Nov. 16, 2007
Williamsburg, KY. - The University of Cumberlands Men's Wrestling Coach, Andrew Medders, has been selected by the National Wrestling Coaches Association to help coach in this year's All-Star Classic.
The 42nd annual NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps chooses four coaches from all levels of college wrestling to be involved in this event. Andy Medders has been chosen to coach beside Barry Davis, the former NCAA champion from Iowa, and also an inductee into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007. Davis also won a silver medal for the United States in the 1984 Olympic Games.
The All-Star Classic is a prestigious dual consisting of the top 20 college wrestlers in the United States. These wrestlers come together in one of the biggest wrestling duals to battle for the title of All-Star Champion.
Medders came to The University of the Cumberlands in 1999 after achieving the State champion title at 112-pounds for Countryside High School in Clearwater, Florida. While attending Cumberlands, Medders was a four-time NAIA All-American, a two-time national finalist and team captain. Among his many honors, Medders was ranked in the top 20 of all divisions and he was the 2002 NAIA National Champion at 125-pounds.
After graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor's degree in Health and Movement Leisure Studies from UC, Medders became assistant coach to former head coach Jess Wilder. The head coaching position opened up to Medders in 2005 which he was honored to receive, and he is now beginning his third year as the head coach of the Men's Wrestling team. He took his team to a repeated third place finish in the 2006 NAIA Championships in just his first year coaching.
Coach Medders has impacted many lives, and not just on the mat, but in life as well. He is supported and congratulated by many. One of his current assistant coaches, Ken Prophete, believes that Medders is, "One of the best coaches I ever wrestled for and am now working for. I am proud of him and this opportunity shows the great deal of respect that the wrestling world has for him and for all that he has accomplished throughout his own wrestling season."
There have also been numerous comments of congratulations to Coach Medders on message boards across the web. "One of the best young coaches in the business," says Coach Gug in a message board at scoutfloridapreps.com, "Get me some autographs and start with yours!"
His biggest supporters by far are his family members, although 800 miles away in Florida. "His family is very proud of all that he has accomplished and thinks he is very deserving of this great opportunity," adds Natalie Medders, his extremely proud sister. "After all the hard work he has put into his wrestling career and the passion he has for coaching, he has earned this."
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