KMA-So coach Mac, you have put so much time and your own personal money to start wrestling on Kauai. I believe you had the first wrestling
club on Kauai and now you are hard at work trying to get wrestling in
the KIF. You are also still competing in wrestling against guys in
their primes. On top of all this you are very busy as an
electrician. Where do you find the energy to do all this?

Coach-Ha, ha, it is the spinach! Seriously I love wrestling, jiu-jitsu, really, in all of it's forms! I have such passion to learn and be involved with grappling!

KMA-It is obvious that you love grappling. How did you get into
grappling/wrestling?

Coach-In 1966 my sister was in high school and I was in middle school, she was dating a state champion wrestler. My sister's boyfriend brought me to the high school practices over the holiday break, that was my first exposure to organized wrestling, 42 years later I think I am starting to get the swing of it! You do know I leave tonight to compete in the USA Wrestling National Championships, right? I will be competing in Veterans division D in both the Greco Roman and Freestyle events.

KMA-Why do you think it is important to have a wrestling program on Kauai?

Coach-There are very many reasons! As far as the effort to get the KIF to sanction the sport goes, it is clearly to give Kauai's high school students the same opportunity as the students in every other public school, ( and most private schools). in the State! Every year Hawaii high school wrestlers earn scholarships, it is just unfare that our students don't have that opportunity. I could go on and on about the ancillary benefits for those who do not become champions, such as staying in school , out of trouble, etc. Some of our youth are just not inclined towards other school activities, but they will really take to wrestling, it is a fact, I can give hundreds of examles of lives changed for the better!

KMA-What is the status of wrestling getting into the KIF? I heard a rumor that it was pretty much a done deal a few weeks ago but now I read you have a meeting with the KIF board. Is there resistance to getting wrestling in the KIF, if so why?

Coach-Well, how do I say this; okay first of all I have been advocating scholastic wrestling on Kauai for my own kids, kids of friends, kids in my club and really our whole community for 18 years now. Yes, resistance has been consistent! I am always asked to speak about the resistance, puts me in sort of the devil's advocate's position. Let me say that the reasons to resist have changed over the years, next week I will meet with the KIF Board, I will let you know what they say!

KMA-I understand the USAW is starting to have submission grappling
tournaments because of the rising popularity of Jiu-Jitsu and
submission grappling. Are you planning on holding a tournament like
this on Kauai some day?

Coach-Yes, USAW sanctioned submission grappling as a form of wrestling clearly because FILA has. It has been stated officialy that FILA is considering making submission grappling a style of wrestling in the Olympics. I think this is very exciting. To me it is all the same, whether you call it grappling or wrestling. I believe we all need to move forward with the sport and continue to all get better! I am trying hard to have submission grappling as part of my annual tournament this June, working on the details, I will keep you posted!

KMA-Your student Daniel Quinlan has been doing well in wrestling
tournaments. Do you think he can get a wrestling scholarship?

Coach-Yes, Daniel finished second in the high school state championships this year as a junior. As you know he boards at Lahainaluna on Maui so he can wrestle. I am sponsoring Daniel's trip to the Nationals with me this week, he will compete in the Junior Wester Regional Freestyle division. In July we travel with Hawaii's high school National team to Fargo North Dakota for the Cadet and Junior Nationals, it is the biggest wrestling tournament in the world, last year 24 mats and just over 4200 high school wrestlers who qualify in their respective states. Fargo will be an important part of Daniel's continued development in wrestling. We also have clinics and tournaments here on Kauai and Oahu to keep Daniel focused this summer. Daniel has a legitimate shot at a Division 1 wrestling scholarship, however he still has a lot of work ahead of him this summer and next school year!

KMA-Do you have anything else planned that we should know about?

Coach-Well, mainly the proposed clinics and tournaments in June, I will keep you posted