Boys Wrestling: Intense culture leads Dublin Coffman's rise to top in central Ohio
Thursday, December 7, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Dublin Coffman wrestling coach Chance Van Gundy has helped propel the Shamrocks’ program to lofty heights in central Ohio. Photo: John Hulkenberg
The transformation Dublin Coffman has experienced while becoming central Ohio’s premier boys wrestling power came from what some might consider unconventional methods.
When Chance Van Gundy took over as coach for the 2012-13 season after putting together previously successful tenures at Washington Court House (two seasons), Central Crossing (seven seasons) and Ready (three seasons), he remembers a room that hovered at about 30 participants and was “kind of a revolving door.”
He and a coaching staff that includes assistant Chris Schlaegel, who also served under him at both Central Crossing and Ready, didn’t lower expectations or team rules during his early years with the Shamrocks to get more competitors on board, but rather increased them.
“The more intense we get, the greater our numbers get,” Van Gundy said. “We have 63 kids on the roster now. When I first got here, kids would go in and out and thought (practice) was optional. We do put really high expectations on them. We try to practice with those same expectations. It doesn’t happen over night. It’s a culture that you have to create and a standard you have to set.”
The success Coffman has experienced backs up that assertion.
Van Gundy, who took over as Coffman’s coach after Bob Stoll retired following a 17-year tenure, saw his coaching philosophy begin to kick in by 2015 when Dom Demas won the Division I state championship at 138.
It was the first of eight state titles Coffman has won under Van Gundy, with Demas finishing as state runner-up at 145 in 2016 and winning the championship at 145 as a senior in 2017. Demas went on to wrestle for Oklahoma and Cal Poly.
Dubin Coffman’s Ethan Birden (left) on the mat during the Central District Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Meet Dec. 2 at Dublin Jerome. Photo: Kevin Lam
Things really took off for the Shamrocks in 2018-19 as Seth Shumate captured the 195 title, the first of his three championships, to help the program finish eighth at state.
Coffman, which won district and had seven state qualifiers in 2020 when state was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, tied for fourth at state in 2021 and third in 2022 before scoring 71 points to finish sixth last season.
The Shamrocks have led all central Ohio teams at state the last seasons.
“We have a great team, as in team chemistry,” senior Ethan Birden said. “We all support each other. We have a central Ohio club where we all get extra work in, we have a good lifting program, and all the coaches work us pretty hard. There’s a motivation to be good, and we have the tools to be great and that pushes us. High expectations help.”
Birden, who was fifth at 132 as a freshman and state runner-up as a sophomore before capturing the championship at 157 last season, is an Ohio State-commit who should be one of the backbones again this winter along with senior Omar Ayoub.
A Nebraska commit, Ayoub was state runner-up at 113 in 2021, won state at 126 in 2022 and captured the title at 138 a season ago.
“(The program is) amazing,” Ayoub said. “We’ve got so much depth in our program. Everyone’s always together. It’s like a family, and we’re everywhere together, even with the middle schoolers.
“We’ve kind of been working on characteristics of being warriors. With most of us being seniors, we’re trying to lead the next group coming up. We’ve got to figure out our lineup first, but we want to be top three at state and try to take a trophy home.”
Ayoub figures to be at 144 and Birden at 165 this winter for the Shamrocks, who open Dec. 8-9 at the prestigious Walsh Ironman.
Senior Joey Baumann, who was fourth at 126 last season, is expected to be at 138.
The Shamrocks’ other returning state placer is sophomore Grayson Woodcock, who was seventh at 144 last winter and has grown to 157.
Dublin Coffman’s Omar Ayoub prepares to attack during the Central District Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Meet Dec. 2 at Dublin Jerome. Photo: Kevin Lam
Birden’s father, Ethan Birden Sr., is another who serves as a Coffman assistant, as does Jeremiah Webber.
“We’ve got a pretty big team,” Birden Jr. said. “We have to split our room in half for practice, and we’re more trying to help out a lot of other guys. I of course have my own goals, but the main thing is trying to place in the top three at state and make it to the finals of the state duals, and I want to help my little brother (freshman Zion Birden).”
Zion Birden (106/113) is one of several freshmen who could have a major impact this winter, along with Blaze Van Gundy (120), who is coach Van Gundy’s son, Isaiah Callahan (126) and Eli Esguerra (150).
The other returning state qualifiers are seniors Charlie Mitchell (215) and Storm Beane (190), while seniors Nick Lawrensen (106/113) and Sam Moloney (175) were state alternates last winter.
Beane joined the program last winter after competing his first two prep seasons at Grove City.
“I had a lot to adjust to (last season),” Beane said. “There are a lot more expectations, but it makes sense because the coaches put a lot into it. The biggest difference down here is conditioning. They really hit it hard with conditioning.
“We’re definitely like a big family. The coaches are about more than just wrestling. Obviously, it’s a winning culture. Coach Van Gundy always has a plan. He walks into practice every day with a piece of paper and is always ready to go.”
Senior Kris Manu (heavyweight) and Hashim Wordlaw (132), sophomores Michael Feeney (175), Clayton Shipley (heavy) and Cole Woodruff (126/132) and freshman Mason Parrill (215) also should make an impact.
At last year’s district tournament, Coffman scored 236.5 and Olentangy Liberty was runner-up (233).
“My first few years (at Coffman) were a little rough, and the cupboard was bare,” Van Gundy said. “Overall, Coffman has a pretty good athletic program, and I’ve been lucky to find some really good assistant coaches and that’s helped a lot.
“I was listening to a couple of our guys (recently talk about the program), and they mentioned family a lot. Until you’re in it, you don’t realize it truly is a family. We bleed together, sweat together. Wrestling’s a family sport. Once it’s in your blood, it’s hard to get it out.”