by Peter Dewey

The first season was tough, to say the least. One measly victory and 12 brutal losses in dual meets. Not a single wrestler won a match in the district tournament. That was 1982-83. It was their last losing season. It took four years to win District, but since 1987, they’ve compiled 18 District Championships in 19 years. And since UIL has sanctioned Texas wrestling, (the last seven seasons), they’ve won-

–Six UIL Regional Championships
–Six State Dual Team Titles
–Four UIL State Championships
–Two UIL State Runner-ups

That, my friends, is a dynasty, and the real story of Highland Park wrestling.

What carried this program from a humble beginning to THE dynasty in Texas wrestling? HP insiders believe these are the ingredients that make a champion: (ITW note: To all other programs aspiring to be champions just follow or use the below outline for your winning program).

1. Coaching. 24 seasons of wrestling; ONE coach! Coach Tim Marzoula was the first and only coach the program has ever had. Continuity and consistency allow the program to thrive. Most of what follows can be directly attributed to Coach Marzoula’s philosophy and influence. Not to be ignored is Coach Jay Harris, head trainer and unofficial assistant coach. Not well known outside the program, his ability to keep wrestlers healthy and on the mats has been a major contribution to success.

2. “Team-first” philosophy. Even to the casual observer, HP epitomizes team wrestling. Coach Marzoula has convinced his wrestlers that team comes first and individual second. When a HP wrestler is asked what weight he is going next year, the answer is “whatever weight coach needs me to go.”

3. Parental involvement. This is another obvious one. Does any program have better parents? (The answer is no.) They show up, they support, they cheer but they don’t try to control. Why? They have complete faith in the program and Coach Marzoula. In addition, they organize the 22 separate committees (that’s correct: twenty-two) that make HP wrestling run like a well-oiled machine. Besides the Scot’s youth club, there’s publicity, videography, hospitality, laundry, recipes and on and on. Parents not only participate, they accept responsibility. The result is a sense of ownership. And typically this doesn’t stop when their wrestler graduates. For instance: well-known Dallas health-care professionals, Linda Niessen and her husband John Lonergan, who sons graduated several years ago, still come to many meets each year. Even now HP is beginning to reap the benefit of wrestling alumni returning to give back to the program especially at the youth level.

4. Youth program. This is where it all starts. HP draws wrestlers primarily from its middle school and elementary school programs in the district. Kids as young as age five enter the program and all these youngsters aspire to one-day wrestle for the Scots. They are exposed to the wrestling room, the trophies, the pictures and of course the older wrestlers and they are hooked. To further the continuity, the Scots youth club has always worn the same uniforms as the high school. This is such as good idea. Most state champions and state placers began their careers in the Scots’ youth club.

5. Tradition. Many schools claim to have tradition but few actually do. Why? Because to pass on a winning tradition, the program has to have a tradition of winning. HP has this. So the tradition is real. Even though the team may not win every year, it expects to win and the wrestlers are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to improve the team. Tradition builds up the team. But as the wrestlers chase team championships, the individual championships and successes also increase.

2005-06 Outlook
This year HP returns 13 experienced wrestlers and nine starters from last year’s team that won both Dual Team and UIL State Championships. On the other hand, two-time UIL State Champion Matt Hobar and six other senior starters have graduated. In 2005-06, HP will be led by Fred Rowsey, returning State Champion at 180, two-time team Captain and ranked #8 nationally at 189 by Amateur Wrestling News. Other returning state qualifiers are W.T. White transfer Ted Gambordella (UIL 3rd place), Stephen Sharp, Zack Vick, Kyle Anderson and Captain Drew Newman.

In addition to 6 returning state qualifiers, HP has four additional experienced starters in Michael Sharp, Chase Gallatin, Captain A.J. Forsythe and Captain David Baker. The lineup will be filled out with junior-varsity wrestlers from last year and, something new for HP: transfer students. Programs that compete for state championships year in and year out tend to attract quality wrestlers. For the first time, HP had a significant number of strong wrestlers transfer into the program. Besides Gambordella there is Alex Flores (W.T.White), Konstantin Wachs (New Jersey) and Tobin Fulton (St. Marks).

Team Goals
To repeat as State Dual and UIL State Champions. To make the words “Together We Stand Alone” a reality (the team slogan comes from the infamous 101st Airborne unit of the U.S. Army). These goals are achievable if young wrestlers and transfers quickly adopt to the team-first concept that is HP wrestling. Interesting to note, the top competition in the state will come from non-UIL team Bishop Lynch and possibly The Woodlands the top-ranked Houston area team. While Bishop Lynch should be as good as any team in the country from 103 to 160, HP can be considered as good from 152 and up.

Projected Starting Line-up
HP is likely to shift wrestlers around in the lineup on a frequent basis. For example Fred Rowsey may wrestle anywhere from 171 to 189, Drew Newman at 160 or 171 and Ted Gambordella at 171 or 180. As always, Coach Marzoula will make these decisions for the good of the team. There is still a lot of competition at the lighter weights but the “probable’ starters are the first listed wrestler.

103 Tobin Fulton (10) or Konstantin Wachs (10)

112 Stephen Sharp (11) or Tommy Schober (9)

119 Michael Sharpe (11) or Alex Flores (11)

125 Zach Vick (11) or Chad Gallatin (9)

130 Derek Burdick (10) or Briggs Montgomery (9)

135 Chase Gallatin (11)

140 Preston Fant (12)

145 Kyle Anderson (11)

152 A.J Forsythe (12)

160 Drew Newman (12)

171 Ted Gambordella (11)

180 Fred Rowsey (12)

189 Dan Samson (10)

215 David Baker (12)

275 Will Shellenberger (11)

2005-06 Schedule Highlights (tentative)
11/12 Skyline Invitational
11/18-19 Warrior Invitational (formerly Southern Assault)
11/22 Tri Meet (Arlington Bowie, Plano West)
11/25-26 Oklahoma Open
12/2-3 Richardson Duals/Round-up
12/9-10 HP Duals (including The Colony, Skyline, Martin, Roosevelt)
12/16-17 Santa Slam Duals/Tournament (Coppell)
1/6-7 Grapevine Duals
1/14 TCA Tournament
1/21 THSWCA STATE DUALS
1/28 Scot Super Six (including The Woodlands, Heritage, Flower Mound, Rockwall, Creekview)
2/3 District Championships (Creekview)
2/10-11 Region II Championships (Martin)
2/24-25 UIL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Will it be rebuild or reload for HP this year? HP last won back-to-back UIL State Championships in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. Rockwall won back-to-back in 2001-02 and 2002-03. Then it was Arlington Martin in 2003-04. Of course HP won State last year and nothing would be sweeter than another back-to-back.

It will be a challenge. But challenges are what make champions and Texas wrestling dynasties!