Schoolman receives national honor

[admin]

Association selects Minooka coach (wrestle21) as its Assistant Coach of the Year

BY MARK JOHNSON
Herald Sports Reporter

MINOOKA -- Minooka Community High School's wrestling team has ascended up ladder in the various rankings and polls this season with its success on the mat.

Before this season, the continued success that the Indians have had in recent years led to a prominent member of their program winning a national accolade.

Paige Schoolman, who is in his seventh year as a business education teacher at MCHS and an assistant to head wrestling coach Bernie Ruettiger, found out last fall that he was being honored for his work with the Indians.

"I got a letter last fall telling me I'd won Assistant Coach of the Year from the National Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association," Schoolman said. "I didn't even know I was up for it. I know that I'd been nominated as an Illinois Assistant of the Year and, I believe, (former Morris assistant and current Redskins head coach) Brian McTague was as well. If you get nominated there, you automatically get nominated at the national level. So, that's how they got my name."

While Schoolman was pleased with the honor, he insisted that Ruettiger and the athletes from the team should share in it.

"You know, I'm happy about it. But it's a reflection about the kids in our program and how hard they work more than anything I've done," he said. "Sure, it's nice to be recognized for the work that you do, but like I said, the kids and coach Ruettiger deserve the awards as much as I do."

According to Ruettiger, who is in his eighth year in charge of the Indians, Schoolman is a worthy recipient.

"He does a ton," Ruettiger said. "He basically runs our summer program and gets kids involved with our freestyle and greco-roman there.

"With our junior high schools, he helps us spread out by talking to their kids that are incoming freshmen about joining the program. Then, during the school year, he's at every practice and meet, going the extra mile for these kids. He's great with the sport of wrestling, but he's also great outside of wrestling. He's a great guy and a great coach."

Schoolman, who coached at Cumberland High School in Toledo, a small Illinois town about 20 miles south of Charleston, while student-teaching and has held jobs at Kankakee and Bradley-Bourbonnais prior to coming Minooka, has never coached in an attempt to earn individual accolades.

"To me, it's about the relationships with the other coaches you work with, (the relationships) with the kids and their families - their parents and everyone," he said. "Nothing beats feeling like you're making a difference in the lives of a kid. It's great to see kids, that maybe weren't as good at other sports, but for some reason, they find the sport that fits them is wrestling and do very well with it. Any time you can help with that, it's a great thing."

[DawgeatDawg2]

Originally Posted by admin

Association selects Minooka coach (wrestle21) as its Assistant Coach of the Year

BY MARK JOHNSON
Herald Sports Reporter

MINOOKA -- Minooka Community High School's wrestling team has ascended up ladder in the various rankings and polls this season with its success on the mat.

Before this season, the continued success that the Indians have had in recent years led to a prominent member of their program winning a national accolade.

Paige Schoolman, who is in his seventh year as a business education teacher at MCHS and an assistant to head wrestling coach Bernie Ruettiger, found out last fall that he was being honored for his work with the Indians.

"I got a letter last fall telling me I'd won Assistant Coach of the Year from the National Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association," Schoolman said. "I didn't even know I was up for it. I know that I'd been nominated as an Illinois Assistant of the Year and, I believe, (former Morris assistant and current Redskins head coach) Brian McTague was as well. If you get nominated there, you automatically get nominated at the national level. So, that's how they got my name."

While Schoolman was pleased with the honor, he insisted that Ruettiger and the athletes from the team should share in it.

"You know, I'm happy about it. But it's a reflection about the kids in our program and how hard they work more than anything I've done," he said. "Sure, it's nice to be recognized for the work that you do, but like I said, the kids and coach Ruettiger deserve the awards as much as I do."

According to Ruettiger, who is in his eighth year in charge of the Indians, Schoolman is a worthy recipient.

"He does a ton," Ruettiger said. "He basically runs our summer program and gets kids involved with our freestyle and greco-roman there.

"With our junior high schools, he helps us spread out by talking to their kids that are incoming freshmen about joining the program. Then, during the school year, he's at every practice and meet, going the extra mile for these kids. He's great with the sport of wrestling, but he's also great outside of wrestling. He's a great guy and a great coach."

Schoolman, who coached at Cumberland High School in Toledo, a small Illinois town about 20 miles south of Charleston, while student-teaching and has held jobs at Kankakee and Bradley-Bourbonnais prior to coming Minooka, has never coached in an attempt to earn individual accolades.

"To me, it's about the relationships with the other coaches you work with, (the relationships) with the kids and their families - their parents and everyone," he said. "Nothing beats feeling like you're making a difference in the lives of a kid. It's great to see kids, that maybe weren't as good at other sports, but for some reason, they find the sport that fits them is wrestling and do very well with it. Any time you can help with that, it's a great thing."

Nice job 21.

[Mat Tick]

GREAT job Coach....... We are ALL proud of you and the effort you put in with every athlete that is lucky to work with you. Keep up the good work.

[lobinstown]

nice picture!!!