Contributed report

What separates an average team from a great team?  It’s real simple: coaching.  What many people don’t know is that we have one of the best coaches on the planet right here in Powhatan County.  His name is Lee Richardson. 

Coach Richardson has been the PHS wrestling coach for 5 of the past 6 years.  Where many coaches teach a delicate brand of wrestling, Richardson teaches a physical and dominating style of wrestling.  Richardson will go to great lengths to improve his team.
 
This past summer Richardson took the team to Myrtle Beach, SC to train with Olympic gold medalist Bobby Weaver for a week.  

At the beginning of January 2010, Richardson brought in National champion and former member of the US Olympic team Russ Rainer to practice with team.  Rainer practiced 2 days in the PHS gym with the wrestling team. 

This would be the equivalent of the basketball team bringing in Michael Jordan or the football team bringing in John Elway to practice with them.  It’s not everyday that a kid from Powhatan gets to meet an Olympian but Coach Richardson will do whatever it takes to inspire and improve his team. 

— Travis Keely is an assistant coach for the Powhatan High School wrestling team.