Since a young age I have participated in many different sports.
Gymnastics, roller derby, volleyball and wrestling-all providing different experiences which I’ve continued to carry with me though I’ve quit a majority.
In sixth grade, I was influenced by my friends Sean and Ruby to start wrestling. I thought it was confusing and boring, but as I grew and continued to attend practice the sport grew on me, as did my coaches and environment .
As I’ve experienced many family and relationship troubles most of my life, I was kept sane by the people around me, particularly Coach Dave Gable and his wife, Mrs. Coach Gable as the team calls her.
These people aren’t just my coaches, they are there for me as a person no matter what troubles I’ve experienced.
Struggling with mental and physical issues throughout my seventh through ninth grade years, I was guided by them, not always directly, but it was there. I could always feel it.
I’m not alone with this though. Coaches influence athletes every day, not just in the sport they coach.
These impacts have been spread throughout the community, seeing it through my brother and his football coaches, being experienced by many others.
“He helped me regain my confidence in myself after a knee injury that prevented me from doing any physical activities for months. Coach Zelger helped me get back to where I was mentally and physically before I injured myself. He sacrificed his time and effort to support me and my growth as an individual,” Dallastown alumni, Keller Spera.
Zelger now coaches high school football and teaches at DHS, following in the footsteps of Mr. Kevin Myers, a fellow influencer. After Zelger witnessed how coaching and teaching can make someone feel better about themselves and grow in confidence and maturity, he felt he had to share it.
“He was my high school football head coach and had a very large influence on me, not just in football and school, but in life!” Zelger said, regarding Myers.
Many grow up with different backgrounds, you never know what other people are going through. Sports can act as an escape, but you can never truly escape it all.
Thankfully coaches are here to help escape, but also provide support and a shoulder to cry on.
Coaches can save lives, and change the way you view everything.
Since joining the team I’ve learned to look positively on everything that comes my way, even if others view it as negative. Every bad moment is a bad moment to learn from and take your time to grow and learn from mistakes made.
So has sophomore football player, Kellan Dacheux.
“Hard work, discipline, and having hope when you shouldn’t,” Dacheux replied when asked of skills taught by football Head Coach, Mr. Murphy.
Sometimes, coaches offer advice or life skills, but the athlete doesn’t know how to accept it.
My advice? You can never have too much support, even if it’s one person or 1,000. Part of experiencing a coach’s impact is accepting it. If someone is willing to help strengthen you and be there for you, accept it no matter what you think their intentions are.
Either way, in the end it is a lesson learned.
”Learning that winning isn’t everything has created a new me. This goes for life and sports struggles I’ve experienced,” Junior Kenna Hoffman recalls a struggle overcome by Coach Gable’s guidance.
When I join a sport I think of playing together as a team and of course I have always dreaded going to practice, but even though I felt that way, I couldn’t be more thankful of all the people I’ve met and been taught.
As I continue to devote myself to my sport, I will stay thankful of the benefits and positive change that it’s given. Continuing to forever carry my coaches’ words and wisdom with me in life.
