Joel Sharratt Named Assistant Wrestling Coach at the Naval Academy
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Price Atkinson (Navy Sports Information)
09/12/2000
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Sept. 8) -- Joel Sharratt, a three-time All-America at Iowa, has been named assistant wrestling coach at the Naval Academy, Director of Athletics Jack Lengyel announced today. "I believe Joel Sharratt will be an excellent addition to Bruce Burnett's staff," said Lengyel. "The combination of Bruce and Joel will give us one of the finest coaching staffs in the country." Sharratt comes to the Naval Academy from Minnesota where he has been the Developmental Freestyle State Coach for USA Wrestling in the state of Minnesota. Sharratt developed training programs and camp systems for athletes, as well as organized and conducted regional training sites for age group athletes. Sharratt has also been a graduate assistant coach at the University of Minnesota since 1998. Before going to Minnesota, Sharratt was an assistant at Lehigh from 1996-98. As a competitor, Sharratt is ranked fourth in the United States at 97 kg (213.75 pounds) and finished third in the 2000 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belarus. Sharratt also finished third at the 1998 Pan American Championship and won the 1999 Clansmen International Championship. Other top finishes for Sharratt include a fourth at the 1999 World Team Trials, third at the 1999 U.S. Nationals, third at the 1997 World Team Trials, fourth at the 1997 U.S. Nationals and third at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials. At Iowa, where he was coached by the legendary Dan Gable, Sharratt was the NCAA Champion in 1994 and finished second at the NCAA Championship in 1993 and 1995. He received his degree in health promotion in 1995. Sharratt, 28, is a native of Bloomington, Minn., where he was a two-time state champion in wrestling and was an all-state football player. "I am very excited to have the opportunity to coach at the Naval Academy and work with Coach Burnett," said Sharratt. "The guys here are really dedicated and I look forward to working with them."