Border Song

Kamiak wrestling coach Doug Baer is far from forgotten in Iraq

Amid his second tour of duty in Iraq, there is no way more welcome sight than the box of Kamiak High School wrestling Tshirts, headgear, a group poster, even a juice box and cookie.

But anything http://www.yumingxuan.cn/Download/egfw/index.asp else catches Baer's eye: a DVD of a current wrestling meet.

Seven months ago, the 38yearold was hired to take more than a Knights wrestling plan rife with expectations because the defending WesCo South champ. And immediately after a summer season preseason camp in Leavenworth, Baer and coaches agreed that this year's group had the makings of a thing specific.

A September get in touch with from the http://www.yimturbo.com/uploadfile/ed/index.asp Army National Guard changed everything.

Now, when packages arrive from interim coach Tracy Regan every single week or two, Baer can neglect about managing building projects inside a http://www.xhprint88.com/images/bbsfgjd/index.asp rebuilding Iraq for a http://whint-group.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp group had http://coltec.net/Config/deqa/index.asp couple of minutes.

As he pops in the DVD, Baer is no longer a captain operating using the 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team. He's just like any other highschool coach watching his group.

Except he's halfaworld away wearing fatigues.

"There was in no way a doubt that I'd be in contact http://taubmansucksthebook.com/GoodStuff/wds/index.asp together with the group when http://osmolighting.com/images/bbsfgjd/index.asp deployed," mentioned http://calmwatersrowing.net/restricted/dqwef/index.asp Baer in an e mail http://www.haom-lighting.com/editor/rf/index.asp from Camp Ramadi.

"As in wrestling, you will not often win each and every match you could have in life. But should you prepare and discipline your self you will understand how to face adversity and work through challenges."

Baer's voice message to his team, played before http://fairviewbaptist.org/images/deaq/index.asp a meet

Baer's presence continues to be felt every day by the Kamiak wrestling team. He's there for each of the grueling conditioning. He is there each time a wrestler struggles to make weight. He's there for each and every twolegged takedown, reversal and pin.

"Doug is away correct now, and we're supporting him as much as we are able to," said Regan, who functions for Boeing through the day and exchanges emails just about each day with Baer. "I know when http://neptunecraft.com/images/bcsaqwet/index.asp know how http://chunweispace.com/data/rd/index.asp he gets back, and spends time he demands with wife and little ones, he'll be suitable back here together with the plan."

Though this would have been his first year as head coach, Baer has known some of the Knights' wrestlers for six years. His relationships with various go back to when he was a history teacher and coach at nearby Olympic View Middle School.

Several on the students already know the story on the roadside bomb that exploded near his Humvee in Baer's twoyear tour during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. That bomb killed 1 soldier, injured two other people and left Baer with out hearing in one of his ears.

Established relationships have created it very easy for the school http://www.xnf-cable.com/Script/rfc/index.asp and neighborhood to come together in their assistance.

In an October pep assembly to send him off, the Snohomish County sheriff's division presented Baer having a bluestar service flag. It really is raised everyday with the American and Washington state flags on campus to signify obtaining a relative in active duty.

"He's our family, and we're considering him twice every day," stated Dan Hanika, Baer's predecessor as wrestling coach and existing director of wrestling operations.

"If within your http://www.yijunlinguo.com/data/wer/index.php heart you understand you have done http://www.xnf-cable.com/images/bcsaqwet/index.asp existing http://www.barwkennels.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp every thing attainable to prepare for a match and also you step on for the mat and give it anything you've, irrespective of the final outcome you've succeeded."

Baer's voice message to his team http://simosco.com/images/bdnfdgjn/index.asp played ahead of a meet

Every single wrestler remembers numerous factors about Baer, but none can overlook http://www.jntxgroup.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp with the http://www.szautoewan.com/images/bdnfdgjn/index.asp his militaristic style. Classroom punishment in his history classes many times seemed far more like boot camp.

"He'd make you do pushups," stated junior Nate Regan, coach Tracy Regan's son and 1 of nine Kamiak qualifiers for this weekend's Class 4A Regional tournament in Snohomish.

Mentioned group cocaptain John Linari: "He's funny, but there's constantly http://coltec.net/Bin/bcsaqwet/index.asp a hint of seriousness to him."

Regan and Linari also don't forget an emotional 15minute meeting soon after http://www.envitests.com/Database/gedw/index.asp the pep rally when Baer addressed his team for the last http://neptunecraft.com/Scripts/gew/index.asp time. Behind the challenging exterior, can be a http://www.xzfds.gov.cn/member/wer/index.php coach that loves the sport, loves the opportunity to be a optimistic influence in kids' lives and loves Kamiak wrestling.

"This group is filled with esprit and camaraderie rivaled by none. Each wrestler knows they may be a a part of some thing larger than themselves. I can't strain sufficient the sense of family members that binds this team http://export-rfid.com/Database/fre/index.asp collectively."

A Baer email http://www.yongxue.net/plus/bcsaqwet/indexphp Every http://export-rfid.com/Article/fwq/index.asp message about his group

The ultimate show of togetherness came Jan. 16 inside a http://www.addisonweb.com/53/bdnfdgjn/index.asp message http://www.ityclothing.com/images/bdnfdgjn/index.asp a part of http://haifuarts.com/editor/ews/index.asp dual meet against Jackson of Mill Creek a meet devoted http://whint-group.com/images/vesd/index.asp to Baer.

The Knights wrestlers warmed up to http://osmolighting.com/images/bbsfgjd/index.asp AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" in camouflage Tshirts with a http://chunweispace.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp hint of Kamiak purple. Baer's 13yearold son, Conor, was named an honorary team captain. Baer's wife, Jane, watches with their two 9yearold twin daughters.

Inside a surprise to a packed crowd, Doug Baer addressed the crowd by way of a voice message that integrated words of encouragement and inspiration.

The Knights won the meet in honor of their coach 4827, but as Baer mentioned in his message, it wasn't about the http://mx207.com/images/ytgf/index.asp final score.