Derek Sikora, New Assist Coach to Costanzo’s SCSU Staff, Talks to TDR

WRESTLING: Derek Sikora Signs On as Assistant Wrestling Coach

Wednesday, August 4, 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.