Wrestling has been an almost daily ritual for Charles Drabek after 11-plus years with the Sequim High School program.
Now Drabek plans to leave the program on the up-and-up as he makes his family a priority.
“I need to devote more time to my wife because of her MS (multiple sclerosis) and work (in construction),” he said.
“It has nothing to do with the program. It’s going to be an awesome team this year.”
Last season, Sequim sent six wrestlers, four boys and two girls, to the Mat Classic state tournament in the Tacoma Dome where three of the six placed in the top eight — Kiara Pierson fourth at 110 pounds, Alma Mendoza seventh at 140 pounds, and Kevyn Ward eighth at 160 pounds.
Last season was the most medals Sequim won at state in Drabek’s tenure over four years and the team’s best record in the Olympic League at 5-3.
“This year, I expect to do well,” Drabek said. “We potentially could win the league. Olympic is tough and PA.”
Drabek served as a volunteer coach for years, including time helping and seeing his sons Trent go to state in the 2006-2007 season and Anthony to state in 2005-2006, 2006-2007, as an alternate in 2007-2008, and again as a competitor in 2008-2009. He worked with former coaches Steve Chinn, Mark Fisher and Len Borchers before serving as co-head coach with Jake Reichner in the 2012-2013 season in a tough year. That season the Wolves went 0-8 in dual meets and didn’t send anyone to state.
“We started out with a super young team,” he said.
Drabek took the reins as head coach in 2013-2014 which was another underclassmen-heavy team. They remained winless, 0-8, in duals but Kaylee Ditlefsen placed eighth at state in the girls’ division as one of two state wrestlers for the Wolves. Things picked up for Sequim as they gained more experience and knowledge going 4-4 on the 2014-2015 season and sending four wrestlers to state with Mendoza placing seventh and Pierson eighth.
Drabek said stepping down from the team was a tough decision and he thought and prayed hard about it but decided he needed to do it for his wife.
“I feel like I’m letting the kids down a little bit,” he said. “Anytime you quit, somebody is going to be bummed but I talked to a bunch of them and obviously I’m going to miss them.”
This offseason, he’s found wrestling is really clicking with several students now and they are participating more in the offseason in gym time and going to various camps.
“Several state and district wrestlers are poised to do well,” he said. “The kids are going to be tough. I feel good about the program, but I’m excited for the kids and the future.”
Drabek said he doesn’t plan to ride into the sunset because he still wants to volunteer, coach and go to duals and meets when possible. He’d also like to keep the Mat Rats program for younger wrestlers going.
“I want to keep the little kids coming in rather than them getting to high school saying they’ve never wrestled before,” he said.
Sequim High School athletic director Dave Ditlefsen said interviews for the head coach position will be conducted in the coming weeks.
Drabek said if his assistant coaches are applying, he feels confident in their abilities.
