Richard C. Hastings III

Hi Coach! Is it ironic that I had my first wrestling practice today? It is your anniversary and I spent the day with high schoolers, starting the first ever varsity wrestling team in Alton, NH. I have 15 high schoolers and 15 middle schoolers. It was quite the day, with 4 hours of conditioning and technique. And yes, I took the time to speak about family and school, as you did. Thank you for helping me. Now I get to give back, as you did. Your sayings, stories, and traditions live on...

Hi Coach, I'm late on my yearly message to you. I have great news! I have started a wrestling team in Alton. There are 17 kids signed up. I have 3 high schoolers and 14 middle schoolers. We are a middle school team competing against other towns. My 3 high schoolers will wrestle for the neighboring town until next year, when I hopefully have a high school team. This is a good start! Stay tuned, love you! Miss you! Oh, I have my first parent meeting on Monday night. Although it is my...

Hi Coach. Tonight I started drafting a speech to be spoken at NHS in 2 weeks. I only have a few minutes which isn't nearly enough time to tell people about you. I could sum it up with family, school, and wrestling. The bottom line is that you changed my life forever and in doing so, you changed the lives of my own 2 boys and all of the students I've taught in the last 25 years. Maybe you knew this at the time, that your actions would affect the lives of thousands. I don't know. But you...

Coach, I shared some thoughts about you at the Hastings Duals last Saturday...over 17 years since you passed, 26 years since we coached together, and 32 years since I wrestled for you...and I still got choked up sharing your impact on me with others. My Son Bruce is finishing up his Freshman year of Wrestling at Conard. You would have loved him...funny, passionate, smart, and good sportsmanship. He would have loved you too. I share with him moves that you taught me, life lessons that you...

Hey coach, I thought I'd share the shirt that my wrestlers are working. Your motto lives on, now in the lives of my wrestlers as well. Miss you, love you. Derek

Coach, I did it! I'm getting wrestling mats this summer! I'll have a club and then hopefully a team in the future. My kids will be getting shirts. And they'll say..."hard work towards excellence." That's what you taught me! Thank you, miss you, and always love you! You changed my life! - Derek

Thinking of you on this day, coach! And your family. I may be starting a starting program this year. It'll mirror everything that you did and taught me. Love you and miss you! Derek