School Board approves new wrestling coach

RED OAK -- The Red Oak School Board hired Tiegen Podliska to be the new head wrestling coach for Red Oak High School at a board meeting Monday night.

Podliska, who was recently hired to teach social studies at the Middle School, graduated from Loras College in Dubuque last month. Podliska wrestled at Ottumwa High School and Loras, as a letterwinner.

Mitchell Rice will be joining Podliska, as an assistant coach. Rice was hired to be the new physical education teacher and will also be an assistant coach in football.

Rice worked as a coach at Lone Jack in Missouri, for the last couple of years.

Both men are taking over for Tom VanDyke, who resigned earlier this month, to accept the elementary physical education instructor and high school wrestling coach position at Griswold.

There will be more in the July 6 edition of the Red Oak Express.