Wrestling: Ponies
On Friday morning, Iola Middle School and High School wrestling coach Jason Bates was named the 2017-18 Kansas Middle School Coach of the Year by the Kansas Wrestling Coach Association.
Bates just finished up his fourth season at Iola and has the middle school program stocked with talent primed to revitalize a high school program that is currently rebuilding.
Bates was nominated by Burlington wrestling coach Doug Vander Linden.
It was my honor to nominate Coach Bates for this award based on the outstanding season IMS had on and off the mat in the fall of 2017, Vander Linden said. Coach Bates has continued to develop Iola Wrestling at several levels. He is also using Social Media as a way to connect with todays student-athletes and also to grow the wrestling base in Iola and beyond. The future looks bright for Iola Wrestling as the seeds that he and several others have planted continue to take root and grow in a positive direction.
Bates will be recognized during Fritz Knorr weekend at the KWCA Clinic in Salina on Oct. 5-6.
