GIBSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – Profitable all three matches throughout a convention quad meet on Jan. 11 didn’t simply hold the Japanese Guilford Wildcats undefeated this season, in addition they marked a milestone with for the crew’s coach, Maurice Atwood.
Atwood, now in his fourth season at Japanese Guilford, reached the 800-win plateau within the crew’s third win of the meet towards Atkins.
Maurice Atwood (middle, holding plaque) picked up his 800th profession win as a wrestling coach on Jan. 11. Atwood, who has gained 11 dual-team state titles and coached 35 particular person state champions in his profession, has the Japanese Guilford Wildcats undefeated this season coming into the third spherical of the NCHSAA 3A dual-team state event.
Picture courtesy of Japanese Guilford Athletics
The successful methods have continued for the Wildcats after wins towards Central Cabarrus (51-27) and St. Stephens (45-35) within the first and second spherical of the NCHSAA 3-A dual-team wrestling event, giving Atwood profession wins No. 816 and 817.
That quantity can proceed to climb as third spherical and regional championship matches are set for Wed., Feb. 1
Atwood wasn’t even certain about closing in on his 800th profession win till a buddy of his, Brandon Spiece, requested him about placing an inventory of his accomplishments collectively for a brochure Spiece was making for a wrestling camp the 2 are going to conduct later this yr.
“That’s once I first realized I used to be getting shut,” Atwood mentioned. “I didn’t inform any of the children about it, however I did let my assistants know and our AD, Jay White.”
Atwood has loved probably the most acclaimed careers for a highschool wrestling coach in North Carolina state historical past, going again to his first job as an assistant coach for his alma mater, Reynolds Excessive College, from 1996-2000.
Head teaching stops at Mount Tabor, Forsyth Nation Day, Parkland, West Forsyth, East Mecklenburg and now Japanese Guilford have all proved bountiful for crew state championships and particular person state champions in Atwood’s secure.
Atwood known as win No. 800 “simply one other win” but additionally acknowledged the importance for his lengthy and profitable profession.
“What’s does signify is that I’ve been on this for a very long time,” Atwood mentioned. “Once I was at Parkland, I used to be in my 40s and I informed myself that I used to be going to cease once I obtained to my 50s and get my life again and reside it. I’m 54 now. And I’m telling you, I’ve obtained extra enthusiasm to teach now than I did in my 40s. Possibly that’s as a result of I’ve gotten my power again and I really feel like I nonetheless have one thing to show. I haven’t gained a state title in a number of years now and possibly that’s it. However I’m glad to get 800. It’s good to get there. Nevertheless it’s extra of a real recognition for the children who’ve wrestled for me than something that I’ve finished. I like successful, don’t get me fallacious. However the wins that matter to me proper now are those that hopefully are available February.”
Atwood’s resume is spectacular.
It contains teaching groups to 11 dual-team state championships, together with eight straight at Parkland from 2007-2014, two straight at West Forsyth (2016, 2017) and his first at Mount Tabor as a co-head coach in 2001. Atwood has coached 35 particular person state champions and his groups at Parkland and West Forsyth gained 391 consecutive twin crew matches, which was a nationwide highschool file.
“That first state championship at Mount Tabor, that was a particular group and a fantastic crew,” Atwood mentioned. “We actually pulled collectively to perform one thing particular. We have been all simply form of getting our toes moist again then prematurely of what was to come back.”
Atwood mentioned that he will get requested quite a bit about his greatest crew and his recollections return to his tenure at Parkland.
“I all the time say the 2008 crew at Parkland,” Atwood mentioned. “Each crew had its personal approach of doing issues. However that yr was simply so dominant. There was little question how good that crew was. After which our crew in 2009…we didn’t comprehend it on the time, however we blew Greensboro Dudley out in our first match of season after which ended up wrestling them for a state championship. After which in 2010, we beat Cary, and we had simply moved up from the 3A classification to 4A and beating them was an actual spotlight for me. Neither crew had misplaced a match in 4 years till we beat them.”
Atwood has rebuilt the Japanese Guilford crew from the ground-up.
He guided the crew to a 25-10 file in his first yr, the primary successful season the crew had in additional than 10 years. In his second season, the Wildcats went 20-1. Final yr, they completed 27-1 with the one loss coming towards Fred T. Foard, the eventual 3-A state champions, within the dual-team quarterfinals.
The Wildcats are 59-0 in Atwood’s fourth season heading into the third spherical of the 3A dual-state championship event.
“There have been a number of guys right here once I obtained right here that knew how you can wrestle, however I’ve just about constructed it again from the bottom,” Atwood mentioned. “My first yr for preseason exercises, we had 4 children coming in. This yr I had 24. And we’ll continue to grow and getting higher.”
Wrestling is in Atwood’s blood.
He adopted in his older brothers’ footsteps and began the game in highschool, having fun with a strong profession at Anderson Excessive College after which at Reynolds.
He wrestled collegiately at Wilkes Neighborhood Faculty after which at Carson Newman, qualifying for the nationwide event for each colleges.
It was his wrestling coach at Reynolds, Harold Smith, who has had essentially the most profound influence in his life.
“I grew up with out a father and our household simply didn’t have a lot,” Atwood mentioned. “Coach Smith took me below his wing once I was in 11th grade and taught me how I wanted to do issues, how I wanted to behave. I obtained in some hassle once I first obtained to Reynolds and obtained kicked out of college. Coach Smith helped me perceive that it was going to be his approach or the freeway, and there have been a few instances my junior yr the place he needed to present me what he meant and informed me in no unsure phrases that I wanted to cease performing like a horse’s butt. He additionally planted the seed in me early in my senior yr about going to school. He got here as much as me within the cafeteria in the future and requested if I deliberate on going to school, and that was the primary time anybody had each talked about that to me.
He took me below his wing as a result of he confirmed how a lot he cared about me. Up till Reynolds, I didn’t care a lot about college. I failed ninth grade. However after my interactions with Coach Smith, I had a aim of creating the respect roll my senior yr. I made honor roll twice. Once I went to school, I made the Dean’s Listing at Wilks and at Carson Newman. So, I suppose I turned out to be pretty academically inclined in any case. Harold Smith modified my life.”
When Atwood graduated from school, his aim was to develop into a highschool instructor and wrestling coach.
“I wished to assist children the best way that Harold Smith helped me,” Atwood mentioned. “I knew I might relate to the plight that a few of these children face at present as a result of I confronted loads of those self same challenges rising up. Children carrying the identical garments day-after-day, children not having sufficient to eat, children not having any cash, children with mother and father that aren’t capable of choose them up from observe. I realized the advantage that you must give to obtain from a really early age and I reside by that day by day.”
Atwood mentioned that what he loves essentially the most is the relationships along with his wrestlers.
“I get again quite a bit from them,” he mentioned. “I additionally ask quite a bit from them, however that relationship comes from a mutual respect that’s earned. There may be an order to the chaos that I implement day-after-day. Numerous that’s the robust love that I present them day-after-day. I’d get on them and chew them out, however they know that I care about them.
“Wrestling challenges you in so some ways. Bodily, mentally, emotionally. A child that goes out and sticks with it after they’ve finished it the correct approach, every part else the remainder of their life might be straightforward. It calls for a lot time and dedication and a lot honor and integrity. You need to be trustworthy with your self about what you’re doing.”
Atwood mentioned that the success he sees is the last word reward, particularly after getting that championship leap hug from state championship winners through the years.
“To begin with, it’s additionally nasty, soiled, sweaty and dirty, let’s get that out within the open,” Atwood mentioned with fun. “However to have the ability to share in that exultation, in that second with a child, is really probably the most rewarding experiences a coach can have. That’s why we do it.”
