Brown coaching son to conclude career

CANTON — Matt Brown has been there for his son Shawn's wrestling career since the day it began.

Now, as Shawn prepares to conclude his high school career, Matt will be his head coach.

A senior from Canton who reached the state Division I championship match at 125 pounds last year, Shawn Brown hopes to conclude his career as a state champion.

Matt Brown had been Canton's assistant coach the past eight years, working under John Clark. Clark retired after last year, and was succeeded by Matt Brown. Brown had coached at Hermon-DeKalb until that program no longer had enough athletes to keep a team and merged with Canton.

"It's different," Matt Brown said of his second stint as a head coach. "I think I've been exposed to a lot more, especially with John. I've been exposed to a lot of good technique. Wrestling has evolved. If you took a wrestler, right now, and threw him back in the (1980's) his technique would be way above what it was back then. You have to stay up with it."

Shawn Brown also credits Clark, who led St. Lawrence University to an NCAA Division III championship in 1988, with his development.

"He was a huge influence on my career," Shawn said. "He taught me things my father just couldn't. Coach Clark has helped mold me into the wrestler I am."

For the Browns, it provides one last opportunity to work together before Shawn heads off to college next fall.

"There are disadvantages to coaching your own son, but overall I've always been there for him from the first day he put his shoes on," Matt said. "It was good to have (Clark) there. It took away the personal conflict that we might have had with him being there as a buffer. This year (Shawn) is established. I think no matter who is in the room right now, he's ready to compete and he's going to be fine."

Said Shawn, "I think it's a great thing, actually. I love just about every second we get to spend together. There's always times we clash. I sometimes have my slacking days, but I love the fact that when I go to a wrestling tournament, I can go into my dad's room and talk to him. I have him there all the time."

When Clark was building Canton's program, which won the Section 10 title two years ago, he often spoke of the valuable role Brown played. Now Brown has his own assistant who he also thinks will play a key role in Canton's growth, former Lowville wrestler Dave Webster.

"He just got hired as a teacher at Canton and he's been helping me," Brown said. "I think his role is actually going to be a little easier and more helpful, even. Me and John were both outside coaches. Dave will be in the school and he'll be able to help recruit kids, especially in the sixth grade. If he stays with the program it will definitely benefit the school system and the kids and our program."

Matt, a former Hermon-DeKalb wrestler, is quick to point out Shawn is a better wrestler than he ever was. But you can also see the love both Brown's have for the sport.

"We teach them to practice and if they stick with it for a few years they'll learn that life has its ups and downs, just like wrestling does," Matt Brown said. "Even though you may hate it, the sacrifice you make builds character as a person. It's only you on the mat. You aren't blaming teammates for not passing the ball. You have nobody to blame. It's you versus the other opponent. It's the oldest sport known to man. It's very character-building. It lets you find out who you are and how hard it is to push through obstacles. Even when you lose, you learn something about yourself. You see which kids have the heart to carry on."

Canton Golden Bears

Coach:Matt Brown.

2007-08 record:5-5.

Roster:Hans Kuno (Fr.), Chelsy Streeter (Fr.), Curtis Barney (Fr.), Nash Bessette (Fr.), Aaron Clement (Fr.), Dillon Woodruff (Fr.), Ed Foote (Fr.), Kevin Allott (Sr.), Shawn Brown (Sr.), Nick Butler (Sr.), Jacob Moose (Fr.), Jay Foster-Grover (Fr.), John Bresett (Jr.), Andy Rorick (Jr.), Cody Cleveland (Jr.), Trevor Jerome (Sr.), Brendon Kelley (Sr.), Matthew Snyder (Sr.), Rob Dargie (Sr.), Garth Fritz (Sr.), Nick Barcomb (Fr.).

Clifton-Fine Eagles

Coach:Treny Curry.

2007-08 record:3-7.

Roster:Justin Jones (Sr.), Ryan Tanner (Sr.), Casey Forkey (Sr.), Broc McCargar (So.), Jon McCargar (Jr.), John Eibert (Jr.), Everett Dowling (So.), Devin Moore (So.), Cole Tristram (So.), Evan Popham (So.), Jacob Demmon (Fr.), Kyle Goldie (Fr.), Noah Kimmes (Jr.), Justin Lashua (Sr.), Seth Robert (8th), Nick Fraser (Fr.), Gary Jessmer (So.), Eric Pickering (Fr.), Albert Bevins (Fr.), Jacob Despaw (Sr.).

Gouverneur Wildcats

Coach:Randy Morrison.

2007-08 record:10-0.

Roster:Robert Bell (8th), Darren Fuller (Jr.), Carson Gates (Sr.), Kurtis Hadfield (Jr.), Benjamin Hoffman (Sr.), Daniel Isereau (Jr.), Dylan Morrison (Jr.), Duane Roberts (Sr.), Jacob Shampine (Jr.), Adam Young (Jr.).

Malone Huskies

Coach:Scott Dumas.

2007-08 record:1-9.

Roster:Cody James, Jordan Champion, Sam Desnoyers, Adam LaFlesh, Chance James, Darren Fullum, Dan Tower, Joe Suarez, Travis Thompson, Brandon Szkotak, Orrick Chapman, Andrew Rust, Ryan Jacques, Ryan Spinner, Cody Smith, Coty Roberts, Miranda Marshall, Germaine Choinere, Robert Snyder, Austin Szkotak, John Goldie, Kevin McManus, Shelby Gadway.

Massena Red Raiders

Coach:Scott Perrine.

2007-08 record:8-2.

Roster:Jacob Beebe (Fr.), Sawyer Clausen (Jr.), Cody Cook (Fr.), John Dobbins (Sr.), Abraham Francis (Jr.), Drew Gayeskie (Sr.), Steven LaClair (Jr.), Thomas Macomber (Jr.), Adam Malone (So.), Nate Marshall (8th), Skyler Oakes (So.), Roland Patnode (Jr.), Isaiah Perry (8th), Michael Perry (Sr.), Robert Rochefort (Jr.), Nate Rogers (Fr.), Dan Shirley (Fr.), Zach Wiley (So.), Kyle Burns (So.).

OFA Blue Devils

Coach:Bill Mitchell.

2007-08 record:3-7.

Roster:Andy Rickett, Josh Heaton, Jake Snover, Nevin Parish, Kris Folsom, Connor Ives, Mike Crowley, Ethan Bonewell, Liam Rickett, Tyler Vannamelsford, Damien Trimm, Zach Sweeney, Josh Tulip, Chris Ritchie, Ben Meuten, Todd Tyo, Sean Cook, Andy Jacobs, Cody Barley, Tim Dibble, Andrew Cole, Ken Meuten.