Editor’s note: Este artículo está traducido al inglés.

Brett Terry knew transforming the Sierra Vista High wrestling team into a respectable program would require significant effort.

He knew other coaches had failed to lure athletes to the wrestling team, often leaving weight classes empty on match days. The lopsided defeats told a grim story.

Yet nothing truly prepared him for the stark reality that awaited.

The magnitude of the challenge became evident when he first opened the door to the wrestling room in August 2021. The mats were worn from overuse, the ceiling was punctured twice, wall mats hung torn from their mountings, and mold permeated the space.

“It was just really uncared for,” says Terry, who keeps a photo of the dilapidated condition on his phone as a reminder.

The disarray didn’t last long.

Terry has transformed the program into a state powerhouse, guiding the Mountain Lions to back-to-back Class 4A state championships and a 27-1 record in league duals over the past three years. The remarkable turnaround has earned him finalist status for “Coach of the Year” at tonight’s Sun Standout Awards, the Sun’s annual high school sports recognition ceremony.

It starts with caring

Terry serves as a campus monitor at Sierra Vista, a position he finds ideal for recruiting athletes wandering the hallways to join the program.

Transforming the Mountain Lions into a winner required expanding the roster. Increased numbers fostered competitive practices — providing both training partners and internal competition for lineup positions.

Terry’s strategy is simple: “You have to care,” he said. “We talk to kids all day and they (can) tell who is genuine and who isn’t.”

The program now boasts nearly 100 participants, including 24 wrestlers on the girls’ team and all-girls practices — an achievement Terry discusses with pride.

Taylor Rogers, who placed fourth at the state tournament, attributes her success to the confidence Terry instilled. This aspect of coaching, she maintains, holds equal importance to technical wrestling instruction.

“He wants the best for the kids in his program,” Rogers said. “He makes you want to work hard to prepare. He gets you mentally ready to compete.”

The wrestling room now has pictures of the program’s individual state champions adorning the walls. It’s a spot athletes see during training and strive to be included on.

Sebastian Quintana, a rising senior who took second in February’s state tournament, wants to become Sierra Vista’s next state champion. He is a lifelong wrestler who says Terry has maximized his potential.

“He helped me with the little details that were holding me back,” Quintana said. “He’s taken (my abilities) to the next level.”

One of the most significant upgrades has been running training sessions year-round — a common practice of all successful teams, regardless of sport. Some wrestlers have obligations with the football or track teams, and others are using the offseason to continue developing on the mat.

“The kids want to be coached. They were hungry for it,” Terry said.

Team feels like a family

Terry departed his native Oregon after high school pursuing dreams of becoming a professional Major League Baseball umpire. The timing seemed perfect: he’d officiate baseball games during spring and summer months, then return to the Pacific Northwest in October to coach wrestling at his alma mater.

His umpiring career was mostly in the minor leagues and extended beyond a decade, including assignments at eight big-league spring training games. However, with family responsibilities growing and his prospects of securing a full-time MLB umpiring position diminishing, he stepped away from the profession.

When his wife accepted employment in Las Vegas, the family relocated to Southern Nevada. Terry initially worked at Palo Verde High before taking over the position at Sierra Vista, where he found his niche building the wrestling program from scratch.

“Everything happens for a reason,” he said.

Sierra Vista didn’t just hire one of the valley’s premier coaches — they welcomed his entire family. His wife and young children are a constant presence in the program, whether they’re cheering at tournaments or showing up to practices with snacks in hand.

That familial feel is the only way Terry knows how to run his program, something he learned growing up in northwest Oregon and is determined to give athletes here. They’ll see the value of community, being a good father and working hard for a desired result.

“We don’t teach them anything crazy,” Terry said. “My staff and I excel in getting kids to believe in themselves.”

Other finalists

• Keith Fridrich, Faith Lutheran boys tennis: Led Faith Lutheran to a 17-0 record and state championship in his first year as head coach. An assistant coach in the program since 2009, Fridrich recorded his 600th career victory this season.
• Wes Pacheco, Mojave football: Led Mojave to a 12-1 record and the first state championship in the program’s 30-year history. It was a complete transformation from the team’s 1-win season during his inaugural year of coaching in 2019.
• Tiffany Richardson, Legacy basketball: As the only coach in Legacy girls’ basketball’s 20-year history, Richardson has long earned respect throughout the school community for her compassionate leadership. This season, she added a crowning achievement: guiding the Longhorns to their first state championship.