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Senior wrestler leads by example, coach says
By Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Thursday, Dec 06, 2007
''The whole thing was kind of weird,'' Cogar said. ''We have our own little world in wrestling, and everybody is comfortable around each other. They have kind of the same thing with cross country. It's a big deal to them. It's just kind of cool seeing how competitive people are at different things.
''But I was out of place.''
Cogar might have felt awkward rumbling over cross country courses, but his offseason training paid off on the wrestling mat.
He ended the season with a record of 50-2 and a second-place finish in the 215-pound weight class at the Division I state tournament in Columbus. His losses — by pin in a district semifinal match and by a 1-0 decision in the state championship match — were against Justin Powell, a Boardman graduate who now wrestles for Ohio University.
Cogar, who has committed to wrestle for the University of Virginia, said he hopes to face Powell in college. For now, becoming the second state champion in Barberton's history is his top priority.
''If I could have it my way, he'd still be here and I could get another shot at him,'' Cogar said of Powell. ''If I could, I'd do a lot of things differently. But at the time, I felt I was doing
everything I could to take him down and win a state title. I just didn't get it done. It eats at me every day.''
Last fall, Cogar played middle linebacker for Barberton's football team instead of running cross country. Magics assistant wrestling coach Jason Morr, who is also the strength and conditioning coach for Barberton's football team, said Cogar has improved his body, mind and leadership skills in the offseason.
''Adam leads by example,'' Morr said. ''If we're supposed to lift hard, he's not going to tell the kids to lift hard and not lift hard himself. He's going to be right in there showing them. If they're not doing the technique right, he's going to work with them.
''When it's time to run sprints, he doesn't loaf. He's 215 pounds, but he's up in the front running with the fast guys. He tries to push himself to the limit in every single thing he does.''
Pushing his teammates to reach his level is part of a leadership role Cogar has embraced. The Magics went 13-5 in dual meets and finished second in the Suburban League last season. They went 23-0 in duals and shared the Suburban League title with Wadsworth during the 2005-2006 season, when Cogar went 50-8 and finished sixth in the 171-pound weight class at the state tournament.
''The coaches and my parents and people surrounding me have always pushed me to be a leader,'' Cogar said. ''But I think this year is a little different because I am a senior. A lot of the freshmen have watched me wrestle before and look up to me. And I look up to a lot of my peers, so if I see people who I look up to looking up to me, it makes me want to do better.''
Cogar also sets an excellent example for his teammates in the classroom. He has a 4.3 grade-point average, plans to major in pre-medicine and wants to become a pediatric cardiologist.
Barberton coach Dave Mariola said Cogar is the kind of young person people root for. Mariola said the Barberton community is hungry for its first state wrestling champion since Gary James won a title in 1961.
''I think that Barberton is real sports-oriented, and they want to win,'' said Mariola, who is in his eighth season with the Magics. ''Whether it's basketball, soccer, wrestling or baseball, they'll back whoever is going to be successful. They want to go and see someone win a state title, and they're real supportive.''
Cogar has vowed to do everything in his power to end Barberton's title drought.
''I just want to know at the end of the year that I put everything I have into my training, my grades, my diet, my conditioning and my technique,'' Cogar said. ''At the end of the year, if I can say I did that, then I'll be happy.''
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nateulrich2007@yahoo.com. Read the high school blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/varsity_letters/.
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