Post by atlantaal on Dec 19, 2014 19:49:57 GMT -5
Here's some unfortunate news I learned on the ProJo h.s. sports website:
"Sad news
Condolences to friends and family of Larry West, the former Warwick Vets wrestling coach, who died Saturday at age 74.
West directed the Hurricanes to several state titles, along with a New England title, in the mid-1960s and early ’70s."
I knew Larry when I was a wrestler in the 60's and as a coach in the 70's. He was the coach who first built up Vets as state power, wresting RI dominance from Cranston East and later winning a NE team title, back when RI teams could be regular contenders. He also had great in-State battles with cross-city rival Pilgrim and coach John Pagano and emerging power Coventry and Dick Magarian. Larry coached some of the best RI wrestlers ever such as Dave Amato (former N.E. collegiate champ and long-time Brown coach), Ike Eichenfelt, Mike Maynard (wrestled at Navy), Dave Hovey (N.E. champ for URI) and the Soars brothers (Bob NE Div III champ and All-American). He was big man with a sly sense of humor and an easy social manner when he wasn't crushing your team. I remember going to his house one time in the late 70's and being amazed at his large family of young children. I had thought coaching was nearly incompatible with having a big family, but Larry was a good steward of both his wrestling family and his biological family. Coming so soon after the sad loss of George Schmeider, who was a worthy successor to Coach West as a Vets wrestling icon, this is a tough time for the Warwick Vets family and the entire Rhode Island wrestling community. Rest in peace Larry.
"Sad news
Condolences to friends and family of Larry West, the former Warwick Vets wrestling coach, who died Saturday at age 74.
West directed the Hurricanes to several state titles, along with a New England title, in the mid-1960s and early ’70s."
I knew Larry when I was a wrestler in the 60's and as a coach in the 70's. He was the coach who first built up Vets as state power, wresting RI dominance from Cranston East and later winning a NE team title, back when RI teams could be regular contenders. He also had great in-State battles with cross-city rival Pilgrim and coach John Pagano and emerging power Coventry and Dick Magarian. Larry coached some of the best RI wrestlers ever such as Dave Amato (former N.E. collegiate champ and long-time Brown coach), Ike Eichenfelt, Mike Maynard (wrestled at Navy), Dave Hovey (N.E. champ for URI) and the Soars brothers (Bob NE Div III champ and All-American). He was big man with a sly sense of humor and an easy social manner when he wasn't crushing your team. I remember going to his house one time in the late 70's and being amazed at his large family of young children. I had thought coaching was nearly incompatible with having a big family, but Larry was a good steward of both his wrestling family and his biological family. Coming so soon after the sad loss of George Schmeider, who was a worthy successor to Coach West as a Vets wrestling icon, this is a tough time for the Warwick Vets family and the entire Rhode Island wrestling community. Rest in peace Larry.