McDonogh graduate Josh Fitch had plenty of praise for his former high school coach Pete Welch even as offered some humanizing and humorous observations of the man to whom he currently serves as an assistant.
“I once saw him fall down a set of stairs while trying to drink soup without a spoon. A few years ago, I tossed him the van keys at the state tournament, and he missed the catch and the keys landed in the rafters. He once had my wallet for three whole days and didn’t realize it until I emailed the whole school. He also wears a contact lens in only one eye, and I find that to be peculiar,” Fitch said.
“Of course, he still makes mistakes and has his flaws, but what I would say the most about Pete is that he has an ability to reach out to his wrestlers who weren’t necessarily studs. What separates him from many other coaches is that even those without the accolades will look back and speak of him taking a heartfelt and genuine interest in their character and personal growth. He has accomplished most of what any coach would strive for but even with his success, he never assumes he knows more than others.”
As a 140-pound McDonogh senior in 2008 who wrestled for Welch, Fitch went 5-0 comprising three major decisions and two decisions, including his last one, by 4-3, over Blair Academy’s Garrett Frey on a third-period escape to win his National Preps title.
In victory, Fitch became at the time what was Welch’s eighth individual National Preps champion, joining two-time winners J.R. Plienis and Bryn Holmes, and one-time National Preps champs Will Filbert, Ryan Davis and Nick Schenk.
Over the previous two weeks, Fitch went 8-0 with five pins, two major decisions and a decision to win his fourth straight titles in each of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and Maryland Independent Schools (MIS) State Tournaments.
Fitch went a career-best 48-3 with 20 falls that season to complete a career record of 140-25 with 68 pins, including competition at 103, 112, 125 and 135-pounds. Fitch won four-each in MIAA and MIS titles and remains the only Eagles wrestler to accomplish the latter.
In succession, Fitch placed fourth, second, third and first at National Preps, later becoming a “spot-starter” who won 30 bouts before graduating from Lehigh University in 2013.
“What makes Coach Welch a special coach is not his knowledge of wrestling nor his passion for the sport and its’ athletes,” said Fitch, 34, an assistant to Welch along with Cameron Harrell, Travis Holmes, Karl Lindsey and Marty Sataloff.
“What makes him a special coach is that he is an outstanding human being who just so happens to have a love for wrestling. Pete works tirelessly for the greater good of all, while simultaneously remaining fair, righteous, and optimistic. He’s open to others’ opinions and continuously respects even the smallest voice in the room. If his passions were different, he would likely have been successful and well-liked in any field he would have chosen, with the lone one exception being stand-up comedy.”
What Welch has accomplished at McDonogh in 31 seasons as head coach is nothing to laugh about, having coached individuals to 102 MIAA, 76 MIS and 14 National Preps titles. Welch has also guided the Eagles to 11 MIAA dual meet crowns, nine MIAA tournament titles and six private school tournament championships.
This past Tuesday, Welch guided his eighth-ranked Eagles (20-5) to a 53-22 victory over MIAA League rival Calvert Hall, representing his 401st career win.
“I have been surrounded by amazing people. I have always had tremendous, hardworking, loyal coaches to stand with me. McDonogh has always had amazing teachers and administrators that value competitive athletics and the pursuit of excellence on and off the mats,” said Welch, 54, who also benefited from the presence of Joe Bakewell, his former assistant of 27 years.
"Joe Bakewell and I are still great friends and speak often. He is now the associate head coach at the Baylor School in Tennessee. We’ve always had amazing alumni support that value and respect the great tradition. Our parent support has been second to none. Running concession stands, long hours in a gym supporting each other and all the kids on the team, makes a program a family. Most importantly I have been blessed to have coached so many great kids. Some were outstanding athletes that make you look good as a coach, but every single one has made me proud regardless of their win-loss record on the mat.”
Welch has also coached Myles Martin, who graduated from McDonogh in 2015 after earning three-each in MIAA, State and National prep titles. Martin became a four-time All-American at Ohio State, winning an NCAA title as a true freshman in 2016 before finishing seventh, second and third over his final three seasons.
The Eagles play host today to top-ranked Gilman, the defending champion in the MIAA dual meet and tournament as well as the MIS.
Coached by 2006 McDonogh graduate Bryn Holmes, Greyhounds have been archrivals with the Eagles since 1920, having commenced an annual dual meet competition for The Worthington Cup in 1987.
A three-sport athlete who also played football and lacrosse, Holmes won three each in MIAA and private school state titles at McDonogh after being second in each as a freshman, and twice earned National Preps crowns after placing third and fourth as a sophomore and freshman.
“Pete’s probably my favorite coach and one of the main reasons I got into coaching,” said Holmes, who is in his 14th season. “I’ve called him multiple times throughout my coaching career asking for advice.”
Welch wrestled for his father, John, at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, N.J., and won a New Jersey state title as a senior. A former wrestler at The University of North Carolina, Welch won 108 career matches and earned All-American status at the 1991 NCAA Tournament.
In 2015, Welch was nominated into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, joining his father, who was inducted into the New Jersey chapter in 2003.
Welch became the Eagles’ coach during the 1994-95 season and guided their program to its first MIAA Conference dual meet and tournament titles in 1999-2000.
Accompanied by his wife, Patty, Welch has children, Abbey 27, Natalie 24, Kevin 22, all of whom are McDonogh alumnus, as well as an 18-month-old grandson, Colton.
“They all had their own journeys. Abbey had several injuries in middle school and early high school. Abbey went to Penn State. She gave up sports, but is now an engineer for BGE. Way better. My son Kevin grew up wrestling. When he got to high school, he told me he wanted to focus on soccer. That hurt for a second. I’m so glad he had the courage to tell me and to carve his own path,” Welch said. “Unfortunately, his soccer life was cut short due to Covid, but he is also graduating this spring from Penn State with an accounting degree. My daughter Natalie played five years of Division I lacrosse at Kennesaw State in Georgia. She finished last year, and I believe had close to 60 career goals. My wife and I loved spending the last five years after wrestling season following her team around. My wife, Patty, is a lower school librarian at McDonogh. To say the least our family has been all in.”
Welch admits to having amended some things as a result of age.
“I still demonstrate moves, but mostly technique, and I just don’t go live,” Welch said. “I had my knee replaced in 2019, which has slowed that down a bit. But every once in a while, someone will grab me or I will grab them. Wrestling season is a grind like none other. There are so many great things kids can do these days,” Welch said. “But I truly believe nothing teaches life-long grit better than wrestling. You are constantly getting knocked down and have to make quick decisions on if and how you are going to get back up. The journey seems so long as we are going through it but is just a blink when it’s over. I believe the kids that make it through a season or even better through four years of high school wrestling are more resilient and prepared for life’s challenges.”
Fitch remains both in awe of Welch’s resilience and grateful for his guidance.
“Coach Welch is a legend. Multiple days a week, you can find him running practice for novice elementary school wrestlers. He has nothing to prove, but still proves it,” Fitch said. “His 400 dual wins are an incredible accomplishment that still pale in comparison to the positive impact he has had on the wrestling community and the McDonogh program. He still impresses me.”
A 2015 McDonogh graduate, Harrell returned as an assistant after winning state titles at Broadneck in 2012 and 2013, a pair of MIAA crowns, one MIS championship in two title match berths, and twice finishing second at National Preps.
“Wrestling is a tough sport which requires grit and a whole lot of discipline and patience, but the environment Coach Pete creates is one that embraces learning, wrestling free, and competing with gratitude,” said Harrell, 27. “You don’t hit a milestone like this by focusing strictly on winning, but more so, on having fun while doing the work and developing teams of strong character. I’m very grateful to be a part of the generations of McDonogh wrestlers who have been impacted by the joy he brings to the sport while amassing 400 wins.”
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