Sports 2 March 2010

Cooper gains redemption with trip to state

By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
     Getting to Ohio High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournaments was redemption for McClain's Caleb Cooper for a couple reasons. One was he overcame a tough opponent for the first time, and secondly, Cooper almost didn't have the opportunity to get to this point as MHS almost ceased their wrestling program a few years back.
     "It was great to finally beat (Jeff) Elam," Cooper, a 215-pound class wrestler, said. "Last year he beat me by tech fall and put me out in districts. This year he beat me in districts again, but I beat him for the first time. It was the highlight of my season. That win will stick with me for a long time."
     Saying this is something he has dreamed of, Cooper said it was a goal finally accomplished.
     "I started wrestling when I was five and it has been something fun to do ever since," Cooper said. "I have had good success wrestling and it made me better as a football player.
     "When I was in fifth and sixth grades I made it to nationals."
      Cooper has attended the event in the past to watch other McClain wrestlers take their turn at the state tournament, but now it is his turn to take part in the exclusive event, where the participants have to earn their way into the event.
     "It is just a great feeling to be a part of this," Cooper said. "I looked up to the others I have watched before, and now I am one of them."
     But this moment almost didn't happen as there were talks about the possibility of MHS suspending their wrestling programs. Cooper said it was Coach Joe Whitley who helped keep the program going.
     "If it wasn't for Coach Whitley keeping the team together, I wouldn't be in this spot right now," Cooper said. "Coach (Cody) Cooper and Coach (Jim) Vest have helped me along the way as well. I want to thank my family and Lonnie Adkins and John Caskey for pushing me in practice. They made sure I stayed with it and tested me to be my best."
     Cooper has lost only nine matches this season, currently standing at 26-9 overall.
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