Be Kind by Coach Eric
Parents & Wrestlers: Please Review the D49 Policy on “Bullying Prevention and Restorative Intervention.”
In October 2016, Troy Bonewell took over the Vista Ridge Wolves High School Wrestling Program as the Head Coach, the Alpha Wolf Coach. Coach Bonewell has coached wrestling for almost 25 years in Colorado, is a Colorado State Champion for Las Animas High School, wrestled throughout college at Adams State University, and is a teacher at Sand Creek High School. He brought on myself, Eric Everard, and Jason Lloyd along as Assistant Beta Wolf Coaches for his 2016-2017 Inaugural Season. Coach Bonewell and I coached together for 9 seasons at Sand Creek High School (2005-2014) and we hit our decade anniversary last season with the Vista Ridge Wolfpack. We have evolved our sharing of responsibilities where I do all the things he says I am better at. For the 2017-2018 Season, we have added Brian Galetta, and Cory Carter, prior Sand Creek wrestlers we both coached, and Ron Salazar to the Coaching Staff Wolfpack.
A Championship Sports Program requires a high level of trust and confidence in the Coaching Staff by School Administration, Teachers, Staff, Parents, Athletes, and community. To further promote an environment of trust, I will highlight each Coach, starting with Coach Lloyd because he shared that awesome picture first, in a new series called “Getting to Know Your Wolfpack.” Per the recommendation of Jeff’s mom, I will also coordinate a Parent’s Night each season, no wrestlers, where parents can socialize to know each other better. We intended to do this before Thanksgiving and I apologize. I will publish a date, time and location today.
After each Coach is highlighted to know us better, I will highlight each wrestler and manager. Our primary purpose is to promote a safe environment for your student-athlete to learn the invaluable life lessons that wrestling provides. I personally enjoy witnessing each wrestler’s self confidence develop along with healthy coping skills. Wrestlers learn the coping skills I posted previously as “Wrestling Life Lesson #1” and Coach Bonewell says, “Wrestling does not build character, it reveals it.”
“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”
Malcolm S. Forbes
Your Coaching Staff has several decades of wrestling experience as competitors, coaches and parents of wrestlers. We recognize, accept and are experienced with the behavior challenges associated with this very aggressive sport and age group. We are committed to providing a safe environment for the student-athletes we are entrusted to coach and mentor.
Wrestling is a physically aggressive sport where each competitor is coached and trained with the ultimate goal of forcing their opponent to their back and holding them there for two seconds. Wrestlers hug, tease, pat on the back, challenge, are “touchy-feely,” kinesthetic, and invade personal space as expressions of respect and trust that is accepted as normal behavior amongst the wrestling community.
However, Wrestling, like the 5 tenants of martial arts, requires Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, and an Indomitable Spirit both on and off the mat. The Martial Arts Student Oath states, “I shall observe the tenants of Taekwon-Do. I shall respect the Instructors and Seniors. I shall be a champion of freedom and justice. I shall build a more peaceful world.”
Parents, competitors and fans of wrestling recognize the aggressive nature of the sport and the mindset required to switch from kind to aggressively combative that is promoted for when the whistle blows. It is not uncommon for wrestling matches to end with one wrestler crying and/or injured while the other has their hand raised after they shake hands.
However, none of the aforementioned examples excuse nor promote bullying in any form. Malicious intent has no place in the sport of wrestling, on or off the mat. There is a clear line between a respectful wrestling culture behavior that is kind and courteous of others versus malicious bullying. The perception of the wrestler and parent defines what is and is not acceptable towards them.
In contrast, Wrestling develops the skills and self confidence to proactively lead an environment free from bullying and support victims of bullying. There is zero tolerance for malicious behavior and bullying within our Vista Ridge Championship Wrestling Program, whether it is intentional or unintentional. We will immediately address concerns witnessed or brought to our attention.
The Golden Rule states, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This does not translate into treating others poorly because you wish to be treated poorly. It means to always be kind, which is free.
I am your initial point of contact for any activity coordination, questions and I actively monitor the lines of open communication we have established via phone, text, email and/or social media. My hope is that I have proven to be approachable, available, reliable and responsive to all involved with our wrestling program. We value your trust and ask for our open lines of communication to continue, regardless of day or time. Even though I may be the one you communicate with most often, all the coaches are available.
We appreciate all the support and recommendations to improve the program provided since our arrival to the Wrestling Wolfpack last Fall! We also appreciate your patience as we build upon the foundation of a successful wrestling program laid for us by past coaches, parents and athletes.
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
Uncle Ben, Spider-Man