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Joel Sharratt is currently in his third season at the helm of the Air Force wrestling program. In just two years, Sharratt has already made his mark on the Falcons' program. Last season, Air Force, which put together a 9-9 overall dual record, had a solid season. The Falcons captured a second-place finish at the 2008 NCAA West Regional, matching their best-ever showing at the tournament (also finishing second in 2003). Jake Kriegbaum, named the Outstanding Wrestler at the West Regional, and Tyler French both won their respective weight classes at the NCAA West Regional/WWC Championships, while three others--Jacob Devlin, Stephen Crozier and Tony Dorward--placed second. For helping orchestrate Air Force's remarkable turnaround, Sharratt was named the Western Wrestling Conference Coach of the Year. Kriegbaum and French were honored as first-team All-WWC selections, while Devlin, Crozier and Dorward were named to the second team. To cap off the season, the Falcons also sent four wrestlers--Kriegbaum, French, Devlin and Crozier--to the NCAA Championships for the third time in the past four seasons. All four won at least one match at the national meet, with Kriegbaum and Devlin each bringing home two victories. Although faced with a rebuilding task in his first season as head coach, Sharratt helped lead Air Force to a 3-1 mark in its inaugural season in the Western Wrestling Conference. With the Falcons earning a sixth-place team finish at the NCAA West Regional, Crozier and Devlin led Air Force as third-team all-conference selections. Sharratt's influence has been notable off the mat as well. The Falcons are in the top 10 percent of the NCAA APR (Academic Progress Rate) rankings among all Division I wrestling institutions. Air Force's top student-athlete, team captain Stephen Crozier, was named to the NWCA All-Academic team in 2008 and is also a two-time member of the WWC All-Academic team. Already, the goals that Sharratt set upon his arrival seem to be coming to fruition. "Air Force has a great program and a great staff and I'm looking forward to the chance to get it going," said Sharratt in 2006. "My goals for the Air Force wrestling program are for every athlete to graduate and be commissioned as an Air Force officer, for our wrestlers to be leaders in the Cadet Wing, and for each individual to reach his full potential on the mat." Sharratt came to the Academy after spending six seasons as the head assistant wrestling coach at the United States Naval Academy. In 2005-06, Sharratt helped lead the Midshipmen to a 13-2 dual record, their best win total since the 1990-91 season, while also sending five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. Sharratt was also a tenured assistant professor at the Naval Academy, teaching physical education courses in wrestling, martial arts, judo and hand-to-hand combat, while additionally serving as the faculty chair of the USNA combative courses. A 1995 graduate of the University of Iowa, Sharratt was a three-time All-American, earning three trips to the NCAA Finals, winning the championship in 1994. Training under the tutelage of legendary coach Dan Gable during his college career, Sharratt was a four-year letterwinner for the Hawkeyes, and was twice selected as the team captain. Sharratt led his team to the 1995 Big Ten and NCAA titles, winning the Big Ten individual championship that season. Sharratt also competed as a member of the 1993 and 1994 Big Ten Championship teams, as well as the 1992 and 1994 NCAA Championship teams. Following his college career, Sharratt was a two-time member of the U.S. National Team, earning the bronze medal at both the 1996 Olympic Trials and 1997 Pan American Championships. While competing on the international level, Sharratt represented the United States around the world including trips to Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Italy, France and Canada. Accomplishments as a coach in the freestyle arena included cadet national champions and junior national champions, as well as multiple national team members and world medalists. Sharratt has also served as a graduate assistant at the University of Minnesota, where he earned his master's degree in sports administration in 2000, serving a two year position as the Developmental Freestyle Coach for the state of Minnesota. Sharratt also worked as an assistant coach at Lehigh from 1996-98 and as a graduate assistant at his alma mater during the 1995-96 season. Sharratt and his wife, Jamie, live in Monument, Colo., with their three daughters, Tori (4), Taylor (2) and Carly, who was born in January 2008. |
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