Post by Wiltz on Feb 20, 2007 10:10:29 GMT -5
FATHERS & SONS
Urbandale's state-bound Morenos tops among CIML family tandems
By DAN McCOOL
Register Staff Writer
February 20, 2007
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Urbandale's Mike and Michael Moreno have experienced typical father-son and coach-athlete moments.
This week, though, their relationship shines on a new stage - the state high school wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.
"I've been mad at him a few times," said Michael Moreno, a freshman 145-pounder carrying a 36-2 record. "But everyone gets mad at a coach. Everyone gets mad at their dad."
The tournament begins Wednesday at 1 p.m. with Class 2-A action, followed that night by Class 1-A. The Morenos and the rest of Class 3-A hit the mats at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Mike Moreno is in his first season as the J-Hawks' coach after many seasons at Clarinda that included a state title in 1994. His son's first organized wrestling match came when he was still in diapers.
"When he was a little kid, that's all he wanted to do was wrestle," Mike Moreno said of his son, one of six Urbandale Class 3-A qualifiers. "There was no question in my mind that he wanted to wrestle, and it had nothing to do with me wanting him to wrestle. He just loved it.
"It seemed like a long time ago we were saying, 'Some day he'll be at the high school level.' Bam, here it is. It's gone by quickly."
Mike Moreno was a state champion at Glenwood and an all-American at Iowa State. His brother Rick was a two-time champion at Glenwood.
"I always felt like I was kind of under the radar, that no one really knew about me," Michael Moreno said. "It helped me keep my head smaller."
Moreno was one of three CIML wrestling coaches whose varsity rosters included a son this season. Joining him were Ankeny's Dave Ewing and Valley's Travis Young.
Ewing's son Zach and Young's son Casey fell short in qualifying for state.
"It makes you excited to go to practice every day knowing your son is going to be in there," Young said. "I don't think it's always easy for either one of us. There's days I'm probably harder on him than I am other people, and there are probably some days he's not happy that his dad is the coach. For the most part, it's worked out pretty well."
Seeing his son fall short of a goal to get to state was tough.
"As a parent, it's always tough to see your kids not achieve something they might want," he said. "It's going to hurt more if it's your son because you've spent your whole life with him."
Ankeny's Ewing had something of a primer for coaching his son. Christopher Ewing, the coach's nephew, was a four-time state qualifier and a 2003 state champion.
"But it's a little more intense," Ewing said. "When you step through the (practice room) door, the dad stops at the door and the coach walks in."
Ewing has company at practices and meets. Assistant coach Dave Sharp's stepson is 135-pound qualifier Tyler Middleton and assistant Mike Fontana's adopted son Matt was the Hawks' 112-pounder this season.
Ewing said he gave his son an option in eighth grade - wrestle for Southeast Polk or wrestle at Ankeny and have dad be his coach. The Ewings reside in Altoona, but Zach Ewing chose to stay with dad.
"He dove in with both feet. I think he was ready for the challenge," Ewing said. "There are times here where if he won't respond to me, I'll have one of the other coaches deal with him."
Urbandale's state-bound Morenos tops among CIML family tandems
By DAN McCOOL
Register Staff Writer
February 20, 2007
Add comment
Urbandale's Mike and Michael Moreno have experienced typical father-son and coach-athlete moments.
This week, though, their relationship shines on a new stage - the state high school wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.
"I've been mad at him a few times," said Michael Moreno, a freshman 145-pounder carrying a 36-2 record. "But everyone gets mad at a coach. Everyone gets mad at their dad."
The tournament begins Wednesday at 1 p.m. with Class 2-A action, followed that night by Class 1-A. The Morenos and the rest of Class 3-A hit the mats at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Mike Moreno is in his first season as the J-Hawks' coach after many seasons at Clarinda that included a state title in 1994. His son's first organized wrestling match came when he was still in diapers.
"When he was a little kid, that's all he wanted to do was wrestle," Mike Moreno said of his son, one of six Urbandale Class 3-A qualifiers. "There was no question in my mind that he wanted to wrestle, and it had nothing to do with me wanting him to wrestle. He just loved it.
"It seemed like a long time ago we were saying, 'Some day he'll be at the high school level.' Bam, here it is. It's gone by quickly."
Mike Moreno was a state champion at Glenwood and an all-American at Iowa State. His brother Rick was a two-time champion at Glenwood.
"I always felt like I was kind of under the radar, that no one really knew about me," Michael Moreno said. "It helped me keep my head smaller."
Moreno was one of three CIML wrestling coaches whose varsity rosters included a son this season. Joining him were Ankeny's Dave Ewing and Valley's Travis Young.
Ewing's son Zach and Young's son Casey fell short in qualifying for state.
"It makes you excited to go to practice every day knowing your son is going to be in there," Young said. "I don't think it's always easy for either one of us. There's days I'm probably harder on him than I am other people, and there are probably some days he's not happy that his dad is the coach. For the most part, it's worked out pretty well."
Seeing his son fall short of a goal to get to state was tough.
"As a parent, it's always tough to see your kids not achieve something they might want," he said. "It's going to hurt more if it's your son because you've spent your whole life with him."
Ankeny's Ewing had something of a primer for coaching his son. Christopher Ewing, the coach's nephew, was a four-time state qualifier and a 2003 state champion.
"But it's a little more intense," Ewing said. "When you step through the (practice room) door, the dad stops at the door and the coach walks in."
Ewing has company at practices and meets. Assistant coach Dave Sharp's stepson is 135-pound qualifier Tyler Middleton and assistant Mike Fontana's adopted son Matt was the Hawks' 112-pounder this season.
Ewing said he gave his son an option in eighth grade - wrestle for Southeast Polk or wrestle at Ankeny and have dad be his coach. The Ewings reside in Altoona, but Zach Ewing chose to stay with dad.
"He dove in with both feet. I think he was ready for the challenge," Ewing said. "There are times here where if he won't respond to me, I'll have one of the other coaches deal with him."