Teacher, coach, alumnus Josh Devriendt. He teaches physical science, chemistry, and coaching wrestling on the side. Devriendt says, “He’s just your average guy from Goffstown, NH.” But to the community he is so much more.
Growing up was hard, but he kept pushing and worked his way up to where he is now. Devriendt admired how hard his mom worked and still made time for her community. Not only did she have three jobs she struggled with a disease. “No matter how hard I work I will never work as hard as her.”
Devriendt went from coaching at a college to his old high school’s wrestling team. Eventually opening up his own wrestling club with a couple of friends.
The club Agoge is dedicated to marine Phil Charte who was killed in action in 2010. Both Devriendt and fellow coach Alex Paraskevas admired him. While Devriendt had a hard time talking about himself, however he had nothing but the best to say about Phil. They both thought it was best to name the club after Phil because his platoon would do something called Agoge. Agoge was a challenge Phils platoon would compete in.
It was hard for them to open a wrestling club in December of 2020 when everyone was worried about Covid-19. Coach Paraskevas saw it as spending more time with one of his best friends and helping each other build their dreams and visions.
Set with the goal to become one of the number one wrestling towns in New Hampshire and New England, Devrident and Paraskevas are right on track. Only having just a few kids during the year of 2020 to now upwards of 30 kids. Both the club and high school are expanding and growing. Along with women’s wrestling, just at the middle school there are about six or seven girls. The community is becoming more welcoming and open.
Mr. Mailhot, another science teacher at GHS, happily says, “Dev is a person of excellent character.” Mr. Mailhot and coach Paraskevas agree it is easy working with Devriendt. Devriendt knows the value of relationships and a good community. He does everything to give back to a community that helped him so much. He thinks “it’s important to be a part of something bigger than yourself.” Devriendt spends more time coaching than being involved with his own life.
Over the years Devriendt has taught valuable lessons as well as helped improve the Goffstown wrestling program. Brody Reeves said, “Dev has helped guide me for many years acting as a father or big brother figure.” Guiding others whether it was on the mat or off the mat, in the classroom or outside of the classroom. He does his best to help you improve yourself and become a better person. Devriendt wants everyone to be “one percent better than yesterday.”