hartford — Hartford High School/Neosho Rapids Junior High Principal Curtis Simons’s previous career as a successful wrestling coach has paid off. Simons was inducted last month into the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.
Simons said former wrestling coaches have to be five years removed from coaching before they can be nominated for the honor. This was Simons’s first year of eligibility. He was nominated in March, voted in, then inducted on Nov. 1. Simons said about one to two percent of coaches make it into the hall of fame.
“To go in on first ballot is quite an honor,” Simons said.
Anyone can nominate coaches for the hall of fame, and the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association makes the final decision on who is inducted. About 15 to 20 people are nominated every March, and from there inductees are chosen based on achievements, integrity, going above and beyond duty, and team performance, Simons said.
Simons coached for a total of 21 years. Before coaching, he captured the 105-pound Kansas State High School Activities Association State Championship in 1978. He graduated from Scott Community High School and wrestled for Fort Hays State University, where he was a two-time Midwest Regional champion and a two-time national qualifier.
In 1982, Simons moved to coaching as a Rule 10 coach at Wichita County High School in Leota. Coach John Flores encouraged him along the way.
“He got me into coaching,” Simons said.
After two years, Simons decided to go back to school for a teaching degree. After graduation he became the head coach at Hoisington High School and Hoisington Junior High School. He led the team to two high school and two junior high school MSAA League championships. He also received the Kansas Association of Wrestling Officials’ 3A Coach of the Year for Sportsmanship.
Simons came to Emporia in 1993 as head coach at Emporia High School. Under his leadership, the Spartans headed to 11 years of Centennial League Championships and 68 individual Centennial League Champions. Simons had five team Regional Championships and two Regional Runners-up. In 2000, the team was the 6A Kansas State Champions and also in 1996 and 1995.
“Looking back there were a lot of Kodak moments at Emporia High School,” Simons said. “I had a lot of great athletes and a lot of parent support. There was a lot of administrative support at Emporia High School.”
Simons said the team was ranked as one of the top 100 teams in the nation by USA Today.
Simons was nominated for National Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2004; the KWCA 6A State Coach of the Year in 1995 and 200; the KAWO 6A Coach of the Year Sportsmanship Award in 2000; and KVOE Radio’s Sportscasters Club Coach of the Year in 1995, 1996 and 2000.
Simons said he sees wrestling as a chess game — moves must be carefully calculated.
“The kids that are still playing checkers are not going to place,” he said.
As a coach, Simons built upon the wrestlers’ knowledge using teaching techniques.
“You’ve got to make learning fun,” he said. “You work the kids hard and motivate them. They learn from their mistakes.”
To have a winning team, Simons said you have to have the techniques and the athletes.
“You have to have a little luck, too,” he added.
Athletes also have to work hard and pay their dues. They can’t just walk in at the beginning of the season and expect to be a champion, Simons said.
“You gotta lift weights,” he said. “You gotta put in the time. You have to have that sweat equity.”
Simons said he misses coaching, but was ready for a new challenge in administration.
“I miss the coaches and the Friday and Saturday tournaments,” he said. “You get to know the coaches and the parents. It’s a big happy family because you spend a lot of time in the bleachers.”
Today, coaching is more of a hobby for Simons. His 7-year-old son, Trey, has just started wrestling and Simons helps out once a week with the Emporia Kids Wrestling Club program.
He and his wife Christy live in Emporia with their two daughters, Alexis and Mikayla, and son, Trey.