Appling County head wrestling coach Mark Green has spent the last nine years in the Appling County School System and has enjoyed it, teaching introduction to business & technology (which is the first class that students take in the Business, Management, and Administration Cluster). Besides teaching business, Green also helps to coordinate Appling’s Work-Based Learning Program, and he is also an assistant football coach.
During his time at Appling County, Green has seen the wrestling program grow in popularity. He credits the success to an active role played by the community and administration.
“It definitely takes a village, a community, to help our wrestling program remain competitive,” he said. “For our program to function financially, our booster club, which is composed of parents and community members, does an excellent job of fundraising, maintaining a positive relationship with our team and administrators, and recognizing our team for their accomplishments.”
Appling provides an opportunity for students to succeed in academics and athletics and the collaboration of the community and school, according to Green.
“Our principal, Dr. Gene Starr, supports the wrestling program through his presence at meets, sharing our successes on social media and the school website, and provides me with administrative backing as needed,” he said. “ACHS athletic director, JT Pollock, runs an effective weight training program, recruits students to compete in wrestling, and advises me on the setting up and facilitating of matches at our school. We are very fortunate to have a large, diverse group of supporters for the ACHS Wrestling Team.”
Though Green has always had an affinity for wrestling, the high school he attended did not have a wrestling program. 
“In high school, I played middle infielder and outfielder for the baseball team and receiver for the football team,” he said.
“Unfortunately at that time, my high school didn’t have a wrestling program; although, I was interested in that sport too.”
One of Green’s greatest influences in coaching was his father, who coached a lot of different sports at different age groups.
“Growing up, I saw the joy that he experienced participating in sports and influencing the lives of other people,” he said.
“While I was in high school, I was given the opportunity to start my coaching career at the local recreation department. I knew then that coaching was what I was meant to do. Coach Green and Coach Luckie mentored me athletically and personally. After practice each day, they would spend time with me in the weight room. Not only did they coach me on strength and endurance, they coached me on life, which sparked a passion for success and self-fulfillment that I am still striving for today.”
While more schools are picking up wrestling, it’s a sport that still requires athletes to do a lot of work on their own through different regional and national organizations. Wrestling is a very technical sport that requires a great deal of wrestling technique, along with tremendous athleticism and strength.
Green spends about 75 hours per week teaching and running the wrestling program. He also spends additional time with administrative duties and watching film.
“Without the support of my wife, Angela, and our 14-year-old daughter, Jaycee, I would not be able to coach wrestling,” he said. “Thankfully, they love the sport and enjoy traveling with the team. During wrestling season, our family extends to the wrestlers, since we spend most of our time with them. In the event that we get a chance to spend time together without the involvement of the wrestling team, we enjoy hanging out at home, watching movies, going to other sporting events, and entertaining friends and family.”
One area that Green has seen improve in wrestling is how much better the coaches are getting and how it is leading to better wrestling programs across the state.
“Wrestling coaches have improved over time,” he said. “With the popularity of the sport, more high school wrestlers have pursued the sport at the post-secondary level and come back to coach at the high school level. This benefits our student-athletes, since they are provided with more knowledge on techniques and the opportunities at the post-secondary level. More wrestling facilities have opened so that student wrestlers can train year-round.”
Just like any other sport, a successful wrestling program takes planning and preparation. It’s key to have good assistants, a strong middle school program and AAU/Wrestling USA programs that essentially introduce potential wrestlers to the sport and allow them to learn basic techniques and start to compete in tournaments.
“I think the family aspect of wrestling is one of two most undervalued aspect of the sport,” Coach Green said. “It is the only sport where athletes compete against each other, hang out together, and cheer for each other, all at one event. Wrestling fans join together to show support for all of the athletes. Coaches of other teams offer advice for further success to all athletes at the tournament or match. Ultimately, it is such a family atmosphere that is hard to put into words. It is just something that can only be experienced. The second is the fact that this sport offers kids of all sizes a chance to compete.
There are no specific requirements to help benefit you in the sport, such as height and size, like in other sports. This in turn, helps keep more kids off the streets, so to speak, and more involved with school activities.”
Green understands that coaching is not just about wins and losses. It’s about teaching athletes to be productive citizens and letting them know that you have got their back. Everything else comes naturally.
“Wrestling can shape a young person into an outstanding adult,” he said. “The sport builds character, self-discipline, determination, pride, and confidence. It also builds healthy eating and workout habits. In the words of Dan Gable, ‘Once you wrestle, everything else in life is easy’,” Green said.
SE-CC-2.15-Green
Green keeps Appling wrestling moving forward
By John Wood
