March 15, 2017 at 4:42 p.m.
Myers earns IHSWCA honor
Jay Co. headman named regional co-coach of the year
Myers earns IHSWCA honor
Eric Myers is quick to deflect the credit.
His athletes are swift to praise him.
Myers, who last month completed his third season as Jay County High School wrestling coach, was named regional co-coach of the year March 2 by the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association.
“It’s nice to be recognized but at the same time I really feel it is as much a recognition of the kids and the program as it is anything else,” he said. He shared the honor with Trent McCormick of Yorktown.
In his three years at Jay County — Myers previously coached at South Adams — he’s guided nine wrestlers to semi-state and three to the state finals, with two of them reaching the podium.
“He’s the best coach I’ve ever had by far,” said Andy Kohler, a two-time state qualifier and 2016 state medalist. “It’s hard to explain. He always pushes you no matter what your skill level is.
“He’s not going to let you slack off. I feel like he’s the man that will make somebody good.”
Not just one wrestler, but the whole team.
Jay County claimed five tournament titles this season, including the East Central Indiana Classic it hosted Dec. 23, the New Haven Invitational Jan. 7, the Coldwater Invitational Jan. 14 and both team and individual Allen County Athletic Conference tournament championships.
Kohler, who had Myers as his coach for two seasons, said the Patriots’ successes this year are mostly because of Myers and his coaching staff of Bruce Wood, Jeff Heller and a host of other volunteers. The work ethic they’ve instilled in the athletes is what has been critical.
His athletes are swift to praise him.
Myers, who last month completed his third season as Jay County High School wrestling coach, was named regional co-coach of the year March 2 by the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association.
“It’s nice to be recognized but at the same time I really feel it is as much a recognition of the kids and the program as it is anything else,” he said. He shared the honor with Trent McCormick of Yorktown.
In his three years at Jay County — Myers previously coached at South Adams — he’s guided nine wrestlers to semi-state and three to the state finals, with two of them reaching the podium.
“He’s the best coach I’ve ever had by far,” said Andy Kohler, a two-time state qualifier and 2016 state medalist. “It’s hard to explain. He always pushes you no matter what your skill level is.
“He’s not going to let you slack off. I feel like he’s the man that will make somebody good.”
Not just one wrestler, but the whole team.
Jay County claimed five tournament titles this season, including the East Central Indiana Classic it hosted Dec. 23, the New Haven Invitational Jan. 7, the Coldwater Invitational Jan. 14 and both team and individual Allen County Athletic Conference tournament championships.
Kohler, who had Myers as his coach for two seasons, said the Patriots’ successes this year are mostly because of Myers and his coaching staff of Bruce Wood, Jeff Heller and a host of other volunteers. The work ethic they’ve instilled in the athletes is what has been critical.
“The kids that came into high school when Eric was there are used to working hard,” Kohler said. “He is one of the only coaches that works people that hard to make kids better.”
Despite his state medal as a senior, Kohler said he wishes he could have been a part of the team this year.
“I think in the future we’ll have a really good wrestling team,” he said.
Gaven Hare, a two-time semi-state qualifier who reached state this season, is grateful to have Myers as his coach.
“He personally has done tremendous things,” he said. “He will do whatever it takes to get me to go to a camp. He’ll make sure money is not a reason you can’t go. He wants us to succeed as a team.
“Me being a team leader, he and I talk wrestling literally all the time. We’re already talking about next year.”
Again, Myers is quick to shake off any responsibility for his team’s accomplishments, which included placing second and third respectively in the sectional and regional tournaments. Jay County was also sixth at semi-state.
“It feels great to have the opportunity to help those kids achieve those things, whatever small part I play in it,” said Myers, who also teaches at East Jay Middle School. “I said whenever I started coaching at Jay County I really looked forward to the opportunity to coach these kids I’ve taught … continue that relationship from having them in the classroom to having the opportunity to coach them at whatever level it may be.”
Despite his state medal as a senior, Kohler said he wishes he could have been a part of the team this year.
“I think in the future we’ll have a really good wrestling team,” he said.
Gaven Hare, a two-time semi-state qualifier who reached state this season, is grateful to have Myers as his coach.
“He personally has done tremendous things,” he said. “He will do whatever it takes to get me to go to a camp. He’ll make sure money is not a reason you can’t go. He wants us to succeed as a team.
“Me being a team leader, he and I talk wrestling literally all the time. We’re already talking about next year.”
Again, Myers is quick to shake off any responsibility for his team’s accomplishments, which included placing second and third respectively in the sectional and regional tournaments. Jay County was also sixth at semi-state.
“It feels great to have the opportunity to help those kids achieve those things, whatever small part I play in it,” said Myers, who also teaches at East Jay Middle School. “I said whenever I started coaching at Jay County I really looked forward to the opportunity to coach these kids I’ve taught … continue that relationship from having them in the classroom to having the opportunity to coach them at whatever level it may be.”
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