Gold Medal Camp Welcomes Record-Breaking Wrestler Wade Schalles
For the fifth consecutive summer, Ken Chertow’s renowned Gold Medal Wrestling Camp is set to take place at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona, drawing young athletes from across the region eager to hone their skills. This year’s event, running over two weeks starting Sunday, July 14, promises to be exceptional thanks to an impressive coaching lineup that includes wrestling icon Wade Schalles.
Ken Chertow, a former Olympian and three-time Penn State All-American, is proud of how the camp has grown over the years. He says the coaching staff has never been stronger. “Every year I add more top-level coaches, Olympians, and NCAA champions. I want the kids to learn from the best possible mentors, and this year’s staff might be the best we have ever had,” Chertow said.
Wade Schalles, the highlight guest coach, will join the camp for a special session on Wednesday evening, July 17. At 73 years old, Schalles boasts an unparalleled legacy in wrestling. His achievements include a state championship at Hollidaysburg High School, three NCAA titles at Clarion University, and a gold medal at the 1977 World University Games. He also holds Guinness World Records for the most career wins and pins in wrestling history.
Schalles also brings extensive coaching experience from his tenure as an NCAA Division I head coach at Clemson and Old Dominion University. Chertow, who has admired Schalles since his youth and was even recruited by him to Clemson, is thrilled to welcome such a legend to his camp.
Besides Schalles, the camp will feature other high-profile wrestling figures including Penn State stars Zain Retherford and Sanshiro Abe. Retherford, a three-time NCAA Division I champion and 2023 World Freestyle Champion at 70kg, has been attending Chertow’s camp since he was eight years old and now gives back as a coach. He will instruct at the camp on Sunday, July 20.
Sanshiro Abe, an Olympic competitor for Japan in 1996 and a four-time All-American at Penn State, will help lead the camp’s opening session alongside former Penn State coach John Fritz. Abe’s international experience adds a valuable dimension to the camp’s offerings.
The coaching roster also includes NCAA champions Pat Glory and James Yonushonis, as well as local stars Nick Frick and Joe Baranik. Frick, who has a military wrestling background and runs the Frick Brothers Wrestling Academy in Florida with his brother Eric, expressed excitement about coaching in his hometown alongside such esteemed company.
Female wrestlers will have dedicated training led by NCAA champion Sage Mortimer and Midland University coach Chelsea Dionisio, continuing the camp’s strong support for women’s wrestling.
Chertow notes that wrestlers can sign up for one or both weeks of the camp, with age- and skill-based training groups for boys and girls from elementary through high school.
The Gold Medal Wrestling Camp continues to be a premier destination for aspiring wrestlers seeking world-class instruction, fostering the next generation of champions in a supportive and elite environment.