Eric Mausser from Franklin Regional is the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Wrestling Coach of the Year (Photo: Sean Simmers/PennLive.com)
Eric Mausser from Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pa., has been selected as the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Wrestling Coach of the Year for 2014-15.
The selection was made by Jason Bryant of MatTalkOnline.com. Bryant has covered high school, college and Olympic-level wrestling for over 20 years and is the President of the National Wrestling Media Association.
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COACH PROFILE
Name: Eric Mausser
School: Franklin Regional, Murrysville, Pa.
For the last 10 seasons, Eric Mausser has been part of the Franklin Regional wrestling program. Named head coach eight years ago, Mausser has taken the Panthers from a solid program in western Pennsylvania to one of the top programs in the nation.
Under Mausser’s leadership, the Panthers set a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state record for team points (152), state finalists (five) and champions (four) in a single season. Franklin Regional won its second consecutive 3A state team championship in 2015 and also repeated as 3A dual meet state champion.
The bulk of Mausser’s individual state championships and state place-winners have come from a talented senior class. Devin Brown, Michael Kemerer and Josh Shields all ended their careers with state titles, and sophomore Spencer Lee, an ALL-USA first-team selection at 120 pounds, won his second state championship.
Kemerer joins Lee on the ALL-USA first team, while Shields was third-team ALL-USA. Brown was a second-team selection ALL-USA last season at 106 pounds. Senior Josh Maruca finished as a state runner-up. Brown has signed with West Virginia and Kemerer with Iowa, and Shields and Maruca both will attend Arizona State.
“The most fulfilling part about this group is watching them grow as wrestlers and more importantly watching them become great young men,” Mausser said of his senior class. “This group of seniors was extremely special because of how much time they put into the sport, not only to accomplish their goals but to help their teammates become better wrestlers. They also spent a great deal of time giving back to the sport by volunteering their time at our youth practices.
“This group built their legacy not only on their accomplishments, but by giving back and establishing a tradition of excellence.”
The Panthers won three sectional titles, three county championships, two Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championships and two titles at the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament in Canonsburg, Pa., considered one of the toughest holiday events in the country.
Before coaching at Franklin Regional, Mausser was on staff at Duquesne University under coach John Hartupee. He wrestled collegiately at Clarion.