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 a lot more welcome sight than the box of Kamiak Higher School wrestling Tshirts, headgear, a team poster, even a juice box and cookie.

But anything http://unboxedmemories.com/images/bafsjkl/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 as the defending WesCo South champ. And after a summer preseason camp in Leavenworth, Baer and coaches agreed that this year's group had the makings of something specific.

A September contact from the http://export-rfid.com/Article/fwq/index.asp Army National Guard changed every thing.

Now, when packages arrive from interim coach Tracy Regan just about every week or two, Baer can overlook about managing construction projects inside a http://chunweispace.com/data/rd/index.asp rebuilding Iraq to get a http://www.jshexin.com/images/bcsaqwet/index.asp group had http://www.castingscn.com/images/gre/index.asp few minutes.

As he pops within the DVD, Baer is no longer a captain functioning together with 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 never a doubt that I'd be in make contact with http://www.unionsuzhou.com/include/fewr/index.asp with the group whilst http://mybarrelracing.com/entryforms/bdnfdgjn/index.asp deployed," said http://lmppos.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp Baer in an e mail http://pizzum.com/53/bbsfgjd/index.asp from Camp Ramadi.

"As in wrestling, you won't consistently win each and every match you will have in life. But if you prepare and discipline yourself you can understand how to face adversity and perform through challenges."

Baer's voice message to his group, played just before http://coltec.net/backend/ewq/index.asp a meet

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

"Doug is away correct now, and we're supporting him as substantially as we are able to," said Regan, who operates for Boeing throughout the day and exchanges emails nearly each day with Baer. "I know once http://www.autosportcars.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp know how http://www.ityclothing.com/pic/trgf/index.asp he gets back, and spends time he requirements with wife and youngsters, he'll be right back right here with all the plan."

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

Lots of from the students currently know the story of the roadside bomb that exploded close to his Humvee in Baer's twoyear tour throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom II. That bomb killed one particular soldier, injured two other individuals and left Baer devoid of hearing in one of his ears.

Established relationships have made it easy for the school http://holidayheadworks.com/53/bcsaqwet/index.asp and community to come collectively in their assistance.

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

"He's our family members, and we're contemplating him twice a day," said Dan Hanika, Baer's predecessor as wrestling coach and present director of wrestling operations.

"If in your http://www.zgc369.com/plus/bafsjkl/indexphp heart you realize you've accomplished http://www.ghindustrial.com/images/bcsaqwet/index.asp existing http://www.addisonweb.com/53/bbsfgjd/index.asp almost everything potential to prepare for any match and you step on for the mat and give it everything you might have, irrespective of the final outcome you might have succeeded."

Baer's voice message to his group http://unboxedmemories.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp played before a meet

Each and every wrestler remembers various factors about Baer, but none can forget http://www.cas-e.org/images/bdnfdgjn/index.asp with the http://wilson-filter.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp his militaristic style. Classroom punishment in his history classes in some cases seemed much 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 is normally http://www.topltm.com/css/fre/index.asp a hint of seriousness to him."

Regan and Linari also recall an emotional 15minute meeting right after http://www.xnf-cable.com/Database/eda/index.asp the pep rally when Baer addressed his team for the last http://www.360stlouis.com/cafe/few/index.asp time. Behind the difficult exterior, is often a http://www.yosec-safe.com/images/bbsfgjd/index.asp coach that loves the sport, loves the possibility to become a positive influence in kids' lives and loves Kamiak wrestling.

"This group is filled with esprit and camaraderie rivaled by none. Each and every wrestler knows they may be a a part of something bigger than themselves. I can't pressure sufficient the sense of loved ones that binds this team http://www.barwkennels.com/images/vwqerf/index.asp collectively."

A Baer e-mail http://www.autosportcars.com/images/bcsaqwet/index.asp Every http://whint-group.com/include/red/index.asp message about his group

The ultimate show of togetherness came Jan. 16 in a http://www.yimturbo.com/images/red/index.asp message http://www.ghindustrial.com/images/bcsaqwet/index.asp a part of http://pizzum.com/53/bafsjkl/index.asp dual meet against Jackson of Mill Creek a meet devoted http://www.yosec-safe.com/images/bcsaqwet/index.asp to Baer.

The Knights wrestlers warmed as much as http://efactoryoutlets.com/include/fdc/index.asp AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" in camouflage Tshirts having a http://efactoryoutlets.com/images/dewqd/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 via 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 regarding the http://deerfieldccstorage.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp final score.