Wade Schalles (center) is presented with the PSAC Award of Merit by PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray (right). At left is Clarion Athletic Director Dave Katis.
Former Clarion Wrestler Wade Schalles Becomes Fifth PSAC Award of Merit Recipient
Part of this story is courtesy of Clarion Sports Information
Clarion, Pa. - Former Clarion wrestler Wade Schalles, who is widely recognized as one of the top wrestlers of all-time, was today presented with the PSAC’s highest honor, the Award of Merit. PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray presented the award to Schalles at the intermission of Clarion's regular-season finale against Lock Haven on Sunday afternoon.
The Award of Merit has previously only been presented to four individuals: Bruce Baumgartner (Edinboro) and Steve Spence (Shippensburg) in 1992, Kurt Angle (Clarion) in 1997 and Chuck Daly (Bloomsburg) in 2002.
"This is a very special day and for me to be here at Clarion University and accept the “Award of Merit” from Commissioner Murray,” said Schalles. “I have great memories of my days here at Clarion – they are so special. And of course I especially want to thank Coach (Bob) Bubb, who was more than a coach, he was like a father. With a nearly 100% graduation rate, you can see why he was so special.”
At later dates to be announced, four other individuals will also be presetned with the award - former Cheyney men’s and women’s basketball coaches John Chaney and C. Vivian Stringer, a Slippery Rock graduate, former Bloomsburg field hockey and softball coach and East Stroudsburg graduate Jan Hutchinson, and West Chester graduate Cathy Rush, the former women’s basketball coach at Immaculata College who was recently depicted in a Hollywood film.
“All I can say is I’m very much humbled to be thought of by my peers in this manner,” said Schalles. “Over the years I have always tried to give back to others in the same way as I was so graciously given during my days at Clarion. This honor, being an Award of Merit recipient, belongs more to the Golden Eagle staff and administration than to any single individual. For achievement is always a team effort; those who go before you sharing their experiences, ideas and ideals."
Schalles, a native of Hollidaysburg, Pa., wrestled at Clarion from 1971-74. He had an unbelievable career record of 153-5-1, which is a winning percentage of .965. He won NCAA Division I titles as a sophomore in 1972 at 150 pounds and as a junior in 1973 at 158 pounds and was voted the NCAA’s Outstanding Wrestler after winning his first NCAA Championship in 1972. His top seasons were 40-0-1 in 1974, 39-1 in 1972 and 37-0 in 1973. Schalles holds the NCAA record for most career pins (106) and was well known exciting wrestling fans with countless pinning combinations. He is the only wrestler in NCAA history with at least 100 career pins. He had a career dual meet record at Clarion of 64-1-1. He was also a four-time PSAC champion, winning titles at 158 in 1971, 167 in 1972 and 1973 and at 177 in 1974. He is the only wrestler in PSAC history to win the “OW” all 4 years. Unable to wrestle at nationals his senior year because of a transfer ruling, Schalles nevertheless pinned three NCAA Division I champions that season including Bloomsburg’s Floyd Hitchcock in the PSAC finals at 177 pounds, after moving up two weight classes earlier in the week. Hitchcock went on to win the NCAA D-I title and “OW” that year.
Schalles was inducted into the National Wrestling “Hall of Fame” in 1991 and was one of only 15 wrestlers named to the NCAA’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2005 in festivities held in St. Louis, Missouri. Schalles was an inaugural inductee to the Clarion sports Hall of Fame in 1989. Once dubbed “the most exciting wrestler to ever walk onto a wrestling mat” by Sports Illustrated, Schalles is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most wins and pins of anyone who has ever wrestled.
Wade and wife Debra currently reside in Bethesda, Maryland. The family includes four biological children - Jacob, Kristy, Ryan and Tara - and two adopted Chris and Adam. Chris (Marshall) – wrestled at Clarion in 1996 and 1997 and had a career record of 58-18 (eight falls) and was a two-time NCAA qualifier, EWL and PSAC champion (1996, '97). The Schalles Award is named after Wade and is presented annually by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and WIN Magazine to the collegiate and scholastic wrestlers with the most pins.