2023 Pan Am Blogs

[ao_coachphil]

Here’s Volume I.

Seeds Only Grow When Watered – 2023 Pan Ams Vol I

As my family gets ready to embark on our next wrestling journey, I guess I kind of find myself getting a little sentimental. Why? Because of the journey we’ve taken to get to this momen…

aocoachphil.wordpress.com

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Great article! I am so glad you were able to spend some quality time with your Father before his passing. As a Christian I always find it humbling to look back over the many years and see where God was directing things all along the way, especially when I didn't recognize his hand in it. I am thankful that wrestling has afforded you and your son such quality time together.

 

[sdvike]

Hope Gabe achieves everything he is working for. Cant wait to see him wrestling for Hawks. May God bless you and your family on your journeys.

 

[The-Dude-Abides]

This is great, thanks for sharing Phil! Looking forward to reading more. Hope you have a great time in Chile, and best of luck to Gabe!

 

[Bones Malone]

Loved you post, Phil. Hit close to home for me.
I look forward to the next one. Best of luck to Gabe, as well as Brad.
Go Hawks!

 

[dmlawdad]

Love this from the blog:
"I’ll never forget going into his hospital room. Cancer had reduced my dad, from the superhero I remembered to a frail old man on oxygen. It broke my heart. My hero, my role model, my moral compass, was dying, and there was nothing I could do about it."
You were blessed to have a father in the image of our father in heaven. If only all people had a father like yours, and like you. I am so happy that you have decided to water those seeds wherever they may be in same way that you were watered.

God bless your family. Bring home success and tell us all about it.

 

[Section25]

It's a good thing your father watered those seeds. God loves generational farmers who continue his work. So look forward to reading and following this. Have a great trip and so happy Gabes mom is going.

 

[Old_wrestling_fan]

Thanks for posting the blog and the wise, warm words contained therein. All the best to you and your family, on your current trip, and in the years to come. You seem like a really good person and I am sure your son is too. Glad to have such neat people repping the Hawks!!

Enjoy the ride...even if sometimes there are some bumps in the road.

 

[ao_coachphil]

Volume 2.

Moms; without them we’re lost – 2023 Pan Ams Vol II

The first leg of the trip was very smooth. Straight shot from Cedar Rapids to Chicago. Then it got crazy….. We sat on the plane for almost three hours before taking off. As I write this, we’re HOPI…

aocoachphil.wordpress.com

 

[KYHWKY]

Volume 2.

Moms; without them we’re lost – 2023 Pan Ams Vol II

The first leg of the trip was very smooth. Straight shot from Cedar Rapids to Chicago. Then it got crazy….. We sat on the plane for almost three hours before taking off. As I write this, we’re HOPI…

aocoachphil.wordpress.com

Amazing - thanks for writing this!

 

[Sett1997]

Volume 2.

Moms; without them we’re lost – 2023 Pan Ams Vol II

The first leg of the trip was very smooth. Straight shot from Cedar Rapids to Chicago. Then it got crazy….. We sat on the plane for almost three hours before taking off. As I write this, we’re HOPI…

aocoachphil.wordpress.com

A memory I'll always have @ao-coachphil as a kid.
Was raised very poor, my Mom always found a way to pay me and my brother's entrance fee to the grade school tournaments. Shenandoah, Osceola, Leon, Corning, etc...
But my brother and I had no transportation.
Ron and Hellen Norman of Leon would take my brother and me with them and their two children Arnold and Aaron.
She was the ultimate wrestling Mom.
They had a truck camper, between rounds she had snacks and sandwiches made for all of us.
Congratulated us when we won, consoled us when we lost.
She and Ron both passed recently.
Angels among us, what a positive influence they were.
So happy you and your family are experiencing this, great Mom/Wife with you! 😍

 

[ao_coachphil]

A memory I'll always have coach as a kid.
Was raised very poor, my Mom always found a way to pay my entrance fee to the grade school tournaments. Shenandoah, Osceola, Leon, Corning, etc...
But my brother and I had no transportation.
Ron and Hellen Norman of Leon would take my brother and me with them and their two children Arnold and Aaron.
She was the ultimate wrestling Mom.
They had a truck camper, between rounds she had snacks and sandwiches made for all of us.
Congratulated us when we won, consoled us when we lost.
She and Ron both passed recently.
Angels among us, what a positive influence they were.

Brother, I feel you on this. SO many people helped me when I was a kid. Never even owned a new pair of wrestling shoes until HS. My mom found an OLD pair of leather Nikes from the 70’s they were size 14. I wore 10’s. Newspaper and tissue…. You know what I mean.

My prayer will always be, as crazy as this sport is, and as driven as some of the fans are, it’s never forgotten to pay it forward to help someone less fortunate.

 

[Sett1997]

Brother, I feel you on this. SO many people helped me when I was a kid. Never even owned a new pair of wrestling shoes until HS. My mom found an OLD pair of leather Nikes from the 70’s they were size 14. I wore 10’s. Newspaper and tissue…. You know what I mean.

My prayer will always be, as crazy as this sport is, and as driven as some of the fans are, it’s never forgotten to pay it forward to help someone less fortunate.

Cool thing is @ao-coachphil the things people like you do helping others can never be measured.
The mentorship of people like the Norman's and you change people's lives.
My brother and I can now fly to Vegas to see the the open two days in advance without batting an eye thanks to mentorship from people like yourself.
Keep up the good work!

 

[Sett1997]

Brother, I feel you on this. SO many people helped me when I was a kid. Never even owned a new pair of wrestling shoes until HS. My mom found an OLD pair of leather Nikes from the 70’s they were size 14. I wore 10’s. Newspaper and tissue…. You know what I mean.

My prayer will always be, as crazy as this sport is, and as driven as some of the fans are, it’s never forgotten to pay it forward to help someone less fortunate.

Btw, my Grandmother made our singlets. She did such a great job and they were so cool 6-8 of my friends wanted one too. Lol
She gladly made them.

 

[moosemonster]

Btw, my Grandmother made our singlets. She did such a great job and they were so cool 6-8 of my friends wanted one too. Lol
She gladly made them.

Pics of grandma?

 

[ao_coachphil]

Volume III. And you bums better like it to…. 😂

AMERICA! Heck yeah!! – 2023 Pan Ams Vol III

Jadon Skellenger after his Gold Medal run! Ok, full disclosure the title for today’s blog is NOT the one I wanted to use. However, I know if I used the title I wanted to use I could possibly offend…

aocoachphil.wordpress.com

 

[dmlawdad]

Awesome post coach. I love your enthusiasm and love for your country! Cheer on the ladies to victory!

 

[ao_coachphil]

Volume IV wants to be read by you!!! Don’t let him down. (Please don’t be offended me making my blog a guy)

We Really are the Same – 2023 Pan-Ams Vol IV

They really were driving me crazy. I just wanted to watch our girls compete in the finals. But these darn kids from Mexico, sitting in front of me were gonna make me lose it. They repeatedly yelled…

aocoachphil.wordpress.com

 

[Tcalumet]

Pics of grandma?

Classic cesspool - nothin is sacred lol

 

[Sett1997]

Classic cesspool - nothin is sacred lol

She died in 97 so I don't have any recent. If I did , call the law.
The humor is fun though. Lol
You are correct, the cess has no bounds.

 

[ao_coachphil]

Volume V.

And so the Journey Continues – 2023 Pan Ams Vol V

You’re probably tired of reading my stories, but please indulge me because I have one more to tell you. Hopefully, it will make sense as to why I chose this title for today’s blog. I’m going to hav…

aocoachphil.wordpress.com

 

[dmlawdad]

Congrats on a dominating performance. Thanks for keeping us up on your experiences.

 

[Boomhawk52]

She died in 97 so I don't have any recent. If I did , call the law.
The humor is fun though. Lol
You are correct, the cess has no bounds.

I guess that’s why she didn’t move very much… so sorry

 

[Bones Malone]

Sounded like a great trip. Congratulations to Gabe got his gold medal & also Brad on the silver.
Go Hawks!

 

[Mendoza77]

Big congratulations to Gabe on a dominating performance!! Wish I could have been there to watch.

Coach, since you've shared a fair amount about your family, I have a question about you and your wife --- how do each of you act when Gabe is wrestling? Will you both be sitting calm and collected when you're in Carver watching Gabe compete, or will we hear you screaming? Do you pace? Yell encouragement? Is the Mrs. stressed out, squeezing the arm of the unfortunate person next to her? Hopefully she won't destroy any glasses. Should we steer clear of you after those few losses that Gabe "might" have while at Iowa?

 

[ao_coachphil]

Big congratulations to Gabe on a dominating performance!! Wish I could have been there to watch.

Coach, since you've shared a fair amount about your family, I have a question about you and your wife --- how do each of you act when Gabe is wrestling? Will you both be sitting calm and collected when you're in Carver watching Gabe compete, or will we hear you screaming? Do you pace? Yell encouragement? Is the Mrs. stressed out, squeezing the arm of the unfortunate person next to her? Hopefully she won't destroy any glasses. Should we steer clear of you after those few losses that Gabe "might" have while at Iowa?

Um….. let’s put it like this: Rarely will you see us sitting together when Gabe is on the mats. Why? She’s crazy. I mean REALLY crazy. Take Saturday for example. In the finals the Canada kid gets a little chippy going off the mat. Head-butts Gabe, Gabe pushes him and tell him to wrestle him in the middle….. and then my wife screams, “You don’t want none of that”….. sadly, I was trying to record the match so Gabe could review it if he wanted. Of course, now, I can’t post it anywhere because everyone will want to know who the crazy lady yelling was…… yep, that’s my wife. There’s a reason why she typically doesn’t travel with us when he’s competing. It’s for the protection of others….

As for me? I am the calm one. I don’t scream or yell. I don’t show emotion during the match. Not much I can do for him while he’s going at it, and I know he’s like me when I wrestled, the only thing he will hear is the coach he trusts, and the whistle. I don’t get upset at a loss, it is what it is. I don’t jump up and down when he wins, I just expect a hug and will usually sneak my way to the floor or wherever he is to get one.

Now my mom…… I’m sure if you’ve watched any of Gabe’s or J’den’s matches from the open….. you’ve heard her. EVERYONE hears her.

 

[Chuck C]

Um….. let’s put it like this: Rarely will you see us sitting together when Gabe is on the mats. Why? She’s crazy. I mean REALLY crazy. Take Saturday for example. In the finals the Canada kid gets a little chippy going off the mat. Head-butts Gabe, Gabe pushes him and tell him to wrestle him in the middle….. and then my wife screams, “You don’t want none of that”….. sadly, I was trying to record the match so Gabe could review it if he wanted. Of course, now, I can’t post it anywhere because everyone will want to know who the crazy lady yelling was…… yep, that’s my wife. There’s a reason why she typically doesn’t travel with us when he’s competing. It’s for the protection of others….

As for me? I am the calm one. I don’t scream or yell. I don’t show emotion during the match. Not much I can do for him while he’s going at it, and I know he’s like me when I wrestled, the only thing he will hear is the coach he trusts, and the whistle. I don’t get upset at a loss, it is what it is. I don’t jump up and down when he wins, I just expect a hug and will usually sneak my way to the floor or wherever he is to get one.

Now my mom…… I’m sure if you’ve watched any of Gabe’s or J’den’s matches from the open….. you’ve heard her. EVERYONE hears her.

Your wife will fit in just fine with the rest of us at Carver.

 

[so cal hawkfan]

Um….. let’s put it like this: Rarely will you see us sitting together when Gabe is on the mats. Why? She’s crazy. I mean REALLY crazy. Take Saturday for example. In the finals the Canada kid gets a little chippy going off the mat. Head-butts Gabe, Gabe pushes him and tell him to wrestle him in the middle….. and then my wife screams, “You don’t want none of that”….. sadly, I was trying to record the match so Gabe could review it if he wanted. Of course, now, I can’t post it anywhere because everyone will want to know who the crazy lady yelling was…… yep, that’s my wife. There’s a reason why she typically doesn’t travel with us when he’s competing. It’s for the protection of others….

As for me? I am the calm one. I don’t scream or yell. I don’t show emotion during the match. Not much I can do for him while he’s going at it, and I know he’s like me when I wrestled, the only thing he will hear is the coach he trusts, and the whistle. I don’t get upset at a loss, it is what it is. I don’t jump up and down when he wins, I just expect a hug and will usually sneak my way to the floor or wherever he is to get one.

Now my mom…… I’m sure if you’ve watched any of Gabe’s or J’den’s matches from the open….. you’ve heard her. EVERYONE hears her.

Love the passion. I mean she wasn’t wrong. That kid didn’t want none of that. Gabes going to get a lot of that at Iowa. His style is going to frustrate the hell out of his opponents with that Houdini like defense. Kids really fun to watch, excited to watch his Hawkeye career unfold.