By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

“Getting to Know” is an ongoing series created to spotlight the coaches and administrators that are guiding today’s Portage County student-athletes to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Today, we get to know Ravenna High School wrestling coach Eric Kline, who is in his second season leading the Ravens’ program.

Q: Hometown?

A: Ravenna, Ohio.

ERIC KLINE

Q: High school?

A: Ravenna High School. Class of 1995. Wrestled and played baseball. After high school, attended a trade school and earned a degree in electricity.

Q: Current occupation?

A: Management/supervisor with AT&T (Ohio Bell) for 23 years.

Q: What inspired you to become a coach?

A: My children and my wife Rachel encouraging me. I wanted to be involved with my kids’ activities and give back to my community.

Q: What makes being a coach at Ravenna special to you?

A: Being from Ravenna and graduating here, but also having the opportunity to coach and influence kids who may not have the best life situations at the current moment at home. Also, to be able to help guide them that we can be successful here at Ravenna and in life now present and future if we just stay focused and work our butts off for our overall goals in life, we can accomplish anything we want to. These kids can really do it if they are committed to their life goals!

Q: Who has been your biggest influence?

A: James Winning gave me my first opportunity to help him coach the Ravenna youth program back in 2007, but definitely longtime Ravenna wrestling coach Steve Reedy and my entire family.

Q: Favorite TV show?

A: Toss up between The Sopranos or Breaking Bad.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: The Rocky series.

Q: Favorite musical artist?

A: Hank Williams Jr. or Don Williams. It depends on my mood for the day.

Q: Favorite food?

A: Anything from my mother in law, Dorothy Horner.

Q: Best vacation?

A: With my family or Traverse City, Mich.

Q: Shoutout to former teammates?

A: Fellow graduates and teammates Ben Hampton, Ben Ribelin, Moton Hughley and Brian Cannon.

Q: Favorite quote?

A: “Wanna be happy for an hour? Eat a steak. Wanna be happy for a day? Play golf. Wanna be happy for a week? Go on a cruise. Wanna be happy for a lifetime? Put your faith in Jesus Christ.” — Lou Holtz.

Q: Describe your coaching philosophy?

A: Just all around tough and physical. Physically, mentally, emotionally. Having my wrestlers know at all three levels of youth, middle school and high school, that in our program, we are expected to reach and exceed our potential every day with no exceptions.

Q: Favorite restaurant?

A: Arnie’s Steakhouse.

Q: Advice you would give the younger version of yourself?

A: Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is our best teacher if we are willing and able to correct it.

Q: Favorite coach from your past?

A: Steve Reedy.

Q: Coaching resume?

A: Sixteenth year of coaching wrestling (most in the youth programs). Head youth coach at Ravenna Wrestling (6 consecutive years as Youth Wrestling League champions and a 2014 OAC Youth State Championship fourth-place finish); Rootstown youth wrestling head coach (2015-2020, with four straight league championships and an OAC Divisional State Championship in 2018.

I have been fortunate to have helped coach more than 50 state youth qualifiers and over 25 OAC and OYWA state placers.

Ravenna Middle School wrestling head coach (2020-21); Ravenna High School wrestling head coach (2022-present).

Q: Favorite sports team?

A: Cleveland Browns.

Q: Favorite athlete then?

A: Barry Sanders.

Q: Favorite athlete now?

A: My youngest son Ben (bowling).

Q: First job as a teenager?

A: Tractor Supply Company.

Q: Family member that always gave you the best advice growing up?

A: My mom and dad. Teresa Benton and Kenny Kline — and my entire Kline family.

Q: Favorite candy?

A: Peanut M&Ms.

Q: First car?

A: 1984 Ford Thunderbird.

Q: Best friends?

A: Anyone that is a positive light in my life and makes me a better person.

Q: Most memorable moment as a player?

A: Ravenna wrestling’s 1993 state championship team and state runners-up in 1995.

Q: Most memorable moment as a coach?

A: Seeing new wrestlers grow and get their first wins is the most rewarding thing as a coach. Just their joy alone, you cannot describe in words to see their feeling of getting their hand raised. Also, all of the coaches I have coached with over the last 16 years.  All of those guys get the credit — not me.  We had a brotherhood like no other.  They made me better, and I hope I have helped make them be better coaches, too, and I consider all of them great friends to this day.