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Former Trojans wrestler heads up his own Idaho prep wrestling dynasty
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| Atlantic native Brian Barlow has coaching his wrestling team at Blackfoot High School in Idaho to a Class 4A State Championship a month ago, earning the state’s coach of the year honors. Barlow has posted a 109-14-2 dual record in six seasons as head coach of the Broncos. Photo Contributed |
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By Drew Herron, NT Sports Editor
Blackfoot, Idaho.
Do a Wikipedia search for that town and you’ll learn the community of roughly 10,600 people boasts the largest potato industry in Idaho, thus trumping it for nation and the planet. Blackfoot is the "Potato Capital of the World."
Now, the town can lay claim to a more recent accomplishment and an old Atlantic Trojan has a hand in that.
Last month, the Blackfoot Broncos—a perennial player in the Idaho’s Class 4A prep wrestling scene—won their first state championship in nine years after a string of runner-up finishes.
Seven different Broncos placed and the Brian Barlow led Blackfoot team edged their fiercest opponent Sandpoint 178-165.5 for gold.
"I’ve always wanted to live out here," Barlow said in a phone interview Friday evening. "I’ve always wanted the outdoor experience…the hunting and the fishing."
The former Trojans wrestler and class of 1971 graduate has had quite the six-year stretch as head wrestling coach of one of Idaho’s strongest programs. After 12 years of serving as an assistant under longtime head coach Kent Taylor (the second winningest coach in Idaho High School history), Barlow has posted a 109-14-2 dual record while earning top-nine team state finishes every year since he was given control of the program.
His first three years (2002-04), Blackfoot teams placed second in each trip to state before winning the entire crown the final week of this February. During that stretch, his teams have produced an astounding13 state individual champions.
As remarkable as his tenure has been, Barlow at one time was slow to take to wrestling, having played basketball up through his sophomore year before taking interest in wrestling, then a new sport at AHS, head up by Lynn Barnes.
"I looked over there and thought to myself; ‘Man, that’s a pretty cool sport that Coach Barnes is starting.’ I knew I wanted to try it."
Jumping in his junior year at AHS, Barlow enjoyed success his first season in before a knee injury derailed him as a senior.
Undeterred and hungry for the sport, he then went to the University of Northern Iowa where he toiled to make the cut.
"That program was impressive, champions upon champions," Barlow said. "I was just a wannabe there…practice bait."
Cracking the lineup wasn’t in the cards, but instead Barlow got a first-class education in the sport under Chuck Patton, and a burning desire for more of what he seemingly couldn’t have. Or get enough of.
Nearly a decade passed—Barlow and his high school sweetheart Debbie Larsen—having settled in Idaho. Eight years spent as a fish and game warden with the state before the sport came knocking through an open job teaching science at Blackfoot High School…with the opportunity to coach.
Thirteen years later, Barlow replaced a man now in the national wrestling hall of fame. Barlow says the transition from Taylor’s to his administration was seamless—evident in runners up finishes his first three teams at the helm. But, he was a little intimated going at it alone without someone he considered a mentor.
"It was scary as heck," Barlow jokes. "This was a man I’d compare to Lombari, Landry, Gable, whatever you want to call it. It was tough to live up to these expectations and ideals."
Once the classes began to cycle, he became more at ease. The kids he inherited as freshman, the kids who were all under his influence, began to blossom and Barlow was reminded why he loves this sport so much.
Styles and philosophies aside, perhaps there is no sport where you get out what you put in.
"The cool thing about wrestling is it’s pretty prehistoric. I’m going to be tougher than you physically and mentally…and I’m going to show it," he said.
Comments on these stories are welcome, but please include your complete first and last name, and a phone number that can be used to verify the posting. Phone numbers will not be published.
Do a Wikipedia search for that town and you’ll learn the community of roughly 10,600 people boasts the largest potato industry in Idaho, thus trumping it for nation and the planet. Blackfoot is the "Potato Capital of the World."
Now, the town can lay claim to a more recent accomplishment and an old Atlantic Trojan has a hand in that.
Last month, the Blackfoot Broncos—a perennial player in the Idaho’s Class 4A prep wrestling scene—won their first state championship in nine years after a string of runner-up finishes.
Seven different Broncos placed and the Brian Barlow led Blackfoot team edged their fiercest opponent Sandpoint 178-165.5 for gold.
"I’ve always wanted to live out here," Barlow said in a phone interview Friday evening. "I’ve always wanted the outdoor experience…the hunting and the fishing."
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His first three years (2002-04), Blackfoot teams placed second in each trip to state before winning the entire crown the final week of this February. During that stretch, his teams have produced an astounding13 state individual champions.
As remarkable as his tenure has been, Barlow at one time was slow to take to wrestling, having played basketball up through his sophomore year before taking interest in wrestling, then a new sport at AHS, head up by Lynn Barnes.
"I looked over there and thought to myself; ‘Man, that’s a pretty cool sport that Coach Barnes is starting.’ I knew I wanted to try it."
Jumping in his junior year at AHS, Barlow enjoyed success his first season in before a knee injury derailed him as a senior.
Undeterred and hungry for the sport, he then went to the University of Northern Iowa where he toiled to make the cut.
"That program was impressive, champions upon champions," Barlow said. "I was just a wannabe there…practice bait."
Cracking the lineup wasn’t in the cards, but instead Barlow got a first-class education in the sport under Chuck Patton, and a burning desire for more of what he seemingly couldn’t have. Or get enough of.
Nearly a decade passed—Barlow and his high school sweetheart Debbie Larsen—having settled in Idaho. Eight years spent as a fish and game warden with the state before the sport came knocking through an open job teaching science at Blackfoot High School…with the opportunity to coach.
Thirteen years later, Barlow replaced a man now in the national wrestling hall of fame. Barlow says the transition from Taylor’s to his administration was seamless—evident in runners up finishes his first three teams at the helm. But, he was a little intimated going at it alone without someone he considered a mentor.
"It was scary as heck," Barlow jokes. "This was a man I’d compare to Lombari, Landry, Gable, whatever you want to call it. It was tough to live up to these expectations and ideals."
Once the classes began to cycle, he became more at ease. The kids he inherited as freshman, the kids who were all under his influence, began to blossom and Barlow was reminded why he loves this sport so much.
Styles and philosophies aside, perhaps there is no sport where you get out what you put in.
"The cool thing about wrestling is it’s pretty prehistoric. I’m going to be tougher than you physically and mentally…and I’m going to show it," he said.
Comments on these stories are welcome, but please include your complete first and last name, and a phone number that can be used to verify the posting. Phone numbers will not be published.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of atlanticnewstelegraph.com.
Cindy Ogle wrote on Apr 13, 2007 9:53 PM:
" Having been a fan of the reflective Coach Barlow and his diverse wrestling teams year after year makes it easy to appreciate this big win. I have no doubt that one day Coach Barlow's own successor will be as humble about filling some very big shoes. Bravo, Brian!
"
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