Lenard Andrews has devoted a good portion of his life to the sport of wrestling.
That dedication has led to a very high honor.
Andrews will be inducted into the Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame this weekend.
His high school mat career resulted in a state tournament berth for MHS in the early 1970s.
He went on to wrestle at The Ohio State University.
Upon graduation from OSU, Andrews returned to his home town as a health and physical education teacher.
He served as an MHS assistant high school coach from 1975-2000 and then took over the program as head coach.
He retired from that position in 2008.
Andrews was followed as the Monarchs’ head coach by his son, Shawn, who continues in that spot.
That, however, didn’t mean the elder Andrews was finished with the sport.
He coached at the middle school level for five years, which elevated his coaching time within the Marysville wrestling program to nearly 40 years.
Although he doesn’t coach these days, Andrews still comes to the varsity team’s practices from time to time to observe and perhaps offer a piece or two of advice.
On Sunday, he will be inducted into coaches hall of fame.
The induction will come right before the state championship matches for Divisions I, II and III at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center.
The nomination was made by Shawn Andrews, who is the president of the coaches association. Members vote on new inductees.
“It’s a big honor,” said Andrews. “However, I didn’t do it by myself.
“We’ve had a lot of dedicated people involved with Marysville wrestling over the years.”
Andrews cited former head coach Bob Williams as one of the key people involved with the program over the years.
A number of other individuals just happen to be in Andrews’ immediate family.
“My wife Kim has been a big part of this,” he said. “As a matter of fact, she was the first Marysville wrestling stat girl.”
Andrews and his wife brought up five sons who wrestled for the Monarchs.
Offspring Shawn, Nathan, Zach, Gabe and Garret each wrestled for Marysville.
Along with Shawn currently serving as MHS’ head coach, Garret is in charge of the wrestling program at North Union High School.
Nathan previously served as a Monarch varsity assistant coach and currently coaches at Bunsold Middle School.
“The sport of wrestling takes a lot of time away from your family,” said the elder Andrews. “Having my family involved in it has been a big help.
“Kim has been with me all the way,” he said. “Wrestling is a family sport… that’s the only way you can do it.”
That family experience will soon grow as a third generation of Andrews will make their Monarch debuts in the not-so-distant future.
Andrews’ grandsons Mason and Keegan will compete for Bunsold Middle School next year.