MORE STATE COVERAGE... Logan Brown Wins State Title... Tom Barbee, 31 years worth the wait... Logan Brown, more than a state champ Logan Brown kisses the state championship medal he earned.

Saturday, March 4, 2006 - COVINGTON
Tom Barbee is a patient man. For 31 years he has waited and waited, but he finally has a state wrestling champion.

"It hasn't sunk in," said an emotional head coach after his protege made history. "It probably won't sink in until I have time alone to reflect on everything."

Tom Barbee began coaching wrestling at Covington in 1975 as an assistant. In the early '80s he became the head coach and coached until his sons began wrestling at the high school level in the mid-'90s. Over the years he had helped establish a strong program along with Jack Schwamberger.

After his sons graduated, Barbee reclaimed the position and continued his quest to develop a state champion.

Throughout the years there has been numerous outstanding wrestlers from Covington who made the trip to state. Despite having numerous state placers, nobody was able to get over the hump and make it to the state finals.

"We got close a few times, but for some reason or another we couldn't get it (a state finals appearance) done," said Barbee. "We came close with Graig Vanderhorst, who placed third twice. We came close with Eric (Vanderhorst). I thought we would get one with Mike Stephen, but things didn't go our way. It's been a long haul."

Many folks thought Barbee's final chance at a state champion wrestler left when Stephen graduated, but there was a freshman on the squad who had the drive and determination that kept Barbee's competitive juices flowing.

That kid was Logan Brown.

"Logan was always such a determined kid," said Barbee. "Even as a sophomore we would ask him to wrestle up a weight class to give him better competition and he was always willing to do that. We'd tell him we wanted him to move up and wrestle a state placer and Logan would be like, Let's Go."

Brown is happy Barbee decided to coach so long and was able to be a part of his championship triumph.

"I remember a few years ago when Mike (Stephen) graduated everyone was wondering if coach (Barbee) would continue to coach," said Brown. "I think he saw something in me that got him excited about a possible state championship."

The past four years has been nothing but hard work as pupil did what his teacher expected.

"He (coach Barbee) always pushed me hard," said Brown. "I liked it because it made me a better wrestler. He made sure I took care of myself with what I ate before matches and he made sure I had the right mindset during matches."

Barbee didn't get Logan to where he is today alone as others have chipped in their time to contribute as well, including a former Barbee and Schwamberger protege, Eric Vanderhorst.

Although Barbee could probably still hang with the young punks on the mat, Vanderhorst was able to suit up and work on moves with the kids who wanted to stay after practice. This helped Brown as he was able to correct any that he was make in matches.

Plus, the assistance of Mike Jennings and Mike Stephen also helped as they worked Brown over after practices.

"Those guys would come in afer practice and beat on Logan and beat on him, but Logan loved it because it made him better," said Barbee. "He knew if he could compete with those guys he had a good chance of being successful at tournaments."

All of the years of sacrifice and the last four years of hard work with Logan Brown finally paid off this weekend. Brown was able to give Barbee something he has desired for 31 years and Barbee had the opportunity to give Brown something he worked so hard to achive...a state championship medal.

"That was the icing on the cake," Brown said of Barbee being the one to place the medal around his neck.

And the icing on the cake for Barbee was Logan Brown becoming a state champion.

State Placers Under Tom Barbee...