Cooper Cox moved to Watonga from Tulsa to take over as wrestling coach at the high school.
Speaking Wednesday to the Kiwanis club at the Watonga Senior Center, Cox said he was much more at home in Blaine County than in the big city, which he described as being ‘a little crazy.’
Cox is understandably proud of the facilities he walked into.
“These are top-notch facilities,” he said. The newly revamped wrestling room and practice facility includes collegiate league mats as well as locker rooms, showers and changing rooms for men as well as women wrestlers.
Cox said the women’s program is growing fast, with seven student athletes competing this year. There is also growth at the junior high level. The junior high grapplers were fresh off a close meet at an El Reno dual, 36-31. There were also several wrestlers who are headed to the regional competition for high school ranks.
Sammy Cox is in first place in the 106 weight division, Grayson Gordon is fourth in the 132 weight class and Ayden Perez is fourth in the 156 weight division.
Cox was full of praise for his wrestlers. “These kids work really hard and are coachable,” he said. That coachability includes understanding they are students first and athletes second and listening when they are advised to make good decisions daily, including accepting that competition and winning is transitory, meaning life will go on whether the match is won or lost.
“They’ve all grown so much,” Cox said, a little emotional. “We care for each other, love one another. We’re family. I’m proud to be their coach.”