DePugh Stepping Down from Huntsmen Wrestling to Battle New Opponent

Article presented by Tomlinson Insurance Agency …

Prior to his arrival, wrestling at in Huntington Township was regulated to the occasional scuffle on the playground or rough housin’ by some teenagers in gym class.

For the last decade, Mark DePugh turned a passion for wrestling into a successful program for Huntington Local Schools. Now, after ten seasons, he’s stepping down as Head Coach Huntsmen Wrestling due to health concerns.

“It is time to step aside and focus on my faith, family, and my personal health.” DePugh shared in a text shared with Litter Media.

DePugh recently learned he’s facing a bout with prostate cancer, discovered while preparing for a heart catheterization. He’s preparing for this opponent with the same fortitude he’s taught his wrestlers over the last forty-plus years.

“The kids have heard me say over and over again… wrestling is life! I have told them many times that you will be wrestling with something for the rest of your life… it may be in a relationship, a financial issue, an employment issue, or sadly even a health issue. Right now I am battling some health issues… but we are trusting God and we will battle one day at a time.”

In November of 2014, former Huntington Superintendent Keith Stevenson, High School Principal Nathan Caplinger, and Athletic Director Keith Green gave Huntington kids the opportunity to compete in the sport of wrestling, with DePugh as the team’s Head Coach.

Season 1 consisted of a group of High School and Junior High kids that had zero knowledge about wrestling or even what real wrestling actually entailed. But they were eager to learn, work, and compete. In DePugh, they had a mentor.

Almost instantly, interest in wrestling grew. The following spring, DePugh hosted Huntington’s first Bitty Wrestling Camp for kids grades K-6. Once that exposure spread, a full program of wrestlers and coaches were developed spanning from grades K-12.

In 2015 DePugh established a full-scale youth wrestling program with wrestlers K-6 competing in the 38 Team Central Ohio Buckeye Youth Wrestling Association (COBYWA) League, one the best Youth Wrestling Leagues in the Central, Ohio… competing with well know wrestling schools such as Miami Trace, Teays Valley, Washington CH, Westfall, Mechanicsburg, and Urbana to name a few. The youth program quickly grew into a feeder pool for success at the middle school and high school levels.

In February of 2015, Heavyweight Lyle Walters became Huntington’s first District Qualifier. “I will never forget the day when the announcer at the Sectional Championships proclaimed in the Parade of Champions ‘First year wrestler, in a first year program, and now a 2015 OHSAA District Qualifier, Huntington’s Lyle Watters’ said DePugh. “The entire Alexander gymnasium erupted into a standing ovation.”

Fast forward to 2024. Huntington set a new school record with eight District Qualifiers. Only seven schools among a field of 64 qualified more in the Southeast & Central District.

Over the past 10 years Huntington has made themselves known as a very accomplished and respected Wrestling Program across Ohio. The 2024 Season ended with an overall Team Record of 99-19 while winning three Tournament Team Championships and posting a 7-0 Dual Team Record. The Huntsmen had three individual High School Scioto Valley Conference Champions and three Individual Junior High Champions. That also included SVC Team Runner-Up behind powerhouse Westfall. The Huntsmen have finished second in the SVC two of the last three seasons.

During DePugh’s tenure the past 10 years Huntington has compiled a 648-208 record at the High School level, a 76% win percentage. 29 District Qualifiers, six District Placers, 17 SVC Champions, four OHSAA State Qualifiers, and six high school wrestlers earning 100 plus career wins. Most notably, Mavrick Smith ended with a career record of 168-24, was an OHSAA State Qualifier, a four-time District Qualifier and four-time SVC Champion.

The Huntington Youth Program has flourished and produced dozens of COBYWA League Champions, Elementary OHWAY State Qualifiers and Placers, including two OHWAY Elementary State Champions and one Junior High State Champion.

All the while, each Huntsman wrestler has learned the importance of work off the mat through the many service projects DePugh created for them. Using the preparation for that next competitor whether in a match or in giving back to the Huntington Township community.

DePugh with his Chillicothe High School Wrestling Coach, Chuck Wallace at the CHS Athletic Hall of Fame induction reception

Wrestling has been a part of DePugh’s DNA since his days wrestling for Chillicothe High School in the 1970s.

“Will I miss it?” said DePugh “Absolutely… been a large part of my life”.

DePugh and his 1977-78 Cavalier teammates were inducted into the Chillicothe High School athletic Hall of Fame. He began coaching straight out of college at his Alma Mater and has been actively involved in multiple programs over the past four decades including Circleville, Logan Elm, and Amanda Clearcreek. He also assisted the late Jerry Driggs in 2007 for the onset of Unioto Wrestling.

While he’s stepping away, DePugh feels the future of Huntsmen Wrestling is a bright one. “I believe the best is yet to come. We wrestled seven freshman at the varsity level this year and they will only get better.”

“We have had some great kids come through our program and go on into adult life as husbands, fathers, leaders and great citizens in the community” said DePugh. “We have former wrestlers who are now Army & Marine Veterans, current Air Force & Naval Sailors, State Troopers, Firefighters, Correction Officers, School Teachers, Coaches, Nurses, Electricians, Welders, Mechanics, Factory Workers, Plumbers, Carpenters, and the list goes on. I’m just so blessed to have been able to work with and coach a lot of great kids over the years.”

DePugh plans to help Huntington’s new Head Coach to ensure a smooth transition. “I will still be around, cheering on our kids” said DePugh. “I just feel blessed to have been a part and the start of Huntington Wrestling in our school and community. I love our kids, I love our school and I love our community. That will never change. We’re wearing the full armor of God and He will take us through.”

Karla DePugh contributed greatly to this article. Karla has been instrumental in contributing photos for Litter Media’s coverage of Track & Field and Wrestling. She also provided the photos for this article.