Prep Wrestling: Anderson steps down as Northgate head coach
By DOUG GORMAN
dgorman@newnan.com
Northgate wrestling coach Adrian Anderson knew how to turn wrestlers into champions.
A wall of fame inside the team’s wrestling room pays honor to former state champions Justin Jordan and Brett Dettmering and two-time state champion Paul Sanford, all who trained under Anderson’s watchful eye.
Askey recently finished his amazing career with his fourth straight wresting title at the Macon Coliseum . But that isn’t where the accolades stopped for the 170-pound wrestler.
Along the way, Askey never lost a wrestling match, finishing his career with a 195-0 record.
Now, he and his coach will exit the program together as Askey heads off to wrestle for the University of Virginia, while Anderson steps down as head coach.
“He is easily the best I have ever coached,” Anderson said. “It’s all about work ethic and experience with him.”
Now Anderson can walk away with more than 300 wins during a career that began when the school opened in 1998.
“I feel really good about stepping away,” Anderson said. “I didn’t necessarily plan on going out with Tyler, it just sort of happened that way."
Askey admits he benefitted from wrestling under Andeson’s watch.
“It was great. We made a good team. It was the best,” Askey said.
Anderson has groomed coach John Waters to take over.
“The whole thing about having John there has been great,” Anderson said. “I knew he had the coaching ability, and we have been grooming him for this. It is the intangibles with him. He is definitely ready.”
It’s not the end of the line for Anderson’s coaching career.
The former Auburn Tiger pole vaulter has also served as an assistant coach for the Northgate football team as well as working with members of the track team.
