Dave Dodson said there are countless memories he will take away from his time coaching the North Carroll wrestling team. For now, however, he is intent on creating more memories at home.
Dodson, 38, stepped down last week after compiling an 87-10 dual-meet record during his six seasons as coach of the perennial Carroll County power. All told, he spent 16 seasons coaching wrestling, football, lacrosse and track at the school.
With three children on the verge of entering high school, Dodson said it was time for a change.
"We talked about it as a family, and the feeling was now is the time," said Dodson, a Pennsylvania resident. "My wife had a health issue last year, which made it difficult to be away a lot, and my children are heading into high school. That was a big reason -- just missing a whole lot of what's going on in their lives.
"Once you miss time with your kids it's gone and you don't get that time back."
Dodson points to several career highlights, including serving as an assistant under Dick Bauerlein when the Panthers captured the inaugural Class 2A-1A dual-meet state title in 1994. He also was an assistant when Tommy Kiler won individual state titles in 1995 and 1996 (at 135 and 140 pounds, respectively).
He was the head coach two years ago when Tyler McLeod captured an individual state title at 140 pounds, leading a team that finished second to La Plata at the Class 4A-3A state meet. This season, Dodson's Panthers ended La Plata's state winning streak at 52 to advance to the Class 4A-3A dual meet finals.
"Those are memories that will last a lifetime," he said.
The demands of the job, however, were intense.
During the season, Dodson said he didn't get home most nights until 6:30 or as late as 10:30 on match nights.
"If you have a tournament -- which we have a lot of -- I'll be gone for an entire weekend," he said, pointing to a recent period around the time of the county tournament when he saw his kids once in six days. "My son Jordan wrestled for two years and I may have seen five matches. I'm off somewhere else coaching other kids and I'm not even seeing my own kid wrestle. That's tough."
Dodson said he and wife Stephanie decided in January that this would be his final season, though he left the door open to possibly resume his career at some point.
North Carroll plans to launch a search for his replacement in the coming weeks. Athletic director Troy Warehime said he plans to meet with principal Kim Dolch in the next few days, then open the job to Carroll County teachers.
"If we don't find a qualified candidate, then it can be opened up to the public," said Warehime, adding that Tommy Davidson, the team's only paid assistant, will have first shot at the job.
"It's such a high-profile position -- we're always at the state level, year in and year out -- so the process will be very thorough," Dodson said.
No matter who is ultimately selected, Warehime said Dodson will be difficult to replace.
"It's definitely going to be a blow to our program," Warehime said. "Dave ... was the JV coach under Dick Bauerlein, so he learned how North Carroll wrestling has a tradition and a certain way of doing things. When he was given the varsity job, he took that and molded it into his coaching style.
"He will be missed."
Winter All-Conference
Here's a look at Carroll County athletes who have been named first-team All-Conference by the Monocacy Valley Athletic Association:
Boys basketball
Blue Ridge Conference: Cammeron Woodyard, Winters Mill, guard; Devon Lesniak, Winters Mill, guard; Matt Duerr, Century, forward; Chris Leggett, Century, forward; Colton Weaver, Liberty, guard; Dan Martinez, Liberty, guard; Tyler Cockey, Century, guard; Rashad Blackwell, Winters Mill, forward.
Chesapeake Conference: Garrett Williams, North Carroll, guard; Bobby Krauk, Westminster, forward.
Girls basketball
Blue Ridge Conference: Jordan Neville, Winters Mill, guard; Cassie Cooke, Winters Mill, guard; Kate Schwarzmann, Century, guard; Jen Peters, Winters Mill, guard; Stef McLallen, Century, guard; Jen Nevius, Francis Scott Key, guard; Kelsey Franklin, South Carroll, guard; Cyndi Scurci, South Carroll, guard.
Chesapeake Conference: Caitlin Bach, North Carroll, forward.
Wrestling
Blue Ridge Conference: Chris Wampler, South Carroll, 103; Shawn Eyler, Francis Scott Key, 112; Cam Hobin, South Carroll, 119; Rion Reiter, South Carroll, 125; Nolan Rinker, Francis Scott Key, 130; Zach Downing, Winters Mill, 135; Gus Mohlhenrich, Winters Mill, 140; Brian Dressler, Liberty, 145; Will Sharkey, Winters Mill, 152; Zac Stavish, South Carroll, 160; Tyler Mullen, South Carroll, 171; John McHale, Liberty, 189; Zach Croft, Liberty, 215; Sam Isermoyer, Liberty, 285.
Chesapeake Conference: Brian Lillehaug, Westminster, 103; Mason Goretsas, North Carroll, 119; Kyle Lemmon, North Carroll, 125; Bryan Hoff, North Carroll, 135; Ricky Pownall, Westminster, 145; Chris Stout, North Carroll, 152; Jean Luc Vidal, Westminster, 160; Dan Merrill, North Carroll, 171; Kyle Forbes, North Carroll, 189; Jason Thomen, North Carroll, 215; Nathan Shaffer, North Carroll, 285.
Boys indoor track
Blue Ridge Conference: No team submitted.
Chesapeake Conference: Brendan Morales, Westminster, shot put.
Girls indoor track
Blue Ridge Conference: No team submitted .
Chesapeake Conference: Alexis Hurd, North Carroll, 55 dash; Lindsay Bickel, North Carroll, 800; Sophie Thomas, North Carroll, 1600; Jess Huber, North Carroll, pole vault; North Carroll 3,200 relay team.
To submit news and story ideas about Carroll County high school athletics, contact Rich Scherr at CarrollSports@comcast.net.
Dodson, 38, stepped down last week after compiling an 87-10 dual-meet record during his six seasons as coach of the perennial Carroll County power. All told, he spent 16 seasons coaching wrestling, football, lacrosse and track at the school.
With three children on the verge of entering high school, Dodson said it was time for a change.
"We talked about it as a family, and the feeling was now is the time," said Dodson, a Pennsylvania resident. "My wife had a health issue last year, which made it difficult to be away a lot, and my children are heading into high school. That was a big reason -- just missing a whole lot of what's going on in their lives.
"Once you miss time with your kids it's gone and you don't get that time back."
Dodson points to several career highlights, including serving as an assistant under Dick Bauerlein when the Panthers captured the inaugural Class 2A-1A dual-meet state title in 1994. He also was an assistant when Tommy Kiler won individual state titles in 1995 and 1996 (at 135 and 140 pounds, respectively).
He was the head coach two years ago when Tyler McLeod captured an individual state title at 140 pounds, leading a team that finished second to La Plata at the Class 4A-3A state meet. This season, Dodson's Panthers ended La Plata's state winning streak at 52 to advance to the Class 4A-3A dual meet finals.
"Those are memories that will last a lifetime," he said.
The demands of the job, however, were intense.
During the season, Dodson said he didn't get home most nights until 6:30 or as late as 10:30 on match nights.
"If you have a tournament -- which we have a lot of -- I'll be gone for an entire weekend," he said, pointing to a recent period around the time of the county tournament when he saw his kids once in six days. "My son Jordan wrestled for two years and I may have seen five matches. I'm off somewhere else coaching other kids and I'm not even seeing my own kid wrestle. That's tough."
Dodson said he and wife Stephanie decided in January that this would be his final season, though he left the door open to possibly resume his career at some point.
North Carroll plans to launch a search for his replacement in the coming weeks. Athletic director Troy Warehime said he plans to meet with principal Kim Dolch in the next few days, then open the job to Carroll County teachers.
"If we don't find a qualified candidate, then it can be opened up to the public," said Warehime, adding that Tommy Davidson, the team's only paid assistant, will have first shot at the job.
"It's such a high-profile position -- we're always at the state level, year in and year out -- so the process will be very thorough," Dodson said.
No matter who is ultimately selected, Warehime said Dodson will be difficult to replace.
"It's definitely going to be a blow to our program," Warehime said. "Dave ... was the JV coach under Dick Bauerlein, so he learned how North Carroll wrestling has a tradition and a certain way of doing things. When he was given the varsity job, he took that and molded it into his coaching style.
"He will be missed."
Winter All-Conference
Here's a look at Carroll County athletes who have been named first-team All-Conference by the Monocacy Valley Athletic Association:
Boys basketball
Blue Ridge Conference: Cammeron Woodyard, Winters Mill, guard; Devon Lesniak, Winters Mill, guard; Matt Duerr, Century, forward; Chris Leggett, Century, forward; Colton Weaver, Liberty, guard; Dan Martinez, Liberty, guard; Tyler Cockey, Century, guard; Rashad Blackwell, Winters Mill, forward.
Chesapeake Conference: Garrett Williams, North Carroll, guard; Bobby Krauk, Westminster, forward.
Girls basketball
Blue Ridge Conference: Jordan Neville, Winters Mill, guard; Cassie Cooke, Winters Mill, guard; Kate Schwarzmann, Century, guard; Jen Peters, Winters Mill, guard; Stef McLallen, Century, guard; Jen Nevius, Francis Scott Key, guard; Kelsey Franklin, South Carroll, guard; Cyndi Scurci, South Carroll, guard.
Chesapeake Conference: Caitlin Bach, North Carroll, forward.
Wrestling
Blue Ridge Conference: Chris Wampler, South Carroll, 103; Shawn Eyler, Francis Scott Key, 112; Cam Hobin, South Carroll, 119; Rion Reiter, South Carroll, 125; Nolan Rinker, Francis Scott Key, 130; Zach Downing, Winters Mill, 135; Gus Mohlhenrich, Winters Mill, 140; Brian Dressler, Liberty, 145; Will Sharkey, Winters Mill, 152; Zac Stavish, South Carroll, 160; Tyler Mullen, South Carroll, 171; John McHale, Liberty, 189; Zach Croft, Liberty, 215; Sam Isermoyer, Liberty, 285.
Chesapeake Conference: Brian Lillehaug, Westminster, 103; Mason Goretsas, North Carroll, 119; Kyle Lemmon, North Carroll, 125; Bryan Hoff, North Carroll, 135; Ricky Pownall, Westminster, 145; Chris Stout, North Carroll, 152; Jean Luc Vidal, Westminster, 160; Dan Merrill, North Carroll, 171; Kyle Forbes, North Carroll, 189; Jason Thomen, North Carroll, 215; Nathan Shaffer, North Carroll, 285.
Boys indoor track
Blue Ridge Conference: No team submitted.
Chesapeake Conference: Brendan Morales, Westminster, shot put.
Girls indoor track
Blue Ridge Conference: No team submitted .
Chesapeake Conference: Alexis Hurd, North Carroll, 55 dash; Lindsay Bickel, North Carroll, 800; Sophie Thomas, North Carroll, 1600; Jess Huber, North Carroll, pole vault; North Carroll 3,200 relay team.
To submit news and story ideas about Carroll County high school athletics, contact Rich Scherr at CarrollSports@comcast.net.