Durango High School’s new wrestling coach is champing at the bit to see what his boys can do on the mat.
The young, energetic John Gurule got a sneak peek Friday when his DHS squad scrimmaged Bayfield, Dolores, Ignacio and Pagosa Springs in advance of the season’s first dual Dec. 5 against Bloomfield in Bloomfield, N.M.
Gurule takes the reins from former head coach Doug Cuddie, who resigned his post in May citing an inability to see eye-to-eye with the new administration. The 28-year-old Gurule was thrilled when a head coaching position opened up.
“I’ve always been in and out of the wrestling room with Ignacio wrestling,” he said Thursday night. “I was waiting for a head coaching opportunity to open up in the area, and it opened up at DHS.
“I was ecstatic. I couldn’t be more excited, and I wanted to get started right away. I got all my (human resources) stuff done and got in the wrestling room the next day.
Gurule has plenty of wrestling roots in the area. He was a state qualifier at heavyweight for Ignacio in 2002 and 2003, with his best finish a sixth-place result in 2003, his senior year.
From there, he went on to a football career at Western State before joining the world of law enforcement, most recently with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Gurule also has dabbled in the field of mixed martial arts, training with (Greg) Jackson’s Submission Fighting camp in Albuquerque and Team Quest in Oregon, which has produced fighters such as Pat Healy, Matt Lindland and Chael Sonnen.
“I had to see if I still had a career left for myself, and I still think I do, but I think I’m better served as a coach right now,” Gurule said. “Gotta work, you know?”
The next move for Gurule is to both coach and work on completing his degree. Gurule said he plans on attending Fort Lewis College to earn his teaching certificate, after which time he wants to ply his trade as a physical education teacher.
“That’s more where I belong,” Gurule said. “I’ve been doing a lot of strength and conditioning stuff with Ignacio High School. That’s where I belong – in the weight room.”
And in the wrestling room, where two of the three state qualifiers for DHS – Daniel Gustavson and Matthew Lavengood – are back on the mats.
“It’s been great. ... And I’m excited,” Gurule said. “Just can’t wait to get the season started. We’ve got two more weeks; I wish we started (Friday).”
rowens@durangoherald.com
