There have been a number of great names in North Royalton High School Wrestling over the years. Included on that list is Shawn Nelson, the current head wrestling coach at the University of Findlay.
Nelson returned to North Royalton High School recently to be honored by the school following his induction into the Ohio Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Nelson was presented with the “Lifetime Service to Wrestling” award.
Shawn received the honor in recognition of his more than 20 years of dedicated service to the development of leadership and citizenship through the sport of wresting.
In his time wrestling for the Bears (’86, ’87, ’88 and ’89), Shawn had a record of 121-4. Those four losses came in a two-week stretch of his freshman year. He was a 3X state champion (’87, ’88 and ’89). Despite the four losses in his freshman year, Shawn finished fourth in the state.
Some refer to Shawn as the Greatest Wrestler in North Royalton history. But Shawn Nelson doesn’t buy it. “If that’s what other people think of me, that’s awesome. Thank you. But, you’ll never hear me say that. It’s neat to come back to North Royalton. But, records are made to be broken. That’s what they are there for and hopefully somebody will.”
I asked Shawn what he remembered most about going to school in North Royalton and wrestling here. The answer might surprise you.
“We worked out in the cafeteria. So we had to move the tables and chairs, set them to the side. Roll the mats out, then roll them back and put them away. Then set the cafeteria back up. As I get older, I appreciate that more because it kept me humble.”
Shawn got started in the wrestling world thanks to his older brother.
“He was four years ahead of me in school. When he was a senior, I was in eighth grade. Back then, North Royalton High School was grades 8 through 12. When I was little, I watched him wrestle and at some point I said I wanted to try it. Mr. Ambrose, who lived across the street from me, pushed me as well. He helped out at one of the Cleveland High Schools.”
Shawn’s 121-4 record in high school is difficult to comprehend. “Back then, I had 125 matches in four years. Nowadays, High School wrestlers get 40 matches a year. You have to keep that in perspective. I was 14 years old as a freshman. I tell people that I was just too young back then, that’s why I lost those four matches.” Shawn had a big smile after that last statement.
Following his graduation from North Royalton High School, Shawn attended Penn State and was an All-American in 1992. He finished fourth in the NCAA National Championship that year.
For the last 28 seasons, Shawn Nelson has been head wrestling coach at the University of Findlay.
We tip our hat to North Royalton graduate Shawn Nelson, a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
By JOE JASTRZEMSKI
Contributing Writer
