[/media-credit] Coach Steele will be inducted into the Utah Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Mr. Steele, a teacher and past coach at Orem High, is to be inducted into the Utah Wrestling Hall of Fame on November 1.
Steele has accomplished much in the world of wrestling. Between his junior and senior year at Orem High School he placed third in the Junior Olympics. He was also a state champ his senior year in the 4A division at 167 pounds. Not only was he a state champion his senior year, he also went undefeated with an outstanding record of 51-0.
In college, Steele placed third at the western regionals in Phoenix as well as third at nationals as a freshman at Snow College. His next year, he placed second nationally, leaving his record at 35-1.
When asked if there was anything Steele would like to say to the students, athletes, and wrestlers of Orem High, he told a story. His sophomore year of college, after placing at the qualifying tournament to go to nationals, there were two and a half more weeks until the actual tournament.
His coach also happened to be coaching baseball at the time and was very busy during those couple of weeks, so many of Steele’s wrestling practices were cancelled. This meant less pre-tournament training for Steele, who said, “I was happy to do it. ‘Great, I don’t have to practice or anything else.’ You know, get fatter and more out of shape.” Which was exactly what happened.
In the championship match of the tournament, where the greatest college wrestler of that weight class would be decided, with thirty seconds left to go in the match, Steele was down three points and was on bottom. In a wrestling match this means he would have to escape and get a takedown in the next thirty seconds and beat his opponent in overtime to win the match.
Steele said, “I was in the down position, the whistle blows, and I just lay there. I had nothing in me because I hadn’t been working out.”
Steele missed out on a huge opportunity because he didn’t take advantage of the time he had to prepare for it.
He said, “Look forward a teeny bit so you don’t have anything to regret.”
Not only has Steele accomplished great things as a wrestler, but as a coach as well. He started coaching at Payson High School and coached three individual state champs during his five years there. He then came back to Orem High and coached for 15 years. He coached three state champion teams in 1994, 1995, and 1996, as well as 11 more individual champions.
Hank Weiss
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