Clarion Golden Eagles
UniversityPennWest Clarion
Head CoachKeith Feraro (4th season season)
ConferenceMAC
LocationClarion, PA
ArenaWaldo S. Tippin Gymnasium
(Capacity: 3500)
NicknameGolden Eagles
ColorsBlue and gold[1]
   
NCAA individual champions
8
Conference Tournament championships
1965, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2010

The Clarion Golden Eagles wrestling team represents PennWest Clarion in Clarion, Pennsylvania in wrestling.

The squad is coached by Keith Feraro who replaced Troy Letters. Letter's replaced Matt Derlan, who is now the coach of the Binghamton Bearcats. Derlan replaced Teague Moore who left the Clarion collegiate wrestling program to become the head coach at American University.[2]

The Golden Eagles wrestle in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and as of the 2018–2019 season participated in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) as well. The Eagles were members of the Eastern Wrestling League until the end of the 2018–19 season when all members of the EWL accepted affiliate membership in the MAC for wrestling starting in the 2019–20 season. They qualify for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships as Division I members of the MAC. The PSAC comprises both Division I and II squads.

Notable former Golden Eagle wrestlers include national champions Wade Schalles and Kurt Angle, who after leaving Clarion would go on to win a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics before embarking on a career in professional wrestling. In 2020, Clarion wrestling alumnus Bekzod Abdurakhmonov won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics[2]

National Collegiate Athletic Association National Champions

Name[3] Year NCAA Location High School
Gary Barton 1972 University of Maryland Fairview, Pennsylvania
Wade Schalles 1972 University of Maryland Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Don Rohn 1973 University of Washington Saucon Valley, Pennsylvania
Wade Schalles 1973 University of Washington Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Bill Simpson 1973 University of Washington Gaithersburg, Maryland
Kurt Angle 1990 University of Maryland Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Kurt Angle 1992 Oklahoma City, OK Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Sheldon Thomas 1996 University of Minnesota St. Marks, Delaware

Team Championships

Championship Year
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 2010
Eastern Wrestling League 1995
Eastern Wrestling League 1994
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1994
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1992
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1991
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1986
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1983
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1981
Eastern Wrestling League 1980
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1978
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1977
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1976
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1974
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1973
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1972
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference 1965

Rankings

Clarion's wrestling program earned its highest ever dual meet ranking in 1986. The Golden Eagles went on to finish the season undefeated, with a record of 17–0–1. The 1986 season was the third season in Clarion's history in which the Golden Eagles finished without a loss.

NWCA Division I National Dual Meet Wrestling Rankings (February 3, 1986)

  1. University of Iowa
  2. Iowa State University
  3. Clarion University
  4. Penn State University
  5. University of Wisconsin
  6. Bloomsburg University
  7. University of Oklahoma
  8. University of North Carolina
  9. University of Northern Iowa
  10. Oklahoma State University

Clarion University Golden Eagles Wrestling Head Coaches

Name First Year Last Year Years Matches Wins Losses Ties Win % Alma Mater
Frank Lignelli 1959 1966 6 73 61 12 0 .836 Clarion State Teachers College
Bob Bubb 1967 1992 25 447 322 121 4 .725 University of Pittsburgh ('59)
Jack Davis 1993 1997 4 82 43 34 5 .555 Clarion State College
Ken Nellis 1998 2006 8 139 47 89 3 .349 Clarion University of Pennsylvania ('86)
Teague Moore 2007 2011 5 98 37 60 1 .383 Oklahoma State University ('99)
Matt Dernlan 2012 2012 1 13 6 7 0 .462 Liberty University ('96)
Troy Letters 2013 2014 2 39 14 25 0 .483 Lehigh University
Keith Ferraro 2014 present 9 140 64 76 0 .457 Lock Haven University ('03)[4]

References

  1. ^ Clarion University Brand Manual (PDF). Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Clarion names PSU Asst. Matt Dernlan Head Wrestling Coach". Clarion University of Pennsylvania. July 25, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  3. ^ "WrestlingStats.com All-Americans". WrestlingStats.com. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  4. ^ "Keith Ferraro - Wrestling Coach".
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