The Wadsworth School Board has appointed Clay Wenger as Head Wrestling Coach of the Grizzlies. Wenger has been a varsity assistant wrestling coach at Wadsworth High School the past three years & the Head Freestyle/Greco Coach for the Grizzlies the past five years. He has run & operated BattleZone Fitness the past five years, which is a multi-purpose athletic fitness facility & wrestling club for area youth, middle school & high school wrestlers. Wenger currently is a Behavioral Specialist at the Leap Program in Rittman.
Wenger is a Wadsworth High School graduate & wrestled under former Head Coach John Gramuglia. He was the team captain of the State Championship team in 2010, a four-year varsity letter winner, a two-time High School All-American & two-time State qualifier. Wenger continued his academic & wrestling career at Kent State University, where he was a two-year varsity letter winner. Kent State were MAC Champions in 2012 & finished in the Top 20 in the NCAA Tournament in each of Wenger’s four years there.
Wenger is married to his wife Shelby & they have a one year old daughter Hadley.
“It is a dream of mine to have the opportunity to be the Head Coach at the place that helped me become the wrestler, coach, and person I am today,” Wenger said. “My goal is to be an impact on all my wrestlers so they have the same great experience I did. It’s an honor to have learned and continue to learn from Coach G everyday. He has taught me to dream big and that hard work will pay off. I am excited to carry on the rich Grizzly wrestling tradition he built. I am also excited to work with this great group of returning letterman and outstanding incoming freshmen. We are dreaming big and excited for the upcoming 2018-19 season. We have a great summer off-season planned and are ready for the challenge to keep our rich tradition going!”
Wadsworth High School Athletic Director, Brad Musgrave, said, “I am very happy to announce that Clay Wenger will be the new leader of our great wrestling program. He has done a wonderful job as our varsity assistant coach the past couple of years. Clay is a tremendous person & will demand the same excellence we have become accustomed to over the years. He has the respect of the Wadsworth Wrestling family & will have a significant impact on kids’ lives from the high school level all the way down to the youth level.”
