A retirement celebration for wrestling coach Brad Smith was held Saturday, Aug. 19, during the Lisbon Sauerkraut Days celebration, and it was standing room only with all the wrestlers and community members who came to celebrate the coach who has had a long tenure at Lisbon.
Brad announced his retirement as coach after this year’s state wrestling tournament in early March.
“When we came into Lisbon right out of college, Lisbon accepted us so well. They raised us, basically, in those first few years,” Connie said, in an article from March 16.
“All the people that we’ve met throughout the time — they’re still friends. Their kids are still connected with us, and that’s a lot of fun.”
Brad and Connie are looking to spend more time with their children and grandchildren in his retirement.
“We’ve got six grandkids that we’d like to spend more time with,” he said. “One of my sons, and his family, are moving out to Florida in April. So we’ll have a place to visit in Florida.”
On Saturday, several teammates from Brad’s time at the University of Iowa were there to help send the coach off as well. Members of the Mat Pack presented a painting of a lion and a plaque denoting the impact the coach has had on many in the community.
Lisbon head coach retirement celebration draws crowd to Saeurkraut Days
August 24, 2023
-Courtesy photos Jennifer Tischer
Brad and () Smith recieve a photo with plaque from the Mat Pack. The plaque denotes Smith’s two time wrestling coach of the year and the impact he has had as a coach. “A good coach can change a meet, a great coach can change a life.”
About the Contributor
Nathan Countryman, Editor
Nathan Countryman is the Editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.