Meet Tony Purler

-2X US World Team Member
-2X World Cup Medalist
-WORLD PLACE WINNER
-Held a Top 10 World Ranking
-4X US National Team Member
-Cadet World Team Member
-Cadet Pan American Games Champion-Greco
Junior World Team Member
-NCAA Champion, 2X NCAA All American
-US Open National Champion
-3X US Open Finalist (Freestyle and Greco)
-Goodwill Games Bronze Medalist
-6X High School Fargo All American (Freestyle and Greco)
-4X Fargo High School Nationals Finalist
-2X Fargo High School National Champion

Tony has won a National Title at EVERY level of the sport!

Former High School Coach ’95-’96 at The American School of London. London, England.

Former Division I College Coach (9 years)

-Oklahoma State University: ’93-’96
-University of Oklahoma ’96-’98
-Clarion University of Pennsylvania ’98-2002

With this impressive Athletic and Coaching Resume’, it’s easy to see why so many parents of young wrestlers in need of professional coaching attend Tony’s weekly Purler wrestling academy sessions and summer technique camps

Social media:
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Instagram/twitter- @purlercamps
www.tonypurler.com

Tony Purler: Champion Again

By Paul Heumphreus

In an elite university legendary for developing powerhouse athletes, Tony Purler shines as an icon for Husker wrestling fans.  However, his NCAA Championship title was only one highlight among many in his stellar career.

Tony was the cornerstone of the only Husker team to surpass Nebraska’s phenomenal successes in the 2008 and 2009 NCAA tournaments.  Tony is renowned for leading a six-man crew of All-American Huskers in 1993, a season that he capped off by winning the National Title in the 126-lb class bracket.  His dedication and drive helped inspire the team, capturing our highest-ever team ranking at #3.  This successful season helped provide the springboard for Olympic Champion Rulon Gardner’s international accomplishments, and the 1993 team holds the Husker’s single-year record for the most All-American honors.  Tony compiled a record of 35 wins, with only 2 losses throughout this season.

I met Tony through his twin brother, Nick, who is also an excellent wrestler.  The Purler brothers were raised in Wentzville, Missouri, a small town many football fans recognize as home to another Husker legend, Dan Alexander.  The twins captured Missouri State Championships in back-to-back years (1987-1988), providing a glimpse into the future for these grapplers.

Tony has a classic wrestler’s build—all muscle, no fat.  His “cauliflower” ears hold testament to the constant punishment given to a wrestler’s head, displaying the grueling hours spent developing his skills.  But the most notable feature about him is his winning smile, one that shows how much this character enjoys life.

Tony’s personal history is outstanding.  He has won National Titles at every level of the sport.  Highlights of his accomplishments include:

  • NCAA All-American (2 times)
  • Big 8 Champion
  • U.S. Open National Champion
  • U.S. Open National Finalist (3 times)
  • U.S. Open Finalist in Freestyle & Greco
  • U.S. World Team Member (2 times)
  • Espoir National Champion
  • World Cup Silver and Bronze Medalist
  • Goodwill Games Bronze Medalist
  • Junior National Champion (2 times)

Tony’s coaching career began at Oklahoma State University, followed by stints at Oklahoma University and the University of Missouri.  Tony also worked with two-time All-American Khris Whelan, coaching a high school team at the American School in London, England.  This team competed with teams from all across Europe, showcasing the skills of competitors from our side of the Atlantic.

Tony credits Clarion University of Pennsylvania with providing one of his most valuable coaching experiences.  Less prominent schools rarely acquire the high-ranking recruits that major programs attract, so a coach has the responsibility –and from Tony’s perspective, the opportunity — to build great wrestlers from unrealized talent.  To quote Tony, “The measure of a coach is what you can do with an average kid”.  His personal reward came from the success his wrestlers achieved, affirming Tony’s skills as a leader.

Currently, Tony lives near Kansas City, and is dedicated to teaching youth-league and high-school wrestlers in the Purler Wrestling Academy (PWA).  Tony’s education in business marketing is essential for running PWA.  This education helped him develop organizational skills, customer relations skills, quality of training skills, and the ability to be proficient in all facets of the business.

PWA serves all of Missouri, with the eastern half covered by Nick, and the western half covered by Tony.  Both Purlers lead training camps at various locations throughout the year.  Tony’s coaching philosophy reflects the University of Nebraska’s tradition of building local athletes into national competitors, focusing on team psychology rather than individual glory.  By accepting all kids that want to enroll, Tony and Nick have established Missouri wrestlers as some of the fiercest competitors in the sport.  So far, Purler-coached teams have accumulated a long string of honors, including four Tulsa National Team Champions.  Without a doubt, many more successes will follow.

Tony sees a bright future for the PWA, and he plans to expand this business to become his long-term career.  The skills that he gained from leading college wrestlers to their full potential are proving to be an ideal fit for young wrestlers.  Tony noted that the kids absorb the lessons like a sponge, and said that seeing the kids learn so much, “is what I love about youth league coaching.”

Tony’s wife, Tracy, is also a gifted athlete:  She is a two-time Big-8 gymnastic champion.  Their 4 ½-year-old daughter, Lilia, and 3-year-old son, Ronin, still have a few years of training ahead before adding their championship medals to the family shrine.

Tony noted that Nebraska’s dedication to student athletes both academically and athletically is excellent, and surpasses the quality of care provided by other universities.  He also found Nebraska’s positive, upbeat environment and competitiveness at an international level to be strong attributes.  Tony’s heritage as a Husker provides a direct pipeline for Nebraska to pick up top-notch kids, helping the Huskers to continue their success on the mat.  With strong ties like this, Nebraska is poised to continue being a dominant program for years to come.

Tony is the type of athlete and coach—and champion—that make Huskers proud of our storied heritage.

Tony Purler Wrestling camps in Kansas City, MO

Tony Purler Wrestling Camps

In addition to operating Purler Wrestling Academy West in the Kansas City area year-round, Tony hosts numerous wrestling camps for youth and high school wrestlers throughout the calendar year in various locations, with many held in the Kansas City area as well. Tony invites all youth and high school wrestlers, both boys and girls, to participate and learn how to wrestle at his wrestling camps.

From kids’ summer wrestling camps to high school team wrestling camps, Tony has a camp that will help get your wrestler better and closer to their wrestling goals.

Along with having a highly successful wrestling career, Tony Purler has an extensive background as a wrestling coach at some of the most prestigious wrestling programs in the country, including Oklahoma State Wrestling, Oklahoma Wrestling, Mizzou Wrestling, and Clarion Wrestling.

Enroll in a summer wrestling camp today and train with more than just a champion — train with Tony Purler!

Wrestling Accomplishments

Below are some of Tony Purler’s accolades as a wrestler and a coach. Tony has over 31 years of experience of running his own camp business and training series. With this impressive athletic and coaching resume, it’s easy to see why so many parents of young wrestlers in need of professional coaching attend Tony’s weekly training sessions and/or summer technique camps.

  • 2X US World Team Member
  • 2X World Cup Medalist
  • World Place Winner
  • Held a Top 10 World Ranking
  • 4X US National Team Member

  • Cadet World Team Member
  • Cadet Pan American Games Champion (Greco)
  • Junior World Team Member
  • NCAA Champion
  • 2X NCAA All American

  • US Open National Champion
  • 3X US Open Finalist (Freestyle and Greco)
  • Goodwill Games Bronze Medalist
  • 6X High School Fargo All American (Freestyle and Greco)
  • 4X High School Fargo Finalist

  • 2X Fargo High School National Champion
  • Tony has won a National Title at EVERY level of the sport!
  • Former High School Coach ’95-’96 at The American School of London, London, England.
  • Former Division I College Coach, 9 years: Oklahoma State: 1993-1996, Univ of Oklahoma 1996-1998, Clarion Univ of Pennsylvania 1998-2002

Purler Wrestling Testimonials

Former UFC Champion Frankie Edgar

I was fortunate to spend a few years wrestling under Tony Purler at Clarion university. His attention to details is second to none. Tony is one of the most technical coaches I have been around.

Frankie Edgar, Former UFC Champion
Cary Kolat

I have people in the wrestling world who I pick up the phone and call when I want to bounce something off them, Tony is on that list for me.  Would my son or daughter wrestle for him, absolutely!

Cary Kolat, Olympian, World Medalist, NCAA Champion, Head Coach United States Naval Academy
Sammie Henson, 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, ’98 World Champ, 2 X NCAA Champion (Clemson University)

Tony Purler is one of the greatest amateur wrestler’s to ever come out of the State of Missouri. He is Nationally and Internationally known for his technical expertise and exciting style of wrestling. As a kid growing up in St. Charles Missouri, I would have loved to have had access to a mentor such as Tony. What an advantage for the State of Missouri and in particular the Kansas City Area.

Sammie Henson, 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, ’98 World Champ, 2 X NCAA Champion (Clemson University)
Kyle Meyer, Former PWA Member, 4x MO High School State Champ, Scholarship Athlete Stanford University

My parents drove me 4-5 hours round trip to go to Tony’s practices once a week for only 2 hours of practice. That 2 hours though was very beneficial and improved my wrestling skills beyond belief. Tony’s ability to teach the small differences in technique that make huge impacts in a match is what allowed me to succeed at the state and national level in both high school and college.

Kyle Meyer, Former PWA Member, 4x MO High School State Champ, Scholarship Athlete Stanford University
Tyler Mann, Former PWA Member, 2x MO High School State Champ, Scholarship Athlete Benedictine College

Purler wrestling academy taught me how to wrestle, instead of just teaching me moves. I learned how to wrestle with good position and how to break my opponents good positioning. Without wrestling with Purler, I would not have received a college scholarship, because the average coach does not teach you how to wrestle, but just shows moves and expects you to learn the sport on your own.

Tyler Mann, Former PWA Member, 2x MO High School State Champ, Scholarship Athlete Benedictine College