Some God given gifts can touch so many lives.
I always said that Some day if I ever did a podcast of my life I would definitely ask this man to be my first interview.
There Are many gifts that each person of this world may possess. And where these gifts come from or how they are derived is a one of the many mysteries of our lives. But time and again I saw a gift in this man who was able to turn a young man’s dream into a special reality. And as one of his assistant coaches of a small wrestling school in South West Indiana, I knew I was watching true amazing results, time and time again. He could get into the head of an underdog and in 6 minutes or less show the world to never underestimate the men wearing Red and Gold.
Mike and I first met officially as I was a freshman and he was our football coach and assistant wrestling coach. Mike was a long time coach of both.. Another coach by the nickname Papa Joe {see Papa Joe smiles.) was head coach of both sports, However in the year of 1977 -78, it was decided by the Indiana high school Athletic Association that the same head coach could no longer coach more than one varsity sport. Which allowed Mike to be asked to Coach at Castle highschool, for a number of good reasons, but he returned a short time later as Coach Gossman chose to remain the Head football coach, thus opening the wrestling head coaching position opportunity and Mike could not say no to the many Mater Dei fans who saw him and only him to take the reigns. By this time I had now graduated from Mater Dei and was a College freshman still in town. My success in wrestling was good enough that Mike along with assistant Randy Helfrich gave me the position of head freshman coach, and assistant coach to the reserve and varsity. A job that did not pay well, but would keep me in an organization that would hold lots of intense moments, and memories that are so exciting still today.
Imagine a highschool of only 500 students, that would compete in a sport where by we wrestled against schools with over 3500 students. (acknowledge he just won the 2023 National coach of the year for football, get that story to help with facts.} During one stretch the school that has featured many…individual state champions ( Read John Johnson “ We are MD) won 9 state championships in 9 years(still a state record today). A school that would boast a very successful feeder league program. It was said that for some future 2nd and 3rd generation wrestlers, these boys were wearing headgears before they were potty trained. Along with one of the most dedicated fan followings in the state. This group of grapplers were respected no matter where they went.
As a coach in the late 70 and 80s. I got to be a part of the amazing duo of Mike and Randy. Both wrestlers of this legendary school, they possess the perfect combination of what it took to create a dynasty. Randy Helfrich was the master of technique. Going to wrestling schools and watching countless hours of video. Randy was the consummate instructor of an enormous amount of moves. His display of technique that he could identify with every body type of wrestler made him the perfect instructor throughout the practice. Each body type has a variety of moves that may work better then others and Randy’s expertise in performing the moves and articulating the importance of what part of the move is paramount to its effectiveness. Strength, agility, balance, and great physical conditioning are the utmost importance in a great wrestler, however the perfection of the move itself, and the pressure points necessary with impeccable timing, Randy would have down to a science
For each of the team members to work on over and over and over doing drills was a huge part of the Wildcats success.
But what does it take for a wrestler to mentally prepare for a match? What are the psychological necessities for a young man to be able to go out in front of a large crowd knowing every eye in the stadium is on you and your performance is about to be cheered, scrutinized and processed by your teammates and fans. This moment before heading out to compete was the time Mike Goebel showed his genius.
Mike was a competitor. Either as a football or wrestling coach, he wanted to win and realized the importance of his athletes that winning at this early age was a springboard to the rest of their competitive lives. If you could show success at this stage, your ability to become a leader in any path you chose was going to be much easier due to the confidence you would discover as an early successful competitor. Success in athletics is and always has been a key element in their future efforts and Mike was fully aware of this.
Even as a history teacher, I recognized in his class the confidence he possessed and the love of making you a better person is his gift.
But in all the years of competing in multiple sports, and all the times I have been in front of true motivational people. I find it hard to compare the amazing ability Goebel had in making you feel like nothing or noone could defeat you today,
Countless times I saw how Mike could magically get into your psyche and convince you that no matter what your record was, or how good your opponent was in the past. Today you were going to come out victorious. And his technique in convincing you that you were invincible was as varied as the men he fired up. So many times with a record that may have been average at best (A good record for another team), even though his opponent may rank in the top 10 of the state. Mike could almost mesmerize the grappler to go out and wrestle an epic match. You have seen the movies and heard the stories of the great generals, or leaders who could inspire a nation or an army to battle with an intensity that made all those who hear, rise above their fears and weaknesses to perform to perfection.. This was how I saw this coach persuade his team to conquer their rivals.
An Amazing gift that so few people have, that team member after member Mike had the ability to read each individual and find the poignant words to get into their heads. They would go out to compete almost like a new spirit was infused in them, and losing was not an option.
The records and facts are out there. The stories that have been shared by hundreds of now older men of how I saw in the eyes of these young warriors who would forsake nothing to make their team proud. Looking at the records before Mike was coaching and after are evident that he possessed a remarkable ability to turn each athlete into the very best they could be.
The honor I feel to be able to say that I was within feet of witnessing a miracle worker share his magic with these young men who needed a great mentor at the perfect time. And Yet Mike’s humility to this amazing feat that he performed makes it even more welcoming that I was here to see it.
In over 600 team matches with a record of 555 -(was it 16) Mike could raise the roof with the fans who were seeing the best of his team., and whether it was under the Friday night lights in a local bowl playing football, or a regional or state finals in front of 10,000 people, on a wrestling mat.. I’m not sure other than the match made with my wife or the birth of my three sons, did I ever witness the power of one’s ability to change a future for the better for an athlete who needed that mental boost.
Thanks again MIke and Randy for giving me the opportunity to see
How real men can shape the lives of our future leaders. And the trips were fun too.
Sorry I can’t get into them, my wife is calling……
Again congratulations of the National football award let’s keep in touch
John M Schroeder 1980s