After a lengthy recruiting process, Deaken McCoy has made his decision. The Galion High School senior wrestler has accepted an offer to further his education and wrestling career at the Indiana Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Indiana Tech.
McCoy signed a national letter of intent Sunday night at his home church, Wesley Chapel, in Galion, with family, friends, high schools coaches and Indiana Tech head wrestling coach Mike Ester looking on.
“I knew I wanted to wrestle in college when I realized it was my best shot to get a free education when I started wrestling nationally,” the two-time state-qualifier who competes in the 285-pound weight class said. “The recruiting process has been fun and exciting. I chose Indiana Tech because I fit in well, I like the school and am getting nearly a free education.”
A member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Indiana Tech is located in Fort Wayne.
“I plan to major in k-6 education with a minor in coaching,” said McCoy. The Galion standout currently has 127 career victories in high school.
The Warriors had their most successful season in program history last winter, winning the NAIA East Regional championship, placing seventh at the national duals, and also seventh at the NAIA National Championships. Nine members of that squad qualified for the nationals, with three earning All-America status. As a team, the Warriors finished the campaign ranked eighth in the nation.
“We’re excited to have him,” Ester said of his latest recruit. “We have high hopes and big expectations.”
In discussing the recruiting process, McCoy said, “I visited five schools and had several more to visit. I gained the most interest with college coaches after I placed at Flonationals (last April).” Flonationals is considered to be the premiere high school wrestling tournament in the country.
Brent Tyrrell, head wrestling coach at Galion, has watched McCoy develop as a wrestler.
“I am excited for Deaken … he has worked very hard to get where he is now,” said Tyrrell. “This is what he has been working for. He took a visit there and liked the campus and the coach. It seemed like a great fit for him. He got an offer that is hard to turn down. So now he is going to go continue his wrestling career and get a very good education to go along with it for very little cost. You can’t beat it”.
Mark and Mary McCoy are Deaken’s parents.
“We are pleased with the decision. He will fit in great there on that campus,” Mary McCoy stated. “The head coach shared his faith with Deaken and that encouraged us as parents. It has been a long (recruiting) process and we have found that overall it has been a positive experience.”
“We can relax knowing that he has chosen a good school and his education will be financed, and he will get to do what he loves. We knew when he was in elementary school that he would be good and excel, but are so proud that he has worked as hard as he has,” said Mark McCoy. “When he placed at the JC Gorman as a freshman, we knew he had the drive and determination to go where ever he wanted to go.”
Mary McCoy added, “Our greatest hope is that he will obtain a college education and have a successful college career, in the classroom and on the mat … that he will be the man God has destined him to be.”
With the decision now behind him, Deaken’s attention is currently on his final season as a Galion Tiger. “My goal is to win the state championship and go undefeated,” he stated. “Wrestling has taught me how to compete and has taught me self-discipline.”
Jon Kleinknecht has been covering sports in North Central Ohio since 1980.
