Smith rebuilds wrestling program at Marshall.
Coach answers call to rebuild program
When Tony Smith heard the word, he knew what he had to do.
It was simply time to restart the Milwaukee Marshall Eagles wrestling team, he believed. The revelation came to him while he was watching a collegiate dual meet between Minnesota and Penn State three years ago.
“God spoke to me and told me to go over and see if they wanted a wrestling program,” said Smith, a former Milwaukee Pulaski wrestler who graduated in 1988 and a longtime Milwaukee City Conference wrestling coach and parent. “I just had to do it.”
Smith, already a credentialed coach, was taking on a big project in a conference that isn’t well-known for wrestling these days, although he has seen a kid from the City win a WIAA Division 1 state title. His son, Travis, won the 138-pound state title in 2012.
The league used to be a powerhouse from the inception of the sport in 1940 through the 1960s. Since then, there have been three resurgences — at Milwaukee Pulaski under coach Ed Kurth in the late 1990s, at Milwaukee Custer under coach Ben Tomes in the early 2000s and during the past decade at Milwaukee Bradley Tech under former coach Craig Bevilacqua. All three tenures produced state champions.
Last year, the league produced only one state qualifier in Milwaukee King’s Liam Arnold, a senior this year who placed fifth at 285 pounds in Division 1. Marshall, once a power in the league, was no longer relevant when Smith decided he would take a shot at re-establishing the program. That took some cooperation, belief and dedication from Smith and others. The work has paid off. Marshall initially was a combined team with Milwaukee Morse and last year became a solo program, basically competing on a junior varsity level and not eligible for the WIAA state tournament series.
This year, the team tied for the Spicuzza Division title with Milwaukee Bay View and sixtime champion Milwaukee Madison as all three teams finished with 4-1 dual-meet records in the six-team division. That was the first division title for the school since 1998 and 1999, when Marshall claimed titles in the old Ruffing Division. In 1991, Marshall won the City dual and conference tournament titles.
“That was our goal this year: to win the division,” said Smith, whose team has a 5-4 overall dual-meet record this year. “We tied, but we did reach our goal.”
And that’s a start for Smith and his team, which has grown from 11 wrestlers three years ago to 35 this year. The Eagles needed the numbers. Smith needed to prove to the league’s athletic director, Bill Molbeck, that he could sustain interest to field a varsity-level sport. Smith also needed the support from the school’s athletic director, Dennis White, and the principal, Larry Farris.
“Principal Farris and Mr. White said they really wanted a wrestling program at the school,” Smith said. “They were very supportive. And we were able to show that we have the right numbers to Mr. Molbeck. We proved we could do it. It’s been working out slowly, but it’s been good.”
It’s not easy to start a program from scratch without funding or recent history, but Smith and the Eagles had a lot of support. He found wrestlers by running an informational booth in the cafeteria during lunch that featured videos and sign-up sheets.
There was also Kurth, Jim Schmitz of Ringers Wrestling, Roger Quindel of City Kids Wrestling, Germantown coach Jeff Szohr and others who helped the Marshall program. All of the coaches are wellknown and respected in the area.
“The list goes on and on,” said Smith. “We have a brotherhood.”
The work will shine a light on the walls inside Marshall, where the photos still hanging celebrate the accomplishments of the glory days.
Former Marshall coach Bob Lipelas was a conference champion in 1969. Former Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Bill Andrekopoulos was a member of the 1967 league championship team. Former coach Jerome Kopecky — of the West Bend family that has been so successful over the years — was a coach when Marshall won league titles from 1965-’69.
There is history to mine at Marshall.
“It’s all a process,” he said. “We just have to take little steps.”
A pair of wrestlers — senior Demone White (21-10 at 170) and junior George Waits (26-3 at 152) — are the veterans of the team despite having only three years of experience. Smith’s optimism attracted them to the program.
“My coach does things that other coaches don’t do,” said White.
“It was my first impression of him. I’ve never seen coaches do what he does. Wrestling is a sport that gives you drive. When you drive, you’re ready for anything. When you wrestle, you are ready for anything.”
Waits is hopeful for a shot at a state tournament berth after missing out on the chance a year ago.
“I’m doing everything I can to qualify for state and win conference,” said Waits. “I’ve been waiting for this for a year.”
Smith’s enthusiasm appears to be paying off in a league that needs it.
“It’s going to take some time,” he said. “But we’re getting there.”