Cary Kolat
Encyclopedia
Cary Kolat is an American wrestler and wrestling coach who had two NCAA championships in 1996 and 1997 for Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
and was a member of the United States Men's Freestyle Wrestling Team from 1997-2001. During that time he won silver and bronze medals at the 1997 Krasnoyarsk
and 1998 Tehran
FILA Wrestling World Championships
as well as competing for the United States in freestyle wrestling for the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, where he placed 9th.
age-group competition in Lincoln, Nebraska. As a young child, Kolat, who held up the Iowa wrestler Dan Gable
as an inspiration. In high school, Kolat competed successfully in college and international tournaments finishing his high school career at Jefferson-Morgan School District
with an undefeated (137-0) record and four Pennsylvania state titles. During this time he was named Outstanding Wrestler four times at state meets, an honor no one else had achieved even twice. His achievements led to him being profiled in Sports Illustrated
in April 1992. The article claimed that when Kolat was in the eighth grade, his parents urged him to deliberately fail courses so he would be required to repeat a grade before entering high school. They hoped that it might help Kolat in terms of overall maturity. Kolat followed their advice, achieving four F's and one A; a single blemish coming from teacher Alan Rafail, who was then the Jefferson-Morgan wrestling coach.
, where he went 22-5 as a freshman and advanced to the NCAA title bout before falling to T. J. Jaworksy from University of North Carolina
. The following year, Kolat earned All-America
honors for the second straight season and at 134 pounds was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. He ended his sophomore season 39-1.
After two years at Pennsylvania State, Kolat transferred to Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
where he won his first national championship in 1996, and ended the year 25-1. Kolat picked up his first undefeated season in 1996-97 going 25-0 at 142 pounds leading to his second straight national title. During his attendance at Lock Haven, Kolat was a two-time PSAC
champion (1996–97) and an Eastern Wrestling champion in 1996-97 as well as being named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Eastern Wrestling League
Championships in both his junior and senior seasons. He ended his college wrestling career with an impressive .941 winning percentage (111-7) and 53 career falls. Despite wrestling successes, Kolat struggled academically, not graduating from Lock Haven until 2003.
and 1998 Tehran
FILA Wrestling World Championships
. He also competing for the United States in freestyle wrestling for the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, Australia, where he where he finished ninth. Kolat was also a three-time World Cup gold medalist (1998, 1999, 2000) and World Cup silver medalist in 2001. He was also a Pan American Games
gold medalist in 1999 and a Pan American gold medalist in 2000.
, Wisconsin, West Virginia
, and North Carolina. He now runs a wrestling instructional website called Kolat.com.
He has a wife, Erin, and a daughter, Zoe.
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, commonly abbreviated LHU, is a state university in Lock Haven, in central Pennsylvania located along the Susquehanna River, and is roughly from the major towns of Williamsport and State College. Lock Haven University is one of the fourteen members of the...
and was a member of the United States Men's Freestyle Wrestling Team from 1997-2001. During that time he won silver and bronze medals at the 1997 Krasnoyarsk
1997 FILA Wrestling World Championships
The following is the final results of the 1997 FILA Wrestling World Championships. Men's Freestyle competition were held in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Men's Greco-Roman competition were held in Wrocław, Poland and Women's competition were held in Clermont-Ferrand, France.-Medal table:-Team ranking:-Men's...
and 1998 Tehran
1998 FILA Wrestling World Championships
The following is the final results of the 1998 FILA Wrestling World Championships. Men's Freestyle competition were held in Tehran, Iran. Men's Greco-Roman competition were held in Gävle, Sweden and Women's competition were held in Poznań, Poland.-Medal table:...
FILA Wrestling World Championships
FILA Wrestling World Championships
FILA Wrestling World Championships is the Amateur Wrestling World Championship organized by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles . The men's Greco-Roman tournament began in 1904...
as well as competing for the United States in freestyle wrestling for the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney, where he placed 9th.
Early life
Kolat began wrestling at age five and by age seven, he had won his first national championship, an AAUAssociation of American Universities
The Association of American Universities is an organization of leading research universities devoted to maintaining a strong system of academic research and education...
age-group competition in Lincoln, Nebraska. As a young child, Kolat, who held up the Iowa wrestler Dan Gable
Dan Gable
Dan Gable is an American amateur wrestler. He is famous for having only lost one match in his entire Iowa State University collegiate career—his last, and winning gold at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany while not giving up a single point...
as an inspiration. In high school, Kolat competed successfully in college and international tournaments finishing his high school career at Jefferson-Morgan School District
Jefferson-Morgan School District
Jefferson-Morgan School District is located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. It serves the boroughs of Jefferson, Rices Landing, and Clarksville. It also serves Jefferson and Morgan townships. The district encompasses approximately 47 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves...
with an undefeated (137-0) record and four Pennsylvania state titles. During this time he was named Outstanding Wrestler four times at state meets, an honor no one else had achieved even twice. His achievements led to him being profiled in Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
in April 1992. The article claimed that when Kolat was in the eighth grade, his parents urged him to deliberately fail courses so he would be required to repeat a grade before entering high school. They hoped that it might help Kolat in terms of overall maturity. Kolat followed their advice, achieving four F's and one A; a single blemish coming from teacher Alan Rafail, who was then the Jefferson-Morgan wrestling coach.
Collegiate career
In 1993, Kolat began his collegiate career at Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, where he went 22-5 as a freshman and advanced to the NCAA title bout before falling to T. J. Jaworksy from University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
. The following year, Kolat earned All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
honors for the second straight season and at 134 pounds was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. He ended his sophomore season 39-1.
After two years at Pennsylvania State, Kolat transferred to Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, commonly abbreviated LHU, is a state university in Lock Haven, in central Pennsylvania located along the Susquehanna River, and is roughly from the major towns of Williamsport and State College. Lock Haven University is one of the fourteen members of the...
where he won his first national championship in 1996, and ended the year 25-1. Kolat picked up his first undefeated season in 1996-97 going 25-0 at 142 pounds leading to his second straight national title. During his attendance at Lock Haven, Kolat was a two-time PSAC
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference that participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. The conference is composed of 16 full-time members within Pennsylvania and one associate member in New York...
champion (1996–97) and an Eastern Wrestling champion in 1996-97 as well as being named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Eastern Wrestling League
Eastern Wrestling League
The Eastern Wrestling League is an NCAA Division I wrestling-only conference. It is made up mostly of schools from the northeastern United States whose primary conferences do not sponsor wrestling as an NCAA-qualifying event...
Championships in both his junior and senior seasons. He ended his college wrestling career with an impressive .941 winning percentage (111-7) and 53 career falls. Despite wrestling successes, Kolat struggled academically, not graduating from Lock Haven until 2003.
International competition
After college Kolat participated in 13 international events for the United States, as member of the United States Men's Freestyle Wrestling Team from 1997-2001 at 63 kg. During that time he won silver and bronze medals at the 1997 Krasnoyarsk1997 FILA Wrestling World Championships
The following is the final results of the 1997 FILA Wrestling World Championships. Men's Freestyle competition were held in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Men's Greco-Roman competition were held in Wrocław, Poland and Women's competition were held in Clermont-Ferrand, France.-Medal table:-Team ranking:-Men's...
and 1998 Tehran
1998 FILA Wrestling World Championships
The following is the final results of the 1998 FILA Wrestling World Championships. Men's Freestyle competition were held in Tehran, Iran. Men's Greco-Roman competition were held in Gävle, Sweden and Women's competition were held in Poznań, Poland.-Medal table:...
FILA Wrestling World Championships
FILA Wrestling World Championships
FILA Wrestling World Championships is the Amateur Wrestling World Championship organized by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles . The men's Greco-Roman tournament began in 1904...
. He also competing for the United States in freestyle wrestling for the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney, Australia, where he where he finished ninth. Kolat was also a three-time World Cup gold medalist (1998, 1999, 2000) and World Cup silver medalist in 2001. He was also a Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
gold medalist in 1999 and a Pan American gold medalist in 2000.
Return (2011)
After much time off, Kolat returned to national competition in early 2011 at the Asics US Open, where he finished 2nd behind Teyon Ware, losing 1-0, 0-4, 1-1.Coaching career
After his college wrestling career ended, Kolat finished his degree in criminal justice at Lock Haven, graduating in July 2003. He then coached at Lock Haven, LehighLehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
, Wisconsin, West Virginia
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
, and North Carolina. He now runs a wrestling instructional website called Kolat.com.
He has a wife, Erin, and a daughter, Zoe.