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The 1988 NCAA Division III heavyweight national champion and a key contributor to the 1988 team national championship in wrestling, Pat Conners joins his brother Mike as the only brothers to win national championships and the two become the second pair of brothers to be inducted in Hall of Fame history.
A four-time NCAA Division III tournament qualifier, Pat was a four-time All-State wrestler, a two-time NCAA East Regional Champion and a two-time All America, placing third at heavyweight as a junior. He beat Kip Crandall of Millikin College 3-2 in the championship match of the 1988 tournament, putting a cap on the Saints’ team title. After a 4-2 win in the opening round, he had three straight one point wins en route the title, which was decided in the final seconds of the match.
Pat won the East Regional Championship at 190 in 1986 and as heavyweight in both 1987 and 1988. He wrestled as a heavyweight in the NCAA tournament in his freshman season. He also played four years of football for the Saints. He was captain of the 1988 national champion wrestling team.
He began a long and highly successful teaching and coaching career at South Jefferson Central Schools and spent 21 years as wrestling coach, compiling a 400-81-1 winning percentage in those 21 seasons. He has earned several section, league, New York State and regional Coach of the Year honors, and created and runs the 1000 Island Summer Duals in Clayton, NY.
Pat and his wife Kristin are the parents of three daughters.
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