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Clair wants to bring 'old school' style back to Ephrata Wrestling

ImageComing from a rival school, Ephrata’s new head wrestling coach has quite an interesting perspective on the Mountaineer program.

“When I was in high school Ephrata had a certain mystique about them that many people feared wrestling them,’’ said 1998 Manheim Central grad Josh Clair, recently named as the successor to Kerry Hyman, who resigned in August. “It’s not that the mystique is gone, but the style has changed. I want to get the guys back to their roots of being a team that is hard-working, hard-nosed, blue-collar type wrestlers. I want to bring back that “old school” mystique.

Clair, 26, was actually hired by Ephrata back in August as a high school health and physical education teacher. Following graduation in December of 2002 from Lock Haven University, he returned to Central to coach under Justin Barbush. Last year, he was the coach of a JV team that went 11-0 and was part of the staff that won back-to-back Section Two titles. He was also the team’s strength coach for two years.

From his days as a Baron wrestler under who he considers “legendary” coaches George Way and Walt Price, to the present; he has had a chance to take a good look at the Ephrata program.

“I wanted to get involved coaching wrestling here,” Clair said last week. “I know of the great tradition of Ephrata wrestling and I wanted to be part of it. When Kerry Hyman stepped down I decided that I wanted to put my name in for the position because I see a lot of potential in these wrestlers and I don’t want it to go to waste.”


Clair was asked how challenging it will be for him heading up a sports program in his first year of teaching at Ephrata.

“I feel I am very prepared,” Clair said. “(With) the last three years of coaching alongside the likes of Justin Barbush and assistants Scott Martin and the Zeamer clan, as well as another legendary coach Harvey Sitler, I feel that they have prepared me for the role of head coach. Also the fact that my father, Mike Clair who is legendary in his own right, will be assisting me is a huge asset. He has been helping at Manheim Central for 40 years taking care of all of the behind the scenes details.”

Mike is also the executive director of the State Chapters of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and involved with USA Wrestling.”

“He brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and connections to a youthful staff,’’ said Josh. “He already has been helpful not only with the coaching staff, but also helping our booster club. His experience brings many ideas to make things better for the kids. You would think he has known these wrestlers for years because he is already very involved with making things better for them. Just learning from him and trying to be the man that he is, has prepared me for this position. If I continue to take his mold I know that I will have a successful coaching career, which means that the kids will make me a successful coach.

The younger Clair is also very excited about his coaching staff&tstr;something he feels is key to a smooth sailing program.

“I feel I have a great staff,” Josh said. “Ben Ehrhart will continue to coach along with the additions of Chris Davis, an Ephrata and Lycoming University graduate, and Jeremy Wampler, (from) Owen J. Roberts and Millersville. They both are bring youth, excitement, and energy along with college wrestling experience. Mike Devlin and Greg Larson will continue to take charge of the middle school. Our elementary program is now being head by recent Ephrata grad Nick Berry.”

And though it’s too early to take a look at a full team preview, it’s evident that the new coach likes what he sees with his cast of grapplers.

“Even though we have a small and extremely young team the upside of these young men is tremendous” Clair said. “They are already starting to buy into the return of the Ephrata mystique. In the next few years I expect good things to happen with these kids.”

Hyman had headed up the program since longtime coach Merv Witmer retired in 2003. He had worked as an assistant under Witmer from 1977 to 1990, when he became the head coach at Conestoga Valley. He later returned as Witmer’s assistant in 1997, where he remained before becoming head coach.

Clair, who played football at Lock Haven, wrestled, played football and competed in track and field at Manheim Central.

The Mounts open their season at the Ephrata Tournament, Dec. 3 at the Ephrata Middle School.

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