JasonRoush
Well-known member
As we look forward to (and pray for) a 2020-2021 wrestling season, I figured that I'd get the annual thread started with a couple of important announcements. After nearly 40 years of helping coach (32 at the high school level), "Mighty" Mike Masminster has announced his retirement. Coach Mike has been my right hand man for the last 7 seasons and I think I can speak for Coach McCoy and assure you that he served that same role for MANY years for him as well. Mike has been the assistant coach that any head coach would be lucky to have. Elder HS and Elder Wrestling have been blessed to have such a committed and devoted coach for all these years. We wish Mike the best and thank him for his service to Elder and the Elder Wrestling program!
With Mike's permission, I'm sharing his retirement message that was sent to current and past Elder Wrestling coaches...
"After several weeks of soul searching, I’m making a tough and heart wrenching decision that deeply saddens me – I’ve decided to end my coaching career. I started my coaching career in 1981 with the Kids’ program, Junior High in 1986 and the High School 1988/1989 season giving 100% dedication to the kids and the Elder Wrestling program. Thirty-two years has been a great run at the High School level. I’ve literally devoted over ½ my life to Elder High School and that’s with no regrets whatsoever. Truly not sure what path I would have taken in life but I know in my heart Elder Wrestling kept me on the right path (thank you Dave Dabbelt) and I’m blessed for that. I’m grateful to have coached with all of you (including Coach McCoy), you guys are the best. I feel privileged to have been part of the Elder Wrestling tradition & Elder High School for so many years but It’s time for me to shift my commitments. You know as well as I that the wrestling season is long and brutal and to be successful you must be committed. I like to think that’s what I was, but all good things must come to an end. It’s time to give back the remaining time of my life to my wife and family (no I’m not dying). The commitment I’ve given for so many years between my full time job with P&G, my cemetery responsibilities and coaching has just worn on me and I want to end my career on a good note, minus this damn corona pandemic. I have no idea how I’ll feel when wrestling season rolls around next year but I wish the program the best and I wish the staff the best. The program is in good hands with you guys and I have all the faith in the world you guys will take it to the next level. I just want to let you guys know I had the best of times coaching with all of you (including coach McCoy) and I will always be there for you, if you need anything, reach out."
As much as we will miss Coach Mike, we have filled his position and we are excited to welcome Chad Craft to the coaching staff this season. Chad was a high school state placer at New Lebanon Dixie HS and had a great collegiate wrestling career at Mount St. Joseph University. Chad served as the Head Coach at Little Miami HS for 4 years where he was voted the 2018 Southwest Ohio Division I Coach of the Year. Chad has spent the last two seasons serving as the Head Coach at Lakota East HS where he led his team to a Sectional Title and had two individual state qualifiers this past season.
Join me in congratulating/thanking Coach Mike Masminster as well as welcoming Coach Craft to Elder! Go Panthers!
With Mike's permission, I'm sharing his retirement message that was sent to current and past Elder Wrestling coaches...
"After several weeks of soul searching, I’m making a tough and heart wrenching decision that deeply saddens me – I’ve decided to end my coaching career. I started my coaching career in 1981 with the Kids’ program, Junior High in 1986 and the High School 1988/1989 season giving 100% dedication to the kids and the Elder Wrestling program. Thirty-two years has been a great run at the High School level. I’ve literally devoted over ½ my life to Elder High School and that’s with no regrets whatsoever. Truly not sure what path I would have taken in life but I know in my heart Elder Wrestling kept me on the right path (thank you Dave Dabbelt) and I’m blessed for that. I’m grateful to have coached with all of you (including Coach McCoy), you guys are the best. I feel privileged to have been part of the Elder Wrestling tradition & Elder High School for so many years but It’s time for me to shift my commitments. You know as well as I that the wrestling season is long and brutal and to be successful you must be committed. I like to think that’s what I was, but all good things must come to an end. It’s time to give back the remaining time of my life to my wife and family (no I’m not dying). The commitment I’ve given for so many years between my full time job with P&G, my cemetery responsibilities and coaching has just worn on me and I want to end my career on a good note, minus this damn corona pandemic. I have no idea how I’ll feel when wrestling season rolls around next year but I wish the program the best and I wish the staff the best. The program is in good hands with you guys and I have all the faith in the world you guys will take it to the next level. I just want to let you guys know I had the best of times coaching with all of you (including coach McCoy) and I will always be there for you, if you need anything, reach out."
As much as we will miss Coach Mike, we have filled his position and we are excited to welcome Chad Craft to the coaching staff this season. Chad was a high school state placer at New Lebanon Dixie HS and had a great collegiate wrestling career at Mount St. Joseph University. Chad served as the Head Coach at Little Miami HS for 4 years where he was voted the 2018 Southwest Ohio Division I Coach of the Year. Chad has spent the last two seasons serving as the Head Coach at Lakota East HS where he led his team to a Sectional Title and had two individual state qualifiers this past season.
Join me in congratulating/thanking Coach Mike Masminster as well as welcoming Coach Craft to Elder! Go Panthers!