Tom Shifflet, UNC Coach
Biography:
Tom Shifflet enters his fourth season as head wrestling coach at UNC Greensboro. Shifflet was named the new head wrestling coach for Spartans on May 17, 2002, after five successful seasons as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Cornell University.
Tom Shifflet, UNC Coach
Last season, Shifflet guided UNCG to the most wins in school history as the Spartans recorded a 12-5 overall record, 4-1 in the Southern Conference. For the second consecutive year, Shifflet and UNCG produced the SoCon Freshman of the Year as Joe Kemmerer earned the award following a 31-7 season. Kemmerer, along with teammates Daren Burns and Joe Lowe, each won their respective weight class at the Southern Conference Mat Jam and qualified for the NCAA Tournament under Shifflet?s direction.
The 2003-04 season was a breakthrough year as the Spartans claimed their first winning season since the 1998-99 campaign. The nine dual wins, an improvement of eight from the previous season, ranks as the second most in the program?s 11-year history. Shifflet guided a young Spartan team to wins over ACC foes North Carolina, Duke and Maryland. Two of his recruits, Kevin Artis (141 lbs.) and Daren Burns (197 lbs.) were conference champions in their respective weight classes. Burns was also named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year.
Shifflet?s first campaign at the helm of the Spartan wrestling team was marred by several close defeats translating into just one win in 2002-03. However, the team proved to be a formidable opponent nearly pulling out victories against Campbell, Old Dominion and Duke. The team?s lone victory came in a 32-9 pounding of Southern Conference rival Davidson.
In 2003, Shifflet managed to sign one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. The class, which included one High School All-American, four Honorable Mention High School All-Americans and seven state champions, received an honorable mention based on InterMat?s 2003 final rankings.
During his tenure with the Big Red, Shifflet coached 24 NCAA qualifiers, three NCAA All-Americans and helped Cornell to a pair of Ivy League championships (1999 and 2001). The Big Red was also consistently ranked among the nation?s top-15 programs. Shifflet was also instrumental with the success of their student-athletes off the mat as well. Cornell?s wrestling squad carried a 3.1 grade point average this past fall which ranked eighth nationally.
As a student-athlete, Shifflet was a four-time national qualifier, three-time All-American and registered 118 wins for national powerhouse Edinboro University from 1992-1995. Competing at 142 pounds, he finished seventh at nationals as a freshman, sixth as a sophomore and third as a senior.
A native of Amherst, NY, Shifflet graduated from Edinboro University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education.
Coaching Tip: Drill Match
Implementing drill matches into your workout is a great way to simulate a live match. These matches will keep you healthy, in peak condition while focusing on chain wrestling in all three positions (top, bottom, neutral). These matches are good anytime of the season, but especially when you are close to competition.
Example I: High school match (periods 2-2-2)
Period I Start in neutral position, wrestler A sets-up wrestler B takes him down with little resistance. Continue to wrestle with wrestler B improving on bottom and scoring an escape. The next takedown should be wrestler B scoring the takedown and wrestler A improving on bottom and escaping. They should continue without a break for the whole two minutes.
Period II Starts in referees position with one wrestler working to escape. Once he escapes you continue just like the first period with both wrestlers trading takedowns.
Period III Other wrestler starts on top.
Note: These matches should be intense with constant movement for the whole period. Focus on good position and only execute the moves you would use in live competition. Example II: High school match (period 2-2-2) focusing on certain techniques
Period I Start in neutral position, wrestler A can only score on a re-shot. Once taken down wrestler B must execute a granby roll to escape. Continue for the whole period.
Period II Start in referees position, bottom wrestler must stand-up to escape. Once on your feet in order to score you must finish all takedowns on your feet. Continue for whole period.
Period III Other man starts on top, bottom man can execute anything to escape. Once on your feet the wrestler must hit a takedown into a turn without hesitation, then the bottom man escapes.
Note: This is a great way to work on team weaknesses, strengths and get a lot of repetition. Remember that you should have little resistance allowing the wrestler to execute their move hard with good technique. Be creative!!
My Wrestling Room wrote "Tom Shifflet, UNC Coach" on May 23, 2006. This post has 
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