John Smith sat in a chair in his usual spot at the corner of the mat with assistant coaches around him.
As he coached his young team, maybe the youngest team he’s ever wrestled with, against a top-five opponent, he had an extra coach beside him. One who also wrestled that day and who Smith is happy to have back.
Daton Fix, OSU’s 133-pounder, sat beside him and yelled advice to teammates after he had just recorded a win of his own.
“Felt good having him there next to me,” Smith said. “There’s things that he wants to get across to his teammates, you know, and it’s good to see.