Olson switching to rival Kamiak
Published 6:31 pm Friday, September 4, 2009
The Kamiak-Mariner wrestling rivalry just got even more intriguing.
Former Mariner High School wrestling coach Otto Olson accepted the position of assistant coach at Kamiak High School on Friday.
“I think it’s really going to put us on the map and get us to that next level. That’s what we’ve been striving for,” said Kamiak head wrestling coach Tracy Regan, who guided Kamiak to second place in the Western Conference South Division last season.
“We’re happy to have him. He’s a great person and a great coach,” Kamiak athletic director Dr. Jack Kniseley said.
After coaching Mariner — Kamiak’s Mukilteo School District rival — to three league championships in six seasons, Olson resigned from Mariner last month because he wasn’t able to get an in-building teaching job. But Olson, who teaches and coaches at Explorer Middle School, mentored five wrestlers at Explorer who will be incoming freshmen at Kamiak.
A three-time state champion at Everett High from 1994-96 and a three-time All-American at the University of Michigan, Olson will bring energy and enthusiasm to Kamiak’s program, coach Regan said.
“It helps that kids know I’ve been through it myself,” Olson said.
Olson owns a DJ business and incorporates music into wrestling workouts and pre-meet introductions. He relates well to teenagers and will “amp up” practices, said Regan.
“My Johnny Cash CD really wasn’t cutting it in the practice room,” Regan said with a laugh. “(Olson has) a closer connection to the current generation.”
What impact will Olson’s switch have on the Kamiak-Mariner rivalry? Fans always pack the gym for the teams’ annual league dual meet.
“I think it’s going to increase the intensity,” Regan said. “There may be a little bit of a factor in there where Mariner wants to show that they’re just as good without Otto.”
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
