‘Challenge accepted’

Hartzog got more than he bargained for when Alexandria starting wrestling. In 13 years on the job, he more than kept his end of the bargain.

One can empathize with a wrestler’s reluctance before taking the mat.

In a sport where one does it right only when it hurts, the wrestler faces three two-minute periods of exertion and pain, if not contortion, all while trying to leverage another human being into the inability to resist.

It’s will on will, one on one. Winning brings the fullest sense of exhilaration. Losing comes with no one else to blame.

Frank Hartzog was a wrestler and remains full-on wrestling community, straight out of the Gene Taylor mold, through and through. He knows victory’s thrill and defeat’s agony.

So, imagine Hartzog’s reluctance when the project of starting a wrestling program at Alexandria High School suddenly got upgraded to coaching it.

“When we started this program in 2013, I actually did not lobby to coach it,” he said. “There were so many better options than myself, who, at that time, had only helped coach and never been a head coach. … 

“They told me, the only way we start a program, we don’t know anybody else. You’ll have to coach it. I thought, ‘Well, challenge accepted.’”

Coming off of a career-best state-runnerup finish in Class 1A-4A, Hartzog has decided it’s time to hand off that challenge. He informed his team Wednesday morning that he’s stepping away from coaching then announced his decision, via social media.

There’s so much more to say about a great and humble coach’s career, and it’s all there for EA+ subscribers.