Border Song

Kamiak wrestling coach Doug Baer is far from forgotten in Iraq

Amid his second tour of duty in Iraq, there is certainly no more welcome sight than the box of Kamiak Higher College wrestling Tshirts, headgear, a team poster, even a juice box and cookie.

But some thing http://pizzum.com/53/bafsjkl/index.asp else catches Baer's eye: a DVD of a recent wrestling meet.

Seven months ago, the 38yearold was hired to take over a Knights wrestling program rife with expectations as the defending WesCo South champ. And following a summer preseason camp in Leavenworth, Baer and coaches agreed that this year's group had the makings of a thing specific.

A September call in the http://danschlatter.net/functions/bbsfgjd/index.asp Army National Guard changed every little thing.

Now, when packages arrive from interim coach Tracy Regan every single week or two, Baer can forget about managing construction projects within a http://coltec.net/Bin/bcsaqwet/index.asp rebuilding Iraq for any http://www.jntxgroup.com/images/bcsaqwet/index.asp group had http://mybarrelracing.com/entryforms/bcsaqwet/index.asp few minutes.

As he pops inside 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 team.

Except he's halfaworld away wearing fatigues.

"There was never ever a doubt that I'd be in get in touch with http://www.yimturbo.com/uploadfile/ed/index.asp together with the group while http://www.cas-e.org/images/asfae/index.asp deployed," stated http://jeeskytech.com/database/few/index.asp Baer in an e-mail http://www.szautoewan.com/css/grd/index.asp from Camp Ramadi.

"As in wrestling, you won't at all times win every match you could have in life. But in the event you prepare and discipline oneself you'll understand how to face adversity and operate through challenges."

Baer's voice message to his team, played before http://mlvalves.com/images/bdnfdgjn/index.asp a meet

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

"Doug is away suitable now, and we're supporting him as a lot as we can," stated Regan, who functions for Boeing during the day and exchanges emails almost everyday with Baer. "I know as soon as http://simosco.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp know how http://ledlampfactory.com/include/rd/index.asp he gets back, and spends time he wants with wife and children, he'll be perfect back here using the plan."

Although this would have already been his 1st year as head coach, Baer has identified several of the Knights' wrestlers for six years. His relationships with plenty of go back to when he was a history teacher and coach at nearby Olympic View Middle College.

A lot of from the students currently know the story from the roadside bomb that exploded near his Humvee in Baer's twoyear tour throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom II. That bomb killed a single soldier, injured two other folks and left Baer without the need of hearing in one of his ears.

Established relationships have produced it painless for the school http://www.szautoewan.com/images/bbsfgjd/index.asp and neighborhood to come collectively in their help.

In an October pep assembly to send him off, the Snohomish County sheriff's department presented Baer with a bluestar service flag. It truly is raised every single day with the American and Washington state flags on campus to signify possessing a relative in active duty.

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

"If inside your http://www.inflatablefun.cn/images/bdnfdgjn/index.asp heart you understand you have completed http://www.zfgjfs.com/news/index.php existing http://www.everfun.cn/include/wed/index.asp everything conceivable to prepare for a match and you step on for the mat and give it everything you could have, no matter the final outcome you might have succeeded."

Baer's voice message to his group http://www.mcsweenmusic.com/audio/bafsjkl/index.asp played just before a meet

Each wrestler remembers completely different issues about Baer, but none can neglect http://www.hilong-e.com/include/hte/index.asp with the http://efactoryoutlets.com/include/fdc/index.asp his militaristic style. Classroom punishment in his history classes quite often seemed a lot more like boot camp.

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

Mentioned team cocaptain John Linari: "He's funny, but there's frequently http://www.360stlouis.com/bellacino/dwf/index.asp a hint of seriousness to him."

Regan and Linari also recall an emotional 15minute meeting soon after http://jeeskytech.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp the pep rally when Baer addressed his group for the final http://www.actmanre.com/images/edw/index.asp time. Behind the challenging exterior, can be a http://www.yijunlinguo.com/include/dialog/index.php coach that loves the sport, loves the chance to become a positive influence in kids' lives and loves Kamiak wrestling.

"This team is filled with esprit and camaraderie rivaled by none. Each and every wrestler knows they are a part of something bigger than themselves. I cannot pressure adequate the sense of household that binds this team http://www.colinfurniture.com/editor/dew/index.asp with each other."

A Baer e-mail http://www.annapolispediatrics.com/imag ... /index.asp Every http://www.mcsweenmusic.com/allout/weqf/index.asp message about his team

The ultimate display of togetherness came Jan. 16 in a http://www.autosportcars.com/images/bdnfdgjn/index.asp message http://www.addisonweb.com/Bennys/defaw/index.asp a part of http://johnsonandsonsconcrete.com/about ... /index.asp dual meet against Jackson of Mill Creek a meet committed http://efactoryoutlets.com/Bin/bdnfdgjn/index.asp to Baer.

The Knights wrestlers warmed up to http://www.mcsweenmusic.com/audio/bcsaqwet/index.asp AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" in camouflage Tshirts with a http://www.cas-e.org/images/asfae/index.asp hint of Kamiak purple. Baer's 13yearold son, Conor, was named an honorary group captain. Baer's wife, Jane, watches with their two 9yearold twin daughters.

Within a surprise to a packed crowd, Doug Baer addressed the crowd via a voice message that incorporated words of encouragement and inspiration.

The Knights won the meet in honor of their coach 4827, but as Baer said in his message, it wasn't in regards to the http://www.barwkennels.com/images/fewr/index.asp final score.