Butler wrestling comes full circle
CANONSBURG — The Butler wrestling cycle is complete — yet ongoing.
Fred Powell has been a member of the Golden Tornado coaching staff for 14 years. He received the WPIAL Class AAA Assistant Coach of the Year Award prior to the start of the district’s tournament finals Saturday at Canon McMillan High School.
Each of the six AAA wrestling sections votes for its Section Assistant Coach of the Year. Those six winners are then voted on by all of the WPIAL coaches to determine the district honor.
“It means a lot, coming from a vote of the coaches,” Powell said. “But I’m just one guy. We’re effective as a staff because we coach the same way and believe in the same things.”
Butler head wrestling coach Scott Stoner was voted WPIAL AAA Coach of the Year at the 2022 district tourney. Donnie Geibel was voted WPIAL Junior High Coach of the Year a few years back.
“I think it shows the respect our program has gained through the years,” Stoner said. “Coach Powell coached me — a guy with marginal talent — at Slippery Rock and helped me succeed at that level. I coached Donnie and now Coach Powell is coaching with me.
“A number of my former wrestlers have come back to serve as assistant coaches in our program. There are a lot of hands in this.”
Butler graduates Alex Evanoff (Waynesburg) and Blake Caudill (Eastern Michigan) are among the assistant coaches on Butler’s staff this season.
“It’s a complete program. We work together,” Powell said. “I get a lot of enjoyment out of doing this.”
Powell is in his 70’s, but opts to never reveal his age.
“That’s just a number and I don’t want people judging me by that,” he said. “My age has nothing to do with what I do or who I am.”
What Powell does is still get on the mat with Butler wrestlers, demonstrate and execute moves along with explaining them.
“But I’m careful about who I get on them at with these days. I have to be careful,” he said, smiling.
Powell was a high school state wrestling champion in Virginia. He was SRU head wrestling coach from 1967 through 1991, compiling a record of 215-105-54.
He began coaching with Stoner at Butler as the result of a conversation the two shared while Powell was helping Stoner build his house.
“I asked him if he had interest in coming on board and helping us out,” Stoner recalled. “Coach originally agreed to come to practice once or twice a week. That soon grew into four or five days a week.
“He said he wouldn’t get on a bus and do road matches. Then he started getting on the bus and doing road matches. We are so fortunate to have him. Coach Powell taught me discipline. He led by example. He conducts himself in a way that I try to emulate in my life.
“He is very deserving of this award. But it really is a team thing. That’s how we all view it,” Stoner added.
