Wrestling Blogs - Tom Elmer

Coach Ron

I did not pick the sport of wrestling… I like to say wrestling picked me. If I wasn’t waiting for the bus that December day 33 years ago watching wrestling practice I would not have been pulled on the mat by my good friend Jimmy Ferrante. I was strong for a little guy and remembered some moves from gym class so I surprised Jimmy and Head Wrestling Coach Ron Matakitis. Before I knew it I was in Coach’s office, getting practice gear, Tiger shoes, and white plastic headgear. I had become a member of Delbarton School’s Wrestling Team (thankfully my sister and Mom agreed to cover my afternoon paper route as without that I would not have been able to participate.)

Two weeks later I as the starting Varsity 98 pounder as a freshman as our original starter had severe diabetes and I could out muscle him in wrestle offs. I think I won one match that year- a forfeit - and not getting pinned became a victory of sorts for me. The funny thing was I became great on my feet with a killer double leg sit out takedown so much so that the coach would point out my attacking ,no fear takedown ability to my much better teammates . My problem was I could not ride well or get off bottom ( and for a wrestler these are really BIG problems). Wrestling is definitely an experience game and I had none. I was a fish out of water, an easy victory for my opponent that season. But there was one guy who believed in me and saw something I never saw: Coach Ron. On that day that I joined the wrestling team my life changed forever as Coach Ron would become the man in high school who saved my life.