At the March 15^th Board meeting, Dan Park and Rocco D’Arcangelo, wait to receive their Lion’s Pride Award, along with Casey Molt and James Hargrave who are holding theirs. The awards were presented by Camille Baker, Board Member, and Josh Khalif, student, who filled in for his dad, Board member Yuri Khalif. The wrestling coaches were honored for their dedication to the wrestling teams and the outstanding accomplishments realized this year by the team. (photo caption) 

The LMTSD wrestling team achieved amazing success this year and much was due to the phenomenal coaching provided by James Hargrave, Casey Molt, Rocco D’Arcangelo and Dan Park. Besides having a love for the sport, each brings a passion to helping develop youth and each views wrestling as a way in which to do that. Each of the coaches was recruited by Dan to work in the program, and each speaks about Dan’s ability to “hook” you into wanting to be a part of the LM wrestling family. “Somehow, each said, you just can’t say “no” to Dan.” 

One thing is for certain. Jim Hargrave is a proud graduate of the Lower Moreland Township School District where he began wrestling in 7^th grade at Murray Avenue. He is a sports-lover and started playing baseball in 1^st grade. He was, in fact, a 3-sport athlete (football, baseball and wrestling) in high school and currently works as a building sub in the district. Jim is a graduate of West Chester University. Prior to becoming a wrestling coach, Jim worked as a volunteer with Mark Mayson, who he views his “idol.” When asked what the pinnacle of this season was, Jim noted that it was watching the wrestlers become one big family and watching the students grow. It seemed that everything just clicked, he said. Our success came a little earlier than expected. 

Although Casey Molt was a competitor in high school when he played sports for the Upper Moreland School District, he is a staunch support of Lower Moreland Township School District now. He attended West Chester University where he majored in Science Kinesiology and minored in Health and Physical Education. He also holds a masters degree from Gratz College. At Dan’s urging, Casey served as a volunteer in the district for three years before becoming a paid coach and became hooked. Although he never wrestled, he was a competitor on the football field. Casey describes wrestling as a fascinating sport because you see kids who give it their all, win or lose, and do it with grace. Wrestling, also, teaches you about life, he suggests, in that there is always someone better than you despite the success you may have. In addition, Casey coaches basketball and soccer. When asked what the pinnacle of this season was, he noted the growth he has seen in the students. Casey views his sister as his idol. Currently she serves in the Navy as a nurse and is stationed in Japan.

Rocco D’Arcangelo is no stranger to wrestling. He is a graduate of Abington High School and Ursinus College where he majored in Business Economics and minored in Communication. Rocco began wrestling at age 4 at the Rizzo PAL (Police Athletic League) in Philadelphia and was instantly hooked on the sport. He noted that “once you wrestle, everything is easy.” He added that “you don’t fear the match, you fear the practice.” Rocco enjoys wrestling because you learn what you need to do to be better to get to the next level. Coaching brings him gratification when he is able to suggest a move that a student doesn’t think will work, it does and the student goes on to win the match.  The pinnacle of success for Rocco was seeing the self-respect the kids have for one another. Remember hearing that Rocco knows wrestling?  He has 93 career wins and was inducted into the Abington High School Wrestling Hall of Fame.

For Dan Park, wrestling comes with being a member of the Park family. He comes from a family of wrestlers and through the ’90s had brothers who were on the LM teams. In fact, Dan shared that wrestling was the glue that held his family together. He began wrestling at age 10 and set a record in high school with 86 matches. His brother broke a record with 89 wins. Dan, too, views Mark Mayson as a great role model and credits his LM coaches with instilling a love of the sport and one special coach is the reason why he went into teaching. Dan is a Lower Moreland Township School District graduate who earned a degree in Business Administration and K-12 Business, Computers and Information Technology Teaching Certificate from Temple University. Last year, the team went undefeated in the league but lost in the championship. Dan views this whole season as a dream come true and underscores that “you are only as strong as the team around you. Being able to trust the people you work with is huge and is the key to success.”