York wrestling head coach Nicole Evans started her career in the sport across the United States with help from her son and daughter.
Evans started helping out on her son and daughter’s wrestling team in California. After moving to Tennessee in 2023, Evans started her time in the Agricultural Department of York. Evans saw a position open on the girls wrestling team, eventually getting to be a part of the team that had her daughter on it alongside a host of soccer players her daughter had convinced to join.
Evans’ daughter ended up winning state at the 107 pound category. During the off-season, the boys wrestling coach resigned. Evans said instead of watching the program fold, she put in an application. During that time, York began a social media page to have parents and fellow students follow the team. Evans said the results were tremendous.
“It promoted the team on social media and whatnot when we could write about her success as well as the success of some of the other athletes that placed at regionals or when we’d win duals,” Evans said. “So being able to promote the team on social media created an awareness.”
Evans took over as wrestling head coach last season. Her first season resulted in her winning Regional Coach of the Year. Evans said she got those honors thanks to her staff.
“I prayed very hard that there would be some assistant coaches in Fentress County that would have more experience than I did,” Evans said. “Sure enough, we lucked out.”
Evans brings in experience to help her with the new position. Todd Craig comes in as assistant coach after wrestling in Illinois. Travis Rich enters after coaching and being a part of mixed martial arts. Assistant Lindsey Hood began after obtaining a jiu-jitsu brown belt. And Callie Turner entered to help Jamestown wrestling after winning state championships at Oklahoma State.
“We take real good care of the kids in there,” Evans said. “We focus on discipline, work ethic, we try to do it all so I think that has just helped us grow the program and bring more kids into it.”
Evans boasts over 36 kids on the York team this season. Evans will look for her second consecutive Regional Coach of the Year award this season, looking to send more wrestlers to Franklin in the process.
