PHS names new wrestling coach

PALMER — Dale Ewart’s first hire of a head coach as Palmer High School’s activities director is for the program that may be closest to his heart.

Ewart, who stepped down as Palmer’s head wrestling coach after 13 years with the team after his promotion to PHS activities director last month, has named PHS assistant Grady Powell his successor.

“I wouldn’t have probably accepted (the activities director position) if I didn’t think there was somebody who could take over and do it well, carry on things that we’ve been doing,” Ewart said Monday of his hire of Powell, a five-year assistant with the team. “It definitely made the decision a lot easier, and it will make for an easy transition.”

Ewart took control of the PHS wrestling program in 2000, and had nine wrestlers on his first roster. In the years that followed, Ewart and his staff built Palmer into a contender. Last season, Ewart’s Moose had twice as many state qualifiers on the roster, 18, than Ewart had wrestlers during his first season as head coach.

Last season, Palmer moved 18 into the state tournament for the second time in Ewart’s tenure, finished fourth in the team standings, boasted a pair of state finalists (Luke Heun and Mason Cochran), and crowned a state champion — Cochran at 120 pounds.

“I think we’ve taken a big step,” Ewart said. “We have good depth. The quality is really good.”

Part of Palmer High’s success is due to its relationship with the Palmer Junior Middle School and Mat-Su Matmen freestyle youth program.

“I’d say that’s 95 percent of it,” Ewart said. “We decided to make a concerted effort. We decided to make a change to get more kids out.”

Powell has worked with all three programs, and Ewart said that is a big reason why he named Powell the new head coach of the wrestling team.

“I really don’t think there’s going to be a lot of changes in philosophy. It’s exciting, it’s going to be a clean transition,” Ewart said. “I fully expect when I walk (into practice), it will look like it was when I was there.”

Powell echoed Ewart’s sentiments.

“Nothing’s really changing. It’s the same program, we’re shooting for the same things since I got here,” Powell said Monday. “We’re on the same page.”

Powell, who has worked with the PHS and PJMS programs, since he moved to Alaska from Arizona five years ago, has championship experience as a coach. In Arizona, Powell helped lead Show Low to an Arizona Class 3A state titles four times during a five-year span. Powell, who coached wrestling for 15 years in Arizona, said his team won back-to-back titles on two separate occasions.

Ewart said Powell’s coaching experience in Arizona was also a factor.

The smooth transition will include the return of each of Palmer’s coaches. Assistants Daniel Graham and Gary Alcock are back, Powell said. Powell has also added PJMS assistant coach Chris Andersen, a former Palmer High wrestling standout, to the high school staff. Ewart will help out as a volunteer assistant, he said.

“I’m really excited. We’ve got a good squad coming back,” Powell said.

Powell, who has been working with Palmer’s 2014 senior class since those athletes were in the eighth grade, said he’s also excited about the future of Palmer wrestling. Palmer Junior Middle School won a state title last season with a team led by seventh-graders. That group will make the move to high school for the 2014-15 season.

“I would compare that group to the seniors we have this year, or even better,” Powell said.

Palmer starts the 2013-14 schedule Nov. 15 at the Nikiski Duals and will host the annual Lancer Smith Memorial Nov. 22-23.