Coach Sean Sisler

 
Sean "Biggie" Sisler has joined our coaching staff this season.  Sean is a 2008 graduate of Southern Garrett High School and was a 4 year starter in the heavyweight class for the Rams wrestling team.  During his high school career, Sisler qualified for the state tournament three times and joined the 100 win club in his senior season.  Sean placed 4th at the state tournament twice and during his junior year (2007), he reached the state finals and finished in second place.  That year, he joined Daniel Carr, Justin Ratliff and Brutus Scheffel in the state finals to lead the Rams to a 2nd place team finish in the state.  At the time, 4 wrestlers in the finals tied the state record that we would break two years later.  Josh Armstrong also placed 3rd that year allowing all 5 of our qualifiers to finish the tournament in the top three in their weight classes.  Scheffel won his first of four straight state championships in 07.

 

"Having Sean in the room, working with the bigger guys on our team will be a ready big help" stated Coach Clark.  "He knows how heavyweights wrestle and he can really help our big guys become much better wrestlers" Clark added.  If you see "Biggie" at Lowes, around town or at the school, please thank him for helping out our team.

   

Senior Focus - Tanner Massey

Tanner Massey is the son of Wes and Yolanda Massey and is a four year member of the Southern Garrett wrestling team.  He was a varsity starter during his sophomore and junior years and he looks to lead the team to a successful season as a senior.  Last year, Tanner posted an impressive 26-14 record and qualified for the state tournament in March.  In the fall, he ran on Southern's cross country team to keep himself in shape as he enters his final high school wrestling season.

Q&A with Tanner Massey

1. When did you start wrestling?  "I started wrestling in the 1st grade for the Southern Mat Club.  My friend Coy Ozias talked me into it.  I didn't know anything about it, but I had fun and kept going."
2. Why did you stick with it?  "I had fun and it's a great sport.  I also like to be challenged and wrestling is the perfect sport to be challenged and to challenge myself."
3. Who are your inspirations?  "All my coaches inspire me and work every day to help me be a better wrestler.  I can't thank them enough.  Bubba and Brutus Scheffel and Coy and Lex Ozias also inspire me.  They are great wrestlers and great kids and we have been friends forever."
4. Who would you like to thank?  "I want to thank all the coaches who have worked with me, trained me and encouraged me to be a good wrestler.  I also want to thank my parents for always supporting me and being there for me.  Finally, I would like to thank all my teammates for making the whole thing fun and pushing me to work hard and get better."
5. Do you have any words of wisdom for other wrestlers?  "Push yourself.  You will get sore and tired, but you need to push yourself past that.  Things will get better, you will get better.  Push yourself every day and you will be surprised at how good you can get."
6. Who will be our team's leaders this year?  "Austin Shaffer is a great wrestler and leads by example.  Will Foulke and Justyce Fulmer are also really good at leading by example.  In fact, all of our seniors set a great example for our younger wrestlers.  I hope I can be a great team leader as well."
7. What goals have you set for the season?  "I will work hard this year and really want to make it to the state finals, and hopefully win.  But I really want the team to do well and go to states and win a championship.  We have a good team and that's what we all want."
8. What will you do after you graduate?  "On June 16th, I will enter the Marine Corps.  I have already signed all the papers and I am ready to go to Paris Island this summer and begin serving our country."

Senior Focus - Austin Shaffer

Senior Austin Shaffer is the son of Joe and Kim Shaffer of Oakland.  Austin has wrestled on varsity each of the last three years and has qualified for states every year.  As a freshman, Austin wrestled at 112 despite weighing less than 100 pounds.  He had a very successful season, qualified for states and was one match away from placing.  As a sophomore, he went all the way and captured the state championship in the 106 pound class.  Last season, he suffered an elbow injury in the state tournament but was still able to place 3rd.  As he enters his final season at Southern Garrett, his sights are set on a repeat trip to the top of the podium in March at Cole Fieldhouse.  His career record currently stands at 113-13 and the win total looks to rise quickly this season.

Q&A with Austin Shaffer

1. When did you start wrestling?  "I started wrestling for the Southern Mat Club somewhere around the 3rd or 4th grade.  I picked wrestling because I knew I was too small for most other sports.  I started going and I fell in love with it."
2. Who inspires you?  "Of course Coach Taylor!  My mom and dad are also a huge inspiration to me in wrestling and in my life.  I wouldn't be here without them"
3. Who will be the team leaders this year?  I hope to be a strong senior leader and I think Tanner Massey and the rest of the seniors on our team will do a great job"
4. What wrestler has had the biggest influence on you?  "I would have to say Daniel Carr.  He was a great wrestler and a great role model and has been like a big brother to me.  He has really helped me both in wrestling and in my life."
5. What are your goals this season?  "I am shooting for another state championship both as an individual and for our team.  I think we have a really good team and have a great shot at winning state duals again."
6. What advice would you give new wrestlers?  "High school wrestling is awesome. It is so much different and so much better than youth wrestling.  Home meets are amazing and get a little scary but you have to rise above."
7. What would you say to anyone thinking of joining our team?  "Do it, you will be glad you did.  It is so unique, just you and your opponent and nobody else.  It's MANO-A-MANO and is great for building your self-confidence,"
8. What will you do after graduating from Southern?  "I will attend West Virginia University and wrestle with two of my former teammates, Bubba and Brutus Scheffel.  I will study Wildlife and Park Services."
9. Is there anything else you would like to say?  "Here is a warning to other teams, Southern is looking good and you had better be ready for us.  Here come the Rams."