EC Wrestling
EC Central’s wrestling team decided to kick off 2016 on good footing. The wrestling team managed to make it to sectionals and semi-state tournament this year that took place on January 20 and February 13. That would not have been possible without the team’s constant hard work and diligent effort. However, EC Central didn’t qualify in order to make it into semi-state, but they did end up hosting it at the school where over 70 schools in Indiana competed.
There were requirements the wrestlers had to reach in order to compete in sectionals. There are weight requirements that the wrestlers have to meet all season and if there are two or more wrestlers at the same weight on the team, they have to wrestle each other and the winner gets to wrestle at that weight. Not to hard do, right?
These wrestlers’ hard work is constantly appreciated by everyone at EC Central, but there is no one who appreciates it more than the wrestling coach, Ricardo Garcia.
Coach Garcia
Ricardo Garcia has been teaching at EC Central for five years and has been the head wrestling coach for three years. Central also happens to be Garcia’s alma mater, meaning this is where he graduated. Garcia also happened to be a wrestler here at EC Central under Coach Bill Kelly, and Coach John Hernandez.
“I appreciate any student that never quits and is willing to keep working as hard as they can to meet their goals. I believe that if every student worked as hard as they could, regardless of their ability, they would achieve things they never thought possible,” Garcia stated when asked about what he appreciates most.
Becoming the wrestling coach wasn’t something Garcia had to ponder on.
“First and foremost I love wrestling. I believe wrestling is the hardest sport to compete in and requires a level of mental and physical conditioning not found in any other sport. I chose to coach at EC Central because I wrestled here and I want to see our school's tradition of success in wrestling continued.”
Garcia says he feels that being the wrestling coach at EC Central is an honor, given the coaches that have preceded him.
“I hope to do for our school's wrestling program what it did for me as an athlete,” Garcia confessed.
Garcia also confessed his biggest accomplishment since being a coach at EC Central.
“Coaching here at EC Central we have taken wrestlers to all levels of competition from small tournaments to the state tournament, Garcia started. “While all of that has been very satisfying I think my biggest accomplishment thus far, has been showing all of my athletes that hard work and dedication pay off both on and off the mat. I find that I feel most accomplished when I see my former athletes successful in college and in life, and when they attribute the drive to succeed to the lessons they learned in wrestling.”
Garcia clearly has a positive impact on his wrestlers, but that doesn’t mean his wrestlers and his community don’t have a positive impact on him.
Garcia confessed that his biggest inspiration is the East Chicago community. He’s been here his entire life and what inspires him is taking students and helping them become successful and contributing members of society.
“My philosophy as a coach is academics first, wrestling second, and everything else third.”
Garcia also requires his athletes to volunteer in their community. He wants them to understand that there is more to being a citizen of a city, than just living in one. According to Garcia, the idea of these students focusing on academics and continuing to do positive things, throughout their lives, motivates him as a coach to continue to create a positive environment for all his athletes, regardless of how they are when they first come to him.
“When wrestlers leave my program I want them to be able to push themselves to do great things, both for themselves and for their community, regardless of the obstacles. The idea that all of my wrestlers will be successful inspires me to come back year after year and to work as hard as I can as a coach.”
Student in the Spotlight
James Caradine, an EC Central senior, participates and excels in other sports as well, not only wrestling. He's taking part in football, basketball, and baseball! Along with killing it on the mat, he’s also very flexible and a good team player in these other sports.
Although all of EC’s wrestlers did an amazing job this season, James was the only one on the team who qualified to wrestle in the regional competition and as a sectional runner-up. James managed to carry EC Central’s wrestling team to sectionals and semi-state!
Coming Up…
In March, EC Central will be hosting the boys’ basketball sectionals. Also, EC Central will be starting a prom drive for people who are unable to purchase dresses and tuxes. Finally, on March 18th, there will be a “Fire and Ice” fashion show for prom!