Coral Springs High School wrestling coaches with their award. {David Volz}
By David Volz
After 33 years of working together at Coral Springs High School, wrestling coaches Dan Jacob and Henry Johnson were honored for their dedication.
After the wrestling championship meet on February 3, Jacob and Johnson were inducted into the Broward County Wrestling Hall of Fame. Jacob served as the head coach and Johnson as his assistant, making for a winning duo.
Together, they led the Colt’s wrestlers to 17 district and three regional championships and sent many wrestlers to the States, including in 1994, when the Colts finished fourth.
“It is fun to coach wrestling when you win, and we won a lot,” said Jacob. “We had a lot of tough and committed wrestlers over the years, and they won. They bought into our program, and we were successful together.”
Jacob and Johnson have recently faced challenges in generating lasting interest in wrestling.
“Wrestling is a hard sport, and one must be dedicated to winning. It is harder to find kids who want to do the work,” Jacob said, adding that wrestlers can be fast and strong, but one must put in effort and overcome adversity. “I have seen kids who didn’t succeed at first, but through diligence and hard work, they became really good.”
Jacob cares most that the wrestlers take the lessons they learn on the mat, apply them to the real world, and become successful in their careers and families.
After meeting Jacob as a student wrestler in his first year as the Coral Springs coach, Johnson loved the sport but struggled with injuries. The assistant coach focuses on teaching wrestling techniques. “We have seen hundreds of wrestlers go through this program and have fun winning over the years.”
According to Johnson, wrestling is a demanding sport, and one must really love it to be successful. “I have wrestlers who were not the best athletes, but over time and with the effort, they achieved some success. It is a very hard sport,” he said.
Shai Keery, a junior and captain on the team who won a second district championship at 175 pounds, said, “Our coaches are hard and demanding, but they have helped us become successful.”
The Colts recently earned second place in the district tournament.
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