Coach Hodges still has some ties to the Osawatomie Wrestling Community. He was my first "official" Wrestling Coach when I was only in the 4th grade. My brother and brother in law both wrestled for Troy in HS at OZ. And now I teach and coach here. He started some clinics for kid wrestlers down at our City Auditorium and the HS boys helped out showing us the basics. This effort later became what is now the Osawatomie Kid's club. I remember being totally impressed when "that old fat guy" would throw those HS boys all over the mat like rag dolls when he demostrated moves! And I know that each and every boy that wrestled for Mr. Hodges had the utmost respect for him as well we should. He commanded the mat. There are some teachers still around here (and still teaching!) that taught with Troy in the 70's and they are thinking about him as we receive updates. We hope for the best and have good reason for hope considering how tough that guy is!

Coach Packard