The Voice Of Success Rick Sicilia’s Years Of Devotion To Wrestling Has Earned Him A Spot In Coaching Hall Of Fame
Last winter, Rick Sicilia’s familiar high-pitched voice exhorted on the wrestler. His body contorted in concert with every move the athlete made.
“I have perfected ways of carrying my voice to make an impact,” he said the other day. “I tell myself I won’t say anything then realize I’ve lost control again. I want kids to have success.”
It was vintage Sicilia, who at University High had a coaching career that has earned him a spot in the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Only the wrestler in question this time was his sophomore son, Josh, a Mead High School 122-pounder.
Sicilia was three years removed from a successful Titan career. Watching his son, Sicilia hadn’t strayed far from the sport he loves.
He spent a couple of days a week helping in the Mead wrestling room.
“It was pretty hard to stay out since my kid was there,” said Sicilia. “He doesn’t listen to me but others do.”
During a 32-year period, including 17 seasons at University High, wrestling was a major part of Sicilia’s life. It still is.
He was a state tournament runnerup in high school, and at Washington State University was a three-time conference placer and a participant in the NCAA tournament.
As coach, he started programs at a junior high in Grandview and at Omak High before becoming head coach at University in 1978.
“Everywhere I went schools were in strong basketball towns so I faced uphill battles,” said Sicilia. “In 16 prior years University never had a winning season and only one placer in state.”
Sicilia tackled the challenge with the same toughness he exhibited on the mat.
By the time he resigned coaching to enter administration, he had compiled a 171-59-2 dual record. The Titans were even better in tournaments where Sicilia coached six state champions and 30 state placers.
The man who, as a high schooler, fought for recognition of a sport he felt didn’t get its due, had brought attention to it at U-Hi.
“We never won league although three times we should have,” he said. “My whole focus was that dual meets were practice sessions for the end of the year.”
Told that wrestling only taught kids to lose, he employed the equivalent of tough love in the wrestling room.
“Those were fighting words to me,” said Sicilia. “I’ll admit I pushed kids relentlessly to build a program that was credible.”
It worked. Among Sicilia’s memories was his and the CV district’s first state champion, Brett Racicot, in 1984.
“The first one is special,” said Sicilia. “I had given up on him in the quarterfinals when he was down by a point with 25 seconds left. I threw my clipboard down and said, ‘He’s done.’ He got a reversal with 11 seconds to go to win.”
Tied 0-0 in the title match in the third round, Sicilia took a risk and had Racicot turn his opponent loose, giving up a point. He got a two-point takedown with 10 seconds remaining to win the title.
Vernon Gillis and Pat Pehl won in 1985 and the three Roberts brothers, Kevin, Dusty and Andy, won five titles for Sicilia and Don Owen between 1991 and 1996.
But it is non-champions for whom Sicilia holds a place in his heart. Glen Osborn upset three-time state champion Thomas Yammamoto in regionals. Richard Tipping and Jason Patterson never wrestled varsity until they were seniors, then qualified for state.
Talented but hard-luck wrestlers like Tim Glennie and Eric Ward were deprived of deserved state title which tore at Sicilia.
“I had kids who struggled but who came around and stayed on track,” he said. “Without wrestling they wouldn’t have done that.”
That is what he loves about a sport that demands mental and physical sacrifice in a public one-on-one venue.
“It is a test of what real life is about,” he said. “It is not necessarily fair. You work your rear end off and it usually pays off but sometimes it doesn’t. Maybe down the road, because of that, a person has even more success.”
Sicilia has returned to University this year as vice principal after similar stints at Central Valley and Horizon Junior High.
He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame Nov. 17 but doesn’t rule out a return someday to coaching.
That distinctive voice could once again be heard above the crowd.
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