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Celebrating Mt. Abraham Wrestling And Founder Rod Cousino

photo by provided Rod and Shelly Cousino can't count how many matches they watched or miles they traveled, but the pair measures the success in the determination and character built for each athlete involved in the Mt. Abe wrestling program.

photo by provided Coach Nick Mayer and the 2016 Mt. Abe wrestling team presented this photo to Coach Rod Cousino and thanked him for his dedication and his starting of the Mt. Abe wrestling program in 1970.

photo by provided Sophomore Roman Mayer was one of the success stories and moments for the record books this year in the wrestling program with his state championship in the 120 pound weight class.

photo by Mark Bouvier Father of Mt. Abe Wrestling Rod Cousino.

photo by Mark Bouvier Mt. Abe Varsity Wrestling Coach Nick Mayer congratulates Rod Cousino for his years at the helm of the program.

Tuesday March 7, 2017

By Cookie Steponaitis

There was palpable electricity in the air at the 2017 Vermont State High School Wrestling Championships as 26 teams took to the mat over a two-day period and stories were written, heroes emerged and all present witnessed a sport that forever changes those who compete in it. Don’t believe it? Just ask Shelly Cousino, wife of Mt. Abraham Union High School Wrestling program founder Rod Cousino who was in the stands and calling home with almost a blow by blow chronology of the event. When sophomore Mount Abraham Eagles Roman Mayer took the state title in the 120 weight class the gymnasium erupted into applause.  Earlier, Eagles Ben Murray and Kevin Pearsall qualified for New England’s with a top three finish at states,resulting in five of the six Mt. Abe wrestlers entered placing in the top six. The many Mt. Abe parents and fans had much too cheer about over the two day event. The icing on the cake was Roman Mayer being voted the 'Outstanding Wrestler" for the State Tournament. No one smiled bigger than Mount Abraham retired teacher and coach Rod Cousino as the team celebrated the wins and selection of Coach Nick Mayer as the Vermont Wrestling Coach of the Year. Cousino was looking at generations of Eagles wrestlers who took to the mat themselves in past decades and were now there to coach, help or watch their children or grandchildren learn the lessons of a great sport and proud Mt. Abe tradition.
    It was 1964 when Rod Cousino graduated from the old high school in Bristol and went off to Springfield College in Massachusetts to become a physical education teacher. While Cousino was away at college the town passed a bond vote to create a new high school. Cousino returned home as a Physical Education teacher from 1968-1983 and began the Mount Abraham wrestling program in 1970. “Of course Springfield, Massachusetts was the birthplace of basketball,” explained Rod Cousino, “so you know my college education included coaching classes in basketball but it also included wrestling and gymnastics. I was very fortunate to work with Doug Parker who was the wrestling coach at Springfield and my first mentor as a coach. He was the gentlest person I have ever met and yet he got the most out of his kids. I attended most of the home meets while at Springfield as many students, like myself, were drawn to the sport. I learned a great deal from him about  teaching, coaching, wrestling and how to reach students.”
    Returning home to the brand-new school, Cousino and the rest of the faculty and students opened the building in the fall of 1968 with the outside done and not much more inside complete. “We had no library, no pool, no gym and some classrooms,” chuckled Cousino. “We brown bagged lunch every day because the kitchen and cafeteria weren't done yet. That was an incredible way to bond the students and staff. We were really like family.” The new school provided the opportunity for development of new programs and coaching opportunities. While Cousino would coach JV Basketball for two seasons and JV Baseball for seven seasons, it would be the wrestling program that would capture his heart and passion. While student teaching in Middlebury, Cousino worked with his second coaching mentor Hubie Wagner who started the MUHS Wrestling program. “I really liked the way he taught and coached,” Cousino.reminisced. “He was tough on his kids but very fair to them."  I actually worked with him in the football program while student teaching, not wrestling.
    Whether it was matches, clinics or meetings of different teams, the ideas and support of the coaching community was pivotal in creating programs statewide. During his first year on the staff, Cousino taught physical education in a double classroom to 9th and 10th graders and since the gym was not in place wrestling and gymnastics had to fit into the double classroom and became the beginning feeder program for wrestling. Taking the team to meets all around the state, at home, and to the state tournament every year, Rod and Shelly and the wrestlers' parents were the fans and booster club rolled into one. "At the end of each year we would hold a team dinner for the wrestlers and the parents  at our house and serve spaghetti.  We would have a slide show and honor the accomplishments of each team member. Some of those wrestlers still remark how much that meant to be a part of the wrestling family.”
    “I always felt my job was to help the students build skills and character without ego,” recounted Rod Cousino. “Wrestling as a sport builds their individual character and is simply hard work. You have to accept that out on the mat you are there by yourself and you will show both your strengths and expose your weakness. I watched kids change not only their demeanor but develop a sense of self. This past weekend at the state championships I watched two wrestlers finish with one pinning for the win. They then go to their opposing coaches and shake hands. They then came to the center of the mat and gave each other a hug. While it is fierce competition on the mat, there is a bond and a sense of accomplishment for not only the winner but the other competitors.”
    On January 3rd the Mt. Abe Wrestling team invited Rod Cousino to a match and surprised Cousino with an award honoring his founding of the program in 1970 and his commitment to generations of Eagle Wrestlers. Referring to him as the ‘Father of Eagle Wrestling’ the crowd included grapplers from decades ranging from the first team in the 70’s throughout Cousino’s involvement into the 80’s and beyond. When asked to explain what this honor met to him Cousino quickly diverted the praise away from himself and onto the athletes. “My greatest pleasure is seeing former wrestlers coming back to coach or support the other wrestlers. The kids have embraced the program and I am sure Eagle wrestling is on its way to new heights in the years ahead.”
    Cousino paused for a moment and wrapped up the interview with the codicil, “Now this isn’t going to be an article all about me is it? I want the emphasis where it should be, on the kids and the coaches who have been instrumental in keeping the program going,” concluded Mt. Abe Wrestling’s father. Yes Coach Cousino, there is little doubt that any of the over one thousand people who attended over the two days of the competition celebrated the kids and that all Eagle wrestlers are proud of their season, coach and program. Yet all teams have a story, history and beginning and rooted in the celebrations. The state titles of today are the echoes of  each lesson learned and milestone reached under the watchful eye of Coach Rod Cousino. Rod is quick to add that having his wife's strong support of him and the program were vital to the program/s success. The Valley Voice celebrates the great season of Mt. Abe wrestling and pays tribute to the roots of the success, determination and passion of one man to start at the beginning and see each athlete develop skills to last a lifetime.

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