600 and counting: Williamsburg wrestling coach Grant Eckenrod reaches rare win plateau

MARENGO – Williamsburg’s Grant Eckenrod didn’t envision success when he started coaching 33 years ago.

He was just 22 and just starting out at Mt. Zion (Ill.) High School after his four years wrestling for Coe. Eckenrod was still in competitive mode more than a coaching mindset, wrestling with some of his more advanced athletes each day.

“I was just trying to survive a season,” Eckenrod said. “I honestly didn’t know what I was doing.

“The second team I had was not very good. It made me actually coach and that was probably one of the best things to ever happen to me, as far as developing as a coach.”

Not even the transformation between his first two seasons could have led him to anticipate the special milestone Tuesday. On the same night as his oldest grandson Will’s sixth birthday, Eckenrod joined an elite group of coaches with his 600th career dual victory, becoming just the third coach in state history to surpass that win plateau.

The Raiders defeated host Iowa Valley, 58-6, in the opener of a quadrangular that included the Williamsburg fans holding signs that read “#600” and a post-event picture taken with a horde of current and former wrestlers and coaches.

“It’s very, very humbling,” Eckenrod said. “I’m emotional about it because, I mean 600 is just a number, but there are a lot of people who have sacrificed to get 600.

“It starts with my wife (Traci) and my family. My wife and three daughters have all sacrificed time with me being gone. I think about all the assistant coaches who have been by my side. I’ve had great ones at Williamsburg and Mt. Zion. They’re not only great coaches but great men.”

The biggest praise fell on the wrestlers with whom he has tried to share his passion for the sport, teaching the life lessons of honor, courage, discipline and humility. They are the ones that had compiled the victories for more than three decades.

“The main part is I think of all these kids that I’ve coached,” said Eckenrod, who wrestled for his late dad, Jerry, at Benton Community. “I didn’t wrestle in any of them so they did it all. The kids at both schools have been unbelievable kids. I’ve been so blessed.”

Williamsburg (19-3) swept the field, adding wins over Grinnell and English Valleys. The wrestlers understood the significance of the moment. Some congratulated their coaches and even had shirts with “In Eck We Trust” with 600 across the front.

“It’s awesome,” Williamsburg’s Cam Royster said. “I’m so happy to be a part of it. He’s a great coach, working hard and working us hard in practice every day, so I’m glad we could do it for him.”

Eckenrod has 602 career dual wins, including 403 since 2002. He joins Coach Brad Smith, who has won 676 at Lisbon and Iowa City High, and retired coach Kent Kersten, who led Logan-Magnolia and Arlington, S.D., to 645 combined victories.

“Coach Eck remains to this day one of the best coaches I’ve been lucky enough to have in my corner,” said Williamsburg three-time state champion and four-time finalist Austin Blythe, who had a stellar football career at Iowa and played in the Super Bowl for the Los Angeles Rams. “His passion and dedication to what he loves makes him an incredible coach and it’s not shocking he’s now won 600 duals. I can’t wait to see him at the top of the wins list someday.”

The 55-year-old coach has a raspy bark and high energy from the corner, but his athletes know it blankets a caring and dedicated mentality to his athletes with a drive to help them reach their goals.

“He has an intense side when we need it and when we need a little bit of a stern talk we get it,” Royster said. “He’s a great guy and great to talk to. He’s funny and just an awesome person.”

Williamsburg assistant coach Jeff Sinn has been with Eckenrod since the first day he stepped in with the Raiders. The mutual respect with wrestlers and coaches is a big reason he has done so well. Sinn said he thinks Eckenrod is the Raiders’ best coach, noting that as a compliment to Eckenrod and not an insult to anyone else.

“Grant instills discipline in them and he’s tough, but every kid, even all our alumni here, know he’d do anything in the world for them,” Sinn said. “He loves every one of them. Our kids love him.”

Traci Eckenrod remains a pillar of support for Grant, who is also defensive coordinator for Williamsburg football and Coach Curt Ritchie. Grant laughed when he shared her “See you in March” quip when football begins in August.

“She knows with football and wrestling I’ll be gone,” Grant said. “I owe big time when I retire.

“She’s been everything to me. She’s been my coach at home. She’s got me through a lot of hard times. She’s just been awesome.”

Family is very important to Grant. His granddaughter and one of his grandsons were in attendance. Another grandson is due in March just after the season. He has shared the sport with them as well.

“It makes it special,” Grant said. “I love them dearly. It’s the greatest.”

Grant mentioned that he still has the passion for coaching kids. As long as Traci is good and the Raiders want him back, he plans to keep coaching.

“There’s so much good in coaching,” Eckenrod said. “It’s a great sport because it does carry over into life. We try to instill that in our athletes. It’s an awesome sport and I love it. I’ll do it as long as they let me.”