Cummings extends 'olive branch' to Waters

New Fort Defiance wrestling coach Tom Cummings said he wanted to end bickering over the firing of Terry Waters and focus on this year’s wrestling team.

“I don’t know exactly what happened between Terry and the administration,” Cummings said. “I was not involved in that, and really didn’t know what was going on. I really don’t know a lot about Terry’s program, I can’t change what happened. All I know is what I can do to make this program a success. That is my only goal.”

But Cummings, speaking publicly Monday for the first time since his hiring, wanted to make Waters an offer.
“Terry has a great feeder program with the Battlefield Wrestling Club. That’s what makes our high school programs and youth a success,” Cummings said. “I know that there is no love loss between Terry and Fort, but I want to extend an olive branch to him and work with him and his program. Maybe, I can offer him assistance, or vice-versa.”

Cummings was scheduled to meet with parents Monday night and said he was not worried about filling Waters’ shoes.
“I am just going to introduce myself and my philosophies. I know what was said in the papers,” Cummings said. “And the bottom line is that it’s all about the kids excelling and succeeding. Let’s keep this positive.”

The new coach said he will encourage parents to organize to give the Indians a better competitive edge.
“I think right now, we are in the dark ages,” Cummings said. “Let’s face it, our program cannot be as competitive as other schools because the county won’t give our kids the days off of school to do a Friday through Saturday competition. They need two-day meets and I am going to get the parents involved because that hurts us.

“As a county employee it’s harder for me to do that. If the parents get involved, that could change.”
The coach will kick-off his program by creating a preseason weight conditioning class that will start on Aug. 25, the second week into the new school year. The regular season starts Nov. 10.

“Wrestling is the hardest high school sport out there, bar-none,” Cummings said. “I think that weight conditioning will help transition athletes. I know that it helped me when I was wrestling.”

According to Fort Defiance’s official Web site, www.fortsports.com, Cummings wrestled at Fauquier High School from 1980 to 1983, where he became a four-time Commonwealth District champion and was a Group AAA champion in 1983. He wrestled at James Madison University from 1983-84 and recorded a 20-10 record.