Font ResizeEntering his 32nd year of coaching, Bermudian Springs High wrestling coach Dave McCollum thought he had seen it all.
No broken bone or dislocated shoulder could prepare him for the news he received on Thanksgiving.
Jamie Smeltzer, his 15-year old sophomore heavyweight who was slated to be an impact wrestler for the defending YAIAA Division II champions, died when the car in which he was riding crashed into a tree.
"It's one of those unforeseen tragedies that just makes it a challenge for the coaches and the team. We need to get stronger, because that's what Jamie would want us to do," McCollum said.
McCollum pulled Smeltzer from junior varsity after a dominant freshman campaign of a 6-0 record with six pins.
Smeltzer, whose funeral was held Tuesday at Morning Hour Chapel in East Berlin, trained hard in the offseason to prepare himself for the upcoming season, McCollum said.
"He went to team camp with us. He went to open tournaments on his own, and he was really looking forward to being our starting heavyweight for the next three years," McCollum said.
McCollum saw the sophomore as a potential state medalist in Class AA within the next three years, but it took work on and off the mat to prepare Smeltzer.
"Wrestling was his love. That's the reason he was going to graduate from high school. He wasn't the best student. We had to tutor him. He wasn't a bad kid, though. He was a great kid," McCollum said.
The Eagles coach made sure to keep Smeltzer focused
"We knew his potential at heavyweight. I think his mom realized that and was very supportive of the wrestling program because all it was doing to him to be successful in school," McCollum said.
As Smeltzer's death sinks in with his teammates, McCollum emphasized with his team the importance of continuing to practice and prepare for the season, which kicks off Dec. 10 against York Suburban.
McCollum told his team practice would resume the day after the accident.
"It's important that these kids stay active and do the things they normally do because, like anything, you can't dwell on it because it will tear you down," McCollum said.
McCollum said that, despite an age difference between coach and wrestler, Smeltzer held a special place in his heart because of his friendly personality and ability to accept coaching. The sophomore's passion for wrestling made his death hit McCollum particularly hard.
"He never showed any disrespect. He was always polite, very coachable, wanted to get better, wanted to do the right things, and it's hard to find kids like that today. That's what is really hard about losing him. We are losing a real nice kid, a real positive person," McCollum said.
Senior Nick Blasone and his brother Noah, both wrestlers on Bermudian's team, found out about the accident at the same time.
"I just got home from practice. (Noah) got a phone call from one of my buddies from the team. We were all in shock. I didn't really know what to think of it," Nick Blasone said.
Blasone called Smeltzer "a big teddy bear" and said he and the rest of the team were dedicating the season to their lost teammate.
"Hopefully we can use it to work harder for him. He was a good kid. There's not really much else to say. It's really hard talking about it," Blasone said.
Smeltzer's family asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Bermudian Springs' wrestling program to help buy new singlets.
"Times are tough, and budgets are tight. For her to have contributions go to the Bermudian wrestling team, that just speaks volumes about what wrestling meant to Jamie and his family," McCollum said.
The wrestling team will don matching black headbands and will sell team t-shirts that read, "Smeltzer 11-27-08," in remembrance.
Now McCollum and his coaching staff will have to figure out how to move on without an important piece of their team.
"I think our kids are going to wrestle with an extra person in their heart this year when they are on the mat," McCollum said.
