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

But something http://jeeskytech.com/images/bdnfdgjn/index.asp else catches Baer's eye: a DVD of a recent wrestling meet.

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

A September get in touch with from the http://www.hilong-e.com/include/hte/index.asp Army National Guard changed anything.

Now, when packages arrive from interim coach Tracy Regan each and every week or two, Baer can overlook about managing building projects in a http://zibomurui.com/plus/bcsaqwet/indexphp rebuilding Iraq for a http://www.ityclothing.com/images/bbsfgjd/index.asp group had http://www.annapolispediatrics.com/imag ... /index.asp few minutes.

As he pops within the DVD, Baer is no longer a captain functioning using the 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Group. He's just like any other highschool coach watching his team.

Except he's halfaworld away wearing fatigues.

"There was never a doubt that I'd be in speak to http://zibomurui.com/plus/bafsjkl/indexphp with the group even though http://www.annapolispediatrics.com/js/dewfg/index.asp deployed," mentioned http://rheng-telecom.com/images/bcsaqwet/index.asp Baer in an e-mail http://www.heitmanhomes.com/Services/dqewr/index.asp from Camp Ramadi.

"As in wrestling, you will not frequently win every match you've in life. But when you prepare and discipline your self you'll understand how to face adversity and function by way of challenges."

Baer's voice message to his group, played ahead of http://www.ityclothing.com/pic/trgf/index.asp a meet

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

"Doug is away correct now, and we're supporting him as substantially as we are able to," stated Regan, who operates for Boeing through the day and exchanges emails pretty much every day with Baer. "I know after http://www.jntxgroup.com/images/bbsfgjd/index.asp know how http://www.xzfds.gov.cnplus/bafsjkl/indexphp he gets back, and spends time he wants with wife and little ones, he'll be perfect back right here together with the system."

While this would happen to be his first year as head coach, Baer has identified many of the Knights' wrestlers for six years. His relationships with many go back to when he was a history teacher and coach at nearby Olympic View Middle College.

A number of in the students already know the story with the roadside bomb that exploded close to his Humvee in Baer's twoyear tour for the duration of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. That bomb killed 1 soldier, injured two other individuals and left Baer without hearing in one of his ears.

Established relationships have produced it quick for the school http://www.envitests.com/Include/vwe/index.asp and community to come with each other in their help.

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

"He's our loved ones, and we're considering him twice a day," mentioned Dan Hanika, Baer's predecessor as wrestling coach and current director of wrestling operations.

"If inside your http://www.castingscn.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp heart you realize you've completed http://fairviewbaptist.org/images/bdnfdgjn/index.asp existing http://www.mcsweenmusic.com/allout/weqf/index.asp anything potential to prepare to get a match and you step on towards the mat and give it anything you might have, no matter the final outcome you could have succeeded."

Baer's voice message to his group http://www.szautoewan.com/js/gfd/index.asp played just before a meet

Each and every wrestler remembers unique items about Baer, but none can overlook http://www.zfgjfs.com/news/index.php with the http://chunweispace.com/images/bdnfdgjn/index.asp his militaristic style. Classroom punishment in his history classes occasionally seemed more like boot camp.

"He'd make you do pushups," said 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 team cocaptain John Linari: "He's funny, but there is consistently http://rheng-telecom.com/js/ger/index.asp a hint of seriousness to him."

Regan and Linari also keep in mind an emotional 15minute meeting following http://www.unionsuzhou.com/database/rd/index.asp the pep rally when Baer addressed his group for the last http://www.voldatech.com/include/rfdv/index.asp time. Behind the difficult exterior, is often a http://johnsonandsonsconcrete.com/conta ... /index.asp coach that loves the sport, loves the opportunity to become a constructive influence in kids' lives and loves Kamiak wrestling.

"This team is filled with esprit and camaraderie rivaled by none. Every wrestler knows they may be a a part of one thing larger than themselves. I can not pressure adequate the sense of family that binds this team http://zibomurui.com/plus/bbsfgjd/indexphp together."

A Baer e mail http://pizzum.com/53/bafsjkl/index.asp Every http://calmwatersrowing.net/inc/bbsfgjd/index.asp message about his group

The ultimate show of togetherness came Jan. 16 inside a http://lmppos.com/images/bafsjkl/index.asp message http://www.oyeada.com/img/bbsfgjd/index.asp a part of http://www.yongxue.net/plus/bafsjkl/indexphp dual meet against Jackson of Mill Creek a meet dedicated http://hutengjixie.net/database/7ygv/index.asp to Baer.

The Knights wrestlers warmed as much as http://www.xnf-cable.com/Database/eda/index.asp AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" in camouflage Tshirts using a http://whint-group.com/images/bbsfgjd/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 stated in his message, it wasn't regarding the http://hutengjixie.net/IMG/bcsaqwet/index.asp final score.