Coach Don McGregor
|
|---|
 |
| Pictures Courtesy of Don McGregor |
| Coaching Chicago to Vegas |
| It has taken many years and immeasurable effort to be in the position as the Head Coach of the wrestling program at Centennial High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wrestling and coaching have been the avenue for me to improve my own life, and the lives of others. I am forever grateful for what wrestling has given me; I am Don McGregor and this is my coaching story. |
| Coaching youth wrestling (2010-2013): I started coaching while I was wrestling at Triton College. At this time, I was the coach of the Bulldog Wrestling Club–the youth wrestling club which ran out of my former high school. We had 40 kids, many of whom continued to have great success after our club. Two wrestlers that stick out are Kennedy and Korina Blades, who first began wrestling in our club. These two sisters are current National and World Champion wrestlers for their age group. |
| Coaching at Riverside-Brookfield High School (2013-2016): After wrestling in college I began coaching at my Alma Mater, Riverside-Brookfield High School–located just 10 miles outside of Chicago. I applied to be the Head Coach thinking I was ready to take over a program. Luckily, I did not get the job because I had a lot to learn about coaching. Like many young coaches, my mindset at this moment was, “just show the kids moves that worked for me, push them to work hard and they will do well.” I did not understand the other aspects of coaching, such as character and integrity development. Riverside-Brookfield hired Mike Boyd, who is currently the Head Coach of Beat the Streets Chicago. Coach Boyd hired me as an Assistant Coach. In those three years, we grew the program from 12 athletes to 80, and we broke nearly every school record to become a top 15 program in Illinois. I learned a great deal from Coach Boyd. He was previously mentored by Coach Mike Powell from Oak Park River Forest High School, Head Coach of the National Champion Huskies and an Executive of Beat the Streets Chicago |
| My takeaways from these three years was how to develop these athletes into better individuals who have strong character, integrity, and humility. Athletes who will not be afraid to set big goals and chase after them relentlessly. Athletes who will hold themselves accountable, be coachable outside of wrestling, are not afraid to lead, and will contribute to their community as adults. This became my coaching philosophy. Yes, my wrestling technique developed greatly, but I truly realized the bigger purpose of what I was doing with my life. |
| Coaching at Western High School (2016-2019): After enough cold Chicago Winters, I decided to take a job teaching and coaching at Western High School in Las Vegas, NV. Western was one of the most underperforming teams in the state of Nevada. I knew that it would take a special individual to turn this team around and flip the mindset and outlook on life for all these young people, but I was up for the challenge. That first year we only had seven total wrestlers. We showed up to Regionals and only three kids won a match; we finished last as a team. The current coach and I had two different viewpoints on coaching and success. The administration knew the program needed to be turned around and asked me to accept that challenge. A month after the 2017 State tournament, it was official; I was the new Head Coach of Western High School’s wrestling team. I immediately canvassed the campus looking for wrestlers. That offseason we put the hours in the wrestling room, weight room, and track to make sure we were ready for whatever came next. The next season we had around 20 wrestlers. We finished the season with three State Qualifiers, and a State Champion. A month after The Nevada State Tournament two of our wrestlers, Diego Ortega and Anjelo Vigilia both medaled at The USA Wrestling National Tournament and became All-Americans. All four of our Seniors went to college, two of which to wrestle in college. |
| During my second year as a Head Coach we had 30 kids on the team. We finally had enough wrestlers to fill a lineup and start winning duals, something Western had not done in years. At Regionals we ended with eight State Qualifiers and placed third as a team. The amount of wrestlers that we had going to State had grown greater than the number of kids on the entire team two years ago. We finished with four State Medals. A month later we went back to The USA Wrestling National Tournament and earned another USA Wrestling All-American, Anjelo Vigilia. He was then selected as the Male Student Athlete of the Year. The most prestigious award given by the Las Vegas Sun Newspaper. Anjelo graduated with a 4.6 GPA, was a 2x All-American wrestler and leader in JROTC; he is currently enlisted in the Army and wrestling for UNLV. I was then selected by The Nevada Rankings Committee as the 2019 Nevada Wrestling Coach of the year. |
| I had turned one of the most underperforming programs in the state into a program on the rise. The kids I coached were starting to fully believe in themselves; they now believed the greater purpose of what they were doing and why this part of their life is so important. Their grades and ACT scores were improving. Their wrestling was improving. As a program we were starting to volunteer on campus and around the community. Their teachers and loved ones all had completely different things to say about their attitude and their effort. I felt like everything was starting to come full circle. |
| Coaching at Centennial High School (2019-Present): After such a successful season at Western I had no intention of leaving, but the opportunity came knocking to take over Centennial High School’s program. This program had previously known success, but with the beloved Coach Wike retiring, the team needed someone to step in. Coach Wike went into full recruiting mode to bring me in. Centennial is just miles from my doorstep, and they have a very successful youth and JV team that is led by Tyson Garamendi, Jake Evans and Kevin Robles. It was a difficult decision to leave Western, but I knew that I would have the pieces around me to achieve great success at Centennial. I decided to jump on the opportunity. |
| During my first season at Centennial I quickly realized the great potential of the program. I knew we had some athletes that could achieve great feats in this sport, and in life. Our first season ended with six Regional Medalists, two Regional Champions, and six State Medalists: two boys and four girls. Three of those State Medalists were able to stand at the top of the podium as State Champions. This was the most in a single season in the school history. Our State Champions were Jenavi Alejandro, Bella Mir, and Izaiah Ieremia. |
| Unfortunately, we did not have a season this year due to COVID-19. However, we did safely train and travel as a club. In March of 2021, we traveled to Coralville, Iowa to compete at the National Recruiting Showcase and Folkstyle Nationals. We were able to put three wrestlers into the National Finals. Juliana and Jenavi Alejandro both finished as Runner-Ups in the country. Bella Mir, was your 2021 National Champion and won the Outstanding Wrestler Award for the entire tournament. We are not out there recruiting; we are taking our local kids and accomplishing great feats. Ordinary kids doing extraordinary things. |
| As I continue on this journey, I always remind myself of my coaching philosophy and my purpose as a coach- to create better individuals. Individuals who have strong character, integrity, and humility. Those who will not be afraid to set big goals and chase after them relentlessly; Who will hold themselves accountable, be coachable outside of wrestling, will not be afraid to lead, and will contribute to their community as adults. |
