I just wanted to publicly apologize first and formost to my family and also any one else who may have been offended by my actions.My son Jake lost a match I never expected him to lose,and I berated him in front of many people.Not only did I humiliate my son,I embarrassed my wife and myself with the way I reacted.I let my emotions get the better of me and didn't even think about his disappointment of not making state,and for that I apologize.
I would also like to take this time to thank everyone at TOHK you guys made a huge positive impact on Jake this year,and I know he is really lookng forward to next season.

Mr. Murdock,

I know of your son. He's a good kid and I'm sure has appreciated your apology. It means a lot to a kid for their Dad to say "I'm sorry son". Just to let you know that I think we've all fell guilty of this at one time or another. Wrestling is a very passionate sport and it's not our team against your team (for the most part) it's my kid vs. your kid.

I didn't see what happened but I know you weren't the only one guuilty of doing such a thing Saturday. I was unfortunate enough, while waiting for my son's match on mat 6, to watch a Chapparal coach come out on the mat because his son needed his inhaler and rip him up one side and down the other right out on the middle of the mat in front of everyone. If that wasn't bad enough, he ripped him again after the match very animatedly and loud. I felt really bad for the kid. I thought to myself, if that dad could only see himself, he would probably never do that again. I'm not trying to bash the guy, sometimes our emotions get the best of us. I hope maybe he'll read this and realize that maybe he owes his son an apology also. After watching this I made sure after my son lost his last match that I gave him a hug and told him I was proud of him.


A short story about my sons first year. It was his second tournament ever, he was on bottom just kinda loafing off and man was I getting mad. I was hollering at him through the whole match. A guy next to me put me in my place in a very polite way. I wish that I could remember the guy so that I could thank him. He just looked at me and said, you know dad, he's having fun though. Wow, something so simple, so polite,and very effective. Remember dad's, and I'm preaching to myself to, it's just wrestling, it's meant to be competitive AND fun. How fun is it for them if we're humiliating our kids in front of a whole gym full of people.

this was my son's second year, still in D1. I have a hard time remembering that he IS 7, not 17. After listening to myself on video last year I decided that no one will care (or even remember) if he was a D1 state champ. What matters is that it is fun enough for him to still be wrestling at 17 when it matters a little more!

Now I sit quietly most of the time, cheering good effort and technique, trying to encourage him positively. Now if I could just get MOM to be quiet while she tapes!

For every bad thing you tell a kid it takes 7 good things to even it back out even if you have to make somthing up.

give you child a hug after ever match win or lose, you may not remember what you say to them in 10-20 years BUT they will.