Territory familiar, ‘eerie’

James Yodice

Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

For 18 years, Jimmy May pulled his car into the faculty parking lot at Eldorado High School, got out, locked the doors and went to work.

This was a routine he knew so well that barely any thought process went into it. Everything about the surroundings was familiar, everything about his life was comfortable.

Tonight, May returns to that school -- but through the side entrance -- as the former Sundevils wrestling coach makes his first trip back to Eldorado since he took over the Green Valley program last year.

"It's going to be an emotional night for me," May said. "I haven't been in the building since I left. That's a long time, so it'll be a little bit emotional."

How excited Eldorado will be to see May and the Gators is unclear. The Sundevils, who won 10 state championships under May, have faltered badly this season.

In fact, a match which once would be tilted heavily toward Eldorado now is leaning the other way. The Gators enter the Sunset Division showdown 3-0 in the league, while the Sundevils are struggling at 0-3.

Green Valley beat Eldorado in a dual meet last month at Green Valley, 54-15, but now May goes back into the gym where he enjoyed so many good times.

"Walking in there will definitely be an eerie feeling," said May, 42, who spent his first season coaching at Vo-Tech before hopping on board at Eldorado. "I hope (the reaction I get) is positive. I have a lot of feelings for a lot of kids there."

Two of May's children graduated from Eldorado -- son Danny finished his schooling last May with a pair of state titles -- but Jimmy May ceased being the head coach three years ago. He was an assistant for his final two seasons before leaving for Green Valley.

"It was a good time to make a change," May said. "It was time for me to do something different in my life."

Since May agreed to take on the title of head coach, he has been peering ahead in the schedule to tonight.

"When I first got the job here, I penciled it in in the back of my mind," he said. "But I think the moment I do walk in there I'll be focused on the job."