Schuckman: Roberts offers encouragement, mentorship to youthful QHS wrestlers

QUINCY — Eli Roberts isn’t ready to commit to a coaching career.

“Might be a little too early to say that,” he said with a smile.

But it’s not a stretch to think the Quincy High School senior wrestler could be the next to join the ranks of former Blue Devils who have ventured into coaching. Watching him implore, guide, mentor and boost his teammates during Tuesday’s dual with Fort Madison (Iowa) made it seem like coaching is his destiny.

After winning his 150-pound match by pinning the Bloodhounds’ Cade Goodrich in 4:50, Roberts found his way to the front row of chairs on the Blue Devils’ side of the mat and began barking instructions and suggestions as each match progressed.

He did so with the enthusiasm of assistant coach Lamor Hickman, the technical knowledge of assistant coach Marty Smith and the growl of head coach Phil Neally.

“Eli does a good job of reminding them, ‘Hey, you’re doing a good job. You’ve been working hard. Stay in the right position and good things will happen and work out for you,’” said Neally, a 1993 QHS graduate now in his 21st season as the Blue Devils’ head coach.

Roberts did that for both the varsity and junior varsity wrestlers, staying engaged the way a coach needs to until the final match ended.

“You just need to show them that it doesn’t matter if you’re JV or if you’re varsity,” Roberts said. “We’re out here loving each other as one big family. Just come out here and compete. Try your hardest. That’s what we love.”

It’s how Roberts was treated as he came up through the ranks.

He points to the leadership of Owen Uppinghouse, now a freshman wrestling for the University of Missouri, as an inspiration. Uppinghouse was a two-time state medalist who was undoubtedly the hardest worker in the wrestling room regardless of his record or his success.

“It’s important to have somebody they look at and go, ‘Hey, that guy’s working hard. Maybe I need to be working hard like that,’” Roberts said. “It’s really important for those kids to catch on to that.”

With a vast number of freshmen and sophomores in the wrestling room, the veteran leadership is invaluable.

“During practice, you’ll see (Roberts) showing a teammate something and then he’s right back to work,” Neally said. “It’s important to fine tune things and he’s showing the younger wrestlers how to do that. He’s put a lot of work in.”

It’s all done with the purpose of passing along the right culture so the QHS wrestling program maintains a high level of competitiveness.

“It’s so important for these younger kids stepping up onto varsity to keep the momentum going and show what the Blue Devils are capable of,” Roberts said. “It’s about showing them how hard we work and what they need to do moving forward.”

Neally smiles knowing he gets a first-hand view of seeing it unfold.

“Great attitude and great leadership,” Neally said. “That’s Eli Roberts.”