Few men have had a greater impact on a high school sport and an entire school district than Sprig Gardner has. Through his efforts wrestling on Long Island grew from a crudely run program at a few schools to a major sport that influenced wrestling programs in the state and the nation. Coming to the Mepham School District in 1936 during its second year of existence, Sprig Gardner helped create the high reputation for scholarship and wrestling that is carried on today in the same Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District. His influence reached state and national levels as he was appointed a member of the National Rules Committee and elected to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame while coaching at Mepham.
While some cite Mepham High School's incredible records of the Gardner Era for his fame, many who knew the man realize his success was the result of his personal philosophy and coaching acumen. Sprig coached not wrestling but life. To each boy he imparted a concern for academic, athletic, and civic pride and responsibility. This genuine concern for each team member created a fantastic belief in him as a person and coach, and his system of teaching wrestling as being the best possible. The confidence this belief in him generated was overwhelming. |  |
Sprig Gardner's success was built on innovation. His concepts of the "drill system" revolutionized the sport. But, more importantly, he brought to sports deeper, more lasting values for the individual. While winning was the goal, Sprig stressed humility in victory and quiet acceptance of defeat. These reactions became associated with his boys and they gave the highly competitive and emotional sport of wrestling a dignity that assured recognition to the vanquished as well as to the victorious.
Sprig Gardner spread high school wrestling to the state and to the nation. His efforts effected rules concerning weight classifications, match scoring procedures, and tournament procedures at local, state, and national levels. He opened his practice to boys from other schools and shared his coaching with them. He added a quality to wrestling that went far beyond the unparalleled statistics amassed by his winning teams.
Yet to leave out his record would be to ignore an incredible part of sports history. Having never wrestled and only coached briefly at East Hampton High School, Sprig organized his first Mepham team in 1936-37 in an abandoned elementary school turned into a high school. The ninth and tenth graders comprised a junior varsity that went on to defeat several varsity opponents and place third in the annual South Shore Tournament. The following year Mepham entered varsity ranks and as incredible as it may seem the Pirates would not know defeat in a meet or tournament until January 31, 1946 when Baldwin defeated Mepham 21-15 after an undefeated string of 100 meets and tournaments. Yet that was merely an interlude to greater success. For Mepham would not lose again until January 14, 1955 when Amityville ended the Pirates undefeated streak of 130 by one point.
The same Amityville team was the first to defeat the Pirates in tournament conditions after 18 consecutive years and 37 consecutive tournaments. During this unprecedented span Mepham won 18 consecutive South Shore titles and 17 Sectional Championships. In 1958, his last season as a wrestling coach, Coach Gardner's undefeated team (20-0) won 9 of 12 individual sectional titles, scoring 186 points, which totaled more than the combined score of the next ten schools.
Coach Gardner's overall record of 254-5-1, with 40 tournament titles, 1 co-title, and 3 seconds and his wrestlers have included 106 sectional champions in 22 years of coaching. None of these records have been remotely equaled. But probably the most enduring mark of the man and his records was that these great feats were accomplished against the best competition he could find in 5 states including New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia, and against teams representing city, county, and state all-stars.
The record fits the man — a man to whom wrestling was a part of life and a way to build strong values forged by dedication, hard work, sacrifice, and self-respect.
Author unknown, printed in the program for Sprig Gardner Day, January 17, 1987
While in grammar school I developed a love for basketball. I would practice dribbling the ball for hours in an empty school yard. When I was sure no one was looking, I practiced exotic shots mimicking the stars of the day. Upon entering Wellington C. Mepham High School in North Bellmore, Long Island, I decided to throw caution to the wind. I went out for the basketball team. The basketball coach was quite tolerant. He gave me three minutes to perform. My only shot hit the rim. After the missed shot, the basketball coach called me over. He looked me right in the eye and said, "Wrestling is downstairs." Unfortunately, my love for basketball far exceeded my ability.
I felt rejected as only one in high school can feel rejected. I also felt like I was being ordered to go out for wrestling. I wasn't quite sure as to whether the words of wisdom were based upon my short, stocky build or pure lack of basketball coordination. I felt as if I was on a mission.
I had heard that the Wellington C. Mepham High School wrestling team was outstanding because of coach Frank D. Gardner — "Sprig."
When wrestling became a varsity sport, Coach Gardner's teams ran up an undefeated streak of 100 matches. Life Magazine came out to cover the 101st and, sure enough, we lost to Baldwin High School and the Life Magazine jinx. Sans Life Magazine, the team went on to win 130 straight matches, before losing to Amityville High School. This had been the longest amateur team winning streak in sports. The streak included both the South Shore and the Long Island Wrestling Tournaments. The statistics are even more amazing than they apnear, because the record included annual matches with perennial Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Washington D.C. prep school champs.
Generally we wrestled two matches a weekend with two different teams. Every week there was a wrestle-off for first and second string. Anyone out for the sport could challenge.
The coach had been known to throw a national AAU champion off the team. Coach had a rule that you were responsible for your school work, and he would take care of your wrestling career.
The story was that the champion was having trouble with a certain course. He asked the coach for help. The coach reminded the athlete of his rule. The athlete responded that for two cents he would join the marines. The coach reached for the phone book and phone, took two cents out of his pocket, dialed the marine recruiter and advised him that the athlete was on his way to the recruiter's office.
Several years later, the coach had a national AAU champ on the high school team. Some universities have never had a national champion.
Coach Gardner never wrestled. He became interested in the sport while attending Franklin and Marshall because his roommate was a wrestler.
He drove a long green Hudson. He chewed tobacco and lived as a Quaker with his widowed mother.
Mepham wrestlers were of all creeds and colors. Coach Gardner did not discriminate.
He once laughed at me for getting pinned in forty-four seconds. I was known as "forty-four second Sam" for too long a period of time. Tough love. He never closed the wrestling room to anyone. You were invited if you were in college or our next opponents. During the winter break the room was flooded with college wrestlers and frequently their coaches.
Mepham wrestlers did fit into a mold. We all had crew cuts and a funny way of walking. Sometimes after practice we would play basketball. We looked as funny as penguins playing baseball. Many of us had some state of cauliflower ear. I still show signs of this badge of courage in my right ear.
When facing a tough opponent, Coach Gardner would remind you that the opponent put one foot at a time in his pants just like you. He respected those who worked hard. If you indicated a preference for a college, he would work selflessly to help you.
The only instruction Coach Gardner gave us was to your conduct before a match. You were supposed to look your opponent right in the eye and to give a strong handshake.
He may be the only high school coach in the Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He is, for sure, the only high school wrestling coach in the Hall of Fame who never wrestled. He believed anyone could be a champion and he passed that belief on to us. God, how I miss him.
Sam Schoninger is an attorney practicing in Colorado Springs. He is the author of four books and nationally known as a speaker. He has appeared before a committee of the United States Senate and has been on the Larry King Show. He is active in civic affairs, is past president of Cheyenne Village, Inc. and currently serves on the Board for the Pioneer Museum. (Reprinted with permission from the October, 1992 issue of Steppin' Out Magazine.) Reprinted from Scuttlebutt, June 1993.
Whether in peace or in war, Frank (Sprig) Gardner's life has been one unending tale of loyal, unselfish devotion to a cause. For five years, as athletic director, he worked for the betterment of Mepham, building up an amazing record in wrestling, the story of which is legion.
Though this itself was a major contribution, it is not Gardner, the coach, but Gardner, the man, which should be emphasized. His sage counsel, his interest in the individual, and his annual pep talks made him a Mepham institution, a perfect personnel man.
But, then came Pearl Harbor. A man of strong convictions, Coach unhesitatingly gave up a secure, established position for a naval commission, less than six months after December 7. Again, he could have hidden in the obscurity of a V-5 instructor's job, but instead, true to his nature, he constantly applied for active duty, and finally got it on a carrier destined for the Pacific theatre.
Mepham, peacetime beneficiary of the Gardner talents, has bowed out in favor of Uncle Sam but anxiously looks forward to his return. In recognition of his services, the class of '44 hereby dedicates this "Treasure Chest" to the fighting lieutenant.
