Even Odds: Street passes the torch

By Pat Ryan - 12/10/2008

Wrestling coaches are multi-taskers by nature. That comes from their ability to be a few places at once during both practices and tournaments.

At the annual All-Class state meet at MetraPark arena in Billings, there are a dozen mats in action at once during the first day. Four mats each are set aside for Class AA, Class A and Class B-C. There were years when Butte High had wrestlers in action on all four mats, making it difficult for a single coach to be on top of all the action.

Assistant coaches don't have the prestige, but they're always ready to step up on the corner of the mat and be the voice of support for the wrestler in action. They're also there for the more menial tasks, such as running conditioning sessions and keeping the troops in line.

For years, one of the men in a supporting role was Kevin Parvinen, a former Butte High wrestling great. He was there behind head coach Jim Street, providing support and whatever else he could give to the team.

The roles were reversed last Friday when the Bulldogs opened the season against Glacier and defending state champion Flathead. While Parvinen has spent a little time in the accustomed head coaches' position at the corner of the mat, Street looked slightly out of place at the end of the row of seats beside the mat. There was more than one occasion when the new coach conferenced with the old coach, but Street has made it clear that he's an assistant — a volunteer at that — and Parvinen is the man holding the reins.

Still, it was reassuring to see Coach Street there.

Butte High's other assistant coaches include Dean Gransbery, Rick Rowling, Brian Anderson Eric Dunmire and Thomas Kissell.

Butte Central wrestlers shouldn't have any trouble finding a coach this season, as Kevin Cox is the lone man out on the team. Along with head Maroon coach Robin Moodry, assistants Bear Stillwagon and Jake Cox are available.

With guys like that on the sideline, it looks like Central might make up in quality what it's missing in quantity.

Who could forget As is often the case with feature story writing, I often find myself with a case of tunnel vision. The subject draws me in and I sometimes can't see the forest through the trees.

That's what happened with the story about Colt Anderson and his uncle Jim Anderson in last Sunday's paper.

Jim Anderson is a guy I could talk to about just about anything for a week straight and not get bored. Colt is humble almost to a fault. He's someone we can all be proud of as a representative of Butte, America.

So when I failed to mention that Colt has more than one uncle who played football at Big Sky Conference schools, it wasn't because I don't like them or because I don't think they're deserving of ink — I just didn't think about them.

Ask the missus — I am a thoughtless son-of-a-something-or-other.

Pat Sullivan (Colt's mother's brother) played for the Grizzlies in the 70s and Barry Sullivan played for the Bobcats at the same time as Jim Anderson. They were not only teammates at Montana State, they shared the Swede Dahlberg award their senior year at Butte High.

Hopefully the Judge understands.

Other brothers Brothers Mitch and Michael Hawbaker both earned starting time on last year's Butte High basketball team. According to proud father and grandfather Fraser MacDonald, the last time brothers started side by side for Butte High was back in 1979 when Terry and Scott MacDonald suited up for the 'Dogs. The Hawbaker boys are nephews to the MacDonalds.

Fraser MacDonald was also at the Griz football game last Saturday, sitting in the general vicinity of Jim Anderson. He relayed the following via email: "Colt Anderson nearly tears a would-be receiver's head off as the ball arrives near the end of the game. His Uncle Jim ... about ten rows from him, when everything got quiet, hollered ‘Merry Christmas from Butte!' He got the biggest cheer of the day!!" — Pat Ryan's column appears here most Wednesdays. Contact him at 496-5570 or at Pat.Ryan@mtstandard.com