General | August 1, 2017 | 22:10

Dave Licari missed the spectacular twin belly to belly suplexes that his Team Michigan 170-pound wrestler Ryan Ringler threw on his Team Ohio opponent Tuesday afternoon to win his match at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

The outgoing wrestling coach for Team Michigan also missed much of his team's 69-9 victory over Team Ohio in freestyle wrestling. A few hours after receiving an honorary award from the AAU, Licari drove to Subway, and ordered turkey sandwiches with light mayo and lettuce for his team.

He did not make it back in time for the match, leaving the coaching duties to Brian Wintergate, Anthony Riopelle and his son Nick Licari.

No matter how long you've been on the job or how many awards you've received, being a youth coach still entails grabbing lunch, mending wounds and dishing out tough love.

It's just what Licari did after his squad lost a match against Potomac Valley.

In the match against Potomac Valley, Licari believes his team allowed fatigue to take over because it was the final match of a grueling five-match day.

"Was that the best team you faced today?" Licari asked his team. "No, far from it. But we kind of let up, and guys wanted to get out of here. They were not the best team we faced, but they kicked our ass like they were the best team."

The words were harsh, but Licari doled them out with as much love as possible.

Licari, 53, is a long-time youth coach who is stepping down after 15 years of coaching the Michigan team and after 30 years of coaching youth wrestling and football. He always did it with a smile, and the AAU recognized his dedication to wrestling with a plaque.

Licari coached because he loved the sport as much as he loved to see athletes develop.

He is stepping down because he loves his wife Michelle, and wants to spend more time with her now that they are empty nesters.

The Licari family bought a camper in February, and Michelle and Dave are driving to Cadillac for a week the day this tournament ends. After traveling to Cadillac, they will be heading to the Upper Peninsula for four more days of peacefulness.

It will be like a second honeymoon and a fresh start.

Dave will also no longer coach the defensive line at Utica Ford High School or run the Anchor Bay wrestling club.

"In some form, I have coached 30 years, and she (Michelle) has put up with it," Licari said.

While receiving his award at the Junior Olympics, his son Nick surprised him by showing up for the award presentation.

The Licari men got to coach together one last time, before dad rides off into the sunset in his brand new camper.

The AAU paid tribute to Licari for his service to the youth.

Licari said, "I have gotten a lot more out of this than I could ever give. This sport is incredible. I have always said football is my love, but wrestling is my passion."

He is a former Coast Guard diesel mechanic that attended college at 45 years old, so that he could teach kids.

Licari grew up a wrestler, but quit the sport to play basketball at Algonac High School, a decision he regrets today. He followed his friends to the hardwood, although his heart remained on the mat.

"I was a bit of (a) wimp at the time," he said. "I stunk at basketball."

Team Michigan represents the best wrestlers in the state, and will wrestle again Wednesday against teams from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa and Maryland.

Ringler, who is just a high school sophomore, joined the team after earning double All-American honors while competing in Fargo, N.D. He weighed 181 pounds, less than a week before he needed to cut his weight down to 170 pounds.

He was at 170.6 pounds before Team Michigan's final practice but was at 169.5 by the time of the weigh-in.

That's dedication personified.

Licari still has fun coaching, and bounces around a wrestling tournament as if it was his first one.

People sometimes ask if he is really ready to retire because he appears to be so giddy around the mat.

"Would you rather walk away from something happy?" he said. "Or would you rather walk away from something disgruntled, and leave for the wrong reasons?"

Licari has decided to walk away a happy man. Soon, he will be holding hands with his wife in the deep reaches of Michigan, while enjoying a campfire and the sounds of crickets.

Even during those times, Licari admits wrestling will be on his mind.

"It's a different breed of people," he said.

People that are "crazy, disciplined and close knit," he added.