SMITHSBURG – In business, it’s called passing the torch.
In track, they pass the baton.
But wrestling … maybe it’s passing the headgear?
Whatever it may be called, that’s where Matthew Crutchfield finds himself.
Crutchfield is Smithsburg’s new wrestling coach, becoming the guy who replaced Joe Dietrich, the Leopards’ longtime coaching fixture.
But the move isn’t as drastic as it seems, though. That’s because Crutchfield knew the ropes of the job before he started climbing them.
“I was lucky enough to work with Coach D last season,” he said. “I was one of his assistant coaches last year, so it was an honor to work with him.
“I coached the youth program at Smithsburg for six or seven years. Half the team I know already – three of them are my own children. But I’ve coached at least 10 of them previously. Then then the others that I didn’t coach until last season, I coached them last season as well. We’ve pulled in a lot of new wrestlers this year, luckily. We building a full male team this year and an almost-full female team.”
Dietrich finished his Hall of Fame career when he relinquished his wrestling position earlier this year, ending a 50-year career that entailed coaching the Leopards in wrestling, along with football and lacrosse. In fact, he introduced lacrosse in 1990 and coached the boys for 27 seasons. He also spent some time coaching at North Hagerstown.
Dietrich kept Smithsburg’s wrestling program alive in 1978 when he filled the coaching job. Without him, the program would been disbanded.
Crutchfield was on the end of the ride as Dietrich finished a 47-year run on the job. In the span, 11 Leopards won state titles and were part of the 56 who stepped on the state tournament podium. The team was a three-time state runner-up.
It was all led to Dietrich earning spots in the Maryland State Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for lifetime service to wrestling in 2011 and the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
“As far as the shoes I’m stepping into, I’m not here to prove anything to anybody,” Crutchfield said. “I’m here to make sure the wrestlers have fun. If they know a little more at the end of the season than they did in the beginning, I’ve done my job. I don’t focus on scores. I don’t focus on wins and losses. Winning to me is everybody getting through the season safely, having fun and learning something.
“My approach is I want the kids to have fun. I like fundamentals and I like a family-oriented team. We are trying to do a lot of team bonding type things to get a nice, cohesive family style to the team.”
That familiarity with wrestlers, along with his depressurized approach, has help make the transition into the head coaching role seamless.
Crutchfield isn’t the new coach. He’s the next coach with the same objectives to reach.
“Challenges?” he said. “There aren’t any more than any other coach in wrestling.
“There’re challenges in getting high schoolers to get their paperwork when you need them to. Fundraising and stuff like that, but other than that, it’s been great.”
When it comes to wrestling, Crutchfield has experience, along with some newcomers who are just learning the sport. That objective is the same for everyone.
“Technique is something that takes time to learn,” he said. “We have quite a few new wrestlers, so I’m giving them grace with their learning curve.”
Smithsburg got its first taste of match action on Dec. 10, when the Leopards hosted Catoctin in their home opener.
Although it was a start of a new era, Smithsburg took time to honor Dietrich’s career.
A number of Dietrich’s former charges returned to honor their coach for all his years of service. In his honor, the first home match of every season will be named the Joe Dietrich Legends Classic.
Smithburg fell short in the match, but just competing was considered a win for Crutchfield. That’s one thing that will remain the same in his tenure.
“As far as success on the mat goes, I like to take it match by match and period by period,” he said. “So, if you are going against a state champion and your goal is to try for a takedown and get it or try or try and don’t get it, that’s a win as far as I’m concerned.
“If you have a plan and you execute any part of it, that’s a win.”
