Fort hires new wrestling coach
Published: July 18, 2008
Fort Defiance assistant shot put and discus coach Tom Cummings will take over the Fort Defiance wrestling program for the 2008-09 season, said Fort Athletic Director Jack Tucker.
“Tom has experience coaching indoor and outdoor track for us for three years. He is part of a experienced coaching staff. I have known him and his family for years,” Tucker said. “He wrestled at Fauquier [High School] and has the credentials. He doesn’t miss a beat.”
According to http://www.Fortsports.org, the Indians’ official athletic Web site, Cummings has scheduled a meet and greet on Monday at 7 p.m. at Fort Defiance to share his plans with parents and athletes.
Cummings said he would not comment on his position until after the Monday meeting.
Cummings wrestled at Fauquier High School from 1980 to 1983, according to Fort’s Web site, where he became a four-time Commonwealth District champion and was a Group AAA champion in 1983, finishing an undefeated season. He later wrestled at James Madison University, was selected as a Freshman All-American and won the Virginian Collegiate State championship. He recorded a 20-10 record at JMU.
Former wrestling coach Terry Waters was fired at the end of the school year. Waters coached for 14 seasons and compiled a 231-65 record.
Waters did not immediately respond to e-mails or text messages from The News Virginian on Friday.
Fort Defiance principal Larry Landes, who took credit for not renewing Waters’ contract during a meeting with parents on June 16, is on vacation and could not be reached by The News Virginian.
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Reader Reactions
I AM TRYING NOT TO JUDGE A PERSON BY THE PEOPLE HE ASSOCIATED WITH, BUT ITS GOING TO BE HARD WHEN HE HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH COACH CON. WHO HAS MADE IT CLEAR HOW HE FELT ABOUT COACH WATERS AND THE WRESTLING PROGRAM AND ALSO WITH THE COACHES OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM.IT’S ALSO SUPRISING THAT COACH CUMMINGS HAS NOT SUPPORTED THE WRESTLING PROGRAM OR AT LEAST HUNG AROUND WITH THE GROUP SINCE MOST WRESTLING PEOPLE ESPECIALLY FORMER WRESTLERS JUST CAN’T SEEM TO GET WRESTLING OUT OF THEIR BLOOD LET ALONE NOT JOIN IN.JACK TUCKER HAS LOST THE RESPECT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE (NOT THAT HE REALLY CARES) AND WHEN ANY SPORTS PROGRAM IS RUN BY A DIRECTOR WHO IS HAPPY ABOUT BEING 1 PLACE OUT OF FIRST PLACE (WHICH IS ONLY 2 PLACES OUT OF LAST PLACE) IN A VERY WEAK 5 TEAM DISTRICT IT SEEMS LIKE A NO WIN SITUATION.(NO PUN INTENDED)
Boy, is this the new direction Fort is heading.Looks to me like Jack has hired someone who will tow the company line and not make waves.I post this question, is this the best for the kids or Jack.
I’ll give the new coach the benifit of the doubt due to I don’t know him personally.But if Jack says he has known him and his family for years that is the kiss of death as far as I concerened.
The real question is when will the Fort admin ( that’s you Larry )going to remove the cancer growing in Fort athletics ( that’s you Jack ). If Jack is not soon removed there probably won’t be high school sports program at Fort.
Jack do us all a favor, retire and go make someone else’s kids life miserable.One last question Jack, what ever happened to the weight room, wrestling room every other county school has ?Better yet where is the money?
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