Battlefield Coaching Interviews

Eastern View-

Battlefield: Coach(s) Brown/Jenkins, FitzSimmons and I (both being Brentsville Alum.) knew we had “arrived” when our Brentsville contingent that normally cheered for Manassas Park (except for against Brentsville) erupted into cheers when our 103 pounder was upset in the state semi’s by some region c kid. They knew MP was improving but had no idea we would have had a 12 point lead after the 1^st day of the state tournament over the 2 X defending state champions. I saw a lot similarities between that upstart 2003 MP team and the gritty squad you fielded last year.  You gentlemen took a very young squad and single handedly brought down the entire District and anyone whom got in there way. Perhaps one of the largest momentum waves I have ever witnessed in any given tournament. This of course was followed by the next weeks numerous unexpected losses at the regional tournament. I have been over this years numbers a few times and couldn’t help but notice that you folks have got to be considered the favorite to win the Region I tournament. This would be a huge accomplishment for the District and even more so for Eastern View. In modern times I think only Courtland boasts Regional championship trophies. Once again, going back  down memory lane I learned a huge lesson as a coach with that 2003 MP team. Telling the kids on that Friday night many years ago “that we can win this thing” perhaps may have been the critical mistake which drove 6 of the 8 kids we put into state semi’s to lose. We put pressure on them that they had not previously felt.

 My question to you is this: What are your expectations for your team in 2012? And as a coach, how do you get your goals to materialize without putting unneeded pressure on your kids?

 Coach Brown:  Scott, sorry for the delayed response but work and season preparations have kept Eddy and myself rather busy. I appreciate your vote of confidence regarding our teams potential for the 2012/2013 season. 

Battlefield: Yeah, no problem.

Coach Brown: We are blessed with the largest span of talent in our teams history. The "fruits of labor" from our youth program are finally producing enough consistently strong wrestlers to field a complete team. Our expectations for the 2012/2013 season are the same as all past seasons. We expect our guys to focus on each match and tournament without looking past its relevance. The talk and preseason rumor mill regarding our teams expected performance will be nothing but "hot air" if we don't perform, therefore we do our best to keep our guys grounded. Our team philosophy has always been to put in the extra work and let our opponents worry about the rankings. In the end, the cream will rise to the top.

Battlefield:  I hear yah. Let the chips fall right?

Coach Brown:  Our teams past accomplishments, especially last years Battlefield District title is a testament to the previously stated philosophy. Our guys feed off of the "under dog" status we usually get labeled with. 

Battlefield: Well your boys are going to have to find something new to feed off of in this District now because the "under dog bone" is all ate up!

Coach Brown:  The District title was a great accomplishment but was tainted with our Regional showing the following weekend. Although it was not something I enjoyed, the Regional results forced our guys to accept our position and build off that disappointment for the future. 

Battlefield:  Great philosophy!

Coach Brown:  With regards to your question of materializing goals without undue pressure, our guys feel that they have not reached the pentacle of VA wrestling so there is very little too be nervous about. The pressure of losing your "top dog" status is a lot greater then fighting your way to the top. I hope that one day we will be able to re-visit this discussion and give you a different perspective due to our EARNED team standing!!

Battlefield: Amen Brother! Hey, thanks for taking the time to talk to us and good luck this year; except against KG :)

Key losses : Corey Pollard- HWT ( last yrs only SR)

New additions/ FR : Yarhoski Aldiva, Brett Shurina, Kaleb Weaver, Cullen Burnett, Carrington Travers, Tyler Keen, Brett Leake

Key returners: Bryan Ramey, Brian Quetsch, Nathaniel Aldiva, Kevin Willem, Tony Pritt, Austin Jenkins, Jamey Lynch, Brandon Layher, Logan Shurina, Bryce Willem, James Layher, Jordan Minor, Rudolph Travers

Thanks for your devotion to the Battlefield through the blog. As I told you last season it has become a "goto" site for me. Thanks again and best of luck to you and your guys. 

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Chancellor-

Battlefield: Coach Holzworth, I have had the pleasure of knowing you since the mid 90’s. Someone correct me if I am wrong but you have been coaching in the Battlefield longer than any other current coach. You have watched entire families come and go from your program. IE. Tyler, Jordan, Evan etc.etc. Heck, I remember when Evan was a chubby little kid running around at Stonewall matside wearing his singlet and head gear trying to copy his older brothers. You have taken a team that was pretty horrible in wrestling and molded it into a team that should never be counted out. I have a couple questions for you: What moment stands out in your coaching career as you most memorable? If you could go back in time and change anything(about wrestling) would you? And what? How much more do you have left in your “coaching tank”? 

Coach Holzworth: I will do it as long as  I enjoy it... 

Battlefield:  Or until a divorce is threatened right?(my experience) ;) 

Coach Holzworth: most memorable watching my son wrestle in state finals and  watching him winning regional and district titles and seeing chancellor high school on the team  score board at states.

Battlefield: Ahh, every Father's dream; to coach his kid in the State Finals. In a way, your son set the tempo for the possibilities of wrestling at Chancellor. He was one of the first greats there. 

Chancellor's situation:

Key Losses: 10 seniors amory, jeffords, andrew garrett, matt rector,  wesley king, achod,  garrett husar,and  hancock.

New additions/freshman: joe kreider, connor sullivan,  byrce steadman

Key Returners: joe cafiero, vinny cafiero,  mark weinstock, nate gerrett, brandon gallahan, jt ganoe

Battlefied: Not Listed are 2 potential district champions in Rathbone and Uppercoe. What is there status?
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King George:

Battlefield: Coach Kim, you have inherited a team that’s been historically known for being at the tail end of the district for a very long time. What have you done(or going to do) to ensure someone(Spotsy doesn’t count) is below KG on the scoreboard come District Tournament time? Obviously I know your answers Kwan but for the sake of the Blog and stirring up a buzz help me out here. J

Coach Kim: Keep it simple, get back to basics and drill till it's nauseating.

Battlefield:  Umm K, keeping it simple; much like your response. Sounds good. 

Coach Kim: We have upgraded our schedule to maximize opportunities. By next season we should have our entire schedule right where we want it.

Battlefield: Great sounds like a Brutally Aggressive Grappling schedule Under..... I forget the rest!

King George's situation:

Key Losses: No seniors had bought into my philosophy therefore none were "key".

New additions/freshman: TBD(new additions)/ Kirk Hunter, Kalab Sabo and our 1st rising club kid Ron Bell(freshmen) 

Key Returners: Hall, Smith, Snyder, Hazelwood, Kraisser, Howard, Tucker, King, and Turner.
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Caroline County:

Battlefield: Coach Mcguire,  “ONE” school counties have distinct  advantages to not only creating great programs but often times true powerhouses.  You do not have to worry about your youth being split into multiple high schools. You basically get to mold your 6 year olds into what you want all the way  through elem., middle and up to high school. 

Coach Mcguire:  I think with your running this blog is a great thing. I want to appreciate all of your hard work and efforts to the battlefield district.  With the statement you said in your opening question with one high school to our county. I cannot agree with you anymore. I think it is great for our program. We do not have to worry about other schools in the county district. For Culpepper county and Spotsy it is hard to get kids in your program knowing that there is district lines you have to worry about.

Battlefield:  Umm, <<<scratching my head>>> soooooooo we do agree about one school counties? Let's just move on.  Rumor has it that in only your 2^nd year of existence that your administration was smart enough to allow you to start up a middle school program, ensuring more time to crop your wrestlers. 

Coach Mcguire:   The rumor you spoke about is true. This year would be our third year has a high school program. Coach Swanton started the middle school program a year earlier to help get interest into wrestling. 

Battlefield:  Thats just great. Even better then what I presumed. KG had to go the private enterprise route to get kids to be able to wrestle.  Last question:  You appear to be in a situation very similar to that of New Kent; and we have all seen what New Kent has become within a very short amount of time. Not to long ago they were a crappy Single A team.  Do you have any plans to starting up a federation club team or even a team for the Richmond youth leagues?

Coach Mcguire:  plans of starting a wrestling club is in process. Our first season will start after the conclusion of this season. It will be open from ages 6 years old to the high school level kids. We have a lot of expectations for your kids and team this year. We have been improving from our first season. Last year we did very well in the district tournament by finishing 4th place and correct me if I am wrong but I think we finish 14 and a half points behind Courtland to secure the third spot. We also had seven kids advance to regional's. The first year we only had two. We also had our 113 pounder Ben Crawford lose to Mark Weinstock in the district finals with a score 11-6. Then we finally had our first district champ in Caroline Wrestling history with Cody Kidd at the 170 pound weight class. He was seeded and rank third in the district and came out with a huge overtime victory against Uppercoat in the finals. Our goal this year as a team is to be place in the top two. Eastern View is a strong and stack team. With all of the losses that Chancellor suffered by losing 10 starters I think that we can move up to the second place spot. We also want to have more district champs and hopefully have a regional champ this year. We had only one kid go to states last year and that was huge for us, but this year we want to push 4 or 5 kids to states.

Key Losses: We have none 

New additions/Freshmen: We have 9 kids moving up from our middle school program. We also have a kid that is in 10th grade that transferred from Korea. He has been wrestling free style for five years in Korea. 

Key Returners: Jimmy McClure, Ben Crawford, Luke Price, Donald Harris-Smith, Aaron Teague, Jordon Bryers, Cody Kidd, Daronte Rollins, Logan Hufford