Dennis Charbonneau should have a good idea of what kind of situation he’s walking into. In a lot of ways, it’s not radically different from the place he’s coming from.
Named as Emporia High’s new wrestling coach on Friday morning, Charbonneau is coming to a bigger town than Clay Center and a bigger school district. But the characteristics that define Emporia’s high school wrestling program — winning tradition, high expectations, an active and strong kids club feeder program — are largely the same at Clay Center, where Charbonneau’s teams won four Class 4A State titles between 2002 and 2008.
“We’ve had some good success here in Clay Center,” he said. “But I thought there was an opportunity to maybe grow as a professional in a larger school district. And I know that the high school and the school system is very good, and I thought that would be an opportunity for me to grow in that area also.”
With the hiring of Charbonneau to replace Greg Buckbee, EHS athletic director Britton Hart achieved the goal of hiring an experienced coach to oversee a program that just won its 10th State team championship. Charbonneau, 44, arrived in Clay Center in 1997 after seven years coaching at Anderson County. In 2002, he and his team brought the Clay Center program its first State title since 1981. The Tigers added another championship in 2005, then back-to-back crowns in 2007 and 2008. Last year, they finished second in 4A to Colby.
“I saw that there was an opening, and I just thought that it would be something that I would like to pursue,” Charbonneau said. “Just because of the tradition. I know how good their kids program has been, and I know how good the high school program has been over the years, and I wanted to have an opportunity to possibly be part of that.”
A three-time State champion as a 126-pound wrestler at Clay Center, Charbonneau went on to wrestle at Colby Community College, where he was a two-time academic All-American. He graduated from Fort Hays State in 1989.
“The State titles were always something that you’ll remember,” he said. “You can almost picture those matches in your mind. But actually, I think the thing that’s more endearing to me are the successes of the individuals that I’ve coached. I think those are probably more rewarding to me than my own successes as an athlete.”
Charbonneau knows some specifics already about the EHS program. He ticks off some names, mentioning senior-to-be Lorenzo Serna, the reigning State heavyweight champion, and other returning State placers in seniors Mark Kolmer and Logan Gaskill and junior Chase Sanchez. He describes himself as a goal-oriented coach who sets expectations high.
“I guess I’ve really, in my career, have always emphasized working at being very good on our feet,” he said. “I think that’s what wins matches against very tough kids, is being good on your feet, being able to get off the bottom. Those are the two things, and then the other thing is really, really emphasize sportsmanship. I think that that’s a huge thing, and I think that’s what high school athletics are all about.”
Charbonneau and his wife, Laurie, have been married for 22 years and have two children. He’ll be bringing a high school wrestler with him in his son, Brandon, who will be a sophomore. Brandon competed at State for Clay Center this year at 125 pounds and fell one round short of placing. He finished his freshman year with a 32-9 record. Charbonneau’s other son, Brett, will be an eighth-grader.