
Derek Sikora Named Assistant Wrestling Coach at St. Cloud State
August. 5, 2010
St. Cloud, Minn. - St. Cloud State
head wrestling coach Steve Costanzo announced that Derek Sikora has
joined his staff as an assistant coach. Sikora was the head wrestling
coach at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire last season following
four seasons as a Blugolds assistant coach.
"I am very excited to have Derek Sikora as my lead assistant wrestling
coach," said Coach Steve Costanzo. "Derek comes highly recommended on
the mat and his passion and dedication to the sport should pay
immediate dividends to the Husky wrestling program. I am confident that
he will help SCSU wrestling take that next step and get us to where we
want to go."
A
two-sport athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Sikora was
a 2006 National Wrestling Champion, a three-time All-American,
three-year captain, four-year letterwinner and two-time WIAC Champion.
He also earned four letters in football where he was a two-time First
Team All-Conference player, two-time Team MVP, two-time All-Region pick
and a team captain.
Following his playing career Sikora was a substitute teacher and para educator in the Oshkosh and Eau Claire school districts.
His coaching experience includes working with young wrestlers in the
Wisconsin Cadet Junior National Team program and the Train Like a Titan
Youth Wrestling Club. He aided the Cadet program in its most successful
season in 2007 guiding 16 All-Americans at the Cadet National
Championships.
In 2006 he joined the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire coaching staff
as an assistant football and wrestling coach. During the 2007-08
wrestling season, Sikora was the Head Assistant Wrestling Coach at the
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He returned to Eau Claire in 2008 as
an assistant wrestling coach and took over as head coach in 2009.
"I am honored and thankful for the opportunity to work with a great
wrestling program. I look forward to working with Coach Costanzo and
the rest of the staff as well as continuing to build toward a national
championship," said Sikora.
The St. Cloud State wrestling team placed seventh at the 2010 NCAA
Division II National Championships with four All-American finishes. The
Huskies also did well in the classroom as nine individuals earned
academic awards during the season.