Camp Staff

Coach Wier is originally form Fairview Heights, Illinois. He is from a large family of eight people (3 brothers, 2 sisters). Coach Wier started wrestling as a freshman in high school at Belleville East High School. He was a two-time state qualifier, placing second in Illinois State his senior year with a record of 42-1.

Joe was also a Freestyle and Greco-Roman Illinois State Placer, and the captain of the Junior National Team for Illinois in 1991. Coach Wier wrestled at Southwestern Illinois College and was a two-time conference champion and two-time NJCAA All-American, compiling a record of 71-9 in two seasons for the Dutchman.

Coach Wier then wrestled at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Despite breaking his hand his senior season, Coach Wier returned to action in time to become Missouri’s last Big 8 Wrestling Champion before the change to Big 12.

Coach Wier has been coaching athletes for 11 years as a Head Coach. He has coached wrestlers to 4 state titles, 21 medals at the high school level. Coach Wier has also coached numerous middle school and elementary state and national medal winners as the lead clinician of the Bonhomme Wrestling Club in St. Louis, MO.

Joe is married to Sherry Schatzman Wier (the sister of wrestling great Scott Schatzman), and they have four wonderful children: Alex, Ashley, Amy, and Andrew.

Former PWA standout Sean Gant traveled 3+ hours round trip to the PWA workout room from the time he was 14-18. He ended his HIGH SCHOOL career as 4th in the MO Class 4 State Championships and earned a scholarship to compete for the NAIA National Champion Lindenwood program. Sean is one of Nick’s lead instructors for PWA and Foundation Wrestling.

Tony Pescaglia is a former Purler Wrestling Academy student who joined his 7th grade year and quickly rose to State Champion as an 8th grader without really being tested at the State Championships. Tony finished his HS career with 2 State Titles and is currently the #2 ALL TIME pinner in the state of Missouri.rare for a light weight! (* had Tony not been handed so many forfeits during his Junior and Senior seasons he’d easily be the title)

Tony capped off his impressive HS career by finishing 4th in the prestigious Senior Nationals before heading to the University of Missouri. Now a red shirt Freshman, Tony has his sights set on an NCAA title and I could not be more proud!

Tony runs our Jeff City PWA location and helps teach the Purler-system / FOUNDATION Wrestling around the US.