After years of community interest, Glencoe High School is launching its first wrestling program, with the inaugural season set to begin in November.
Coaches Ethan Stevenson and Baylor Osborn said wrestling has experienced significant growth across the country and throughout Alabama, creating strong demand for the sport in the Glencoe community.
Glencoe High School Principal Brian Alred, played a key role in making the program a priority and helping bring wrestling opportunities to students interested in the sport.
To lead the new program, Alred selected Ethan Stevenson as head coach. Stevenson has wrestled since childhood and has spent the past seven years coaching youth wrestling at Southside. Stevenson came highly recommended and was a natural choice to build the program from the ground up.
“I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to be the first head wrestling coach at Glencoe,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson and his wife, Tatum, have a 4-year-old son, Kash.
Joining the coaching staff is Baylor Osborn, who previously served as an assistant wrestling coach at Springville High School during the program’s most successful season in school history.
A Hokes Bluff High School graduate, Osborn earned a degree from Jacksonville State University. Before joining the Etowah County School System last month at Glencoe High School, Osborn spent the majority of his teaching career at Springville Middle and High schools. Osborn teaches social studies and also serves as an offensive line coach for the football team.
At Springville, Osborn coached under head coach Matthew Lee and assistants Tim Hetitch and Andy Olson.
“That was my first true experience in a wrestling program,” Osborn said. “I learned so much from those men and gained a love and respect for the sport. Under Coach Lee’s direction, we had the best season in program history. We finished second in the state in duals, losing to Scottsboro, as well as earning a number of individual and team accolades.”
Osborn and his wife Abigail recently welcomed their daughter, Presley.
The wrestling schedule is currently being finalized, with several competition dates already selected. Stevenson and Osborn said the complete schedule will be released at a later date. The season is expected to begin in mid-November and conclude in February.
Students interested in joining the team will be able to register through the Etowah County School System’s ParentSquare platform or by contacting Stevenson at ethanstevenson.62@gmail.com or Osborn at baylor_osborn@ecboe.org. A parent meeting will be announced in the coming weeks.
The coaches said they are grateful for the support shown by Alred and the Glencoe community as the program gets underway.
“We are excited for this program to finally get started,” the coaches said. “This is a great opportunity for these kids.”
Because the wrestling program is in its inaugural season, sponsorships and donations are welcome as they establish the team and prepare for its first year of competition.
