Head wrestling coach and physical education teacher Tim Stoudenmire at the Stoudenmire Bowl in the New Gym at Clarke Central High School on Dec. 16, 2014. “I think that our program has a chance to be the most successful program in the school this year,” Stoudenmire said. “I would encourage everyone that reads this to come out (and support the wrestling team).” Photo by Chad Rhym.
By HANNAH GALE – Staff Writer
Hannah Gale talks with physical education teacher and head wrestling coach, Tim Stoudenmire about the upcoming wrestling season and how the team hopes to do.
Hannah Gale: How was your season last year?
Tim Stoudenmire: We had a great season last year. We were returning area regional champions in wrestling for 8-AAAAA going into last season with the expectation of having a rebuilding year and we had a year that I think was above our expectation and the fact we won the region again and finished 2nd in sectionals and finished in the top 10 in state. So last year even though it was a rebuilding year, we exceeded our expectations.
HG: Are you hoping to improve this season or stay about the same?
TS: We are expecting to win the state championship this year. Our expectations are through the stratosphere for this season. Anything short of being in the state finals will be a disappointment. We have seven returning seniors in our varsity lineup. We have the best freshman class that we’ve had in the 11 years that I’ve been here.
HG: What do you do in the off-season to work out?
TS: Postseason workouts in April and May, we get together two days out of the week and work in our club program where we basically keep guys involved and keep the rust knocked off. In our summer program, we practiced the entire month of June. (We) compete at a very high level, going to tournaments and wrestling dual meets and then we also went to camp. Our preseason this year, we’ve had a lot of guys in the room early in the morning and in the afternoons just starting to get their weight down, starting to get into shape, and starting to wrestle just to get the wheels turning.
HG: Have you always done this much preparation before the season?
TS: No, and the reason being is, I have not had a group of guys this committed, and this dedicated. Finally, now our guys see we have a chance to be not just an average team. Our guys see that we have a chance to win it.
HG: Would you say the guys are a lot more motivated now that they see that they have a chance of winning the state championship?
TS: More motivated, more mature, we have a higher level of competitiveness between our guys for starting positions. We have a culture of wrestling existing within the school now, where in years past we might have just been a group of guys who got together and wrestled and whatever happened, happened. We’ve won minor battles and minor championships, but we’re at the point now, well I certainly am as a coach I am ready to (succeed) because cause early in my career I had a lot of success.
