New ConVal wrestling coach Abe Ewing can barely contain his excitement for the upcoming season.

As just the third head coach in program history after officially being handed the reins to the program in September, Ewing couldn’t wait for practice to begin last month.

It’s never easy following a legend, as he takes over for Brian Whittemore, who spent 39 years with the program as a coach, the last 36 in charge. But Ewing doesn’t view it as trying to fill Whittemore’s shoes. He understands how much Whittemore meant to the program and wrestling in the state of New Hampshire. 

Plus, it’s not like Ewing is just some guy who walked in off the street without any knowledge of the sport or the program.

Growing up in Oregon, Ewing was a state champion as a senior, going 44-1 in his final high school season, and earned a wrestling scholarship to Southern Oregon University. He was a five time national qualifier in college and a team captain his senior season.

He went back home to coach at Banks High School and coached Collin Purinton – who is currently ranked No. 4 in the country as a member of the University of Nebraska wrestling team – in both middle and high school,.

But after meeting his wife and moving across the country, Ewing got in touch with Whittemore and asked if he could help. While Ewing has his own style of coaching and plenty of experience on the mat, he learned a lot from the longtime ConVal coach.

“One of my main takeaways with Whit was his patience,” Ewing said. “He taught me how to be patient is situations that benefits the wrestler.”

Ewing believes that wrestling can benefit every young man and woman and he just wants to provide any student who wants to wrestle the opportunity.

With 20 wrestlers to start the year, Ewing is anticipating by season’s end the Cougars will have every weight class filled. The team spent the first five days going through daily doubles, with practice before and after school, to get as much time as possible working on a foundation for the season.

“That teaching time in the room is so important,” Ewing said.

Despite a bigger squad than last year, Ewing said the Cougars are young and don’t have a ton of experience across the board, but he expects the team to improve over the course of the season.

“We definitely have some contenders that are going to make a splash in the state of New Hampshire,” Ewing said.

Ewing, the wood shop and manufacturing teacher at ConVal, is big on culture. He wants to see a room full of competitive and supportive teammates who work hard every single day.

“Our job is to get better than we were yesterday,” Ewing said. “Our first year guys are just as important as our studs, and the team atmosphere is huge.”

Even with a coaching resume of his own, Ewing said he is excited that Whittemore will still be around, offering up his four decades of experience and knowledge.

“I’m lucky he’s still here,” Ewing said.

The Cougars open their season Dec. 11 at Pelham.