Dec. 6, 2000
As a wrestling coach, Jack Effner is pleased when his student-athletes use their brawn to pin an opponent to the mat. But he's equally thrilled when they get good grades, make sound decisions and behave like responsible adults.
In fact, Effner's coaching philosophy can be summed up in one word "think" that's displayed on the wall of his sub-basement office in Woodling Gymnasium.
"If I do nothing else, I want to teach my wrestlers to think before they act and think about the choices in their lives. I want them to realize that they are accountable for their actions and that they can learn from their experiences," he said.
"Not a day goes by that I don't tell them that academic success, getting a good education, and getting a good job are important. I constantly remind them that whether they win or lose a match, their parents will be most proud if they bring home good grades."
Now in his third season at Cleveland State, the coach says he loves working with student-athletes -- finding those with potential, helping them grow, mature and reach their academic and athletic potential, and watching them go on to successful lives. But he_s realistic enough to know that "I can't keep my job without wins" and is confident that the team is headed in a winning direction.
Effner came to Cleveland State in spring 1998 as only the second coach in the history of the wrestling program. He replaced Dick Bonacci, who coached for 36 years, and took over a program that "had seen better days," he recalls.
"I had 10 or 12 kids who were interested in wrestling and only half of them had the work ethic that it takes to succeed," he remembers.
His first season, the Vikings finished seventh of eight teams in the Eastern Wrestling League with a 6-8-2 record, giving Effner his first losing season ever as a coach.
Last year, the Vikings enjoyed a 9-8-1 record and had their first winning season since 1991-92.
In addition, the wrestling team was ranked No. 7 in the nation for academic performance by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). With a 3.0692 grade point average, the team outranked Harvard, Duquesne, Michigan State and a host of other schools on the NWCA's Top 25 Division I list. The Vikings' GPA was the highest in Ohio and No. 1 among all public universities in the nation.
This season, Effner says he's very excited about his wrestlers and the team's chances for success. In fact, he feels CSU wrestling is about a year away from exploding.
"It takes time for kids to develop into young men with experience and physical and mental maturity," he said. "We're now starting to get the caliber of athlete that can perform at the level we want. We're getting close to the time when I'll expect a win every time we step on the mat."
Among the schools Cleveland State will face in a very competitive season are Ohio State, Ohio University, Kent State, Indiana, Purdue, Northern Iowa, and the other Eastern Wrestling League teams. "We'll have to wrestle very well to come away with our goal of a winning record," he said. Within a year or two, he hopes to schedule meets against such powerhouses as Michigan, Michigan State and Iowa.
This year's team includes 16 new grapplers, 22 wrestlers who have been with Effner for the past two seasons, and one who has been with him for 19 years -- his son Jason.
Wrestlers compete in 10 weight classes, from 125 to 285 pounds. In practice, they compete against each other in "wrestle-offs" or scrimmages for the right to represent CSU in a match.
The season began in late August and continues into May. For at least one-third of that time, team members are required to do strength conditioning from 6:30-7:30 a.m. and skills, drills and live wrestling practice from 3:30-5:30 p.m. daily.
"August through October is our prep time. In November, matches begin and we assess our strengths and weaknesses and gauge the competition. January through March is the heart of our season," Effner explains.
The recruiting season, he adds, has no beginning or end, it's ongoing.
"Wrestling is very popular in Ohio. Cleveland, if not THE best, is certainly in the top five areas for youth wrestling," said Effner. "That's one of the reasons I was happy to come to CSU. As a coach, you want to be where the talented kids are."
Effner spends countless hours on the road, attending high school meets and national tournaments, promoting the CSU program at wrestling camps and clinics, speaking at clubs and banquets, and conferring with colleagues in the tight-knit world of wrestling. This summer, he attended the Ohio National Training Camp, then traveled by bus and stayed in a dormitory with some 80 student wrestlers at the national competition in Fargo, N.D.
"First and foremost, I look for kids who have the skills to win. Then I look at their attitude and work ethic. Are they truthful and honest? Are they down-to-earth kids who will work hard?
"For the most part, our Vikings are blue collar kids who are here because they love to wrestle. We share a mutual care, trust and commitment to excellence and that gives me peace of mind," he said.
The coach takes seriously his job as a role model for his student-athletes. "I get to know them on a personal level but I'm not their buddy. I try to be understanding and flexible while maintaining discipline and structure. I try to instill good values and help them reach their goals. But I'm still someone they can complain about in the locker room," he says.
Effner brought to Cleveland State an impressive history of success both as a competitor and a coach.
He was an assistant coach at Clemson University, then spent 10 years at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. -- one year as an assistant coach and nine years as the head wrestling coach. At West Point, he had nine straight winning seasons, and a 87-42-5 record, ranking him third on Army's all-time victory list among head coaches. In addition, he coached 19 NCAA qualifiers.
"West Point was wonderful and I learned a great deal. But I was excited to come to Cleveland State where wrestling is clearly important. I have an opportunity to create a premier program," he said.
A 1986 graduate of Indiana State University with a degree in industrial education, Effner was a two-time All-American and three-time NCAA qualifier for the Sycamores. As a senior, he placed fifth at 142 pounds after finishing sixth in his junior year at the NCAA tournament. He was named the team's "Most Valuable Wrestler" three times and upon graduation, ranked third in career victories with 128.
A native of Terre Haute, he was an Indiana state champion during high school. Effner now lives in Garfield Heights with wife Lori, a Cleveland State student who hopes to enter the nursing program, and children Jason, Marcus and Kayla. He holds two master's degrees -- in industrial education from Clemson and in counseling education from Long Island University.
Effner, who claims to have wrestling on his brain 24 hours a day, calls himself "very fortunate to have found something that I enjoy doing and to have gotten pretty good at it. I love my job, being with kids, and wrestling."
As the program's only full-time employee, he hopes that winning seasons and enthusiastic fan support will help the sport grow. In fact, he keeps a 1976 wrestling match poster -- showing a fan-filled Woodling Gym -- on his office wall.
"Winning is the key to getting more fans at our matches," he admits. "But I wish all those fans that support high school wrestling would check out the quality program here. My kids are working their tails off, athletically and academically. Woodling Gym holds 3,000 people. My goal is to fill it to capacity."
Admission to wrestling matches is $5 for adults, $3 for those 18 and under, and free to CSU students. For information, call 216-687-4848.
