Former Wrestler Returns to the QOHS Mat as Assistant Coach

graduate and former wrestler Robert Dudley has learned that the future can be molded and directed by the past. 

Dudley had a successful wrestling career at QO with four years as a varsity starter, two years as team captain, and was twice a qualifier and runner-up in both county and regional events. Believing his wrestling career was behind him he graduated from QO in 2007 and headed off to Ohio University to plot his future course.

But Dudley never strayed too far from his favorite sport.

“With the long winter breaks that we had at Ohio University, I came back and spent time helping out in the QO training room,” he said.

After graduating from Ohio University last June with a degree in Exercise Physiology, Dudley found himself volunteering at Eaglehawk Wrestling Academy’s summer camp in Urbana. It was there where he caught the attention of the head coach at T.C.Williams High School in Virginia, who offered him an assistant coaching position.

However, about a month before the season started, Dudley contemplated a return to his wrestling roots. He took a chance and emailed Chris Tao, head coach at Quince Orchard, to see if he could come and help out the team. Tao responded with an assistant coach invitation of his own and one much closer to home.

“Robert’s availability has really helped out the team,” said Tao, a teacher at Julius West Middle School. Because of the later dismissal time for middle school, Tao leaves the practice starts and warm-ups to Dudley.

“One of the things I enjoy most,” said Dudley, ”is running the beginning of practice and choosing the warm-up drills.”

In addition to working closely with the head coach in teaching new moves and helping the wrestlers make needed adjustments, Dudley does a fair amount of live wrestling with the athletes.

“I think it is good practice for the students to go up against someone with experience,” said Dudley. He smiled and added: ”I might not be able to go for 6 minutes, but I do go all out and push them.”

Quince Orchard finished their regular season with a 7–7 record and the athletes compete in the Montgomery County Regional Tournament later this month.  

“We knew we would have to work hard to get to 7–7 this season…this speaks to the guys we have here,” said Tao.

The QO coaching experience has been very positive and rewarding, Dudley said.

“The kids that work hard and listen make great strides and that is extremely gratifying,” said Dudley.

As a result, he would like to make coaching a part of his future, which is something he had not anticipated several months ago. He hopes to further his education and ultimately teach and coach at the high school level.

Despite some of the season’s setbacks like key injuries to some of the main starters, “we are a young team …we have a solid core of young guys who are focused and work hard… the future looks really good,” he said.