Reporters Notebook: 042509 - "Gano's Award is No Surprise"

After leading the Biglerville Canner wrestling team to a league title and one-loss season this year, Bob Gano was recently named the Gettysburg Times coach of the year.
It’s no surprise to me. I mean, in his 12 years at Biglerville, he’s never had a losing season.
Ever. That’s remarkable.
Every year when the BHS Booster Club gives out its Coach of the Year award, I wonder: why bother? Bob Gano’s the best, in my humble opinion. Show me another coach that’s never had a losing season.
When he came to Apple Town in 1997-98, he resuscitated a program that was mired in a deep slump. Coach Gano somehow managed to convince a team that had won four matches the previous year that we were good enough to compete with the best. And for some reason, we listened.
He inherited a roster of just 14 wrestlers at a time when there were 13 weight classes. We forfeited up to three bouts on any given night, yet were somehow one of the top dual meet teams in the district.
Fans came back to the Canner Dome, and rocked the walls like the days of old.
The new coach instilled a new attitude in Canner Country. We wore camouflage, because our undermanned squad was “going to war” for the new coach.
A new era was born in the town where wrestling is everything. And even 12 years later, the “Camo Kids” are still going to war for Coach Gano.
Congratulations on a well-deserved honor.
~ Scot A. Pitzer, Times Staff Reporter.