IMPRES Use this I D at the beginning of any email so that I won’t delete it as junk. Send accurate info about Tewks wrestling history from Dec. ‘67 to the present to [email protected]. Appropriate info may be added to or deleted from this document at any time regarding the proper area or year of Tewks wrestling history.

SEND THIS BY EMAIL TO ANYONE, ANY WRESTLER OR ANYONE YOU KNOW OR DON’T KNOW.

I’m Jock Patterson and I have a wonderful wife, Susan, of 55 years, two great sons, John and Tim.
I want to thank the Mass Chapter for inducting me into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, April 5, 2025. This may be the final page of a very interesting chapter of my life. You must read all to understand the connection of each of the parts. Tewksbury Wrestling History.

After the auto accident at mid-night, March 5, 1966, while I was on the operating table, my heart stopped. They could have pushed me into a corner and said, “Next.” and this story would end here. But, they didn’t. They revived me.

I was unconscious for five days. Semi-conscious for five more. Minimal brain function for weeks.
For more than a month in the Spring of 1966, I had no memory and no logic. However, the following are my accomplishments after Aug. 26, 1966, my 22nd birthday.

After months of rehab, I returned to UMass, Amherst in Sept. ‘66 with less than total brain function. Doctors said that I would never have total brain function. SURPRIZE - I graduated in June 1967.

Anyone, any age, any sex can learn from these accomplishments.

Sept. ‘67: I began teaching at Tewks Jr. High and coaching FB at Tewks HS. During that Fall, coaching FB became very difficult for both coaches and players. Daily conflict within each group.

Late Nov.‘67, Tewks varsity FB had just finished 0-9 for the 2nd yr in a row. I constantly told those boys, “When you react slowly, you have some idea what it’s like to be semi-conscious, when your brain doesn’t tell you what to do or how to do it.”

Yes, we all survived. A non-wrestler, I promised those boys I’d start a wrestling program that would help their FB skills, because wrestling teaches you to react quickly. I had known so many good college FB players who gave credit to wrestling for their FB success.

Mid-Dec. ‘67: With limited wrestling skills or background, but great respect for HS WR, I started the wrestling program at Tewks HS with 20 to 25 boys each afternoon in the MUSIC RM. Every day we said, “WR HELPS FB.” “Learn to Listen.”“Listen to Learn.”“HAVE FUN TODAY.” My father always told me, “HELP EVERYONE.”

I want you, the reader, to know: (1) who I helped > Tewks FB players & wrestlers (2) how I helped them > by starting a wrestling program at Tewks HS and (3) what they and I accomplished > they improved their AGILITY, BALANCE, COORDINATION and QUICK REACTIONS for wrestling and FB. The ultimate result, TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL WRESTLING. When you consider, a non-wrestler started a wrestling program and was DETERMINED, by doing so, to IMPROVE Tewks FB.

During the Winter of 67 – 68, wrestling was growing FANtastically.
I suggested the Tewks A.D. hire an experienced wrestling coach. Aug.‘68 they hired Mike Nicolaso to teach Jr. High Phys. Ed. with me and coach Tewks HS wrestling (‘68 – ‘69 yr). I began coaching fresh- men FB Sept. ‘68. Good for me. Good for FB. Very good for WR.

During the Fall of ‘68, Nicolaso and I contacted the Carson brothers who had wrestled in W.Va. before they moved to Tewks. It was perfect. They were FB players and wrestlers who loved to teach wrestling to their FB friends. The Carsons were the key. I was DETERMINED to IMPROVE Tewks FB (especially O-line and D-line and LBs) BINGO. The Carsons were the key.

Thousands of kids in Tewks have enjoyed jr. high wrestling intra- murals because those Doctors revived me in March 1966. Mike and I began jr. high wrestling intramurals in Nov.’68. All part of the plan.

Beginning Jan. 1969, I spent 5 seasons going to dual meets and tournaments to learn as much as possible about coaching HS WR.
I knew no better way. I was young and I knew my time would come, eventually. Was all that travel worth my time? Who knows?

By Nov. ‘69, Tewks FB had progressed greatly. Everyone was HAPPY. I told people, “WR develops (1)agility, (2)balance, (3)coordination and (4)quick reaction,” 4 essential components for successful FB. Add DETERMINATION, the most important attribute in all contact sports and watch your team IMPROVE. WR helps FB. FB helps WR. No one happier than I.

Tom Carson FB ‘68 WR ‘69 CAPT. FB ‘69 WR ‘70 CAPT.
Dick Qua FB ‘68 WR ‘69 FB ’69 WR ‘70 FB ‘70 WR ‘71 SC
Ron Carson FB ‘68 WR ‘69 FB ‘69 WR ‘70 FB ‘70 WR ‘71 SC
Hovey Qua FB ‘69 WR ‘70 FB ‘70 WR ‘71 FB ‘71 WR ‘72 SC
Jeff Carson FB ‘70 WR ‘71 FB ‘71 WR ‘72 FB ‘72 WR ‘73 SC
SC = Sectional Champ Coach Denis Puleo 4 SC in 4 years
Steve Gessner 100 lbs 1973 STATE CHAMPION

Feb. ‘71, as a non-wrestler, I watched the Carsons and their Tewks wrestling team-mates begin a FANtastic 46 year run in which Tewks had 73 Sectional Champs and 32 States Champs.

TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL WRESTLING.

I was DETERMINED to IMPROVE Tewks FB through Wrestling.
AGILITY, BALANCE, COORDINATION, QUICK REACTION

Was it worth my time? Ask those Champs. Most of them don’t know who Jock Patterson is. “WR HELPS FB. FB HELPS WR.” Jock
It seems, one sport often enhances the other.

Dec. ‘73: My time had finally come. I went on to have great success coaching wrestling at Tewksbury HS from Jan. ‘74 – March ‘80.

1974: During my first year as Head Wrestling Coach at Tewks High, Al Donovan, Tewks Class of ‘73, was a tremendous help to my team during Xmas vacation ‘73 and during his semester break in Jan.‘74.

Against Lowell, Chelmsford, Billerica and the rest of the Titans in the North East, my goals were simple: DETERMINATION & IMPROVEMENT, the most important attributes in sports. WORKING TOGETHER will develop CAMARADERIE, the third attribute.

Regarding Tewks SUCCESS in wrestling? Coaches & fans asked me, “How do you do it against the “Big Boys?” “What’s your secret?”

My answer, “I open the door.” “The kids do the rest.”
THEY BANG & THEY SHARE, ‘til their skills are the best.
EVERYONE HELPS EVERYONE. Always working to IMPROVE.
THEY BANG & THEY SHARE to find that Tewksbury groove.

NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS - Jock

1974: 3 Sectional Champs: D. Donovan, S. Gessner, G. Hauswirth One State Champ GARY HAUSWIRTH. Team – 5th in the State out of 106 teams. That’s HUGE. That’s ASTONISHING.

1975: 2 Sectional Champs: D. Donovan and M. Flanagan and 5 second places. 7 Finalists out of 26. That’s IMPRESSIVE. We were young. Our Team placed 2nd out of 18 teams in the Section and 5th at the States AGAIN. FANTASTIC. FB PLAYERS HELPED OUR WRS.

During our 1975 Sectionals, I invited all State Qualifiers, especially those teams that only had two or three Qualifiers, to come to Tewks to work-out before the ‘75 States. Every Tewksbury wrestler qualified for the States. Every Tewks wrestler won his first match at the States. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. I never heard of that before or since. And we had ONE N.E. CHAMP in ‘75 -– DAVID DONOVAN.

1976: 3 Sectional Champs. All 3 became State Champs
Tewks Team 2nd in N.E. Unbelievable finish. ABSO FANTASTIC
DANA RASMUSSEN JOHN CARROLL STEVEN LOONEY

EVERYONE HELPS EVERYONE

March 1976, I started the Mass Wrestling Federation for off-season tournaments, 3 that Spring and 5 that Summer. I wanted our team to work-out together to prepare for the tournaments. The Jr High Principal didn’t want HS boys in his building. He lied saying, “In the past HS boys had written on the walls “Griffin sucks.”
Citizens agreed with the kids.
The night janitor at the Jr. High was an old WWII, Korean War Navy Vet who loved high school wrestling and hated commanders like Griffin. With his help, we took one/third of the mat to my house and worked out all summer very successfully. See 1977

1977: 5 Sectional Champs: S. WAKEEN, D. RASMUSSEN, B. KING, M. WAKEEN, D. TALLINI. TEWKS TEAM Sectional Champs.
One State Champ DANA RASMUSSEN (also N.E. CHAMP)
TEWKS TEAM 5th in the State AGAIN 4th year in a row
1978: 1 Sectional Champ S Okeefe Team 5th in the Section.
1979: 4 Sectional Champs: S. Wakeen, S. Okeefe, M. Keon, D. Puzzo Team 4th in the Section
1 State Champ STEVE OKEEFE Team 5th in the State AGAIN
1980: 1 Sectional Champ: M. Keon Team 3rd in the Section FANTASTIC TEAM EFFORT!
1 State Champ MIKE KEON Team 9th in the State

MY BIO: 7 years –19 Sectional Champs 7 State Champs
In 4 years Tewks had 2 N.E. champs - 2 seconds - 2 thirds out of the first 6 kids that I took to the N.E. Tournament.
TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL WRESTLING when you consider this all came about because a non-wrestler started a wrestling program and was DETERMINED to IMPROVE Tewks FB.

DETERMINATION IMPROVEMENT CAMARADERIE

“Learn to listen.” “Listen to learn.” MOTTO: HELP EVERYONE
BANG & SHARE “Whoever you are, wherever you go, whatever you do,
always make your family proud of you.” Jock

[email protected]

Al Donovan: Dec. 1983 - March 1999 29 Sectional Champions 16 State Champions 6 N.E. Champions
Info only stops here for now. More can be added at any time.
Emails to me start IMPRES so I won’t throw them away.