Prieto recovering from injuries
By MATTHEW SPRAGUE
msprague@gctelegram.com
Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 4:15:30 PM
Not even crutches were going to keep Ulysses wrestling coach Carlos Prieto seated for long.
"I probably should have stayed in my seat the entire time," he said, "but I'm the kind of guy that likes to teach from a standing position."
Wednesday was Prieto's first day back in class at UHS after a Nov. 29 car accident in which he dislocated his left hip. Prieto was hospitalized for two days in Dodge City and will be on crutches for at least another two weeks.
Until then, doctors have advised Prieto, a U.S. and world history teacher at Ulysses, to teach only half-days.
In the coach's absence, the Tiger wrestling team has been headed by Nathan Brownell, the middle school coach last season, and assistant coach Juan Heredia, a former state champion wrestler for the Tigers.
Prieto met with a few of his wrestlers Wednesday, but wasn't able to see the entire team.
"It was good to see a few of my wrestlers," he said. "I wish I would have gotten to meet the entire team ... but I just got so drained today that they just told me to go home. My head, as far as getting dizzy, hasn't allowed me to attend any of my boys' meets, but hopefully I'll be able to attend this weekend. In fact, I plan on it."
This weekend's Goodland tournament will mark the fourth meet the Tigers have wrestled this season without Prieto at the helm. The team has stumbled a bit - at last weekend's home tournament, the Tigers took only third - but, according to Prieto, the reports are that things are getting better by the week.
"I think they were kind of at a loss because of my absence, not knowing if I was going to come back," he said. "We can still be a pretty solid team. I don't think everyone's at the proper weight yet, but once we get everyone in the right slots, we're going to surprise some people."
