Te Leicester December 9 - December 15, 2010 Vol. 3 No. 49


Leader


By Robin Wilson Paul Owen decided after 17 years


that he wanted to return to the sport of wrestling by taking over the reins of the program at Erwin. “I heard about an opening and got


the bug again. I’ve always loved the sport and it’s still in my blood. I want to pass the knowledge about the sport on to these teenagers,” he said. Owen’s desire to help teenagers


no doubt comes as a result of his up- bringing. After both parents died by the time he was 13, he spent his teen years in seven different foster homes looking for encouragement that was very difficult for him to find. He found some sense of belonging on the wrestling team both in high school and college. During high school, he finished


fourth in the state in freestyle wres- tling and, in college, placed third in the nationals of the NCCAA (Na- tional Christian College Athletic As- sociation). His college coach, Jim Hazewin-


kel, was a two-time Olympic wrestler where he gained valuable experience. From there Owen worked as the as- sistant coach in San Dimas High School near Los Angeles, while he was attending college. Owen went on to earn his Ph.D.


from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. For the past 10 years he has been a professor of Greek and reli- gious studies at Montreat College. A flexible work schedule allows


him the opportunity to coach the young Erwin team. Te biggest chal- lenge he faces is building the team in both numbers and experience. Tere are no seniors on the team and only two juniors and the remaining 13 wrestlers are freshman and sopho- mores. “He brings experience and profes-


sionalism to the program. Owen is very optimistic and is working hard on rebuilding the team,” said David Ball, Erwin’s athletics director. Assistant coach Adam Watts is re-


turning from last season. Watts is also the cross country and track coach at Erwin. Owen said, “Watts is an in- valuable part of the team, as he helps in conditioning the team physically and knows the logistics of running the program.”


www.leicesterleader.com December 9 - December 15, 2010 - THE TRIBUNE/LEADER 17


WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 50¢ Leicester • Erwin Hills • Alexander • Woodfin • West Buncombe • Newfound Fifty Cents New wrestling coach returns after long absence


Paul Owen was a collegiate wrestler.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28