Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Vision Statement
The Vision of Santa Ana High School Wrestling
“We serve others so later others will be served.”
- Scott Glabb
The Santa Ana High School wrestling program has maintained a tradition of excellence for the past 17 years. Since 1993 the program has won 17 straight league championships and 11 CIF Titles. The school is extremely proud of our two National Championship wrestlers. They are Tony Perez who won it at 103lbs in 1998 and Jose Leon at 112lbs in 1999. The team and its staff members look forward to another successful year. We are fortunate to have athletes and coaches that understand the hard work and time commitment needed in order to maintain the schools athletic excellence.
Santa Ana Wrestling coaches understand that training a group of young men in this sport is more than wins and losses. It is a calling; a calling to serve young people. Some of our players will come to us as ordinary people, some broken, some hurting and some confused, but hopefully graduate confident, well-educated and ready to give back. It is our goal as coaches and educators to cultivate our student athletes into loyal husbands, committed fathers and caring brothers. The average person affects the lives of 10,000 others during a lifetime. We want our wrestlers to inspire and impact many, many more.
Our purpose is to serve the long term welfare of our wrestlers placed in our program, thus anticipating that they will later serve a school, a community and their family with passion and integrity. Therefore it is important that the wrestling program prepare our athletes for a life of servant hood. We expect them to graduate from high school with a strong foundation of character development and ethical decision making. It is difficult to serve if one is not strong in character and morally sound.
Thus, to transform our wrestlers into men of character our coaches, teachers and parents must live out in front of them acts of kindness, honesty and trustworthiness.
We, as adults, should demonstrate good sportsmanship not only on the field, but in the classroom at work or while shopping in the mall.
Therefore, our first objective is to develop into our wrestling program is a strong foundation of character development and ethical decision making.
Characteristics of a wrestler who serves is to:
- lead by example
- volunteer to help
- encourage teammates
- be humble
- work hard
- not seek personal gain
Transforming our wrestlers into men and women of character can be done by living out in front of them the aforementioned characteristics. We bring in guest speakers like successful alumni, local business men and women, ex professional and college athletes, even some of our own faculty members to inspire and motivate them. We sometimes start the week off with an inspirational quote or message that may relate with the teams weekly goals. Spotlighting an athlete for a particular act of character they performed at a competition, in school or during practice. Our coaches spotlight wrestlers in front of the whole team when we see them perform acts of kindness to another teammate or team, show extraordinary sportsmanship especially when a loss is involved, or when they demonstrate acts of integrity like finding a wallet and turning it in or picking up trash in the bleachers where our team was sitting.
Another objective in serving our wrestlers is to ensure they receive an exceptional education. To accomplish this our coaching staff take some responsibility in assisting then into graduating on time, show them the value of being an educated person, and encourage persistence when they feel like giving up in the classroom. We focus on academics and help them set realistic goals. We do this by having them acquire frequent grade checks. We have them discuss with their counselors the course work needed to be accepted to the type of university they are planning to attend. We want to make sure they are all caught up in credits and will graduate on time. Many athletes forget to take their SAT’s…we try to make it a point that they have scheduled a date to take it (one that does not fall on the day of an important competition). We allow time for the team to get tutoring or academic help from teachers whose classes they may be struggling in.
When convenient, we ask the athlete their future plans what goals they might have after high school. This does not have to be a long, drawn out conversation. Just asking shows them that we care and who knows maybe it will be a career or college we coaches have some familiarity with and could offer assistance in making their decision.
If a wrestler is planning on attending college and competing, we have their counselor follow up to see if they have filled out all the appropriate forms for the NCAA Clearing House. This process certifies the academic and amateur credential of all college bound students – athletes who wish to compete in NCAA Division I or II athletics. Our goal as coaches is to encourage our wrestlers to be life long learners and achievers.
The final objective for us wrestling coaches is to help our athletes experience, practice and achieve competitive excellence as measured by collegiate and professional athletics. We want them to be physically and fundamentally fit as well as learn through athletics the value of commitment, dedication and loyalty to a teammate. We try molding our athletes into “Champions of Unselfishness.” Our job as coaches is to take our athletes where they can’t take themselves academically, athletically, socially and sometimes even spiritually.
Some of the ways this can be done are:
• Listening and respecting a wrestler sends the message to him/her that we care. Spending time getting to know them shows we have a genuine interest in their well-being. Respect them and they will respect us and than go the extra mile for us too.
• Trying to build small successes into our practices. For instance in wrestling, we have takedown competitions and see who can get the most in a certain amount of time. We ask them to set attainable goals and when they reach them it helps them gain confidence in their ability to compete.
• Convincing them how hard work and pursuing excellence will pay off. For instance, in practice we explain to them how a certain drill or skill, if used correctly, will help them reach their goal or win a match.
• Calling them Champions instead of wrestlers. I tell my team their not wrestlers their champions. The self-fulfilling prophecy: if they hear it enough, they’ll believe it and if they believe it they will become it.
• Recognizing my wrestlers for their successes in competitions. We have their name read in morning announcements for a fine performance in a game. We have an athlete of the week in our program and give a reward or post their picture in the wrestling room. We try to get an article written about them in the school newspaper or OC register. We nominate them for athlete of the week in the OC Register. I’ve realized the more pats on the back they get the harder they work.
Finally the last and most important objective in serving our wrestlers is to present to them the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We would like to see our wrestlers serving Christ in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church. Our coaching staff uses FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) as a vehicle to share Gods word and plant the seed of faith in our wrestler’s lives. FCA focuses on serving our wrestlers and athletes in our school by equipping, empowering and encouraging them to make a difference for Christ. The goal for us coaches is to influence our wrestlers to share the gospel and reach out to others who need Christ in their life. We do this by using wrestling as a platform and wrestlers and coaches as its role models and spokespersons to reach the world influenced by sports. We feel it is of utmost importance that our wrestlers have a strong spiritual foundation. With this foundation we believe they can make healthy and competent decisions while maintaining or restoring relationships and directing them toward the family and church.
It is our goal as a school and a community to serve our children and what better way to teach them life skills than through competition and wrestling. They are the future.
“We serve others so later others will be served.”
- Scott Glabb
The Santa Ana High School wrestling program has maintained a tradition of excellence for the past 17 years. Since 1993 the program has won 17 straight league championships and 11 CIF Titles. The school is extremely proud of our two National Championship wrestlers. They are Tony Perez who won it at 103lbs in 1998 and Jose Leon at 112lbs in 1999. The team and its staff members look forward to another successful year. We are fortunate to have athletes and coaches that understand the hard work and time commitment needed in order to maintain the schools athletic excellence.
Santa Ana Wrestling coaches understand that training a group of young men in this sport is more than wins and losses. It is a calling; a calling to serve young people. Some of our players will come to us as ordinary people, some broken, some hurting and some confused, but hopefully graduate confident, well-educated and ready to give back. It is our goal as coaches and educators to cultivate our student athletes into loyal husbands, committed fathers and caring brothers. The average person affects the lives of 10,000 others during a lifetime. We want our wrestlers to inspire and impact many, many more.
Our purpose is to serve the long term welfare of our wrestlers placed in our program, thus anticipating that they will later serve a school, a community and their family with passion and integrity. Therefore it is important that the wrestling program prepare our athletes for a life of servant hood. We expect them to graduate from high school with a strong foundation of character development and ethical decision making. It is difficult to serve if one is not strong in character and morally sound.
Thus, to transform our wrestlers into men of character our coaches, teachers and parents must live out in front of them acts of kindness, honesty and trustworthiness.
We, as adults, should demonstrate good sportsmanship not only on the field, but in the classroom at work or while shopping in the mall.
Therefore, our first objective is to develop into our wrestling program is a strong foundation of character development and ethical decision making.
Characteristics of a wrestler who serves is to:
- lead by example
- volunteer to help
- encourage teammates
- be humble
- work hard
- not seek personal gain
Transforming our wrestlers into men and women of character can be done by living out in front of them the aforementioned characteristics. We bring in guest speakers like successful alumni, local business men and women, ex professional and college athletes, even some of our own faculty members to inspire and motivate them. We sometimes start the week off with an inspirational quote or message that may relate with the teams weekly goals. Spotlighting an athlete for a particular act of character they performed at a competition, in school or during practice. Our coaches spotlight wrestlers in front of the whole team when we see them perform acts of kindness to another teammate or team, show extraordinary sportsmanship especially when a loss is involved, or when they demonstrate acts of integrity like finding a wallet and turning it in or picking up trash in the bleachers where our team was sitting.
Another objective in serving our wrestlers is to ensure they receive an exceptional education. To accomplish this our coaching staff take some responsibility in assisting then into graduating on time, show them the value of being an educated person, and encourage persistence when they feel like giving up in the classroom. We focus on academics and help them set realistic goals. We do this by having them acquire frequent grade checks. We have them discuss with their counselors the course work needed to be accepted to the type of university they are planning to attend. We want to make sure they are all caught up in credits and will graduate on time. Many athletes forget to take their SAT’s…we try to make it a point that they have scheduled a date to take it (one that does not fall on the day of an important competition). We allow time for the team to get tutoring or academic help from teachers whose classes they may be struggling in.
When convenient, we ask the athlete their future plans what goals they might have after high school. This does not have to be a long, drawn out conversation. Just asking shows them that we care and who knows maybe it will be a career or college we coaches have some familiarity with and could offer assistance in making their decision.
If a wrestler is planning on attending college and competing, we have their counselor follow up to see if they have filled out all the appropriate forms for the NCAA Clearing House. This process certifies the academic and amateur credential of all college bound students – athletes who wish to compete in NCAA Division I or II athletics. Our goal as coaches is to encourage our wrestlers to be life long learners and achievers.
The final objective for us wrestling coaches is to help our athletes experience, practice and achieve competitive excellence as measured by collegiate and professional athletics. We want them to be physically and fundamentally fit as well as learn through athletics the value of commitment, dedication and loyalty to a teammate. We try molding our athletes into “Champions of Unselfishness.” Our job as coaches is to take our athletes where they can’t take themselves academically, athletically, socially and sometimes even spiritually.
Some of the ways this can be done are:
• Listening and respecting a wrestler sends the message to him/her that we care. Spending time getting to know them shows we have a genuine interest in their well-being. Respect them and they will respect us and than go the extra mile for us too.
• Trying to build small successes into our practices. For instance in wrestling, we have takedown competitions and see who can get the most in a certain amount of time. We ask them to set attainable goals and when they reach them it helps them gain confidence in their ability to compete.
• Convincing them how hard work and pursuing excellence will pay off. For instance, in practice we explain to them how a certain drill or skill, if used correctly, will help them reach their goal or win a match.
• Calling them Champions instead of wrestlers. I tell my team their not wrestlers their champions. The self-fulfilling prophecy: if they hear it enough, they’ll believe it and if they believe it they will become it.
• Recognizing my wrestlers for their successes in competitions. We have their name read in morning announcements for a fine performance in a game. We have an athlete of the week in our program and give a reward or post their picture in the wrestling room. We try to get an article written about them in the school newspaper or OC register. We nominate them for athlete of the week in the OC Register. I’ve realized the more pats on the back they get the harder they work.
Finally the last and most important objective in serving our wrestlers is to present to them the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We would like to see our wrestlers serving Christ in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church. Our coaching staff uses FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) as a vehicle to share Gods word and plant the seed of faith in our wrestler’s lives. FCA focuses on serving our wrestlers and athletes in our school by equipping, empowering and encouraging them to make a difference for Christ. The goal for us coaches is to influence our wrestlers to share the gospel and reach out to others who need Christ in their life. We do this by using wrestling as a platform and wrestlers and coaches as its role models and spokespersons to reach the world influenced by sports. We feel it is of utmost importance that our wrestlers have a strong spiritual foundation. With this foundation we believe they can make healthy and competent decisions while maintaining or restoring relationships and directing them toward the family and church.
It is our goal as a school and a community to serve our children and what better way to teach them life skills than through competition and wrestling. They are the future.
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