As I reported in last Friday's Bedford Gazette and on this blog, Claysburg is looking for a new varsity wrestling coach after the resignation of longtime coach Dave Marko.
While the Bulldogs are now advertising to fill the position, Marko has landed in a new spot, in the Spring Cove School District as its junior high coach. The item was up for vote during Monday's school board committee meeting at Spring Cove, and Marko confirmed to me this afternoon that he was hired to take over.
Marko compiled remarkable achievements in the varsity ranks at Claysburg, which you can see a synopsis of in my last blog post - Marko will be missed at CK.
I'm very interested to see who ultimately lands at Claysburg. While there may not be the top-level talent there now that has been in the CK colors during much of Marko's time, it is still regarded as a very good job. And I'm not sure how many in-house candidates may apply. On a side note, Claysburg is also looking for a new athletic director, so that may be the first move to be made before hiring a new wrestling coach.
Marko's move to Spring Cove, where he lives and his three kids attend school, is also interesting because three prominent names to wrestling in my coverage area are now there. Last year, former Northern Bedford junior high coach Mike Shippy took over as head coach at Martinsburg Central High School, and he brought former NB coach and three-time state champion Jan Clark with him to assist.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
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:
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Lessons at Winning Edge
Winning Edge Athletics in Bedford will be holding instructional programs in baseball, softball, and wrestling.
The folkstyle wrestling program begins on September 17 and runs to November 8 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7:50 p.m. There are novice and advanced classes. Cost is $200 per person or $25 per session.
The instructors are former Claysburg wrestlers Brandon Ickes, Ryan Ickes, and Cole Claar.
The baseball and softball programs begin on October 5 and run through October 26 on Saturday afternoons (baseball 3:30-4:20 p.m., softball 4:30-5:20 p.m.) Cost is $100 for the four-week sessions.
Private lessons for all three sports are available.
For more information, contact Mike Whitcomb at 979-0613 or by email to winningedgeathletics6@gmail.com.
The folkstyle wrestling program begins on September 17 and runs to November 8 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7:50 p.m. There are novice and advanced classes. Cost is $200 per person or $25 per session.
The instructors are former Claysburg wrestlers Brandon Ickes, Ryan Ickes, and Cole Claar.
The baseball and softball programs begin on October 5 and run through October 26 on Saturday afternoons (baseball 3:30-4:20 p.m., softball 4:30-5:20 p.m.) Cost is $100 for the four-week sessions.
Private lessons for all three sports are available.
For more information, contact Mike Whitcomb at 979-0613 or by email to winningedgeathletics6@gmail.com.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Bedford County Soccer Scoring Leaders
Here are the updated goal leaders in Bedford County, entering this week's action.
Boys Soccer
Kyler Lesh, Chestnut Ridge - 5
Coltin Ebersole, Northern Bedford - 4
Micah Stair, HOPE for Hyndman - 3
Blake Baer, Bedford - 2
Sebastian Jene-Aluja, Bedford - 2
Collin Sherlock, Northern Bedford - 2
Elijah Stair, HOPE for Hyndman - 1
* 9 players with 1 goal
Girls Soccer
Taylor Easter, Bedford - 5
Paige Diehl, Bedford - 4
Amelia Beland, Bedford - 3
Brooke Corle, Chestnut Ridge - 2
Devon Layton, Bedford - 2
Peyton Leidy, Northern Bedford - 2
Courtney Rupert, Tussey Mountain - 2
* 13 players with 1 goal
Boys Soccer
Kyler Lesh, Chestnut Ridge - 5
Coltin Ebersole, Northern Bedford - 4
Micah Stair, HOPE for Hyndman - 3
Blake Baer, Bedford - 2
Sebastian Jene-Aluja, Bedford - 2
Collin Sherlock, Northern Bedford - 2
Elijah Stair, HOPE for Hyndman - 1
* 9 players with 1 goal
Girls Soccer
Taylor Easter, Bedford - 5
Paige Diehl, Bedford - 4
Amelia Beland, Bedford - 3
Brooke Corle, Chestnut Ridge - 2
Devon Layton, Bedford - 2
Peyton Leidy, Northern Bedford - 2
Courtney Rupert, Tussey Mountain - 2
* 13 players with 1 goal
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Haines to be a Buckeye
Solanco's Thomas Haines, a three-time PIAA champion, has announced his plans to wrestle at Ohio State beginning next year.
Haines is a senior and will be going for his fourth state title this winter. He won the Class AAA title at 215 pounds as a freshman before going back-to-back at 220 the last two years.
He originally verbally committed to three-time defending national champion Penn State, but then pulled back after the Nittany Lions received a verbal from Calfornia stud Nick Nevills. Both are projected to be heavyweight wrestlers in college. Ohio State also recently got a verbal committment from Maryland product Kyle Snyder. Snyder is one of the few wrestlers to beat Haines.
Haines is a senior and will be going for his fourth state title this winter. He won the Class AAA title at 215 pounds as a freshman before going back-to-back at 220 the last two years.
He originally verbally committed to three-time defending national champion Penn State, but then pulled back after the Nittany Lions received a verbal from Calfornia stud Nick Nevills. Both are projected to be heavyweight wrestlers in college. Ohio State also recently got a verbal committment from Maryland product Kyle Snyder. Snyder is one of the few wrestlers to beat Haines.
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