Wrestling

Coach of the Week

March 1, 2000

Vic Stanley &emdash; Neshaminy High, Boys’ Wrestling

Vic Stanley retired from teaching two years ago, but he's still the kindly professor, looking for new and innovative ways to reach his wrestlers.

The Neshaminy High wrestling coach guided the Redskins to their second straight Section I wrestling title on Feb. 19. Not only did Neshaminy win, but it outscored Council Rock High, 170-165. The Rock is one of Stanley's two former teams, and the team that overcame the Redskins for the Suburban One League Patriot Division title a week earlier.

In the District 1 North tournament on Saturday, Neshaminy finished fourth with 73 points, while the Rock was third with 100.

Whether it's the Redskins or the Indians at the top, Stanley deserves some of the credit. Rock coach C.D. Mock and his assistants Vince Bedesem and Jeff Sipler all wrestled for and coached with Stanley during his Council Rock days.

"We are very good friends," says Mock of Stanley. "He's a great guy and coach. A lot of the things we do at Council Rock are things he originated. Much of the tradition and Council Rock he originated, and much of what I do in coaching I bring from him and my college coach (at North Carolina). We have a neat relationship and mutual respect. The wrestlers on the teams are friendly and get along."

Stanley began wrestling himself as a senior in high school at Moshannon Valley High in Central Pennsylvania. Despite having just one year of scholastic experience, he continued at national power Lock Haven. He made the varsity as a junior and stayed with the sport despite undergoing operations on both knees to repair cartilage damage.

An education major, Stanley began his career as a science teacher after graduation. After stints in Lambertville (N.J.) and the Hatboro-Horsham district, he moved to Poquessing Junior High in the Neshaminy District. Stanley's first high school head wrestling position came with Council Rock in 1967. He turned the Indians into a local and state power, winning 13 league titles and the 1977 state crown before stepping down in 1992. Because of a medical condition that caused his legs to go numb, Stanley took a two-year medical sabbatical.

"I had a hard time walking," says Stanley. “For some reason, it got better."

Still teaching at Newtown Junior High, Stanley was eager to coach again. Archbishop Wood, a program in decline, tabbed Stanley and he rebuilt the Vikings during his three-year tenure from 1994-1997. Before leaving Wood, he directed the squad to a second-place finish in the Catholic League.

When Neshaminy came calling before the 1997-98 season, Stanley answered. It was the opportunity to take over a proven winner in a large school district.

"It's a privilege coaching at Neshaminy," says Stanley, who is capably assisted by Steve Herceg and Rick Ireland. "It's a good school district. We have one of the best athletic directors around in Sheila Murphy. I'm coaching in a program that was successful before I got there. We have a great junior high and youth programs. My job is just to maintain that tradition and excellence they've had over the years."

That's exactly what the Redskins have done, contending for league, sectional, district and regional crowns.

Stanley, who no longer teaches science, remains as enthusiastic as ever.

"Every year I've tried to do something new," says Stanley, who has started a summer camp and a

JV tournament in the last two years.

There are no signs that Stanley will retire soon.

"I like it too much," says Stanley. "I'm going to stay. I will coach as long as I feel I can contribute to the program."

&emdash; Ira Josephs