West High first-year wrestling coach Dan Potts waxes philosophical, even poetic, when discoursing on his favorite sport.
"Wrestling is really a metaphor for life," he says. "There isn't a wrestling coach in the world that wouldn't say that."
Besides both the mental and physical self-discipline it demands, wrestling "improves opportunities for employment. . . . Wrestlers are far more determined (to succeed) because 'the sideboards' are pushed so much further," he said.
Saturday, the Panthers will host the West High School Panther Jayvee Open Wrestling Tournament, which begins at 9 a.m. and ends after 4 p.m. The northern Utah regional competition features "the middle kids," said Potts, "like the middle kids in a family you need to spend more time on. If they can win some medals, they'll have success going into next year."
Potts speculates his desire to succeed may be why he lettered in wrestling at Utah State University during the mid-1970s. Even though he never won a match in four years there, "I made contributions of honor and dedication."
Potts said he may be USU's only wrestler to never win a letter, but he also was never pinned.
The coach may have set another record as former Panther head wrestling mentor Don Holtry's assistant for 20 consecutive years, besides more "on and off" time, he said. Potts even helped out when he was an Aggie wrestler.
Through it all, the coach still preaches integrity and toughness can co-exist peacefully in the same heart and mind. He notes three-time state champion Jeff Holtry and current assistant Brandon Dansie, who won state twice, "are pretty outstanding individuals," even more than they are wrestlers.
"We've had hundreds of athletes that might have made champion, but we spend more time on making an individual," explains Potts. "The focus on building young men has made a difference. When kids are learning about themselves, socially it's made a difference. It's one of the more memorable experiences."
The coach emphasizes two attributes no one can take from anyone else: honor and charity. Honest effort is what he seeks. Potts complimented Panther wrestler Igehai Garcia, who has a shoulder injury and is unable to wrestle. He still keeps his commitment and works out with the team, "which is commendable."
The team's mission statement is coined by former Panther wrestler Carl Majors (also an assistant): "Winning is a by-product of turning boys into men." Potts calls it "an investment" to achieve a desired result.
Other assistant coaches are Greg Davis, Joe Arrington and John Kluf.
West's current team includes: Sarkis Karapetyan (103 lbs., senior), Jared Gardner (112, sophomore), Caleb Bartholomew (119, freshman), Marcus Mayeda (125, junior), TJ Anderson (130, sophomore), Brian Bartholomew (135, junior), Trevor Middleton (140, junior), Benny Yazzie (145, junior), Allen Tran (152, senior), Malakai Snead (160, senior), Steven Hanna (171, junior), Mike Hanna (189, senior) and Raymond Utai, senior heavyweight.
The Panthers don't have a wrestler at 215 pounds.
Team captains are Middleton, Mayeda, Gardner and Karapetyan.
In the Rocky Mountain Rumble tournament at Utah Valley State College last weekend, West didn't place anyone in the top three, though Mayeda "did OK," the coach said. Complete results may be found at www.rockymountainwrestling.com.
Potts said Karapetyan and Mayeda "are at the top right now" of Panther wrestlers. "Marcus is well past 100 points" of the required 80 in earning a school letter. "No one will pass him."
West's 66-18 thrashing of East High last week — in its only dual meet by press time — may have had something to do with depth. Even though the Panthers fielded their smallest team of 25 in 35 years, said Potts, East had only 15 wrestlers.
Hundreds have advanced through West's program over the years, and the one year it had 105, the wrestling room was proportionally small. "It was hard," remembers Potts. The room "was the size of the mat."
Meanwhile, Granger High is on the verge of losing its program, he said. The part-time coach lays the plight of these wrestling programs at the feet of the Salt Lake and Granite school districts. His stipend amounts to "an average of 70 cents an hour." Former part-time East and current West assistant coach Dale Tominaga was not paid when he coached the Leopards, said Potts.
"There's not much incentive to being a high school (wrestling) coach," Potts complained. "It has to be for the passion, not the stipend. That's why I have my job."