Michigan Roots Propel DerGarabedian to Hall of Fame
12/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 30, 2011
By Leah Howard
When Mike DerGarabedian (1980-85) learned of his induction to the Downstate NY/Friends of Long Island Wrestling chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the first two calls he placed were to Steve Fraser and Mark Churella.
The purpose of the calls wasn't to brag or champion his achievement; they were to say thank you to the two men, themselves Wolverine Hall of Famers, whom DeGarabedian had tried to emulate throughout his life since their shared experience in the Michigan wrestling room.
From Fraser, a 1984 Olympic champion, he learned toughness, the principle of giving one's best and forgetting the rest, and that the solution to every problem is to simply to work harder.
From Churella, a three-time NCAA champion, he learned how to transform the attributes of wrestling -- sacrifice, selfishness and generosity -- into all facets of life. The same attributes that lead to success in the wrestling can be applied toward finding success as a father, husband, businessman and person.
"If you surround yourself with greatness, you can become great yourself," said DerGarabedian. "I knew that if I took the attributes I had in that room and applied them to any other aspect of my life, I was going to be successful. There was no way anybody would outwork me or be any tougher than me. I've stolen all that stuff. I haven't had an original idea in 30 years."
Fraser and Churella served as graduate assistant coaches during DerGarabedian's five seasons at Michigan, during which he was a four-year starter and multiple Big Ten placer. As a nationally ranked wrestler in his senior season, he faced a life-altering decision: wrestle in the Big Ten tournament or sit for the Law School Admission Test. Governed by what he deems a "wrestling lesson," DerGarabedian chose the latter and never looked back.
He started his coaching career while in law school at the University of Bridgeport School of Law, guiding the Fairfield Prep wrestling team to a fourth-place finish at the New York state tournament -- the best finish in program history. He served as a volunteer coach at Central Connecticut University in Hartford, Conn., before returning to Long Island in 1990.
Since returning to his home state, DerGarabedian incorporated the Friends of Long Island Wrestling Chapter, remained an active Board of Director since 1992, volunteered for three years as the assistant coach of Oceanside High School, conducted countless free clinics at local high schools and, five years ago, founded The Teeth of the Dog Wrestling Club at North Shore High School.
According to DerGarabedian, The Teeth of the Dog Wrestling Club was started in a dual effort to continue to pay back to the sport of wrestling that continues to give him so much while simultaneously teaching his four sons the virtues of wrestling, which has become the cornerstone of his character.
The club has since been endorsed by many of wrestling's greatest figures, including Fraser, Dan Gable, Cael Sanderson and John Fisher.
"I took them when they were young and promised the parents that I would teach them the sport of wrestling," said DerGarabedian. "But I needed a commitment. They never competed for five years. They just trained for five years, twice a week, all year round.
"Those kids don't become Teeth of the Dog until they earn their teeth. That means grades go up every single semester. It means no disciplinary problems. He has to do something good for the community that he can't be repaid for, and he has to do his absolute best in practice every single time he shows up in the room. Everything I'm doing is a reflection of guys like Fraser and Churella. I am instilling everything that I learned about wrestling into these kids."
Just about everything he learned about wrestling came from the Michigan room.
"I didn't realize it at the time, but I was investing into something in that room," said DerGarabedian, "and the dividends keep paying me each and every day. It wasn't necessarily the sport of wrestling or just any old wrestling room, it was being in the University of Michigan room, being an above-average wrestler, having the knowledge that I would never quit, and being surrounded greatness.
"I don't really remember the matches. I remember being in the room every single day, weight training, the road trips, and the camaraderie and support within the team. Those are part of my fabric now."
The Downstate NY/Friends of Long Island Wrestling Chapter Induction Ceremony and Banquet will take place April 27, 2012 at the Melville Marriott Hotel.
