National Duals: Brother’s death, daughter’s injury make for tough year

CEDAR FALLS - The last year has been a rocky one for University of Wisconsin wrestling coach Barry Davis.

He's endured personal tragedy with the death of his brother and having one of his two daughters injured after being struck by a car during the summer.

“It's been an emotional roller coaster,” said Davis, who earned 2010 Coach of the Year honors after guiding Wisconsin to a school-best fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships in Omaha, Neb.

Davis has persevered and his team's success has continued this season. He guided the Badgers to a third-place finish Sunday in the NCAA Division I bracket of the Cliff Keen/National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals at the UNI-Dome.

Last year, Davis did not attend the national duals. He helped with search efforts after his older brother, Martin, was missing after he left his Shueyville residence on a snowmobile on Jan. 3, 2010. That day will likely haunt him for a while.

“The third (of January) is when I got the phone call from my mother that he was missing,” Davis said. “That day will be a tough day for a long time.”

Davis was attending the World Team Trials in Council Bluffs in June when he received a phone call that one of his daughters had been severely injured after being struck by a car, breaking her leg. Davis showed the toughness that made him a three-time state champion for Cedar Rapids Prairie and a three-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American at Iowa, but he insisted that didn't have much to do with how he handled either situation.

It was necessary to remain in control, think positive, be thankful for what you have and move forward.

“I say here's the deal guys, you may see some day when something might happen to one of your family members or maybe one of your children. If you can't withstand that blow, hold pieces together, you'll lose everything,” Davis said. “You have to control your thoughts, feelings and keep it together. Make sure you're around the right people.”

Davis hasn't relied on his team for support. He decided to carry that burden. It's a philosophy that he described as being there for others in their area of need and handling his own area of need.

“I don't really bring it to them,” Davis said. “That's my job to handle that situation. Their job is to come to school and get an education. Not for stuff like that. I don't bring that upon them.”

Davis, 49, has a picture of Martin on his office desk. He wrestles with memories of his brother, whose body was recovered about three months later. He has to control those emotions so he can serve his role as coach, father, husband and son.

It is tougher during competition when he sees his father in attendance without Martin, who was normally by his side.

“My family is very supportive,” Davis said as he wiped tears from his eye. “Every time I see my dad, my brother's not there.”

Wisconsin defending 165-pound national champion Andrew Howe said the team is aware of Davis' plight. No one dwells on it, but Davis certainly a model for perseverance.

“It's a good example,” Howe said. “He's worked through plenty of hard times, more than he should have to the past year, and he's been here with us.”

Davis had his full attention on the Badgers this weekend. They went 3-1 in the duals, improving to 8-1 overall. Wisconsin lost to Virginia Tech in the semis but came back with a 19-17 win over Minnesota to take third.

“It's great to have him here,” Howe said. “He brings a lot of energy. It's good to be able to look in the bench and see his face.”