NW Classen’s Mike Anderson completes his vision quest
The 2009-10 wrestling season is in the books. Finals night usually has some great stories and
Mike Anderson celebrates after winning the Class 5A 215 pound championship
the 89th edition did not dissapoint.
One of the best was that of Northwest Classen’s Mike Anderson who won his first title as a senior at 215 pounds after a very difficult 2009 season when he wrestled with a torn ACL. He had surgery to fix it but wore a bulky brace all through this season.
“Yeah, I loved wrestling with a messed up knee,” Anderson joked earlier this season.
But physical pain is just part of what Anderson has endured during his short life. His parents have been in and out of his life. He lived at least part of his high school years with his sister.
“All my problems disappear when I go to school, especially in the wrestling room,” he said in February 2007 as a freshman qualifying for his first state tournament.
Anderson may never have had the kind of home environment others wrestlers have, but what he did have was a small army of people who cared, starting with coach Bob Toma and assistant coach Tony Trail. There were more than a few eyes filled with tears as faculty members at Northwest Classen and assorted friends and family gathered around him on the ramp at State Fair Arena after his victory.
And making the moment even more picture perfect was Van Bumpas, the last wrestler at Classen to win a state title.
In 1965.
Bumpas, now an accountant living in Edmond, presented Anderson with his championship medal. Bumpas moved out of the metro area years ago, and later returned, but never stopped caring about his old school. When Toma asked him to come out to see Anderson’s finals match, and present the award if he won he couldn’t stay home.
“It’s a thrill to be here and see him achieve a goal I know he’s worked so hard for,” Bumpas said. “If you added up all the time he’s wrestled this weekend, it probably wouldn’t be more than five minutes. He’s been that good.”
Anderson didn't get the girl, but he did win a title.
Wrestlers are almost always interesting people. From Jack VanBebber to John Smith to Steve Williams. Anderson is no different. His personality is unique and sometimes quirky like when he made a joke about his “messed up knee” qualifying as diversity in a sport full of athletes who are at the peak of physical perfection.
Or when he talks about about his love for the movie Vision Quest, a 1980s rotten tomato starring Matthew Modine, which also happens to be one of the two movies Hollywood has made about wrestling in the last 100 years.
Anderson pinned Deer Creek’s Alex Christensen who happens to be a fine wrestler himself, and one that will have a chance to have his hand raised this time next year.
But Saturday night belonged to Anderson and his “vision quest” (hey, at least he didn’t pick The World According to Garp)
“Everything starts with a dream, and it only takes those who believe,” Anderson said.
There were no shortage of people who believed in Anderson and on championship night he paid them back in the only way he knew how. He won.
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Matt, what a nice article. Thank you. I want to mention my 2nd assistant Tim Edwards. I don’t think that you are aware of the special relationship that he has with Mike. Tim actually coached Mike’s brother at Capitol Hill when he won the championship there. Tim has been intrumental in Mike’s development as a wrestler and an a young man, and he’s been one heck of an assistant coach for me. Thanks Tim, and thanks Matt for the story on Mike.