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Bulldogs hire new coach

Matt Musselman is exceedingly familiar with the wrestling program at Claysburg-Kimmel High School.

Musselman became the first PIAA Class 2A state medalist in the school’s history as a junior back in 1987, when he took sixth place at 105 pounds. The next year, in 1988, he became the school’s first regional champ, winning the 105-pound title as a senior in the Northwest AA Regional Tournament.

Musselman was also a two-time District 6 2A champion and two-time district runner-up during his high school days at Claysburg, and served as an assistant varsity coach with the program last winter, as well as the school’s junior high coach for the past three seasons.

“I was brought up through the program, I’m familiar with it, and I know all the kids really well,” said Musselman, 47, whose appointment as Claysburg’s new varsity head wrestling coach was approved at a recent meeting of the school board. “That will really help.”

Musselman also drilled with the current varsity wrestlers in practices last season.

“Even as an assistant coach last year and as the junior high head coach, I spent a lot of time on the mat with these kids,” Musselman said. “We have the majority of the kids we had out last year back for next season. I’m excited about it. Claysburg has always had a good strong wrestling tradition for more than 30 years. I’m happy to be a part of it, and (want) to keep that tradition going.”

Musselman succeeds Dave Aungst, who resigned as the head varsity coach at the end of last season.

“Coach Musselman excelled on the wrestling mat and has been a part of the program for many years,” Claysburg-Kimmel athletic director Brian Helsel wrote in an email to the Mirror. “He is a committed individual who understands that championships are won with hard work and dedication. Coach Musselman, I’m sure, will be a great fit for our program to continue moving it in the right direction.”

Musselman believes that he has plenty of varsity talent with which to work next winter.

“We have some talented kids here,” Musselman said. “Looking at the kids we have returning, I’m hoping to get a couple of them out of districts and into regionals this year.”

Musselman — who is employed as a parts manager at a local truck repair garage — and his wife, Apryl, are the parents of two grown sons, Matthew, 27, and Jordan, 20.

Musselman expressed appreciation to the Claysburg-Kimmel administration and school board for his appointment as varsity coach.

“This is a good opportunity, and I’m thankful to the district administrators and school board for letting me take this on,” Musselman said. “I’m going to surround myself with some good coaches and volunteer coaches. I’m looking forward to it.”

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