×

Douglas reflects on valley wrestling

Returning to the Ohio Valley always holds a special place in Bobby Douglas’ heart and it was no greater feeling than Saturday evening as the former Olympic wrestler had the opportunity to present his former Bridgeport wrestler Mike Kovalick in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.

“The role coach Kovalick played in my life and the relationships between our families is like no other,” Douglas said about his former Arizona State wrester. “This great wrestling family is very unique and every time I come home it seems we migrate back to our wrestling roots in Bridgeport.”

Douglas said Kovalick devoted a large part of his life and to the people involved in the sport making him such a great mentor to so many. His ability to motivate and create wrestling in the valley is why it is still around in the valley today.

However, Douglas admits he is worried about the future of wrestling in the valley as times have changed.

“We need to find ways to develop more people like George Kovalick, Bill Van Horne, Cal Pokas and John Vrotsos,” Douglas said as the commitment to the sport has fallen off. “What they did was unique. They did not develop just their school, but the area of wrestling.”

Another concern Douglas holds is that the valley is not producing as many college wrestlers with the last major Division I athlete being David Bertolino of Iowa State.

“The numbers of wrestlers that have come through the wrestling program and got college degrees and graduated from Bridgeport are higher than from any other sport,” he said.

Douglas understands wrestling is hard to sell because of its intensity and hard work is a rarity among young people now.

“That is what makes wrestling unique because everyone can do it and be successful,” he said as wrestlers come in all shapes and sizes. “But hard work and dedication is required.”

As the number of wrestlers begins to dwindle in the valley, Douglas believes the only way to raise the level of competition is to start having wrestlers participate in freestyle wrestling, which is used at higher levels of competition.

“Coaches that push those guys to these national freestyle tournaments are the ones who are doing a service to their kids,” he said. “I am one of the few competitors that had all my dreams come true, except for a gold medal, and this is how these wrestlers now are going to take it to the next level.”

Douglas also believes local guys deserve the right to battle or college scholarships.

OVERTIME

DOUGLAS HAS also has been in the process of working on an autobiography. Three years into the work, Douglas has not yet set a release date.

Cook can be reached at bcook@timesleaderonline.com

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today