CR family mourns Clark’s passing | News, Sports, Jobs

Clark

By Todd Irwin

sports activities@altoonamirror.com

Jim Clark was one of the vital profitable wrestling coaches within the area and the state. In truth, the success of the now powerhouse Chestnut Ridge wrestling program could be traced again to Clark.

The previous coach of the Lions nonetheless holds the Bedford County wins report by amassing a 342-158-3 mark in 31 years. He was named the Mirror’s Coach of the Yr in 2006 and was inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Affiliation Corridor of Fame after his last season in 2008.

The Chestnut Ridge wrestling neighborhood has been mourning the sudden dying of Clark the previous couple of days. In keeping with a tweet on Saturday from Chestnut Ridge wrestling, Clark handed away after a short battle with most cancers. Clark was 67 years outdated.

“I’m unhappy and stunned,” mentioned Greg Lazor, who adopted Clark as Chestnut Ridge’s head coach. “It occurred so rapidly. He was one of many hardest guys I do know and a tough employee. He at all times saved himself in form. It hit him that rapidly, and it’s simply so unlucky.”

“I had identified for a few month that issues weren’t going properly,” present Ridge coach Josh Deputy mentioned. “It’s unhappy. He was at all times in good condition. He was lively. You simply by no means know when it’s your time. He’ll be missed by a bunch of individuals, that’s for certain.”

Clark, a 1972 graduate of Bedford, wrestled for his father, Ed, who coached at Bedford for twenty-four years and was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 1980. Jim then continued his wrestling profession at Penn State earlier than turning into an assistant at Everett. He turned Ridge’s coach in 1977.

Clark’s groups amassed 10 or extra wins in 24 of his 31 seasons, together with a 15-4 report his last 12 months. He coached 56 District 5 champions, six Southwest Regional champs, 40 regional placewinners and 9 state medalists.

A kind of state medalists was the Mirror’s 2008 Wrestler of the Yr Gary Pfahler, who captured the varsity’s first state title at 140 kilos in Clark’s final state event. Pfahler, who handed away in 2017, knocked off Burrell’s returning state champ Jordan Shields, 4-3, to win the state title.

“Jim was Ridge wrestling,” Deputy mentioned. “While you consider Chestnut Ridge wrestling, you consider Jim Clark. It was his delight and pleasure. It was sort of his child. Greg and I have been simply sort of lucky sufficient to maintain going what he began.”

“He clearly took it to a different degree,” Lazor mentioned. “He introduced a number of depth to this system. The boys labored onerous below him and wished to succeed in one other degree. He completed that.

“Once I was in highschool (at Tussey Mountain) and he was teaching, they have been one of many higher applications within the county. You at all times seemed as much as him. Once I moved again residence (from North Carolina) and I obtained to be his assistant for 2 years, they have been nonetheless on the prime.”

As the ultimate seconds ticked off of the clock of Pfahler’s state title win, Clark and assistant coach Scott McGill shared a joyous hug on the Large Middle mat. After the win, Clark, who was solely 53 then, revealed he was retiring as a result of he didn’t have any “free time.”

“I at all times instructed my youngsters I’m not going to be considered one of these outdated guys who hold on,” Clark mentioned when requested why he was retiring. “I mentioned if I can’t do it 110 % I’m getting out.

“He’s one of the best coach anybody might ask for and one of the best man normally,” Pfahler mentioned after profitable gold. “Any of those different coaches will let you know that. I’m so joyful that I obtained a state championship below my coach.”

Clark, a pleasant man who might maintain prolonged discussions about wrestling, remained concerned with the Chestnut Ridge program. He was on the Large Middle when Justin McCoy gained a state title every week after Pfahler’s dying.

“He’s one of many hardest working guys I’ve ever met in my life,” Lazor mentioned, “on and off the mat. That’s the instance that he set, and also you adopted his lead. When you outworked everyone else, good issues are going to occur. He put that mindset in lots of people, and it’s accomplished everybody a number of good.”