'Like a dream come true': For the Skonieczny family, coaching wrestling is a way of life

Some people learn to love wrestling early. Some are born into it.

The latter is the case for Nic and Nate Skonieczny, who have never left the sport. Their father Mark got them into the game early and 25 years later all three are still deeply involved.

For Nic it’s a job as the head coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary. Nate has the head gig at Mentor Lake Catholic and Mark is at his alma mater in Streetsboro as the lead man.

All three are in their first years at their respective schools. All three have a resume filled with coaching.

“To have one son have that passion that you have is special,” Mark said. “All four of my boys shared that same hunger and that same passion. And to have two get into coaching to continue it on, for me, it's like a dream come true. They're sharing that same love that I’ve got.”

One Skonieczny started wrestling and it hasn't stopped yet

Mark was a solid wrestler at Streetsboro but came into his own in the Army when he wrestled overseas.

His son Chase was a four-time state placer and one-time state champion at Walsh Jesuit and wrestled at Kent State and Notre Dame College.

Another son, Ryan, was a state runner-up, four-time state placer and ranks third in career takedowns in Ohio (1,003). He also wrestled for Findlay.

That brings us to the twins, Nic and Nate.

Nate was a two-time state champ, four-time state placer, two-time Ironman champ and holds the career wins mark at Walsh with 186. The 2012 Walsh graduate wrestled at Iowa, Kent State and Jamestown Community.

Nic was a two-time state placer and wrestled at Findlay and Wheeling.

“It's kind of developed us into this certain person,” Nic said. “I think naturally we're good leaders. I think we get that from my dad, and I think good leaders seek opportunities to help people. I think that's kind of our calling.

“It's definitely made us a little closer, but it's made us a little bit competitive against each other. Even though you're family, you still want to win. Whether you’ve got your brother in front of you, you still want to win. You’re competing with him your whole life.

“You do things knowing he's doing things too, especially being a twin. We compete from the second they're born. We competed for attention and meals and wrestling and then football and baseball, soccer for everything. We still compete to this day.”

For the Skonieczny family, life is at its best when they are mat side

Nic feels most understood when he’s around wrestlers.

Nate has confessed to thinking about wrestling from the moment he wakes up until the second his head hits the pillow.

While his days as a champion wrestler are over, the chance to talk the sport with his family means the world.

“I guarantee you 90% of our conversations are wrestling,” Nate said. “You have that support system. My dad, he's been in the sport of wrestling forever. He's 61 years old and he's been in it since he's been 5 years old, so he's got 56 years of knowledge. He helps with everything and he's now into that role where he's like an administrator. He helps me with, ‘Hey, these parents, you got to do it this way. You've got to fundraise that way.’ He's very good on the mat, but just as good behind the scenes.

“Having my dad and brother is great because they know me in depth. They know my tendencies and they know how I act in situations. They're able to give me personal advice on certain situations.”

Ohio State vs. Michigan? Try being in the middle of a dual between the Skonieczny family

With all three coaches in Division II, don’t think for a second they aren’t preparing for March.

There’s a dual at Streetsboro on Feb. 7 against St. Vincent-St. Mary and plans are being made already.

“I constantly check their schedules and I constantly see where their hammers are,” Mark said. “I will pull up their results and see how they're matching up with mine because I know we're going to go head-to-head someday and I can't let them beat me. We wrestle St. V in February and I'm watching his guys. I know where his strength is. It's like Ohio State-Michigan I'm already thinking of where I'm shuffling my lineup to try to pull this off.”

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA high school wrestling: Skonieczny family know no other way