10/05/2026
**Coaches Spotlight**
We thought it would be fun to get to know all 14 of our Coaches a bit better with some Q&A over the next few weeks.
Our third Coach in the "Spotlight" is Coach Maggie! Let's see what she has to say when asked these questions!
1. What made you become a wrestling coach and why...what is your story?
""I was never a wrestler. Honestly, before we signed our kids up, wrestling wasn’t even on my radar. I love watching UFC, but that was about the closest I ever thought I’d get to wrestling. I definitely never expected to become a coach or love the sport as much as I do.
Our kids are going into their 4th season with the Rockets, and somewhere along the way, wrestling became a huge part of our lives. We absolutely love this team. The Rockets really are like family to us, and when wrestling season ends, we’re basically just lost and sad and waiting for wrestling season to start again!
For the first two seasons, I LOVED being on the sidelines screaming for my kids. Then two years ago, I watched Coach Jen coach Ava through her State championship match. I will never forget the way Jen showed up for her in that moment. She was completely locked in — encouraging her, believing in her, guiding her, and giving her every ounce of passion and energy she had. It wasn’t just coaching; it felt like Jen was right there in the fight with Ava, helping her believe in herself when the moment was huge.
Watching that connection between them, and seeing how much Jen’s coaching meant to Ava, really stayed with me. It made me realize I didn’t just want to be the mom yelling from the side of the mat. I wanted to be more involved in my kids’ wrestling journeys and be part of helping them grow, both as wrestlers and as people. And of course, I absolutely love watching my boys wrestle, too. Seeing them work hard, battle through tough matches, support their teammates, and grow in confidence is one of my favorite parts of being a wrestling mom.
I love watching the boys wrestle. It’s always so intense and exciting. Girls’ wrestling is also exploding in a big way, and I knew I had to be part of that — especially having my daughter involved in the sport. I love seeing more girls step onto the mat, find their confidence, and realize they belong there. Being able to support that growth and help create more opportunities for girls in wrestling is something I’m really proud to be part of.
I still have A LOT to learn, but I absolutely love coaching and being part of these kids’ journeys."
2. Where do you work and what is your job?
"I am an unpaid personal driver, cook, and decision maker for 4 kids. I also moonlight in the art of cleaning massive amounts of hair and p**p belonging to 2 very large German shepherds and I have my own business, Maggie Royal Sugar art. I am a custom cake designer based out of my home. "
3. How many years have you coached wrestling?
"This is my second season coaching."
4. What sports did you compete or participate in as a youth athlete?
"I grew up playing soccer and softball, and I did swimming and diving. I also tried out for and MADE my high school football team…but my mom wouldn’t sign the waiver. WAA WAA. 😭😂
And no, I never wrestled. Apparently, I decided to wait until I was in my 40s to discover my love for the sport where people voluntarily fold each other into pretzels."
5. What's your favorite thing about coaching kids?
"Watching their confidence grow. There is something really awesome about seeing a kid struggle with something, keep working at it, and then finally GET IT. And when they look over at you afterward with that little proud face like, “DID YOU SEE THAT?!” — yep. I saw it. And I’m probably more excited than you are."
6. What is your favorite moment that made you the most proud as a wrestling coach?
"Honestly, it’s not necessarily one big win or one tournament. It’s the little moments when you see something click for a wrestler. When a kid who was nervous walks onto the mat confidently, when they use something we worked on in practice during an actual match, or when they lose and still walk off that mat knowing they gave everything they had.
And obviously watching my own kids grow in this sport makes me incredibly proud — although coaching your own children is also a fantastic way to discover new levels of patience you did not know you were capable of!"
7. What is your favorite wrestling move and why?
"Ankle pick!
I love the ankle pick because it’s quick, sneaky, and doesn’t always look like much until suddenly your opponent is on the mat. It’s a great reminder that wrestling isn’t always about being the biggest or strongest person out there—it’s about timing, technique, positioning, and paying attention to the little openings.
There’s also something really satisfying about watching a wrestler recognize the opportunity, commit to the move, and hit it successfully. It’s one of those moves that can make a wrestler feel like, “Oh, I see it now!” And honestly, I love any move that makes the other person fall while making you look like you totally planned it that way. "
8. What is your least favorite wrestling move to demonstrate at practice?
"If I actually demonstrated it, I imagine the Spladle would be it. Especially if I was on the receiving end. 😂"
9. What's your favorite tournament snack?
"Whatever I can throw into the lunch boxes in the 10 minutes I give myself at the ungodly hour we have to be up that day. But also rice cakes with peanut butter, banana slices and honey — specifically the honey Coach Gene and his wife’s bees be making. YUM!"
10. What's your favorite food?
"Pasta or crab legs. Preferably an unreasonable amount of both simultaneously."
11. What's your favorite drink?
"Spicy margaritas. Extra 🌶️. Except when in Peoria. Yuck."
12. What's your favorite movie?
" I love pretty much all Marvel movies, but Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is probably my favorite. Apparently regular reality just isn’t chaotic enough for me. "
13. What's your favorite wrestling pump up song?
"“I’m Shipping Up to Boston” — Dropkick Murphys or “Storm II” — GENER8ION & Yung Lean. Depends on whether we’re getting ready to wrestle or preparing to overthrow a small country."
14. What's your favorite wrestling shoe brand?
"Rudis"
15. What's your favorite color?
"Blue!"
16. What do you do when you are not coaching wrestling?
"I run my custom cake business, chauffeur four children to approximately 700 activities, spend an alarming amount of time cleaning up after everyone, and during the off-season, I just wish wrestling would start again!"
17. What's the funniest thing a wrestler has said to you?
"Some kid my daughter was waiting to wrestle asked me if she was who he was wrestling next and then proceeded to tell me he was going to “Cook her”. He was so cute! Even after he ended up being the one that got cooked, cute kid! Honestly, there have been so many completely unhinged things said to me by children at practice that choosing just one feels impossible."
18. What's one thing wrestlers do or say that drives you CRAZY?
"When I KNOW they know how to do something because I’ve watched them do it 47 times in practice…and then the second the match starts, apparently we’ve never discussed it before in our lives! Also, scratching, temper tantrums after losing, saying “I Can’t”, and bad sportsmanship."
19. What's the biggest lesson wrestling has taught you about life?
"You are going to lose sometimes. You’re going to get knocked down, you’re going to have days when nothing goes the way you wanted it to, and sometimes someone is literally going to put you on your back.
What matters is what you do next.
Wrestling has taught me that being tough isn’t about never struggling or never losing. It’s about getting back up, learning from it, and being willing to step onto the mat again."
20. What's one thing you want every wrestler to know...advice?
"Your wins do not define you, and neither do your losses.
Be coachable. Work hard. Be a good teammate. Shake your opponent’s hand whether you won or lost. Don’t compare your journey to somebody else’s. Every time you step onto that mat, you have an opportunity to learn something about wrestling and about yourself.
And PLEASE listen when your coach tells you to keep your head up! We’re not just saying it because we enjoy repeating ourselves 600 times. 😂
Most importantly, have fun! You’re a kid. Wrestling should be something you love."
Let's show Coach Maggie some love with ♥ and 👍
