Saying it was the only job that would take him away from Knoxville, Eric Whitcome is leaving the wrestling program at Knoxville for the same position at his alma mater at Waverly-Shell Rock. Whitcome spent three seasons at Knoxville and says he built a program that was considered one of the up and coming programs in Iowa. Under Whitcome’s tutelage, the kids program more than doubled in size, and the varsity team started to complete against some of the best teams in the area. He says the community also finally got behind the program this season, evident when the Panthers wrestled Norwalk to a nearly packed Knoxville Gym. Whitcome replaces Rick Caldwell who is a Knoxville native who stepped down after this past season.