Marko will be missed at CK

   It wasn't a total surprise to me that Dave Marko decided to step down as wrestling coach at Claysburg-Kimmel after his 18th season at the helm.
   But when I got word that his resignation was accepted on Wednesday night, the news still kind of struck me with a sort of "Wow" moment.
   I knew that Dave was pondering this for some time, through informal talks he and I shared either at a wrestling event, or over the phone. His kids are growing up fast and he said specifically that he would miss 12 of 15 junior high wrestling events of his oldest son Logan if he were to continue coaching this year at Claysburg. Marko teaches at CK, but lives in the Spring Cove district where his kids attend school. My story on this for the Bedford Gazette was in today's paper. (Sorry I can't post the link, you have to buy a copy or subscribe online).
   If those old "Wrestling is Life: the rest is just details" t-shirts were still around, a photo of Marko might be on it. Like some others, he's one of those who live and breathe wrestling nearly year round. He gets away from the sport for just a few weeks after the state tournament, then starts preparing for the next season which is still months away at that point.
   Marko's record at Claysburg is quite remarkable for anyone at any place, let alone at one of the smallest schools in this area of the state:

• 234-84 in dual meets.
• has coached 14 different state placewinners.
• has put a state medal on at least one of his wrestlers in 14 of his 18 seasons.
• has guided CK wrestlers to 25 overall state medals.
• produced three state champions (Derek Tipton, Jarrett Musselman, and Adam Whetstone).
• two D6 Dual Meet championships and three SW Regional Tournament team titles.

   When Marko arrived on the Bulldogs' scene, the school had only one state medal, from Matt Musselman in 1987.
   In the first year of the PIAA Team Tournament in 1999, Claysburg made the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Brookville. That same year, Tipton won his state title, and Musselman and Whetstone followed three and six years later, respectively.
   Those feats and more certainly define Marko's career and would suit anybody for life. But remember that "Wrestling is Life" reference I mentioned above. He doesn't see this as the end of the road, rather just a fork in it to spend more time with his family. Hard to argue with that!
   Rumors are that Marko will end up at Martinsburg Central, which is in the Spring Cove district, at some point in the future. In my opinion, there's no doubt he will be a varsity head coach again, whether at Central or somewhere else. He has too much to give and too much left in the tank. He cares about his current and former wrestlers, and his support (fans, boosters, etc.), and he will do so anywhere else.
   I will miss seeing Dave on a regular basis during wrestling season. I love his insight, and he's a great friend in the sport and always made the time to give an interview in wins and losses. You could sometimes write half a page about Claysburg's matches if you had the space.
  And like most decisions Marko made on the mat, he made the right one this time too. And I applaud that every bit as much as his coaching accomplishments.