By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Coaches, like teachers, impact student athletes, often in dramatic, even life-altering ways. Sometimes they learn just how special they were when, years later, those former student-athletes tell them.
That was the case on Dec. 13, when a committee of former Watauga High School wrestlers pulled off the “73-Year Watauga High School Wrestling Reunion” at the Moose Lodge, in Boone. The central theme of the event was to honor longtime coaches Lee Stroupe and Steve Breitenstein, but the objectives also included recognizing the long history of Watauga Wrestling, with multiple Pioneers through the years earning “state champion” or “conference champion” or “tournament champion” accolades.
It was really a two-day Reunion. The night before, while most of Watauga County’s attention was tuned into the Pioneer football team’s successful quest to win the NCHSAA 6A State Championship football game in Chapel Hill, vs. Middle Creek (Apex), more than 75 Watauga Wrestling alums and High Country fans watched the current Pioneers wrestling team defeat Forbush High School (East Bend, Yadkin County) in Lentz Eggers Gym, 41-40, in spite of forfeiting six weight classes (several Watauga wrestlers were still competing on the football team).
At least 50 of the alums and their spouses, families and friends were able to stay the second day for the dinner and festivities, including reflections on the team’s past achievements, individual performances, and the program’s plans for the future. Stroupe and Breitenstein shared memories of almost every single one of the wrestlers they mentored through the years.
Current head coach Terreyl Williams spoke of the program’s growth these last few years, including 33 wrestlers on the current team and 45 in the growing middle school program. They also shared a pressing need: a new wrestling room because they had outgrown their current practice facility.
The steering committee members included wrestling alums Eddie Miller, Chad Critcher, Tim Haas, Wes Young, Bobby Plemons, Derek Harwood, Lynn Harwood, Todd Rice and Bobby Clawson.
Miller has a primary responsibility for reaching out to alums and encouraging them to attend, with contributions from all of the committee members.
“No stone was left unturned,” said Rice, in describing the all-out efforts of the committee to get maximum participation.
The older brother of Tim Haas, Bryan Haas, served as emcee for the evening and not only directed the almost 30 tables as to their turn to serve themselves at the buffet, but entertained the crowd with Watauga Wrestling trivia questions.
A sampling (with answers):
- What year did WHS have five state qualifiers under coaches Stroupe and Breitenstein? (1983 and 1987 — 1983 qualifiers included Greg Edmisten, Tony Greene, Scott Kund, Bobby Clawson, and Tim Haas. 1987 qualifiers included Jonathan Trull, Derek Harwood, Ray Hemms, Dave McCune and Tim McManus)
- What was Appalachian High School’s notable achievement in wrestling? (For the duration of the program, 13 years, the AHS wrestling team never lost a match)
- What coach had a daughter win the WHS girl’s Hall of Fame Award? (both Lee Stroupe and Steve Breitenstein, daughters Kristin Stroupe and Amy Breitenstein)
- Which Watauga wrestler had the most total wins in a season? (Demetre Kostis, 56-1, in 2013-14)
- In what year did Watauga have seven wrestlers in the finals of the Northwestern Conference Tournament? (1981: Gregg Edmiston, Tommy Gabriel, Kevin Norris, David Phillips, Bobby Clawson, Kevin Cook and Ivan Roten)
- What two Watauga brothers won individual state titles in the same year? (Larry and Scott Stanbery)
- Who won Most Valuable Wrestler recognition at the Northwestern Conference Tournament? (Kevin Norris in 1980 and Kurt Duncan in 1986)
- Which wrestlers were presented with the Watauga High School Trailblazer Award? (Tim Haas, Steve Atwood, Stan Atwood, Tim Church, Shane Austin and Dave McCune)
- What family had the most brothers who wrestled under coaches Stroupe and Breitenstein?
- Critcher: Anthony, Barry and Todd; parents Sammy and Gloria
- Lyons: Jeff, Greg and Brent; parents Archie and Joanne
- Norris: Kevin, Ryan and Eric; parents Dudley and Judy
One of the most poignant moments of the evening came, fittingly, toward the end. After Stroupe and Breitenstein were presented boxes with mementos, including singlets for competing, photos and other memorabilia, Eddie Miller presented each coach with a printed and bound booklet, nearly an inch thick, of statements and reflections from Watauga alums who had trained and competed under the two coaches. Those thoughts included how much the program and their coaching meant to them and what they are doing now, in some cases more than 50 years later.
BONUS PHOTOS
