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 Rootstown High School wrestling coach Anthony Anderson, who is in his first season leading the Rovers’ program.

ANTHONY ANDERSON

Q: Hometown?

A: Streetsboro, Ohio.

Q: High school?

A: Streetsboro High School and Maplewood JVS. Class of 1997. Graduate of Maplewood’s power equipment program. After graduation, Anderson went into a career in hydraulic equipment repair.

Q: Current occupation?

A: He has owned and operated his own hydraulic equipment repair business for the last 22 years.

Q: What inspired you to become a coach?

A: My inspiration came from my four children playing sports. I fell in love with being able to coach and mentor young athletes. Wrestling was a sport that I enjoyed coaching the most. I coached with the Ravenna youth wrestling program for 10 years. My children were moved to Rootstown, where I continued to coach wrestling at the junior-high level and I became the head coach for the last seven years. I was asked by Craig Wise if I wanted to try my hand at the high-school level, and I accepted the challenge.

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

A: I was accepted by the community and coaching staff from the first day I stepped in as coach. The entire program works together from bottom to the top, and I do not know a more supportive community that is dedicated to a wrestling program as Rootstown is.

Q: Who has been your biggest influence?

A: Coach Craig Wise. I have learned a lot about coaching from observing how he makes the program successful. From running the practice room to the behind-the-scenes work.

I have learned to be very patient as I have grown, and I can attribute that to my father. His advice over the years in every aspect of my life is the reason I have been successful.

Q: Most memorable moment as a coach?

A: Watching and coaching my children would be a highlight, but mostly I have really enjoyed watching the first-year athletes get their first wins and continue to develop into great athletes and young men.