Dalton Peters, a former collegiate wrestler and Salina Central alum, has returned as head coach with high expectations and a focus on growth.
“Since I’ve been in education, I’ve always had a goal to run my own wrestling program,” head coach Dalton Peters said. “What really inspires me, though, is the ability to guide a team into becoming better people. I love helping others grow and improve because that is something I really try to do myself. I also deeply enjoy seeing kids grow, mature and encounter challenges.”
Dalton Peters wrestled at Salina Central from 2012-2016 and was a state medalist his junior and senior year.
“Coach Peters knows what it takes to compete at the highest level,” assistant coach Richard Brake said. “Coach Peters has shared the mat with those at the very top of the wrestling world.”
Peters is returning to the Salina Central wrestling program alongside his dad Shannon Peters, an assistant coach.
“I was blessed to coach Dalton alongside his father, Shannon Peters during Dalton’s middle school and high school career here at Salina Central,” Brake said. “Coach Peters is an easy leader to follow: clear, precise, attention to detail and goal oriented.”
Senior Valerie VanZant said that the transition has been a little rocky, but the wrestlers are quickly improving with Coach Peters’ guidance.
“People are being held accountable this year, and we are pushed to give our best effort every day,” VanZant said. “I also feel like the girls team is being included much more than past years.”
Peters said that the transition has gone well, but they’ve gone through a learning curve.
“It takes a great amount of time, energy, and effort to try and lead a program with both boys and girls teams,” Peters said. “I’ve absolutely loved it, but sometimes you set very high expectations for yourself and things don’t always work out the way you want them to. You deal with more people than yourself, and that has been challenging for me at times.”
The girls wrestling team has returning captains VanZant, junior Kodi Waite and boys wrestling captains junior Cooper Reves and senior Ty Young.
“I have definitely taken more of a leadership role this year,” VanZant said, “and I work hard to set a good example for the other girls.”
Senior Haylie James is a returner who has qualified for state the past three years.
“I’m preparing myself both mentally and physically by focusing on developing strong physical conditioning, wrestling hard drills and having a positive mindset,” James said. “I feel like our team is shaping up to have more confidence from last year.”
Junior Abram Owings is another returning state medalist and said that the new coach has had a positive impact on the team this year.
“I think we’re a younger team than last year, but we have a bunch of killers,” Owings said. “I think we can go out there and win matches. Coach Peters is making everyone work a lot harder and making the room a lot tougher than what it was last year.”
Coach Peters is the third coach in the past five years for the wrestling program.
“Coach Peters brings his own leadership style, processes and expectations,” Brake said. “The biggest challenge is getting the buy-in from our program, and Coach Peters is winning that battle. He demonstrates what a championship program looks like and what it takes to get to the next level. Our wrestlers see that, they hear that and they want to learn from that, but most of all they want to be a part of that.”
So far the wrestling team lost their first team dual, but have since won their team dual against Hays and will wrestle against Salina South on Dec. 19.
“I am excited to see all of our wrestlers compete,” Peters said. “I deeply enjoy coaching and wrestling with our advanced wrestlers and pushing them to improve. However, I’m also really excited to see how much our newer wrestlers improve and figure out the sport.”
Brake said that he admires Coach Peters’ leadership.
“Simply put, it has been a blessing to work alongside the new coach,” Brake said. “I am learning right along with the wrestlers. When I watch Coach Peters at work in the wrestling room, I can’t help but smile and catch a quick glimpse of Coach Shannon Peters, (Dalton’s Dad), and I feel the pride that he feels. Our program is so much better, now that Coach Peters has come home.”
