Testimonials
Wrestler Testimonials
Because of Coach Haines I can call myself a state and national champion. When I first came to Coach Haines as an awkward middle schooler I had many bad wrestling habits and was far from being tough enough for upper level wrestling. Coach Haines’ expert technique and rigorous training regiments have made me confident as I enter the world of division 1 wrestling.
-Derrick Borlie
University of Wisconsin
NHSCA Senior National Champion, Fargo Runner-Up, 2X State Champion
Coach Haines is one of the most influential people in my life. I wrestled at a school other than the one Coach Haines coached at, then after my sophomore season I began attending his summer club practices. From this, I learned that even though I was from a rival school he was willing to help me in any way possible. From the time knowing Coach Haines I have learned many great traits that I will carry on for the rest of my life. Coach Haines made me mentally tougher as a wrestler and taught me goals on and off the mat are not given to you, you have to put in the time and effort to earn them. As a wrestler Coach Haines opened my eyes to new levels of conditioning, skills and competition that I may have never reached without his motivation and support. He has been there for me while I was struggling on and off the mat. I believe my experience with Coach Haines has made me the wrestler I am today and has set me up to succeed in the future.
-Matt Fletcher
St. Andrews College
2X State Place Winner, 2x Region Champion, 2x District Champion
When I started high school I weighed 98 pounds, I was the weakest kid Coach Haines had ever seen. 4 years later I graduated high school as a 4-year letter winner, 2-time team captain, and valedictorian. Haines didn't teach me how to work hard, he was just showed me that the only way to live without regret about a part of your life is to outwork everyone at that part of your life. It could be school, wrestling, or being a good family member. As long as you're working harder than
everyone else, as long as you're outworking everyone, you'll have nothing to regret in life. Haines made me into a role model instead of a kid who wouldn't stop running his mouth. He made me into be leader instead of a kid who worked hard in the background. He made me into a confident individual who always walks with a swagger and a head held high, instead of a kid who always stared at his shoes when he walked down a hallway. He made me into be a wrestler, instead of a member of the wrestling team. That means that even though I'll never wrestle competitively again, I still use what he taught me everyday. My goals have changed, instead of being a state place winner I want to work for ESPN, but I'm still using the wrestling mentality to get there. I still know that if I outwork everyone I'll have nothing to regret. I'm still using my Haines training everyday.
-Stephen Boyle
Northwestern University
http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/author/stephenboyle/
Training with Coach Haines has been a life altering experience for me. Coach showed me how to push my mental and physical training in everything that I do. The passion that Haines showed for wrestling and coaching made me want to improve every day. Coach not only taught me how to become a dominate wrestler, but also how to be a role model off the mat as well. The time I spent with Coach on and off of the mat has, and continues, to mold me as a human being; I am very proud of that. The skills that I have learned with Haines about training, mental toughness, and leading a good lifestyle will last me a lifetime.
-Wes Heavener
Campbell University
State Champion, 3x Region Champion, 2x District Champion
Parent Testimonials
I am the father of three student athletes and I have participated in NCAA Division I athletics and coached multiple sports for multiple age groups over the past 18 years. Chris Haines is the absolute best coach, motivator and role model that I have had the pleasure to meet since playing football for Bobby Ross at the University of Maryland 25 years ago.
Chris Haines possesses and demonstrates just about every positive and beneficial attribute through his coaching and oversight of his wrestling programs. With his innate passion and ability as a successful NCAA Division I wrestler, his prior successes as Head Coach of the Millbrook High School wrestling team and his highly productive “Madmen” Wrestlers; Chris continuously produces young men of excellent wrestling ability and high character, many of whom have found themselves on NCAA wrestling teams.
The number of High School All Americans, High State Champions, State Place winners and NCAA wrestlers Chris’s coaching has produced in just a few short years is astounding. In addition, these results came in an area (northwestern Virginia) where wrestling is not a traditionally strong sport and from a brand new high school where he started and based his programs.
The things that stand out the most to me are his willingness to take on any young person willing to work hard and his ability to motivate and get his wrestlers to perform and achieve beyond their potential. He does not build success by selecting from top talent; he builds top talent which results in success. Chris is the most demanding coach that I have seen in over 20 years, yet his wrestlers always want to work harder and buy into his program 100%.
It is amazing to witness the affect of Chris and his programs on a child or young adult. My oldest son wrestles for a U. S. Service Academy which equates to a “full ride” scholarship. He was successful in gaining an appointment and Congressional nomination in large part because of his success as a high school wrestler and a recommendation from Chris Haines. Chris played a vital role in my son obtaining admission to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
My middle child is also a student athlete and spent much of his middle school time unmotivated and unfocused. After two years of offseason wrestling with Chris’s “Madmen” club, he is now dedicated to being a high school state champion and following his older brother’s path to being an NCAA student athlete.
-Mike Skubon
My son made great strides in his wrestling and mat awareness when he began to participate in the camps and club that Coach Haines ran. Due to the strong work ethic inspired by the club and camp sessions, he began to realize that hard work would pay off in greater success both on and off the mat.
-John Borst