Spartans’ Conners named state's top coach

The National Wrestling Coaches Association has named South Jefferson High School’s wrestling coach Pat Conners the 2010 New York State and Northeast Region Head Coach of the Year.

Conners has been the head coach at South Jefferson for 17 years.  His teams have compiled a dual meet record of 328-72-2 and have won 11 Section 3 Championships (9 Class and 2 Interclass) and 12 Frontier League Divisional titles. In 2010, his Spartans completed the perfect season with a 31-0 record, won the prestigious Section 3 Duals, and was voted No. 2 in the state by the New York State Sportswriters.

Conners’ wrestlers have won 46 individual Frontier League titles, 50 Section 3 Class titles, and nine wrestlers have combined for 15 Section 3 Interclass titles. Three wrestlers have also earned wildcard berths to the state meet.  South Jefferson wrestlers have earned all-state honors 16 out of 18 times they competed in the state meet.

As a wrestler at Baldwinsville, Conners won two Section 3 titles at 177 pounds and earned All-State honors in 1984. After graduation, Conners continued his education and wrestling career at St. Lawrence University wrestling for Hall of Fame coach John Clark. As a four-year starter, Conners earned All-State honors in every year, including All-American honors his junior and senior seasons.