Home of champions

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Dad Dean Paugh got his in 1976. Eldest son Morgan got his in 2014. Youngest son Matthew got his in 2015. And mom Lynne has probably squirmed and sweated as much through her sons’ 10 years of wrestling matches to have earned a medal herself.

Individual state championships in wrestling aren’t easy to come by. But a father and two sons with Alabama state individual championships? That makes, even by lofty Vestavia Hills Rebels standards, the Paugh household a unique home of champions.

“Great wrestling family,” said Jeff Segars, Vestavia Hills assistant wrestling coach and newly appointed athletics director. “Just the whole family is fantastic and has been great to our program. You can come up here and see Dean moving mats. He’s willing to do anything we need to do to help our program.”

Pa Paugh got his as a member of the very first Rebels state championship wrestling team. That was the first of the Rebels’ 13 state championship wrestling teams, one behind state leader Benjamin Russell of Alexander City. 

Morgan, who just wrapped up a stellar career — he finished with the most wins in school history — won as a junior at the 152-pound weight class. This past season he stepped up to the 160 class for the good of the team and was runner-up, even though he had to overcome injuries through the season.

Matthew won his this past season as a freshman, beating Oak Mountain junior Michael John Harris in an 8-4 decision at 132.

One thing about state championships: You never forget them.

“Our school was only 4 years old,” Dean said. “That was the first title won in any sport in school history. I take great pride in that. Nowadays when you come into the Vestavia program you talk about being state champion, it’s not far-fetched. But in 1976, it was like being an Olympic champion.”

He beat John Cashin from Huntsville’s Butler High in the 138-pound weight class, he recalled. He and Cashin then wrestled together at the University of Alabama, back when wrestling was a Southeastern Conference Division I sport.

It was a given his sons would follow in his footsteps. They started when Morgan was in the third grade and Matthew was in kindergarten. They wrestled for Vestavia Youth Wrestling and had outstanding youth careers. Morgan was in the national finals several times, and Matthew was a youth All-American.

“It was our dream, we talked about it from day one, that they would both win the high school state championship,” Dean said. 

Morgan was fifth in the state as an eighth-grader, third as a freshman, third as a sophomore, first as a junior and second as senior. He persevered through a litany of injuries — “I broke just about everything you can break” — moving up in weight class each year.

After winning the state title as a junior, making the father-son legacy a reality, Morgan was ecstatic. “It was probably the happiest moment I’ve ever had in my life. (My dad) told me about his (championship) and said he was more relieved than anything else, and that pretty much sums it up. You work this hard, come all this way to try to do this one thing.”

When Matthew completed the trifecta the very next year, it took the pressure off. The dream was realized.

“I just worked hard all year with some of my bigger friends. I knew I had a shot, but it was pretty awesome,” Matthew said.

Dean said, “When Morgan won it I would say it was the happiest day of my life to that point and when Matthew won it was like a double dose of it — I’m so proud of my sons, of what they’ve done and who they’ve grown up to be.

“I don’t say they’re like me, I say I’m proud to say I’m like them. I consider it an honor.”

Segars calls Matthew a “bulldog. Just as hard-nosed a kid as we’ve got on the team. He could see Hulk Hogan waiting on the mat and in his mind he’s supposed to win that match.”

“I don’t feel intimidated when I see a bigger, stronger guy,” Matthew said. “I don’t really get nervous before matches.”

And are you intimidated by your older brother?

Simultaneously, Morgan: “Of course.” Matthew: “No!”

Dad said his eldest son’s style is more like his was — technical, highly skilled, intellectual and controlled — competitive but not apt to lose his head. Matthew is more emotional.

“Matthew has good fundamental skills, but he’s a brawler. He makes up half the stuff he does and still comes out on top. Morgan’s tough and fights you to the end, but Matthew’ll chew your face off to win. I’ve always marveled at the way they both competed. They’re both highly competitive but they have different styles, different demeanors.”

Rebels head wrestling coach Steve Gaydosh says character comes out on the wrestling mat. Dean Paugh said there’s nothing like the discipline and the mental and physical toughness required by wrestling. It teaches values and instills toughness that lasts a lifetime.

“I think in the years to come, they’ll appreciate how hard this was when they look back,” Dad says. “I know when I look back, it’s the hardest thing I ever did.”