From Texas Roots to Sikeston: Charles Michael Leads Bulldogs Wrestling

Charles Michael is ascending to the head coaching role this upcoming school year for the Sikeston wrestling program after more than a decade on the staff.

Michael, a former wrestler at Missouri Baptist University, has been with the Southeast Missouri school since the 2008 season. Prior to that, he was involved in the youth wrestling program for two years. 

Now, he takes over the helm of the Bulldogs’ program. 

“The coaching aspect of it doesn’t really bother me because I’ve been doing this since college, but for now it’s taken a step up,” Michael said. “Now, you are the leader of the team. You know, want to do a good job, of course, especially since I’ve been here for so long. I think people have certain certain expectations of you and hopefully, I can meet and exceed those expectations.”

He didn’t take the typical path into being a wrestling coach after his time competing for the Spartans.

Out of college, he was working at Pasta House in the St. Louis area. While in St. Louis, he still helped out with the MBU program and eventually landed a spot as a graduate assistant under Brian Jackson. Michael felt the calling to coach back to his high school days in Arlington, Texas.

His high school coach, Henry Harmoney, helped play a part in that career.

“My high school coach had a big influence on me and what I did and the career path I wanted to take,” Michael said.

Michael moved to the Sikeston area to be closer to his daughter’s family in 2006 and he initially got a job working for the Pepsi distribution center. He got involved in coaching the youth program and that helped open the door for an opportunity with the high school team. 

One of his first things as the head coach for the Bulldogs will be a camp that started on June 24 with Patrick Dunn coming up from Texas. That will connect Michael’s past to his present for a week.

The head coach of Arlington Martin will return to an area where he has roots and also family.

One of Michael’s assistant coaches will be Eric Dunn, Patrick’s brother.

Michael hopes his wrestlers can learn a lot from the man who just guided his team to the UIL 6A title this past school year.  

Texas now has 6A and 5A — but back when he wrestled Texas was still in the infancy of the sport and had only one class for every school that offered the sport. 

Michael’s wrestling background was in his DNA. His father wrestled while in the Marine Corps in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In junior high, Michael picked up the sport and since Arlington didn’t have a junior high program, Michael suited up and practiced with the high school team. He would go to practice in the morning before school and then after school. 

He ended up being a three-time state qualifier for the Colts and was all-state his senior year in 2000. 

That led to a spot at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas to wrestle. After a year at the junior college, he was recruited to Missouri Baptist. As a junior, he was a NAIA national qualifier at 149 pounds. 

One of his college teammates and roommates was Derryan Derrough, who was recently named the head coach at Rockwood Summit.

“We wrestled for different high schools but during the summertime, we would practice and get together with with all the Arlington high schools and stuff like that,” Michael said.  

He remembers picnics each summer that included Nick Purler, who was at Sam Houston High School in Arlington. In a ‘what a small world’ twist, if MSHSAA doesn’t change district alignment much this year, Michael will see Derrough at the district meet and with a mostly St. Louis-area alignment, perhaps some Purler-trained wrestlers will be there too. 

Michael, who will also be assisted by Jacob May, will take over a program that had three qualifiers for the boys and two on the girls’ side — both ended up being all-staters.  

He said the goal is eventually to be competitive in the SEMO Conference and be up there with the Jacksons and Farmingtons. 

Michael said one of his goals is to build a family-like atmosphere with the program — like the one he had when he was in high school. He hopes his wrestlers will build that camaraderie off the mat, which would turn into success on the mat. He believes will help each other ‘have each other’s back’ through that foundation. 

“I mean, it’s not like we were starting from ground zero,” Michael said. “I mean, we have a baseline. Now, it’s just to build that base. Coach (Blake) Angle did a good job. Now it’s time to take that next step. I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’ve been there for 15 years now. I’m grateful for the opportunity that Sikeston has believed in me.”