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01-11-2007, 10:14 AM
More Daily Herald Articles (All Articles (http://www.dailyherald.com/localsports/index.asp))
> Maine West handles depleted Highland Park (http://www.dailyherald.com/localsports/story.asp?id=268130)
> D-C’s Zinke nominated for national award (http://www.dailyherald.com/localsports/story.asp?id=267764)
> Batavia stuns Knights with late comeback (http://www.dailyherald.com/localsports/story.asp?id=267696)
BY CRAIG BRUESKE
Daily Herald Correspondent
With his long, bushy auburn-colored hair and muscular build, Christopher Potter certainly stands out in the St. Charles East wrestling room.
While his high school days are a thing of the past, the 2004 St. Charles East graduate holds fond memories of a successful career that included back-to-back state individual championships in the 171-pound weight class (2003 and 2004) at the Class AA tournament in Champaign.
His name still looms large at St. Charles East.
In fact, it can be found on the east wall of the Saints’ wrestling room alongside the category — career falls, 67.
Two-and-a-half years later, Potter has returned to his familiar stomping ground. Only this time instead of receiving instructions from others, he’s handing them out.
For the past couple months, Potter has served as a volunteer coach for the St. Charles East Kids Wrestling Club.
The club, which consists of 41 kids between the ages of 6 and 14, serves as a youth feeder system for the high school. Practices are held twice weekly with tournaments scheduled most weekends from November-February.
Potter’s name was brought up in casual conversation between Saints wrestling coach Steve Smerz and St. Charles East kids club coach Jay Crawford prior to the season.
“Jay asked me what Christopher was doing and if he might be interested in helping out,” recalled Smerz.
A week or so later, Potter stopped in to talk with Saints assistant coach Joel Crawford.
“Those guys — Joel, Jay and Steve — have done a lot for wrestling in St. Charles,” he said. “I decided to give it a try.”
According to all reports, Potter has been a huge success.
“He has done a tremendous job working with the kids,” said Jay Crawford, who was a member of the first St. Charles kids wrestling club in 1975. “He has a real good rapport with them and relates well with them.”
“Any time we can get him, it’s great,” said Smerz. “I think it works both ways. This has been his first opportunity to give back to the sport.”
Potter, who recorded an 83-1 record during his final two years at St. Charles East, was himself a product of the STC Kids Wrestling Club.
“I was part of the Saturday program with (coach) Rich Duensing,” said Potter. “It’s always nice when you’re younger to have different coaches — perhaps in wrestling more than some other sports because each coach has his own style.”
Potter also benefited from watching his older brothers (David and Jason) compete on the mats. David placed third in the state at 171 pounds as a junior at St. Charles in 1996 and took sixth in ’97, while Jason followed up a fourth-place state showing at 152 in 1997 with back-to-back state titles at 171 in 1998 and ’99.
Incidentally, last Friday night was Kids Club Night at St. Charles East when the Saints faced Larkin.
“We showed the kids Christopher’s name (as two-time state champion) that is printed on the varsity mat,” said Jay Crawford.
“It’s important for kids to see what high school wrestling is all about,” said Potter.
After earning a scholarship to attend Missouri, Potter ended his competitive wrestling career after his freshman year.
“In college, wrestling is more like a job,” said the 21-year-old. “I stopped enjoying it.”
Potter, who earned an associate degree from Elgin Community College in December, will depart Thursday for Southern Illinois University where he will pursue a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.
Once again, he’ll have fond memories to fall back upon.
“It’s been a lot of fun working with the little kids,” he said. “It was nice to step on the other side.”
> Maine West handles depleted Highland Park (http://www.dailyherald.com/localsports/story.asp?id=268130)
> D-C’s Zinke nominated for national award (http://www.dailyherald.com/localsports/story.asp?id=267764)
> Batavia stuns Knights with late comeback (http://www.dailyherald.com/localsports/story.asp?id=267696)
BY CRAIG BRUESKE
Daily Herald Correspondent
With his long, bushy auburn-colored hair and muscular build, Christopher Potter certainly stands out in the St. Charles East wrestling room.
While his high school days are a thing of the past, the 2004 St. Charles East graduate holds fond memories of a successful career that included back-to-back state individual championships in the 171-pound weight class (2003 and 2004) at the Class AA tournament in Champaign.
His name still looms large at St. Charles East.
In fact, it can be found on the east wall of the Saints’ wrestling room alongside the category — career falls, 67.
Two-and-a-half years later, Potter has returned to his familiar stomping ground. Only this time instead of receiving instructions from others, he’s handing them out.
For the past couple months, Potter has served as a volunteer coach for the St. Charles East Kids Wrestling Club.
The club, which consists of 41 kids between the ages of 6 and 14, serves as a youth feeder system for the high school. Practices are held twice weekly with tournaments scheduled most weekends from November-February.
Potter’s name was brought up in casual conversation between Saints wrestling coach Steve Smerz and St. Charles East kids club coach Jay Crawford prior to the season.
“Jay asked me what Christopher was doing and if he might be interested in helping out,” recalled Smerz.
A week or so later, Potter stopped in to talk with Saints assistant coach Joel Crawford.
“Those guys — Joel, Jay and Steve — have done a lot for wrestling in St. Charles,” he said. “I decided to give it a try.”
According to all reports, Potter has been a huge success.
“He has done a tremendous job working with the kids,” said Jay Crawford, who was a member of the first St. Charles kids wrestling club in 1975. “He has a real good rapport with them and relates well with them.”
“Any time we can get him, it’s great,” said Smerz. “I think it works both ways. This has been his first opportunity to give back to the sport.”
Potter, who recorded an 83-1 record during his final two years at St. Charles East, was himself a product of the STC Kids Wrestling Club.
“I was part of the Saturday program with (coach) Rich Duensing,” said Potter. “It’s always nice when you’re younger to have different coaches — perhaps in wrestling more than some other sports because each coach has his own style.”
Potter also benefited from watching his older brothers (David and Jason) compete on the mats. David placed third in the state at 171 pounds as a junior at St. Charles in 1996 and took sixth in ’97, while Jason followed up a fourth-place state showing at 152 in 1997 with back-to-back state titles at 171 in 1998 and ’99.
Incidentally, last Friday night was Kids Club Night at St. Charles East when the Saints faced Larkin.
“We showed the kids Christopher’s name (as two-time state champion) that is printed on the varsity mat,” said Jay Crawford.
“It’s important for kids to see what high school wrestling is all about,” said Potter.
After earning a scholarship to attend Missouri, Potter ended his competitive wrestling career after his freshman year.
“In college, wrestling is more like a job,” said the 21-year-old. “I stopped enjoying it.”
Potter, who earned an associate degree from Elgin Community College in December, will depart Thursday for Southern Illinois University where he will pursue a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.
Once again, he’ll have fond memories to fall back upon.
“It’s been a lot of fun working with the little kids,” he said. “It was nice to step on the other side.”