-1. This means that in the past three years they have only lost two duals and have won 38. They went to eight tournaments and never once placed lower than third as a team, some weekends competing against 4A schools. Many of these boys brought home numerous individual championships.
Plus, anyone who knows about wrestling knows that a 30-win season is a very good season.
We had not one but FOUR boys not only achieve this goal, but surpass it by several victories. We had one medalist at state and two boys broke school records. Not to mention the accomplishments of these fine young men off the mat as well. These boys accomplished a lot throughout this long and grueling season and have nothing to hang their heads about.
The Hillsboro community should also be proud of the fact that we have two of the finest coaches anywhere. This was recognized at the regional meet when Coach Scott O'Hare was chosen Regional Coach of the Year for 3-2-1A.
I have watched Coach O'Hare for a number of years and see the respect and admiration he garners from his wrestlers. After watching the way Coach O'Hare and Coach Bowman interact with our boys and the love they have not only for the sport but for their wrestlers there are not any two coaches that I would rather have coaching my sons. These boys look up to them as more than just coaches but, also, as mentors.
Boys, I know I speak for all of the wrestling parents and fans when I say, "We are proud of you, all!" And to Coaches O'Hare and Bowman, THANK YOU! for being the men that you are and for giving so much to our sons.
Kaylene Mueller
