Winning while learning to deal with loss

CEDAR RAPIDS -- In the midst of loss, the Cedar Rapids Kennedy wrestling team has managed some wins.

The Cougars have managed some success the last month, persevering the unexpected death of a beloved coach at the start of the season. Kennedy has a 5-5 dual record and defended its team title at the Fort Madison Invitational before the holiday break.

Kennedy Coach Brent Paulson said the team and coaches lost a "mentor" and "great friend" with the unexpected death of Cougars assistant Jeff Clark on Nov. 27, which came just months after suffering the loss of sophomore Drake Brown who died in August. Clark's brother, Kyle, is also a member of the Kennedy coaching staff.

"It's been tough," Paulson said. "I am proud of the guys. Everybody has done their part and stepped in helping guys out."

The loss of a close friend even left Paulson in daze in the following weeks. He still tried to be a leader, focusing the wrestlers on improvement during practice and, along with his coaches and others, helping the wrestlers cope away from the wrestling room. Paulson said a sense of normalcy returned the Tuesday before the Fort Madison tournament on Dec. 17.

"That's when I felt the team was coming along," Paulson said. "It took us a good two weeks to get back into it mentally. I think the team has head great practices since mid-December and have done a great job."

The Cougars received an outpouring of support, including former wrestlers Cody Moenk, Zach Parsons, Paulson's brother, Zach, and Mike Murdoch, who was a 1972 state placewinner. Former Kennedy head coach Rick Blackwell, who coached Paulson, showed up the very day Paulson informed the team about Clark's death and attended practices for the next week to help counsel wrestlers and coaches. Paulson said no other sport can match the unity and bond created by wrestling.

"There's that family atmosphere," Paulson said. "We had a lot of support. It's felt good."

The void on the staff was filled by former long-time Kennedy assistant randy Feuerhelm, who had retired from teaching and coaching after last year. Feuerhelm, an assistant when Paulson was a prep, resumed teaching as a long-term substitute then rejoined the staff, sacrificing his new role as wrestling parent watching his son, Ben, a senior on the Kennedy team.

"I think he enjoyed (just) being a parent," Paulson said. "I think he's enjoyed his time in here since he's been back.

"For me, it's been very comforting."

The best feeling may have come the week after their opening duals were postponed so the team could attend Clark's wake. The Cougars honored and his family at a triangular Dec. 8. Kennedy swept Dubuque Senior and Cedar Rapids Washington.

"We wrestled pretty well that night and that was great to see," Paulson said. "Also, the little ceremony we did for Jeff, his parents (John and Karen) and Kyle, it was good for the coaches, too, to feel good after that wrestling."

Better things came more than a week later when the Cougars won their second straight team at the Fort Madison Invitational. Kennedy had five finalists, including titlists Luke Kremer , ranked third at 132, Ben Feuerhelm (145) and ninth-ranked 160-pounder Shane Williams. Ninth-ranked Ryan Rodriguez and J.D. Ruzicka were runners-up at 138 and 126, respectively.

"It was great for our kids to go there, compete and win the tournament a second time in a row," Paulson said. "We'll see what we can do the next month, but I'm extremely proud."