Zach Sheaffer, 24, a former All-America heavyweight wrestler at Pitt, begins his first season assistant wrestling coach at Clarion University.
“We’re really excited to have Zach on board,” said Clarion head wrestling coach Teague Moore. “Zach brings a great energy into our program. He’s young, has a great passion for the sport, and combined with his All-American abilities, will help take us to the next level. He showed us that his desire to win and his goals of motivating college wrestlers to succeed in the classroom and on the wrestling mat proved to me that he was the right candidate for the job.”
Sheaffer, a native of Carlisle, Pa. and Cumberland Valley High School, had a high school career record of 135-29, including a 48-1 record his senior year (2004). He finished third at the PIAA Championships in 2003 and 2004, and was a two-time district and regional champion. A three-time PIAA Qualifier, he also won the “Beast of the East” Tournament.
Moving on to the University of Pittsburgh, Sheaffer wrestled for veteran head coach Rande Stottlemyer from the 2004-05 season through the 2008-09 campaign. As a freshman heavyweight in 2004-05 he posted a 25-13 overall record, was an EWL Champion as a true freshman and an NCAA D-I Qualifier.
Zach red-shirted 2005-06, then came back in 2006-07 to post a record of 25-12, won the W&J Open and placed third at the Cornell Body Bar Invite.
In 2007-08 Zach was 35-11 overall, placed 6
th at the prestigious Midlands Open and won his second EWL title, qualifying him for the D-I Nationals. Zach was 1-2 at nationals as a junior.
In his senior year Sheaffer reached the ultimate, an 8th place finish at the NCAA Div.I Nationals and an All-America placing at heavyweight. Zach finished the year with a 22-10 overall record, placed second at the Midlands Open and was 4th at EWL’s, while ending his career with an overall record of 107-46.
Zach received his degree from Pitt in 2009 and earned a degree in U.S. History. Last year (2009-2010) he was an assistant wrestling coach at Limestone College, before coming to Clarion.
“I am very excited to be here at Clarion and part of this wrestling program,” said Sheaffer. “I look forward to making a strong contribution to the team including working with our upper weights, working closely with our student athletes, providing quality leadership and providing an energy and passion that I feel for the sport of wrestling.”
