After four pivotal years as head coach of WS wrestling, coach and law and action teacher Patrick Smith is retiring. Smith changed the culture, expectations, and atmosphere within the wrestling room.
The atmosphere within the wrestling team this year was different than ever before. Not only because of Smith’s presence, but also due to a loss the team suffered before the season.
“We were shocked and saddened by the death of Anton Kirichenko just before the season started. He was a senior. Spiritually, I still feel his presence and will always remember his happy disposition and kindness towards others,” said Smith.
WS wrestling memorialized Kirichenko this season, as placed 3rd overall in the 6A division in Virginia, with multiple podium appearances. Before Smith, WS had never won districts. Now, WS has three districts and one more regional banner under their belt. One of the main factors that gets brought up when talking about success to this extent is coaching, and without quality coaching, feats like these would not be possible.
“Coach Smith is always working to help every single person improve as much as they can,” said senior wrestler Eddie Hicks. “He is someone who wants to give you the tools you need to do the best you can.”
Smith isn’t just a coach for the wrestlers, but for the other coaches as well.
“Coach Smith was a mentor for me as a new teacher and a new coach,” said assistant coach and social studies teacher Tyler Kocak. “He built a great program that will continue to do great things in the future.”
Bringing in the right guys is as important as the coaching aspect, and Smith is well versed in bringing in talented coaches.
“I just needed to build on what we had. I began with hiring our head assistant coach, Chip McArdle. Having Coach Scott Vandermar already on staff to take care of our statistics was another plus,” said Smith. “After my first year, Nick Primozic joined the coaching staff working with our heavyweights. Two years ago, bringing on Coaches Madrigal, Morreale, Nieto, and then last year Coach Kocak further solidified our coaching staff.”
In such an exciting sport, it’s easy to be carried away by simple mistakes or sudden death losses, nitpicking at what a wrestler could have done to win, but that may not be what some athletes need.
“I’ve learned [from Smith] that it’s better to coach with love and compassion,” said coach Alex Madrigal. “I’ve also learned to face adversity with a positive attitude and an open mind. When things would become chaotic, the team could always count on coach Smith coming in with a big smile saying ‘Semper Gumby.’”
“Semper Gumby” is an unofficial military motto, meaning “always flexible,” which is an apparent influence in Smith’s coaching style.
“Coach Smith, overall, has a very laid-back coaching style,” said Hicks. “He believes in fundamentals and in allowing people to work on moves they are good at.”
There are many different opinions on what high school sports are about. Some say they’re about teaching student athletes discipline, having fun, or winning championships. But for wrestling, it’s about brotherhood. Many don’t understand how difficult wrestling practices are, with constant physicality, humidity, and conditioning, and how they bring a group of individuals together.
“Practice builds such a strong bond throughout the team,” said senior wrestler Hayden Carl. “All of us are going through the same grind, powering through injuries or facing fatigue, and every time you are practicing, you’re not just improving yourself, you’re helping everyone else.”
Smith’s praises don’t stop at the building of the WS wrestling program, they continue into his leadership by example.
“Coach Smith is one of my role models and I strive to be the man he is one day,” said senior wrestler Abai Beishembiev.
