By Kyle LoJacono
Staff Writer
WESLEY CHAPEL — Wesley Chapel High School wrestling coach Brian Simmons is new to most of his team, but he is not new to the school.
The 30-year-old is the oldest of three brothers, all of whom are or have coached wrestling at Pasco County high schools, and is in his second stint with the Wildcats. Simmons has already made an impression on his “new” team.
“He is very good at inspiring us,” said sophomore Nick Popolillo. “He is also really funny and is always making jokes about my friend (Tony Ruggiero) on the team. He just knows when to make a joke and when to be serious.”
Ruggiero, freshman, is a 103-pound wrestler for Wesley Chapel.
Simmons first coached at the school from 2003 to halfway through the 2007-08 wrestling season.
“I was deployed to Iraq for the second time from 2008 to 2009,” Simmons said. “I was in a pre-set hospital there.”
Simmons is a sergeant first class in the Army Reserve and also was deployed to Iraq 2003 to 2004.
“I love to coach these kids and to be a positive role model for them,” Simmons said. “The interaction with the kids and helping them get better as wrestlers and help them life when I can with is what really keeps me coaching.”
Simmons wrestled at 119 pounds while in high school. His brothers, Matt and Kris, also wrestled in high school and have made their mark on Wiregrass Ranch High School wrestling.
Matt, a member of the Army National Guard, was the Bulls coach before leaving for training and eventual deployment before this season. Kris was deployed twice to Iraq as a Marine and is currently an assistant at Wiregrass Ranch.
“Coach Simmons does a fantastic job working with our wrestling team,” said Steve Mumaw, Wesley Chapel athletic director. “He is a great role model and coach for our wrestling team…He wants the focus to be on the kids only and doesn’t want his military background to overshadow them.”
The Wildcats are a young team, so Simmons had to develop relationships with the wrestlers while helping them get quicker and stronger.
“I try to use different methods to get through to different kids depending on what they react best to,” Simmons said. “You can’t use just one method with everyone. Some kids react better to being challenged and others need you to keep picking them up. Others don’t need much of anything at all except help with technique.”
Playing armature psychologist does not happen overnight.
“You have to get to know each of the kids because you pretty much have to test different motivation styles with each of them at different times,” he continued. “You have to wear many hats and be the good guy, bad guy and everything in between.”
The young team has had some growing pains this year to the point that the Wildcats have stopped keeping track of their record. The regular season is over for Wesley Chapel, but anything can happen in the Class 1A, District 8 tournament which begins Jan. 6 at Hernando High School.
“I think the team has really improved this year and I think we can do something in the tournament,” Simmons said. “We have just two seniors, so I think we will really use what we’ve learned this year in the future.”
Popolillo, who wrestles at 145 pounds, agreed with his coach.
“I think we can put things together and make a good showing at districts,” Popolillo said.
Popolillo’s older brother, Mario, wrestled as a freshman in high school, and it was his older brother’s influence that convinced him to join the wrestling team.
“He told me how hard it was, so I thought it would be a good way to stay in shape for football,” Popolillo said. “That was my first year, but it’s flipped and now I play football to stay in shape for wrestling.”
The sophomore plays outside linebacker for the Wildcats football team.
“Nick has come a long way from a young guy who had just one or two moves,” Simmons said. “Now when his first move doesn’t work he just goes to one of this many tricks to get points. He never gives up out there because he has great endurance and has a great will.”
Simmons also stressed the importance of junior co-captain Jake Battin, who wrestles at 215 pounds.
“Jake has really stepped up and been a leader on and off the mat for us,” he said. “He helps the team keep up their intensity no matter what is happening. Really we have a great group of guys that impress me almost every day. They make it a pleasure to coach them because their attitude has been receptive from day one.”
Wesley Chapel roster
Wrestler Year Weight in pounds
- Tony Ruggiero Fr. 103
- David Rivera Sr. 125
- Josh Coll So. 125
- Carlos Perez Jr. 125
- Chad Fee Jr. 140
- Nick Popolillo So. 145
- Freddie Williams Jr. 152
- Tom Fee So. 160
- Diego Farchakh So. 171
- Jake Battin Jr. 215
- Teddy Johnson Fr. 285
- Josh Vasquez Sr. 285
