By NESTOR CRUZ
Special to The Leader
Since wrestling was introduced in Arkansas high schools five years ago, two Little Rock Air Force Base sergeants have dedicated themselves to mentoring Beebe High School’s wrestlers and transform them into a winning team.
Tech. Sgt. Michael Heister, a 19th Equipment Maintenance Squadron training section chief, and Staff Sgt. Anthony Robertson, a 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electronic warfare craftsman, guided the Badgers to this year’s state championships.
And they did it by volunteering.
“I read an article and found out they were going to start a wrestling program in this state,” said Robertson, who began coaching the team five years ago.
The article listed several schools that were starting wrestling for the 2006-07 school year and invited residents with wrestling experience to help out.
“I lived in Beebe, so I contacted the coach, told him I wrestled in high school and asked if he wanted any help,” Robertson said.
About a month later, Heister heard about the start of the program and decided to lend his nine years of experience to the fledgling team.
“I’m passionate about the sport, so as soon as I heard that they were starting a program, I wanted to get involved,” he said.
The two maintenance NCOs began with humble goals.
“In our first year, we were focused on introducing the sport,” Robertson said. “Arkansas wasn’t a sanctioned state, so even if you won state, it didn’t count. You had to go through the probationary period.”
In 2008-09, Beebe’s third year of wrestling, the Arkansas Activities Association sanctioned the sport.
“Josh Freeman, our 103-pounder, won the state championship for his weight class that year,” Robertson said.
There are 14 weight classes.
Beebe had two other state champions that year. Coaches voted Sammy Williams who wrestled in the 171-pound class, “outstanding wrestler.”
“Being nominated as outstanding wrestler is recognition f a player’s discipline, courtesy, respect and proper sportsmanship,” Heister said.
The team’s winning streak continued under the guidance of the two airmen.
“During our first year, we had only one medal winner, but the next year we had six,” Heister said.
The Badgers won 10 medals in the 2009-10 school year and followed that up with 12 last season. Medals are given to the top six state winners.
The volunteerism is fulfilling to Robertson and Heister thanks to their passion for the sport.
“We definitely have an emotional, vested interest in these kids,” Robertson said. “We watched them grow from young kids with an attitude to young men getting ready to leave school. It’s really gratifying.”
Heister agreed.
“They’re teaching themselves how to be wrestlers,” he said. “And it’s getting to a point now where we step in and fill in the gaps and we polish.”
Both airmen understand the image they project when they interact with the community.
“They see us and the way we present ourselves and ask us what we do and what it’s like being in the Air Force,” Robertson said.
“One of our wrestlers asked me for a character reference, and I thought it was really cool that he would take my opinion of him so highly,” Heister said.
Beebe coach David Payne said he appreciates everything the airmen have done for the team.
“Mike and Anthony had been volunteering since the birth of the program, and I am glad they have chosen to stay,” Payne said. “It takes a special kind of person to spend the amount of time they do without pay. When we go to tournaments, which usually take an entire weekend, they are always there.”
