Class of 2008
Paul Clark
Paul started wrestling when he was in fourth grade, but he wrestled in no tournaments. When Norm Palovcisk came to Everett as the head coach, Paul was in the elementary program. Coach Palovicsik watched Paul wrestle and told Paul's parents (many times) that Paul was going to be Everett's first state champ.
In 1979 Paul was in 8th grade and he wrestled in the Jr. Wrestling Tournament. He won the District and Area II Tournaments and finished 2nd in the states.
In 1980 Paul won the Junior Wrestling District, Area II, and State Tournament. He also won the U.S. Kids Qualifier at Bedford, Regional at Ridgeway, States at Clarion, and Eastern Regional at Hofstra University.
Paul started on the varsity team as a sophomore going undefeated (25-0) at 98 lb during the regular season. For the District 5 Tournament, Scott Mearkle moved down to 98 lb and Paul moved to 105 lb. Paul lost in the district finals and then his first match at the Regional Tournament. He finished the year 28-2 with 13 falls. Everett finished the year 19-0-1, its only undefeated season.
In 1982 Paul's junior year, Paul lost 8-7 to Chestnut Ridge's Paul Davis in the District 5 final and he also finished second in the Regional Tournament. At states Paul lost in the quarterfinals to four- time state champ, Matt Gerhard. Paul came back to place third. His record for the year was 36-4 with 15 falls.
As a senior Paul reached his goal of being Everett's first state champ. He finished the season 36-0 with 24 falls. In the state semifinals Paul beat a previous state champ Chris Cooper and in the final he beat Rob Malloy, who was a state runner-up and a four time state place winner. The win in the finals was Paul s 100th. Paul s high school career record was 100-6-0 with 52 falls.
Paul wrestled in the first Challenge of Champions and lost to State College's Scott Pifer, the AAA State Champ. Paul represented Pennsylvania in the Freestyle National Tournament held in Des Moines, Iowa and finished with a 6-2 record
After graduation in 1983 Paul received a partial scholarship to Clarion University. He started at 126 lb and finished second in the Pa. State Athletic Conference (PSAC). His record as a freshman was 22-11.
In1984-85 as a sophomore; Paul was a PSAC Champ and received a wild card bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament. He lost his first match.
In 1985-86 as a junior, Paul was ranked first in the nation by the Amateur Wrestling News at 134 pounds. He was picked to wrestle in the East/West All-Star Match but he broke his hand in the finals of the PSAC Tournament and could not wrestle. Paul wrestled in EWL Qualifying Tournament with three special splints and won at 134 pound. At nationals Paul went 1-1 and his record for the year was 24-2.
Paul received a full scholarship for his junior and senior year. He was the team captain as a senior. His senior year Paul won the Midland Tournament and finished second in the EWL National Qualifier. At the National Tournament at Maryland University Paul became a NCAA Division I All-American by placing fifth. His record as a senior was 34-7-1 and for his career 113-26-1.
Paul returned to Everett as an assistant coach from 1987-2000. He has been teaching in the Everett School District since 1990. He is married to Sharon (Yokum) and they have two sons, Clinton and Dale.
Paul started wrestling when he was in fourth grade, but he wrestled in no tournaments. When Norm Palovcisk came to Everett as the head coach, Paul was in the elementary program. Coach Palovicsik watched Paul wrestle and told Paul's parents (many times) that Paul was going to be Everett's first state champ.
In 1979 Paul was in 8th grade and he wrestled in the Jr. Wrestling Tournament. He won the District and Area II Tournaments and finished 2nd in the states.
In 1980 Paul won the Junior Wrestling District, Area II, and State Tournament. He also won the U.S. Kids Qualifier at Bedford, Regional at Ridgeway, States at Clarion, and Eastern Regional at Hofstra University.
Paul started on the varsity team as a sophomore going undefeated (25-0) at 98 lb during the regular season. For the District 5 Tournament, Scott Mearkle moved down to 98 lb and Paul moved to 105 lb. Paul lost in the district finals and then his first match at the Regional Tournament. He finished the year 28-2 with 13 falls. Everett finished the year 19-0-1, its only undefeated season.
In 1982 Paul's junior year, Paul lost 8-7 to Chestnut Ridge's Paul Davis in the District 5 final and he also finished second in the Regional Tournament. At states Paul lost in the quarterfinals to four- time state champ, Matt Gerhard. Paul came back to place third. His record for the year was 36-4 with 15 falls.
As a senior Paul reached his goal of being Everett's first state champ. He finished the season 36-0 with 24 falls. In the state semifinals Paul beat a previous state champ Chris Cooper and in the final he beat Rob Malloy, who was a state runner-up and a four time state place winner. The win in the finals was Paul s 100th. Paul s high school career record was 100-6-0 with 52 falls.
Paul wrestled in the first Challenge of Champions and lost to State College's Scott Pifer, the AAA State Champ. Paul represented Pennsylvania in the Freestyle National Tournament held in Des Moines, Iowa and finished with a 6-2 record
After graduation in 1983 Paul received a partial scholarship to Clarion University. He started at 126 lb and finished second in the Pa. State Athletic Conference (PSAC). His record as a freshman was 22-11.
In1984-85 as a sophomore; Paul was a PSAC Champ and received a wild card bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament. He lost his first match.
In 1985-86 as a junior, Paul was ranked first in the nation by the Amateur Wrestling News at 134 pounds. He was picked to wrestle in the East/West All-Star Match but he broke his hand in the finals of the PSAC Tournament and could not wrestle. Paul wrestled in EWL Qualifying Tournament with three special splints and won at 134 pound. At nationals Paul went 1-1 and his record for the year was 24-2.
Paul received a full scholarship for his junior and senior year. He was the team captain as a senior. His senior year Paul won the Midland Tournament and finished second in the EWL National Qualifier. At the National Tournament at Maryland University Paul became a NCAA Division I All-American by placing fifth. His record as a senior was 34-7-1 and for his career 113-26-1.
Paul returned to Everett as an assistant coach from 1987-2000. He has been teaching in the Everett School District since 1990. He is married to Sharon (Yokum) and they have two sons, Clinton and Dale.
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania