Wasilla coach earns NWCA award

WASILLA — There are a few reasons why Nick Dougherty has spent nearly two decades coaching wrestling and receiving individual accolades isn’t exactly one of them.

It’s the athletes and the love of the sport that keep the longtime Wasilla High School assistant coach involved But the work with his athletes in the sport he loves has earned Dougherty some recognition.

Earlier this year, Dougherty was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Northwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year and honored during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Omaha, Neb.

“It was a nice thing. It’s nice to be recognized by your peers,” Dougherty said recently.

Last year, Dougherty was named the Alaska assistant coach of the year by the NWCA. From there, he became part of a pool with candidates from six other states. NWCA assistant director of marketing Tammy Todesco said Dougherty was selected by a panel of voters because of his outstanding contribution to the sport of wrestling in Alaska.

Alongside head coach Shawn Hayes, Dougherty has helped create one of Alaska’s top prep wrestling programs at Wasilla High School. The Warriors captured three state titles, 2004-06, and have annually been in the hunt for state in conference titles for a decade. Wasilla has also produced a handful of grapplers who have graduated to the Division I level.

One of the best parts about being honored at the NCAA Championships for Dougherty was his chance to see one of his former Wasilla wrestlers, Alan Bartelli, in action. Bartelli now competes for Boise State.

Dougherty said he’s been able to see Bartelli wrestle a few times since the former Warrior left Wasilla High.

“It’s very rare to see one of your kids do that,” Dougherty said.

Watching his former wrestlers, like Bartelli, is central to the satisfaction Dougherty still gets from coaching.

“To see a kid go through his career, watching him develop is huge for me,” Dougherty said. “I enjoy seeing them go and do great things.

“We’ve had some special kids come through.”

Dougherty said working with his fellow coaches at Wasilla High also keeps him on the mat. The support of the WHS administration, notably principal Dwight Probasco, has also contributed to the program’s success, Dougherty said.

Dougherty wrestled at the collegiate level, at both Central Washington and Western Montana, before his coaching career began in Alaska. Dougherty spent time in Barrow before making the move to Wasilla in 2001.

Dougherty, who grew up in Selah, Wash., began wrestling in the ninth grade. Until that point, Dougherty had played basketball, but one of his physical education teachers convinced Dougherty to give wrestling a shot.

“It was just something I was naturally good at,” Dougherty said. “It was fun to do.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.