Our Hometown
|
|
Superintendent Dr. J. Richard Boyes announced that Marion physical education teacher Dale Oliver was named World Team Coach for wrestling. Oliver is one of only two coaches in the United States who will take the U. S. Wrestling team to the world championships held in Budapest, Hungary, September 29 to October 2, 2005. If this were an Olympic year, he would be coaching this country's Olympic Greco-Roman wrestlers. Oliver, 45, still lives on the farm in Hopewell where he grew up. He graduated from Canandaigua Academy, where he was on the high school wrestling team. His skills took him to AA Sectionals, but he never went on to the state level championships. He attended Monroe Community College and graduated from Appalachian State in Boone, NC. He also participated in the wrestling program there, and after graduating coached their Division I team. He trained for the Olympics at Adirondacks Three-Style Wrestling Association, a prestigious facility in Albany, that has turned out two Olympic Champions, World Team members and several All-Americans. He was involved with the World Team in the World Championships in 1985, was named All-American 11 times, was First Alternate at the 1988 Olympics and has toured Hungary and Poland with the team. Although Oliver trains every day, he no longer competes. Olympic wrestling is divided into two categories, Greco Roman and Freestyle. Greco Roman wrestling does not allow holds below the waist. He also explained Olympic wrestling is different from high school wrestling. The American Folk Style of wrestling is used only in the United States and differs from Olympic wrestling in three ways. The pin is faster in Olympic wrestling and requires no holding. There is no passivity, also called stalling, in Olympic wrestling and only 30 seconds are allowed to score after a takedown. He said, Olympic-style wrestling is a lot more technical than American high school wrestling. 'I'm extremely honored and appreciative for this opportunity. Rich (Boyes) has been very supportive and helpful in this by allowing me to take the necessary time off from teaching. USA Wrestling has written him letters thanking him and the school for their support.' Oliver loses about one month's instruction time and pay because of his coaching and absorbs all his own expenses. 'It also means I'm away from my family a lot,' he said. His wife Christine, who was born and raised in Sweden, became a naturalized American citizen in 2004, and their son Kyle and daughter Wibecka also have dual citizenships. Last year he helped with the Olympic team and said he still is amazed when he thinks that Olympic medalist Rulon Gardner listens to him. 'He's a farm boy too, like me and we hit it off because of the wrestling and our common backgrounds. The only job that could be any better than World Team Coach is being an Olympic coach. I hope this could lead to being an Olympic coach, and I'm really grateful they allowed me to pursue it.' 'I'm just a hick from Hopewell and nobody told me I could do this. My advice to students who are interested in wrestling, or anything else, is to first have dreams and goals. Then do everything possible to work toward those goals, like working in the off-season.' Oliver and Head Coach Rich Romeo of Canandaigua Academy have an off-season wrestling club in Canandaigua, which opens right after the high school season ends in March. He said anyone interested in attending the club could contact him at Marion High School or Coach Romeo at Canandaigua. Copyright
©
2005 |
     Ads have a Patent Pending. Click Here for More Information  |
Oliver named World Team Coach