Snohomish, Glacier Peak hire coaches

Published 11:09 pm Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Rob Zabel and Bryan Mossburg are the new head wrestling coaches at Snohomish High School and Glacier Peak High School, respectively.

The hirings of Zabel and Mossburg became official Monday, Snohomish High athletic director Mark Albertine said. Both coaches were previously assistants for former Snohomish head coach Kevin Judkins, who in February retired after guiding the team six seasons.

“They have both been invested in our program and had a hand in the development and the success of the program. They both know what it takes — the work it requires — to run a successful program,” Albertine said Tuesday of Zabel and Mossburg.

This past season Snohomish ended Lake Stevens’ 15-year league dual-meet victory streak and tied for fourth at the Class 4A state tournament.

Glacier Peak will open next school year and compete at the 3A level. The school won’t have seniors its first year.

Zabel, a first-time head coach, was a Snohomish assistant for five years. He said he learned a lot working with Judkins and believes Snohomish has the talent to compete with the state’s best teams next season.

Three wrestlers who placed at this year’s 4A state championships are expected to return for Snohomish: Sam Ottow (second place, 125 pounds), Stefan St. Marie (second, 135) and Spencer Caraballo (seventh, 215).

“I’m pretty excited about the opportunity we have here. Kevin has done a really nice job of leaving the program in good condition,” said Zabel, 31, who wrestled at Sehome High and graduated in 1995.

Before coming to Snohomish, Zabel was a Lynden High assistant for a year and a Pullman High assistant for two years. He teaches world history and psychology at Snohomish.

Mossburg, also a first-time head coach, was a Snohomish assistant four years. After 14 total years as a high school assistant, including 10 seasons at Mount Baker, he said he’s looking forward to finally leading a program.

“It’s exciting to get a chance to build a team from scratch and start new traditions,” said Mossburg, who teaches technology classes at Snohomish. Next school year he will teach at Glacier Peak.

Mossburg, who wrestled at Oregon State, said Glacier Peak will be strong in the lower weights. Sophomores Derek VanWyhe (119 pounds) and Joe Bratz (103) competed for Snohomish’s varsity squad and are expected to wrestle for Glacier Peak next school year.

By hiring wrestling coaches, the Snohomish School District has head coaches for all its fall and winter teams, Albertine said. Spring sports coaching jobs will be posted by early next week, he said, and the goal is to have everyone hired by the end of May.

Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.