As I watched from the floor of Mizzou Arena the performances turned in by the Park Hill wrestlers last Saturday on the way to their second straight state title and talked to Coach Bill Erneste along with some of his senior leaders, I tried to think of an appropriate way to describe this year’s state champion. It wasn’t the ten state qualifiers coming out of districts or the seven who wrestled for first place. It wasn’t the pure dominance or technique they displayed in each and every match, although it was quite a display. After a while, the thing that stood out the most is that they didn’t stand out.
While you saw an occasional wrestler jump up and down or pump their fist in the air, you noticed every Park Hill wrestler, win or loss, shake their opponent’s hand and jog right off the mat. Erneste said you have to handle winning the same way you do losing and by taking the emotions out of the match then you know it will come down to game plan and hard work. This mentality brings out what seems like a rare quality in successful people, humility. While the Park Hill team has more to celebrate about than anybody in the state, they’re taking it in stride. It’s something that’s been instilled in them over time and is sure to help them accomplish their short-term goals on the mat, but also those outside the walls of any gym.
As senior Kaleb Friendley mentioned, these guys have been wrestling in the Park Hill youth program and going to school together since around fifth grade. They’ve grown up together and Park Hill wrestling is like a second family to them. It’s that sense of family which leads teammates to talk so highly of each other. John Eblen talked about how there are so many individuals that can do so much while Alan Waters mentioned the depth of the lineup and knowing they’d be able to get it done every tournament. Kaleb Friedley added that even though they have differently personalities they all meshed just the same.
The development and hard work has paid off for the four seniors who competed in championship matches Saturday. Waters and Eblen will wrestle at the University of Missouri next year, Friedley at Northwestern University, and Haden Bock at West Point, the nation’s top military academy.
So with state title trophy accounted for and a humble view of such an impressive accomplishment, the Trojans continue to look forward.
As Erneste said, “I like it when our guys go out and do a workmanlike performance, shake everyone’s hand like gentlemen and run off to the next obstacle.”
I’d say they’ve earned a well-deserved week off first though.
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