Keep these coaches

If you want to understand what it means to be a coach, there was no better example than Wed. night's wrestling match between Washington and West Greene. It wasn't the outcome that really mattered, though Rich Burgoldt of Washington and Allen Hughes of West Greene wanted to win this match because it would determine the Section 4-AA title. These are competitive coaches but they also see the bigger picture.

Burgdolt didn't wrestle Patrick Gouin at 103 for what he called disciplinary reasons. If he had, Wash High would have won the match instead of losing 36-32. Gouin would have probably won his match, which would have made it a 9-point swing because Washington lost by a pin at 103.

Because West Greene was forfeiting at 119, Hughes could have moved up 112-pound Garrett Johnston to 119 against Gary Smith and forfeit at 112. Instead, he sent Johnston out against a talented Ryan Nowlin because Nowlin will stand in Johnston's way in the individual postseason. If Johnston won, that would make him more confident heading into the postseason. If Johnston lost to Nowlin, West Greene would have lost the match and section title to Washington. Johnston won.

What's important here is that these two coaches made difficult decisions that affected their teams and you have to respect them for that. How many coaches would take a chance on losing a section title to either stand on principal or give a wrestler important experience against one of his rivals?

Not many.

That's what makes these two coaches special. You all would be smart to keep them around.