In this episode of the Wrestling Prep Podcast, Carolyn Wester, Drew Morgan, and Coach Cornell Robinson have an honest conversation about what happens when adult egos begin to outweigh athlete development, and the real consequences that follow.

Carolyn and Cornell start by laying out the coaching principles that get lost when winning, perception, or control become the priority: serving the athlete, protecting long-term academic and personal growth, and maintaining ethical leadership even when it costs a coach professionally. Cornell then shares his firsthand experience navigating a situation where internal politics and power struggles ultimately led to his removal as head coach, despite clear athlete outcomes and progress during his tenure.

Throughout the discussion, the group reflects on how rumor, fear, and “us vs. them” thinking damage programs, erode trust, and place kids in the middle of adult conflicts they never asked for. They also explore how experienced coaches develop perspective over time, learning to prioritize trajectory over individual results, and people over optics. In this Episode Vidal, Cheche (2024) Fair Competition: Sports competition and the pursuit of excellence as the essence of modern sports

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Coach Cornell Robinson is a nationally respected coach with over a decade of experience leading U.S. age-group world teams. He has served as head coach at both Christian Brothers College Prep and Wyoming Seminary, where he was known for his athlete-centered, strategy-driven approach. In this conversation with Coach Carolyn Wester, Cornell shares why intentional training, not constant competition, is what leads to long-term success in wrestling. He reflects on how observing Carolyn’s movement-based approach helped him develop better athletes, not just tougher wrestlers, and how integrating those concepts into his own programs has elevated performance at the highest levels. Together, they discuss the value of being a lifelong learner, the cost of over-competing, and what truly prepares athletes for success beyond youth accolades.

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Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep?

Instagram: @wrestlingprep

Website: wrestlingprep.com

Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

Coach Wester is joined by renowned trauma and addiction recovery expert Tennie McCarty to examine how unresolved issues in parents and coaches often surface in their relationships with athletes, sometimes sabotaging the very growth they hope to support. From toxic overinvolvement to the silent consequences of unspoken trauma, this conversation explores how boundaries, self-awareness, and healthy advocacy can shift the athletic experience from pressure-driven to empowering. Tennie shares insights from decades of clinical experience and previews the tools she’ll be teaching at this summer’s Wrestling Prep Coach's Clinic, including how to confront dysfunctional patterns, build trust-based communication, and stop passing pain from one generation to the next. This is essential listening for coaches and parents committed to the long-term development of the athlete and the person.

In this episode:

Shades of Hope

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Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep?

Instagram: @wrestlingprep

Website: wrestlingprep.com

Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com