Four key supporters of the Sabetha High School wrestling program were honored during the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association (KWCA) banquet in Salina on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6-7. Those receiving honors were Assistant Wrestling Coaches Trevin Edelman and Trenton Cox being named KWCA 321A Boys Assistant Coaches of the Year, Scott Brownlee being named KWCA 321A Team Support Personnel of the Year, and Lindsey Willey being honored as KWCA Contributor of the Year.

Ricky Creek — who has been the Head Wrestling Coach in Sabetha for nine years — said at the end of each wrestling season, coaches nominate individuals, and the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association (KWCA) Board reads through each nomination and selects the winners for each award.

Coach Creek also said each of the recipients were extremely deserving of their awards.

“These four [Trevin, Trenton, Scott and Lindsey] provided the behind-the-scenes work for the success that everyone else got to see during the season,” Creek said. “They not only added to the excitement of the season, but also provided the assistance I needed, as the head coach, to focus on preparing the wrestlers for competition. The wrestling family is not something that we take for granted, as we understand the role each of them plays in the development of these athletes. I am forever grateful for the work these award winners put in over the last season and years prior.”

Trenton Cox

Coach Creek said that Trenton — who began coaching five years ago — has made a big impact on Sabetha’s wrestling program.

“Trenton took a big step of faith five years ago to coach wrestling, despite being a basketball player at heart,” Coach Creek said. “Trenton has had a large influence on the recruitment of wrestlers and has been a consistent example of what we are trying to develop in the wrestlers. Trenton runs the girls’ side of our wrestling team, almost entirely on his own. The success that our team is having, both boys and girls, has a direct correlation to Coach Cox’s influence on the team.”

Trenton said he was shocked to have received the award for 321A Assistant Wrestling Coach of the Year.

“It meant a lot to me,” Trenton said. “I wasn’t expecting anything and was shocked to hear the news! I am extremely grateful for the honor and opportunity to continue to grow the project and be apart of it.”

Trevin Edelman

Coach Creek said Trevin — who received an award for 321A Assistant Wrestling Coach of the Year — has been a “great addition” to the Sabetha High School wrestling team.

“Trevin brings a new level of knowledge, especially for the bigger guys on our team,” Coach Creek said. “Being a role model for what a successful wrestler and a great person can look like gives him the ability to drive home the mission and vision for the team. Coach Edelman also provides critical feedback for me as we design our system of wrestling to achieve the highest level of success possible. Without Coach Edelman’s keen eye for detail, our team would not have performed like they did this past season.”

Trevin said he is proud to be apart of the wrestling program, Sabetha High School and the Sabetha community.

“This program, school and community means so much to me and it was special to represent all three on this stage,” Trevin said. “In Sabetha, we don’t build programs to just win trophies and awards, we want people around the state to look and say, ‘I want to be part of something like that.’ And we’ve been hearing that a lot lately, which makes me prouder than any award will ever make me. Between the great kids we have and Ricky’s leadership, my job is pretty easy.”

Scott Brownlee

Coach Creek said Scott has provided so much support for the team, not only by taking pictures, but also by taking extra time to tape up a wrestler before practices and meets.

“Since I started coaching, Scott has been on the edge of the mat taking action shots of the wrestlers, which he sends to me at the end of the year and posts to Facebook,” Coach Creek said. “This past year, we had a wrestler that needed to have his shoulder taped up everyday before practice. Scott found time to come in before practice, and before leaving for wrestling meets, to get the wrestler secure and ready to wrestle. This was a very time consuming task that he graciously did without any hesitation.”

Scott said he was so surprised to receive the 321A Team Support Personnel of the Year.

“My first reaction was huge surprise,” Scott said. “ I love this program and our wrestling family. The things I do, I do to help them be as successful as they can be. It means a lot to be told thank you, especially like this.”

Lindsey Willey

Coach Creek said Lindsey — who received the KWCA Contributor of the Year award — “utilized her gift of photography for the wrestling team.”

“Lindsey has volunteered her time to utilize her gift of photography for the benefit of our wrestling team,” Coach Creek said. “Each year, we create banners for our senior wrestlers and hang them in the gym for the season. At the end of the season, anyone that qualifies for the State Tournament also has a banner created that is hung up for the entire state to see at the tournament. Not only did Lindsey take the pictures, she also designed the banners, sent them to the company that printed them and accomplished all of this the day after the Regional meet, due to the quick turnaround needed in order to have them ready for the state meet on Thursday.”

“I feel thankful to have been chosen and am honored to be a part of providing our student wrestlers and other athletes at SHS with memories they can keep forever,” Lindsey said.

The 2023-24 Sabetha High School wrestling season begins Saturday, Dec. 2, in Wamego. According to Coach Creek, this year there are approximately 30 boys, 13 girls, and four or five managers out for the wrestling team.