Brooks Faurote's father, Brent, has been the Bellmont wrestling coach for 23 years, but it was another Bellmont coach he has been thinking about lately.

John Friedt, who coached the Decatur Wrestling Club and at Bellmont high and middle schools, died Feb. 17, three days after suffering a stroke.

"(Friedt) has coached most of us since we started wrestling at the age of five and has made an impact on all our lives," said Brooks, a 140-pounder.

Brooks had to overcome hardship this year when a broken hand sat him out of action for a month and limited his mobility in his return with a bulky cast on his left hand.

"That adversity makes my hand injury seem very small, and it definitely puts things in perspective," Brooks said of Friedt's passing.

"I am happy I was able to wrestle at (individual) state and overcome the adversity. My team and I will have to overcome more adversity with the loss of coach John Friedt."

Bellmont wrestles in the team state quarterfinals against Penn on Saturday at Center Grove.