Marines.H Reading time: 2 minutes
Many strategies in successful teamwork are universal, so a coach鈥檚 words of wisdom often hold聽meaning across聽sports, groups or organizations. Such was the case when coach, Mike Denney, recently addressed Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2/6, of the U.S. Marine Corps. Denney shared his knowledge with the Marines, but he gained valuable inspiration, as well.
鈥淚 spent three days with the Marines, and really felt a connection,鈥� Denney says. 鈥淚t was a great experience. I love tradition, history and what they stand for. They use symbols and mottos, and our 丝瓜视频APPwrestlers do, too. They鈥檙e building an elite, fighting group, and we鈥檙e building a competitive group. And, you know, their ages are the ages of our guys.鈥�
Denney was invited to provide the distinguished Guest of Honor remarks for the battalion鈥檚 annual Battery Ball held at Camp Lejeune in N.C., in August. It was anticipated the Marines would deploy sometime this fall, and he meant to send them off with full hearts and clear reminders of their training and discipline.
In the time he spent with the group, Denney watched them train, toured their facilities, 聽and heavy equipment, met with officers and sat in on briefings. 鈥淚 wanted to learn as much as possible,鈥� he says.
The Marines reached out to Denney on the recommendation of First Lt. Matt G. Ford, the battalion鈥檚 executive officer. A former wrestler, Ford first met Denney when the coach was asked to work with his Nebraska national high school team in preparation for a tournament. The two forged a strong connection, and have kept in touch ever since.
鈥淚 got goose bumps looking at their team unity,鈥� Denney says of his visit. 鈥淭he Marines are noted for that. They鈥檙e a band of brothers鈥攖hey have to be. Their lives depend on it. So, you can see why I connected with them. How do you create that team power? They鈥檙e striving for it just like we are.鈥�
Following his address, Denney was presented with a plaque that reads, 鈥淭hank you for your words of wisdom and motivation.鈥� The Marines were so appreciative of his coaching strategies, they also adopted the Saints wrestling team鈥檚 battle cry: 鈥淥OOSSSS!鈥�
鈥淚t was a privilege, pleasure and honor to be part of it. I felt their unity, their team power鈥攖heir core,鈥� Denney says. 鈥淚鈥檓 called to do what I鈥檓 doing; they鈥檙e called, too. I told them, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e our world team. You鈥檙e after my heart.鈥欌��