With the departure of long time wrestling coach Keith Sholders, the AHS community was left with “a big void,” as said by new P.E. teacher and varsity wrestling coach, Derik Sweet. Sweet has coaching experience in wrestling and football at Washington and Lee High School and is very excited to be our new head coach. Make sure to make him feel welcome if you see him in the halls!

Q: Where are you from?

A: I’m from Upstate New York near Rochester

Q:Where did you previously coach and for how long?

A: I coached at Washington-Lee High School for five years. Three years as head coach and two years as an assistant coach.

Q:What is your educational background?

A: I went to Ithica College and got a bachelors of science and PE and I am currently working on my Masters for Sport management at the United States sports academy.

Q: What is your wrestling background?

A: I started when I was nine years old, my dad was a head coach, I won my first tournament when I was 10 and made varsity lineup in eighth grade. I wrestled varsity all five years in high school, I set multiple records while I was there and went on to wrestle at Ithica College for one year but then I decided to switch my focus to education. From Ithica, I came down here and started coaching at Washington-Lee.

Q: What are your expectations for this upcoming season?

A: I’ve been impressed with Annandale, their team and the cohesion they seem to have at each tournament. The standard is set, the way we must approach this year is to emphasize the importance of off-season training, picking up your buddy when he is down and really working on team building and becoming a family. I am a big believer in building a core with each individual, showing them they are special even if they don’t think it or see it, from the bottom of the depths or from the top, everybody has to feel desired or wanted, and that’s something that I feel will be established in my room. The leaders will emerge but I want everybody to take home leadership qualities and lead by example.

Q: Did your previous team have any major accomplishments?

A: At W-L, my first season we went 11-7, which was the first winning record in almost 30 years. The next years we went 18-7 and took second in the district tournament. The year after that we went 18-5 and took third in the district tournament. Washington-Lee was a process. Getting that team turned around, putting wrestling back on the map. I was very pleased with the way the kids came together and they really cared about each other’s success. We were able to be successful because of that.

Q: Are you excited to be coaching at Annandale?

A: I am more than excited to be coaching here. The support I have already received from the faculty, community, staff, the wrestling team, the football team and anyone else you name it has greeted me with a smile and it has really opened my eyes to a different part of the world because this is so different from W-L. But when I walked into that weight room, the kids just continuously clapped and clapped. It really showed you how much dedication they have and that’s vital.

Q: What was your first impression of Annandale?

A: If I’m being honest, my first impression was that it’s my alma mater’s school colors, so that of course got me really excited. The gentlemen interviewing me were so easygoing and approachable, which you don’t often get. The facilities are great which is outstanding. It’s a very diverse community but so far I haven’t met one person who has had anything negative to say in any aspect, which doesn’t happen often.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A: I would really like to thank the administration and those individuals who are sticking their necks out for me. Moving hasn’t been an easy transition. I want to thank them for putting their faith in me and getting this thing organized. I just appreciate the kind of ‘all hands on deck’ atmosphere that seems to be what Annandale is all about. Go Atoms!