Coach Profile: Rickey Torrence
We’re profiling some of our athletes and coaches. Get to know those who are changing the lives of DC youth through the sport of wrestling.
Meet Rickey Torrence, head coach of Washington Latin Charter School. Rickey teaches there and he and his brother, Reginald (Reggie) spearheaded the school’s first wrestling program with the help of BTS-DC.
Name: Rickey Torrence
Wrestling Club/School: Washington Latin PCS
How long have you been Coaching Wrestling? 20 years
Were you a wrestler? How many years? What level? Career highlights? I wrestled for 4 years in Michigan at Northville High School. My senior year I went undefeated (45-0, 1998) and pinned my opponent in the final, the only person to do so that year. He had beaten me for 5th place the year before. I also took silver in Freestyle at the AAU Junior Olympics in the summers of 1997 and 1998.
Why do you participate in BTS DC? Wrestling is a part of who I am, how I identify and where I draw strength. I want to pass these things off to others so that they can experience the same feelings.
How do you define success? Success for me is a series of small victories over obstacles that get added up together to conquer one main goal. You can have interpersonal success on your own as well as success as a team. Also you can't have success without goals to succeed at!
Favorite moment in your sporting career? When I was standing on top of that podium in 1998 having just defeated the last person to beat me, nothing was sweeter. I didn't give up any offensive points in the state meet, and won my matches by Major Decision (2), Tech Fall (1) and Pin (1). It's still easily one of the highest points of my life and the biggest payoff I've felt for my efforts. I was running a mile or two before school everyday then go to practice in the evenings. I've never been so focused on anything like I was on being the best wrestler that year. My school rose up with me and we qualified for the state meet that same year. First and last time in the history of my high school.
As a Coach, I look up to: Wade Hughes, coach of Gonzaga and former coach of the (now eliminated) Howard University wrestling program
Favorite Books: Between the World and Me, by Ta'Nehisi Coates
Favorite TV Show: Big Mouth, Ozarks, Anything narrated by Sir David Attenborough
Favorite non-wrestling activity: Exploring natural curiosities, travelling to new destinations, nurturing my polycule.
When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up to be: a Paramedic.
Most people don't know that... I was an EMT, have flown and landed a plane, and was paid to research various physics projects at CERN and MIT.