Legendary Fort Myers coach Gary Freis honored, remembered at duals tournament in his name
It was an emotional day at Fort Myers high school filled with joy and remembrance as legendary wrestling coach Gary Freis was honored.
A proclamation presented by Fort Myers mayor Kevin Anderson before the start of Saturday competition at the Gary Freis Duals designated Dec. 4 as Gary Freis day.
Freis was the head coach of the Green Wave team from 1982 until his retirement in 2002 and is one of the winningest coaches in Lee County history. The two-time state title-winning coach received the Harriette Weller Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002.
Surrounded by former wrestlers of coach Freis spanning his career was his daughter Kim Freis, who accepted the proclamation on her late fathers’ behalf.
“We are proud it’s a family thing,” Freis said. “We're proud, we're thankful but it just shows all of these years (of wrestlers) that kind of came together is that they brought out the best of my dad.”
The duals brought many of Freis' former wrestlers, now coaches themselves, into the old wrestling room. They began reminiscing about the times they had. Some of the stories were about the notorious pole that stood in the center of the wrestling room and the problems caused or how coach Freis hauled his players around to the beach in search of sand dollars. The energy in the room felt so natural, just old friends telling stories that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.
“We were all watching national wrestling last year, and somebody said this is going be the 35th year you guys won states.” Fort Myers assistant wrestling coach Eric Hermann said. “So, I reached out to everybody, from literally 1982 to 2006 and I just wouldn't let it go.”
Coach Freis did not boast about wins and losses, titles, or championships but instead about the kids and seeing them succeed. Anyone who wanted to learn the sport was welcome and encouraged to join his program but it was not going to be easy.
“Coach Freis loved working with guys that had experience and he loved working with guys that had no experience,” said Dan le Vay, who wrestled for Freis from 1980-82 and was an assistant coach under him during the 1987 season. “He liked building from the ground up with guys. If you showed up, he was going to give you his attention and make the most out of you.”
On a day that was dedicated to honoring coach Freis, one common topic brought up was his selflessness and love for his wrestlers.
“He would be very, very happy,” Freis said. “But at the same time, those that knew my dad, he was very humble. He didn't talk about wins, losses, anything along those lines. He was all about the kids making them better. He, he would kind of be like, this isn't about me it's about them.”
Tournament Results
Championship
1st Place - Charlotte
2nd Place - Palmetto Ridge
3rd Place - Olympic Heights
4th Place - North Port
5th Place - Fort Myers
6th Place - Braden River
Consolation
1st Place - Mariner
2nd Place - Sickles
3rd Place - Cypress Lake
4th Place - Island Coast
5th Place - Cannon School
6th Place - Dunbar
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Legendary Fort Myers wrestling coach honored, remembered at Gary Freis Duals
