Wrestling was introduced to Chillicothe athletics in the late 1930s, but Cavaliers have been competitive on the mats for decades. While many of their coaches have come from outside the district over the years, new head coach Mike Peck is no stranger to the program.
“I’ve been here my whole life, I’ve always wrestled and went to school here… Coached 15 years… it doesn’t seem new to me, just a bigger title.”
Peck’s not alone in that category. He’s surrounded by Cavaliers. “We’re all local boys” says Peck taking pride in what he’s been a part of for most of his life.
Assistant Coach Tony Woods, a Cavalier wrestler who wrestled for the Volunteers at the University of Tennessee in the 1970s is from the same mold. Woods has also been a long timer in helping with the Cavs programs from youth to high school. Peck also has Adam Steele and state qualifier for the Cavs in 2005 and some former teammates Jeff Webb and Aaron Morgan are part of the program, too.
Only about 5 of 30 wrestlers have no experience, which says a lot for the youth feeder system which Peck has been a part of from top to bottom.
The Cavs are wrestling in the Kiwanis Invitational in Circleville this weekend to get the season underway.
We’ll have our first full team since 2002-03, so that’s definitely gonna help” especially when the Cavs get to the SEOAL meet. The Cavs finished 3rd in the league last season.
The most recent Cavalier to have success was two-time state qualifier Danny Demick, now a heavyweight at Notre Dame College near Cleveland. There are Cavaliers that may have similar potential in Peck’s group.
Post season success is generally individual performance for grapplers, but Peck says successful team wrestling comes in strength in numbers. “We only have three seniors this year and only five or six juniors” which means the Cavs will be pretty strong when they move to the SCOL next season. They’ll get the opportunity to see some of their future league foes at the Miami Trace Invitational later this season.
Click on the icon to hear Dan Ramey's interview with Mike Peck.
