The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Legendary Richmond Hts. coach mourned
If Dan Hanson listens hard enough, he can still hear the voice of his high school wrestling coach Mike Papouras.
Then a sophomore at Richmond Heights and the defending Division III state champion, Hanson was flat on the mat and was having trouble getting out during a home match at his school.
“Pappi yelled, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re wrestling like an eighthgrader. Would you get out already?’ ” said Hanson, letting out a long, hearty laugh.
The moral of the story — no matter how far you’re down, keep fighting and never give up.
The deliverer of that message — Papouras — died at the age of 81 on March 20, sending shockwaves through the Northeast Ohio wrestling community.
Funeral services will be March 24 at Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Knollwood Cemetery.
Calling hours will be at the DeJohn-Flynn-Mylott funeral home, 4600 Mayfield Road, 3-8 p.m. March 23.
“I don’t know what to say,” said Guy Trinetti Sr., an assistant for five years with Papouras, his voice trembling in sorrow. “I just lost a great friend.”
Papouras left a lasting legacy in area wrestling in a 23-year coaching career with the thenstate powerhouse Spartans.
He led Richmond Heights to a 211-78-3 dual-meet record, eight district championships and 13 league titles.
Papouras also led the Spartans to:
• Four Class A state championships (1979, 1980, 1983, 1984)
• Four Class A state runners-up finishes (1976, 1977, 1978, 1982)
• 30 individual state championships, which ranks sixth all-time in Ohio.
• A four-time state champion in Dan Hanson; three three-time state champs in Jim Hanson, Ed and Bob Potokar; and three two-time state champs in Ron Suszek, Tim Hanson and Adkins.
In 2015, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He’s also a member of the Ohio State Wrestling Hall of Fame.
He was inducted into The News-Herald athletic hall of fame last summer.
“It’s a very sad day,” said Mark Adkins, head coach of North’s wrestling program. “A legend is not with us anymore. It’s sad he struggled with some ailments the last few years, but he is at peace now.”
Trinetti, who coached with Papouras at Richmond Heights from 1978-83, said Papouras had battled prostate cancer and a stroke in recent years, but continued to fight the ailments.
“It’s been a tough couple months for him,” Trinetti said. “I stopped to see him before the state tournament (in early March). It’s just hard to talk about. I’m going to miss him so much. He was like a big brother to me.”
Trinetti said under Papouras, “we were David against Goliath. Richmond Heights didn’t back down from anyone” in wrestling.
The program, Trinetti said, was based on family values more than wrestling values.
Wrestlers called him “Pappi” not just because it was a form of Papouras’ real name, but because of his fatherly tone.
“He was more than a wrestling coach,” Hanson said. “He was a second father to many of us. It’s sad to think that he’s gone.”
Adkins said everyone in the school wanted to be part of the Richmond Heights wrestling program. Papouras had instilled that sort of pride in the program.
“I remember being in junior high wrestling and always looking forward to getting into the varsity room,” Adkins said. “I remember him coming down with a couple of varsity wrestlers to our junior high matches, and hoping he would come up and shake my hand. Which he did, and that meant the world to me.”
Adkins said he got a chance to visit Papouras a few weeks ago and noted he was sharp-witted and upbeat during his two-hour visit.
When Papouras hung up his coaching clipboard and focused just on his athletic director duties, he brought in Keith Manos to run the wrestling program.
“It changed my life,” Manos said of Papouras hiring him to take over the Spartans. “Coming to Richmond Heights was a life-changing experience for me. Mike was a mentor to me, as he was for a lot of individuals.
“I don’t think a day ever went by that I didn’t learn something from him.”
As a rare four-time state champion, Hanson (128-4 career record) likely had more time on the mat with Papouras. His voice breaking up in emotion, Hanson said, “It stinks,” in regard to his coach’s death.
“He used to always tell me, ‘You get what you give,’ ” Hanson said. “’If you give a smile, you’ll get a smile. If you give a bad attitude, you’ll get a bad attitude.’
“All the young men he taught and coached, ask them who played a major role in who they are today, and I guarantee Pappi is on that list right near the top. I don’t know if they make ’em like that anymore.”