A face from the past

Bartley takes over reins of Panthers

Friday, Dec. 7, 2007

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff Photo by Darwin Weigel Patuxent coach Mike Bartley, right, grapples with junior heavyweight Jordan Hayden during a recent practice. Bartley, who also coaches the Patuxent Youth Wrestling Club, takes over for Pat McCall, the Panthers’ coach for six seasons. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

The 42-year-old Lusby resident knows many of the Panthers from his days as a coach in the Patuxent Youth Wrestling Club, which he’s coached since 2004.

‘‘I had a lot of these kids in the youth league,” Bartley said of his wrestlers, ‘‘so I’m just seeing them again.”

‘‘I wrestled for him in eighth grade and he got me ready for high school,” said Patuxent junior Andrew Lloyd, who is expected to wrestle at 189 this season. ‘‘He’ll bring a lot of strength training and conditioning to the team and he gives a lot of encouragement.”

Patuxent senior Brian Lauver added, ‘‘He has history with a lot of the kids on this team.”

Patuxent finished last season with a record of 7-7 and placed 10th in the SMAC tournament. It placed fifth and seventh in the Lackey and Parkville tournaments, respectively.

But the Panthers needed a coach when Pat McCall, who had guided the team for six seasons, stepped aside.

‘‘I had been coaching the youth league for a while and I knew they were looking for a new coach,” Bartley said. ‘‘I asked [Patuxent Athletic Director Steve] Crounse if he was searching for a new one and that I would fill the position. It just fell into place, and here I am. I’m just going to try the best I can to build up the program.”

‘‘Mike has been involved with our youth wrestling for several years,” Crounse said. ‘‘He is a positive role model from our community and will work very hard at establishing both the tangible and intangible qualities we want to instill in our wrestling program. He is highly respected by our student-athletes and will bring a lot of enthusiasm to the program.”

Lauver, who should grapple in the 130-pound weight classification, said he’s already noticed a difference.

‘‘Our practices are a lot different because now we’re focusing on a lot more on strength and upper body training,” Lauver said Tuesday during a break from practice. ‘‘I think it’ll make us a better wrestling team. I think he’ll be a good coach, and I like him a lot.”

‘‘I believe in hard work and teaching fundamentals and determination,” Bartley said.

When asked for his assessment of the team he’s just inherited, Bartley said: ‘‘The talent of the team is pretty good overall. I haven’t seen them in a live match yet so I’ll be able to judge them more once I see them against a formidable opponent. I think we’re on schedule.”

Bartley attended Northwood High in Silver Spring and was undefeated on the junior varsity team before being called up to varsity. He later finished fifth in the regional meet. His wrestling career came to a screeching halt when he broke his ribs in a match his senior season.

He graduated from Northwood in 1984 and went to Montgomery College for two years. He played defensive end for the school’s football team his freshman year. He also played five years of rugby for the Silver Spring-based Maryland Old Boys Ruby Club.

He is currently employed at Eagan McAlister Associates, a government contracting firm.

He has a wife of 18 years, Kathleen, daughter Lauren, a sophomore at Patuxent, and two sons, Matt, 13, and Zach, 9.

‘‘Mike is going to bring strong leadership and a commitment to excellence,” Crounse said. ‘‘His mission is to establish an attitude and unwavering work ethic in our wrestlers. He has already shown excellent commitment to Patuxent High School and will be a tremendous asset to our overall athletic program.”

‘‘We want to have a great season and get a lot of guys to regionals and states, and our weight classes are stacked,” Lauver said. ‘‘I think we’re going to have some success this year, and I think Coach is going to help us do that.”

‘‘I’m very eager to get the season going,” Bartley said moments before heading into the wrestling room, ‘‘I’m tired of scrimmages, I’m ready for matches and tournaments.”

E-mail Michael Reid at mreid@somdnews.com.