Jeff Sweigard led Central Dauphin’s (Harrisburg, Pa.) wrestling team to Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association team dual meet state championships in 2008 and 2009 and state championship titles in the individual state championships in 2007, 2008 and 2009. He was named national wrestling coach of the year in 2009 by the National High School Coaches Association.

Talk about how you got started in wrestling.

I was cut from the 7th grade basketball team and the basketball coach told me that I should try wrestling. I guess the B-ball team didn't need a 70lb. 4’-6" player. I wrestled the 70lb weight class and had immediate success and I was hooked. I liked the idea that I could compete against somebody my own size.

Talk about your first wrestling coach.

My first coach was Mr. John Kreamer and he was a very blue collar, no nonsense guy that believed in conditioning and hard work. I had the same philosophy as an athlete and I have the same philosphy as a coach. Out work your opponents.

Tell us about your wrestling career.

I had some success as scholastic wrestler from 7th-12th grade and finished my high school career losing to C.D. Mock (North Carolina Head coach) in the PA state finals in 1977. I wrestled at Millersville for Coach Jerry Swope and after 2 years of cutting weight and not having too much success I decided to pack in my wrestling shoes.

Talk about the CD wrestling program.

I graduated from CD in 1977 and the wrestling teams always had moderate success under Coach Kramer. I coached 10 years at Susquehanna Twp. HS and then when Coach Kreamer retired, the district called me and asked me if I was interested in coaching at my alma mater. I took the job in 1994 and my first year our team went 5-10 and I was very frustrated. At that time I decided if we were going to be successful, I was going to have to start a youth program in the district, starting from the ground up. Once I got that started and gathered up some fathers to help with the coaching, things started to take off. Over the past several years, our program has grown, and the success of our student wrestlers has been pretty darn good. I try to continue to preach the blue collar approach and try to instill in our wrestlers that hard work and discipline will help you reach your goals.

What is best thing about being a coach?

Assisting the student athletes in reaching their goals both on and off the mats.

What makes wrestling such a great sport?

You get out of it what you put into it. I like the idea that it is both a team concept and an individual concept. I feel that wrestling more than any other sport simulates the real world.