Coach Carl Wallin conquers prostate cancer: ‘I want to get back’
Carl Wallin, the famed retired Dartmouth track coach and 1989 masters world champion, is carving out a new legend — his recovery from prostate cancer. I spoke with him Sunday to learn his status after George Mathews gave me a heads up on Carl’s return to throwing competition at the Dartmouth Relays indoor meet. Last August, he learned of his high PSA count, and it eventually reached 4.6. A biopsy revealed his cancer was rated 9 on a worst-case scale of 10. But thanks to hormone therapy and radiation, his PSA is now 0.0. He’s cancer-free. The downside: He has no testosterone, which really cramps his style. He’s had a great attitude, though: “I met more nice people going through these treatments.” Now 74 and an inch short of his Army height of 6-3 1/2, Carl continues to coach high school kids and at Thor’s Stone Athletic Club. He lives in Hanover, N.H., and hopes his testosterone levels rise naturally. He won’t dope. He just wants to throw. “I really enjoy competing, whether I win or lose,” he said. “I want to get back.” Carl says he’d be happy to share his experience with anyone else facing prostate issues. Lemme know, and I’ll connect you.
5 Responses
To those of us who know and revere Carl Wallin, this turned from a “bad news” story into a “feel good” story with a happy ending. Although he has to undergo annual testing to make surethere is no recurrence of the cancer, this is the best possible outcome for what could have been a dire result.
It would be a Herculean task to try and calculate the number of athletes Carl has positively impacted throughout his coaching and competitive career. He has coached Olympians (Gold Medalist Adam Nelson and others) as well as “regular” athletes from the Collegiate, Scholastic, Club and Masters level with the same degree of enthusiasm and energy. His coaching resume extends beyond the throws community, as he has coached many other field eventers and multi-eventers with remarkable success. And his coaching expertise has evidently been passed along to his children, as both John Wallin and Lisa Wallin-LeClair have been successful coaches of All-American athletes and Championship teams at the New England Collegiate level.
It is difficult for me to understand why Carl has not been named as a Masters Hall of Fame member, as his remarkable career as a World and National champion athlete, Coach, Meet Director, and past National Director of not one but two throwing events would and should certainly qualify him for induction. Let’s hope that this oversight is corrected in the future, and congratulate Carl on this greatest “win” of his long and storied career.
I agree 100% with Bob. Carl is truly a great Champion, coach and human being. I can’t believe his courage and fight through his medical challenge. I too am willing to share my experience with my prostatectomy last year. There are many ways of dealing with this challenge. I think we need all the advice we can get on this decision.
Carroll DeWeese spent hours with me on the phone sharing his experience before I made my decision. I can’t thank Carroll enough for his support during that trying time. Even though I choose a different course of treatment his sharing really helped me.
We need each other.
A big shout out for Carl to the MHOF. I don’t have enough time to tell you all the fantastic stories Ken Weinbel told me when Ken was head coach at Dartmouth and Carl was his throws coach. Amazing man.
George
I threw with Carl in the Dartmouth Relays this year and it is always great to catch up with such a legend. It doesn’t matter if you are good at throwing but that you ARE throwing that attracts Carl to watch and give you advice.
I agree with Bob, Masters Hall of Fame honors should be given to Carl for all that he has do for our sport.
From my experience in talking to Carl, from observing him at many meets, and from reading about him, I can say the following:
1. Carl is a mensch (if you don’t know that term, you can look it up).
2. Carl is a stand-up guy.
3. Carl is a man’s man (a bit of an old-fashioned term, but it holds up well here).
4. Carl is a leader.
5. Carl looks out for others.
Good luck, Carl, in the years ahead.
I competed at Northeastern University in Boston with Carl in the early 1960s where he was Capt.in his Senior year. He was an Awesome and fearsome competitor, and an All American. A true leader and a wonderful person. We all looked up to and had many stories about him and his Hammer Throwing buddy, Bill Corsetti ( also an All American)
Carl, I couldn’t agree more about what others have said about you being passed over for the Masters H of F. As a member of the Hall of Fame, which entitles me to a vote on new members….I voted for you, and thought you were a sure thing……You should be in the H of F!!!!!!!
I didn’t know about your illness, but I am so happy you beat it. You are a Hell of an Athlete and I hope to see you on the track for many years. Be well my friend
Leave a Reply