Glenn Clark

consequences of Title 9.  Clark was a long time member and donor to the NWCA and was an officer for the high school division in the organization.  His wife, Annette, was a big supporter of wrestling as well and attended numerous wrestling functions with Glenn.  Personally, I have special memories I shared with Glenn through our connection with wrestling.  We drove to several of the NCAA Tournaments together with other wrestling enthusiasts.  Glenn and Annette shared many fun times with my family at the NWCA conventions, and Glenn and I spent many hours talking the wrestling beat at the University of Pittsburgh @ Johnstown Wrestling Camps.
     Clark started his wrestling career for the powerful District 10 Reynolds program.  He became a standout wrestler for Reynolds High School before going to Edinboro University to continue his wrestling pursuits.  After his graduation from EUP, Clark started his coaching career at Penn Hills High School.  After a successful stint there as assistant for two years and head coach for four, he accepted a challenge to start a wrestling program from scratch at Mars High School four years ago.  Not only was Clark the first wrestling coach ever at Mars, he helped build their wrestling room.  He was named 2001 Section AA Coach of the Year.  
     In addition to his coaching duties, Clark was a middle school Physical Education teacher for the Mars School District.  “When he came to Mars, he thought he was in heaven.  He loved his kids,” said his mother Rosellen Haney Moller of Greenville.  Mars’ athletic director, Scott Heinauer, stated that “Glenn was a very classy person, a great motivator and a great competitor.  Our wrestling program is Glenn Clark.  He started our program from the bottom up.  He coached the junior high his first two years, until we were ready to field a varsity team.  It’s amazing how far the program has come since then.  His death is a major shock to our students.  The community of Mars has been dealt a great loss.”
     Clark compiled a 29-24 record in his four seasons at Mars, including an 18-9 mark over the last two seasons.     
     Clark was an innovator for the sport.  He was always thinking of ways to make it better.  Whether it was tweaking the rules to make it more exciting or marketing wrestling to increase its fan base, he was out in front leading the way.  In fact his assistant coach, Tom Dorsch, (who will take over the program) has been with Glenn since his arrival at Mars High School, says that Glenn already planned on having T-shirts made with the theme of the upcoming season to read-“We Want It All” alluding to the fact that Glenn was constantly pushing AD Heinauer for more equipment, more fundraisers, bigger tournaments, etc.  Dorsch states that “Glenn was stern as a coach but fair.  He was sincere to the kids and the program.  He would talk to the kids about other things than wrestling.  The whole student body liked him, from the elementary students on up.  To say that Glenn loved wrestling was an understatement, Dorsch said.  For him, it was 24-7.”
     A mainstay at the University of Pittsburgh @ Johnstown Summer Wrestling Camp, Clark worked the popular camp for over 15 years.  Pitt-Johnstown coach, Pat Pecora, was close to Glenn.  Pecora stated recently, “I miss him dearly.  He was a great person; the wrestling world lost a great ambassador.”  Pecora classified Clark as a “great idea guy, a promoter and a fighter.”  In fact, Pecora named the evening live wrestling session which Glenn helped organize, the “Glenn Clark Duals” and had T-shirts made bearing the words at this summer’s camp.
     In closing, let me say the staff at PWN, the Mars wrestlers, students, parents, and the wrestling fraternity throughout Pennsylvania and the country salute Glenn for all he did for the sport and may we never forget the wonderful memories Glenn left with us on the mats and in life.