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Show p "JB I A very proud coach Frank Houston was given the 1997 coach of the year award by the Utah State Wrestling Coaches Association. Houston and his team recently won the state championship tournament held in Price last week for the first time in the history of Panguitch wrestling. Peers Name Frank Houston Wrestling Coach Of The Year By John Yardley PANGUITCH Panguitch High School wrestling coach Frank Houston was recently named coach of the year by the Utah State Wrestling Coaches Association. When wrestling coach Frank Houston was in the sixth grade, Panguitch High School started a wrestling program under the direction of music teacher, Alan Smith. Mr. Smith, with the help of some of the local townspeople, including Monte Marshall, put together an alternative for boys who did not play the other game in town - basketball. Through those early years, Frank, along with dozens of other boys worked hard to leam techniques, buy mats and spread the "good news" of another sport. He played basketball as a sophomore in high school, as well as performing as a wrestler, but when he fouled out of a game in two minutes once, he decided he had better use his aggressive style somewhere besides the basketball court. Frank went on to compete in the state wrestling finals him senior year, a rare feat in those days when there were only two classifications: class A and class B. Since that time, Frank Houston has been involved in his favorite sport in one way or another. He helped with the local wrestling program, both in the school and in the Bantam program for many years as a volunteer, while he operated the SUE market along with his brother John Houston. Later, Frank gave up on business, got his teaching credentials, and began to teach and coach at Panguitch High School. Already holding a master's degree from Utah State University, Frank was not a stranger to academics and the rigors of the education business. As a coach and teacher, Frank is a great friend to many boys and girls. He sincerely cares about students and athletes, a trait passed along from his teachermother, Dorothy Houston. A recent change in assignments has brought him back as the head wrestling coach (See Houston Named Wrestling Coach of the Year On Page 2A) Houston Named Wrestling Coach Of The Year From Front Page and a teacher at the middle school in Panguitch. Three years ago, Frank and his boys set a goal of winning the state championship in wrestling. This was a lofty goal, considering that Wayne and Piute are the current holders of the state hardware over the past decade and they dwell in the same region as the Bobcats. Saturday night in Price at the state 1-A wrestling tournament, Frank Houston and his wrestlers realized their dream planted in the heads of a group of boys some 34 years ago, by winning the state tournament for the first time in history. k Standing at the head of the team was the man named coach of the year, James Frank Houston III. Frank gives credit, rightfully so, to his current assistants, Phil Singleton, Jeff Cradtree, and Calvin Poll. He also credits all the past coaches, his wife, JeriLu, who is a loyal and patient supporter. |