2012 (see link at end of article). Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times
By Luke Needham ‘24
A new era of wrestling has come to Conestoga Valley. Charley Combs has joined the CVHS wrestling team as the new head coach for the ‘23-‘24 school year.
Combs graduated from Hernando High School in Brooksville, FL in 2004 with 120 career wins and a silver medal in the state tournament in 2003 at 152 pounds.
“I attended and wrestled at the US Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University.” Combs said, “Also wrestled collegiately at King College in Bristol, TN.”
Combs has been wrestling his whole life and notes his favorite move is the Jap-Whizzer.
“It’s a lethal and powerful throw,” he remarked. “I even hit it in the state finals my junior year of high school for the fastest takedown in Florida state finals history.” He did it in three seconds.
“My first match was when I was 3,” Combs noted when asked about his first match. “I probably got destroyed.”
After wrestling all over the country, Combs eventually ended up making his way to PA. He learned about a position opening at Conestoga Valley High School through his close friend, Tommy Ruble.
“Most of my relationships, especially in PA, are through wrestling,” Combs described. “It’s even how my parents met.”
“Started coaching right after college,” Combs said. “Been doing coaching for 18 years.”
When asked what situations wrestling has put him in that he otherwise wouldn’t be in, Combs commented, “An opportunity to lead young men through a unique level of discipline.”
It is not often that one keeps a sport in their life for so long, but to be this involved shows Combs’ true dedication to the sport. He talked about what has propelled him to keep this sport in his life for so long, and knows that it’s tough because he went through it.
“The effect it has on younger people,” Combs responded. “It is a vehicle of discipline unlike any other that exists today.”
He plans on keeping wrestling in his life. “As long as my body and wife will let me,” Combs commented.
Combs knows that he will be a great addition to the team and hopes that in the coming years he can bring the program to places it has never been before.
“[My goal for CV in the next 5 years is to become] the standard bearer not only in the Lancaster Lebanon League, but also in eastern Pennsylvania,” Combs noted. He is also very excited about “Our potential, for sure, obviously.”
“Discipline, work-ethic, and responsibility,” are what Combs described to be the most important things he has gained from the sport of wrestling.
He also describes that improving the quality of his coaching will mainly be attributed to being a coachable coach, and making sure the people assisting him have a similar view.
When asked how he would pitch the sport of wrestling to a kid, he had to pause for a moment.
“The indescribable value you get, not only short term, but long term as well,” Combs said. “It’s the most difficult thing you can do. If it is difficult, there’s value in it, and it is hard to pitch that.”
Charley Combs knows the sport of wrestling inside and out and will provide a lot of growth for the Conestoga Valley wrestling program. Conestoga Valley wrestling will not be the same.
Link for cover shot: https://www.tampabay.com/sports/community/wrestler-charley-combs-sets-his-sights-on-the-olympics/1222855/