Smith’s comments were unwarranted
In response to T.G. Smith’s article in the Morris Herald, Friday, Feb. 26, titled “Slams and Insults”... Oh, I’m sorry that’s “Gap Shots and Wiffs.” Obviously you are not a big fan of high school grappling... I’m sorry again... of Morris High School grappling. I find the comments very insulting to the Morris coaches and the entire team.
I quote, “He (John Lanning) had to endure his first season at the helm of Morris with a group of kids who were either not cut out for wrestling, or got hurt.” Without a doubt to make a snide comment like that shows me you didn’t attend any matches this season, and why should you, it’s obvious you were elsewhere by your articles.
It was not a stellar year for the Redskin wrestling team; there were no state qualifiers this year as there had been in the past, but that doesn’t give you the right to slam dunk them. There were four who medaled at regionals and advanced to sectionals, although they finished fifth or sixth that still put them in the top twenty-five in the state in their 2A weight class.
This was John Lanning’s first year as head coach but he has coached some of these boys for awhile along with Matt Seidel (a non-school employee) who has also given a lot of time to the wrestling team. And this year a new JV coach Bob Wallon has joined their ranks. All three of these gentlemen gave a lot of their time to train and guide the young men of the team... I’m sorry again, you referred to them as kids. If you would have spent any time around them you would have noticed how disciplined, polite, and well mannered they are. A perfect example of what you would want to represent a school at an athletic event.
Yes, there were a couple of injuries on the team, but you do realize wrestling is a contact sport with no protection other than head gear, and some of them wrestled in spite of that. The team had only two seniors this year, one of which was injured early in the season and was out for the balance. He, without a doubt, would have been a state qualifier and more than likely a meddler at state if not #1. The balance of the team consisted of six juniors, two sophomores and four freshmen. They all did very well in the new NCIC 2A division. Most all tournaments consisted of 2A and 3A schools and there was a lot of competition in the 3A schools and I feel they faired very well and many of them placed.
These young men were dedicated to some rigorous training, five to six days a week from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a morning practice from 6:15 a.m. to 7 a.m. two days a week.
For weekly meets they would leave school and not return until 10 p.m. or later, sometimes a couple of times a week, and then the tournaments on weekends. They would have to be up at 4:30 or 5 a.m. to be at the school to be bussed to another school to weigh-in hours ahead of time and not return till late at night.
As a participant in this sport you have to be dedicated and have determination to compete and survive through these rigorous schedules. Every single one of the members of the Redskin wrestling team was committed to this, and their coaches Lanning, Seidel and Wallon stood beside them and guided them the whole time.
I can say I’m very proud of the accomplishments of the team and their coaches this past season. I am especially proud of one young man, a freshman, who stepped up to fill a spot at 103 lb. weight class. It was his first year of wrestling and he was outweighed every match by 20 pounds. He went on the mat with all the desire and determination to win, but for the most part it was to no avail. At the end of the match he smiled and shook his opponents hand and the other coaches hand, and never quit smiling and never gave up. That young man is going somewhere.
I guess if you would have been there you would have noticed these things. Athletics builds discipline and character, but as you said, “a group of kids who were not cut out for wrestling.” Mr. Smith you owe these “kids” and their coaches an apology.
By the way, the last time I paid my newspaper subscription I made the check out to the Morris Herald... not the Minooka Herald, not the Coal City Herald, and not the Seneca Herald.
Thank you. A proud parent and supporter of the Morris Redskin wrestling team.
