SLIPPERY ROCK— Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

Derek DeGraaf, 19, was named varsity wrestling coach at Slippery Rock High School, making him the youngest varsity head coach in Butler County.

Only a year ago, he was trying to crack the starting lineup for the Slippery Rock University wrestling team after winning more than 70 matches at Grove City High School.

Then SRUdropped its wrestling program and DeGraaf was left with a decision.

"Do I transfer to another school and keep wrestling or do I stay at SRU?"DeGraaf said. "I thought about going to Clarion. My parents advised me to stay at Slippery Rock because it has the best program for my major.

"It turned out to be the right move."

DeGraaf is majoring in special education and wanted to beecome a coach someday. That day came a lot sooner than he ever expected.

After watching his alma mater wrestle Slippery Rock High School in a dual match last year, DeGraaf decided to approach Rockets coach Fred Powell about helping out as a voluntary assistant.

"Ifigured it'd be a good experience for me and my family has a lot of respect for Coach Powell,"DeGraaf said.

Powell coached DeGraaf's father, Keith DeGraaf, years ago at SRU. The elder DeGraaf went on to become head wrestling coach at Mercer High School for 15 years.

He resigned that position five years ago so he could watch his son wrestle in high school.

"We were all disappointed when SRUended its wrestling program,"the elder DeGraaf said. "Derek was in a bind at that point, but I knew Coach Powell could use some help.

"There will actually be less of a burden on Derek coaching high school and attending college classes than there would have been as an active collegiate wrestler attending classes.

"SRU wrestling was a Division I program with lots of travel and a lot of demands on time. As a coach, he can just walk across the street and spend a couple of hours a day working with the kids. And the experience will benefit his career down the road," he added.

Powell started the Slippery Rock High School program in 1998-99 and has been its only coach. The school district began an elementary school program for the first time this winter.

There are 10 returning high school wrestlers and 18 in the junior high program.

"Everything is in place now,"Powell said. "We have a varsity team, junior high and elementary program, we have a wrestling room. I feel like it's time for me to step aside and let somebody else run with it.

"I recommended Derek for the job. He has a great rapport with the kids and he loves the sport."

"I'm ecstatic about this chance to prove myself," DeGraaf said. "A lot of people will think I'm too young, that I'm not ready. I want to prove them wrong.

"With Coach Powell and my dad, I have people to lean on for help. I'm not worried about this at all. I can't wait."