Pinned for time

Norway coach Bob Madigan giving up sport he loves, developed

By BURT ANGELI, Sports Editor
NORWAY — Mary Pat and Kelly Jo Madigan won out over Tyler Havens.

That’s what it basically came down to when Bob Madigan decided to leave Norway High School wrestling.

Spending time with his wife and daughter had been dwindling while working long hours with the wrestlers.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love the sport,” said Madigan, who dropped his track coaching duties after the 2006 season. “I just got overwhelmed with around-the-clock sports.”

The decision hit home when Madigan was playing catch with his nine-year-old daughter and supervising Havens in the weight room. A bystander asked Madigan why he wanted to give it up after 11 seasons as head coach and assistant.

“Because I spend more time with him (Havens) than her, and I meant it,” said Madigan in referring to the sport and not the individual. “It had to change.”

Havens, under Madigan’s tutelage since sixth grade, overheard the conversation and agreed with the coach.

Madigan, 43, who played college football at Michigan Tech, recalled head coach Bernie Anderson’s priorities of “your faith, your family, your education and football, in that order.”

Noted Madigan, “For a while I’ve been putting sports before my family.”

Madigan’s wrestling coaching career spans from unpaid assistant with Bruce Romick to becoming Norway’s second head coach in 1998.

The Knights turned out a district title along with several U.P. individual champions.

Melissa Girard, one of his former wrestlers, went on to win a women’s national collegiate title.

“That was pretty neat,” Madigan said.

Madigan describes wrestling “as tough sport that takes tough kids.”

“It’s a very demanding sport, but it’s a great sport,” he said. “I can’t think of a better sport for a kid to learn hard work, discipline, work ethic, teamwork and ups and downs.”

Madigan’s wrestling highlight is likely his energy devoted to U.P. kids competing in the state individual tournament. Knights assistant Joe Sade and West Iron head coach Jeff Chernach worked with him contacting and convincing school administrators of the idea.

“It was probably a seven or eight-year process,” Madigan said. “We finally got everybody on board and got it going.”

The dream culminated this past season with U.P. wrestlers joining those from Lower Michigan at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

“We (U.P.) did really well and we’re going to get better,” Madigan said of the state individual tournament.

By the way, the aforementioned Havens registered a creditable seventh in the Division 4 215-pound class.

“That was really something special,” said Madigan in assessing the state experience. “A lot of the U.P. coaches just looked at each other and said ‘Wow.’

“Actually, we should have been there earlier. I think we’re going to do pretty well in wrestling in the future.”

The decision for U.P. wrestlers to compete in the state individual tournament was dramatic.

“They went from an 18-team (U.P.) tournament to a 600-team (state) tournament(with districts and regionals),” Madigan said. “This was really positive for the sport, really meaningful.”

Madigan has no doubts that Norway will find another coach to develop the program.

“They’re going to find somebody and they’re going to have a program here,” he said. “And you know what? It’s going to be a good program.

“The last thing I want is to see this program die.”

Madigan says Norway-Vulcan Area Schools supports wrestling although it hasn’t been easy matching up with the likes of juggernaut Iron Mountain.

The Knights have been ranked in the U.P. poll along with some tough seasons.

“For a small school things are going to go up and down,” Madigan said. “You’re going to go through bad and good.

“We’re going to be good again some day. Real good wrestlers are coming.”

Madigan will remain on the Knights football staff. But wrestling will be an unforgettable time in his coaching career.

“I don’t regret one moment of it or the relationship I’ve had with the kids, ” Madigan said. “I’ve had a great, great experience here at Norway.

“I’ve been very fortunate.”



(Burt Angeli can be reached at bangeli@ironmountaindailynews.com))