The Ridgefield wrestling program wouldn’t be what it’s at present, if not for longtime youth and highschool coach Gary Tiger.
From working with Ridgefield youth wrestling within the late Nineteen Nineties to over 15 seasons on the helm of the varsity program, Tiger has left a legacy as the center and soul of the Ridgefield program.
In late February, Tiger died after a long-fought battle towards most cancers on the age of 61, leaving a gap within the hearts of all these he had a optimistic impression on over his a few years with this system.
“Gary was a tremendously impactful coach to all the children who got here by way of this system,” Ridgefield Athletic Director Dane Avenue mentioned. “So many youngsters have benefitted from his teaching and his optimistic strategy in not simply wrestling, however life normally. He was a really optimistic one who all the time introduced a fantastic vitality to all the pieces he did.”
Tiger was additionally the previous President of the Ridgefield Youth Wrestling Membership and coached his sons Jordan and Travis from youth to varsity. Tiger had a varsity report of 149-127 over 15 seasons and produced eight FCIAC champions, eight Class LL champions, three State Open champions and 4 New England champions.
“He then took over the highschool wrestling program and did that by way of 2019,” Jim Murphy, the founding father of the Ridgefield Youth Wrestling Membership, mentioned. “He had a big effect. He had numerous vitality, he took youngsters to numerous tournaments in and out state, he launched yoga into this system and was a really profitable coach.”
Two of Tiger’s Ridgefield youth and varsity athletes (Corey Paulish and Alex Clean) have been NCAA DIII Nationwide Qualifiers. Paulish did so 3 times and was an All-American.
Considered one of Tiger’s bigger contribution to this system was his assist in the creation of the Ridgefield Problem, which has grown into one of many state’s hottest invitationals.
“The Ridgefield Problem has been round for 15 years and is among the preeminent wrestling tournaments within the space,” Murphy mentioned. “Groups are available in from New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and Gary was an integral a part of making that match successful.”
Tiger understood the significance of creating a robust youth program to coincide with the varsity program, one thing he picked up from Danbury.
“In any sport at present, it’s essential have a youth feeder program,” Murphy mentioned. “We wished to emulate Danbury and now we have had lots of people concerned through the years. It’s a important part to a great highschool program and there may be good coordination between the youth and highschool applications. He made certain there was a great hyperlink between the 2.”
Tiger started his work with the Ridgefield youth program whereas it was comparatively new, and shortly turned a key member.
“I began the Ridgefield Youth wrestling program in 1994,” Murphy mentioned. “Gary got here alongside 5 or 6 years later, and we ran the youth program on the town for a variety of years, so now we have had an in depth relationship for over 20 years.”
Tiger didn’t step away from teaching at Ridgefield till the autumn of 2021, after years of sharing teaching duties along with his son Travis. Having battled most cancers for almost eight years and training by way of seven of them, Tiger was instantly concerned within the hiring choice for the brand new coach.
“I used to be the wrestling coach at Newtown from 2014-2017 and we have been capable of get into the Ridgefield Problem our second 12 months,” Chris Bray, the 2021-2022 Ridgefield wrestling coach mentioned. “These have been my first interactions with Gary earlier than I took the job at Ridgefield.”
Tiger even sat in on the interview course of with Bray and Avenue, ensuring he left his program in good arms.
“He was there on the interview with me and the Athletic Director,” Bray mentioned. “So clearly he cared very a lot about this system and was arms on by way of the hiring course of. I inherited some high quality wrestlers that did properly this 12 months, and that clearly was attributable to Gary. I actually really feel like that is nonetheless Gary’s program and that we’re simply custodians of it.”
“Gary was the primary level of contact that I had with these guys as potential coaches,” Avenue mentioned. “So, he was actually instrumental in that course of, ensuring he wasn’t leaving this system within the lurch. He wished to ensure it was taken care of.”
Even in Tiger’s final 12 months as a coach, which was cancelled as a result of pandemic, he continued to be a optimistic drive in his athlete’s lives.
“Even throughout final 12 months with no season, he and Travis would do conditioning periods right here and there to maintain the workforce collectively,” Avenue mentioned. “They did all the pieces they might to maintain it optimistic and maintain them engaged within the sport despite the fact that what we may do was restricted.”
This fall by way of winter, Tiger nonetheless avidly adopted his workforce, which set a program report ending fourth on the Class LL championships.
“Whilst sick as he was, he would ship me emails steadily with recommendation, observations and congratulations to the blokes,” Bray mentioned. “He cared deeply about this program; it was definitely his child.”
The imprint Tiger has left on the Ridgefield wrestling program will keep on indefinitely, standing as a continuing reminder of the exhausting work and keenness he had for it.
Will.Aldam@hearstmediact.com; @AldamWill