Mount St. Joseph hires Barnabae as new wrestling coach
Mount St. Joseph, a perennial challenger for the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and Maryland Independent Schools state wrestling championships, has hired Harry Barnabae as its new coach.
Barnabae, a 1977 graduate of the school, was a member of the Gaels’ first national championship team in 1976, under the leadership of coach Neil Adelberg.
“I think he’s a great choice for the job,” Adelberg said. “He’s been doing a good job with the Junior League, and he is very personable. Everyone likes him and the kids who wrestle for him love him. He has mentored many of the state’s top wrestlers.”
Barnabae, a graduate of the University of Florida, has been coaching multiple Junior League teams in the area for the last 12 years and established the MSJ Titans team two years ago.
“I’m really thrilled to be the new coach,” Barnabae said.
The only thing that leaves him cold are questions about his age and his own accomplishments.
“What is it with everyone asking my age?” he said. “Don’t you know you’re never supposed to ask an Italian man how old he is? Don’t focus on me and what I did all those years ago. That’s not important. What’s important is our track record and the impact we have on these kids as coaches, on and off the mat.”
The track record at Mount St. Joseph’s is one of the most impressive in area schools. Barnabae, who was part of the beginning of the team’s history, now steps into the shoes of the coaches who have gone before him – most recently Paul Triplett. Triplett – who won 11 A conference titles – resigned in July.
But Barnabae said he feels no pressure stepping in to the position.
“It’s funny,” he said. “It’s never really crossed my mind. I don’t think I think about championships. We’re just looking to put together a great staff and to do the best for the kids that we can. I think the pressure is alleviated when you have good people in place and good kids.”
Barnabae has put together a staff that includes:
Jay LaValley: An instructor at former Olympian Cary Kolat’s wrestling club
Greg Gold: A former state champ at MSJ who has previously been an assistant at South Carroll and St. Paul’s
Ryan Herwig: Another Mt. St. Joe state and national champion who instructs wrestling at the Blue Claw Wrestling Cub near Annapolis
Mark Hoffman: MSJ’s current admissions director, who will continue as the junior varsity coach
And Adelberg, who will help with the team’s scheduling and administrative work.
“I delegate a lot of responsibilities, so we can be good,” Barnabae said, not downplaying the feeder program he has in place through his Junior League program. “The last two years we’ve had 130 kids involved in the Junior League. I’ve had a great supportive staff there, and I’ve put together a great staff here. I’m really excited.”
Asked for his philosophy, Barnabae said it's in step with that of Mount St. Joseph.
“It centers on strong family and religious values and having high expectations for the kids,” he said. “It’s more a life philosophy, to help them become better adults as they get older.”
