Jason Valek
Head CoachAlma Mater: Clemson '98
E-mail: jason.valek
Office Phone: 321-5659
Head Coach Jason Valek is entering his sixth season coaching Newberry and his fifth at the Division II level. He was hired in the summer of 2004 to be the first wrestling coach in Newberry history. In his five years at the helm Newberry has gone 73-29-1, including a record of 67-18-1 against non Division I competition. Valek has coached two NCAA Division II national champions, 33 NWCA and Division II National Qualifiers, 11 NCAA D-II All-Americans, two USAW Greco All-Americans, an NWCA National Champion and three NWCA All Americans. In just five years Valek has raised the Newberry wrestling program to national contention.
In the 2008-09 season, Valek guided the wrestling program to the best season in Newberry Athletics history as the scarlet and gray finished in second place as the NCAA Division II National Tournament in Houston, Texas, and second place at the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Newberry won its second consecutive Super Region I Championship as well as its second straight Super Region I duals championship. The squad finished the season 23-2 in dual competition with a 20-1 record against non-Division I competition. Newberry defeated Division I opponents North Carolina, North Carolina State and Davidson, with the UNC and N.C. State victories coming in the friendly confines of Eleazer Arena.
Newberry also won its first ever NCAA national championships under Valek’s tutelage in the 2008-09 season. Keeno Griffin at 197 lbs. and Cy Wainwright at heavyweight each won the Division II National Championship in their weight class. Wainwright completed his collegiate career with a perfect 36-0 record in his senior season and a 38-match winning streak. Griffin finished his season with a 33-2 record, recording victories in his final 22 matches.
Griffin and Wainwright highlighted a spectacular National Tournament, as Newberry qualified wrestlers in eight of the 10 weight classes, with six wrestlers earning All-American honors. Matt Oliver finished third at 125 lbs., Andrew Young finished sixth at 133 lbs., Brandon Kelly finished eighth at 165 lbs. and Bryant Blanton finished fourth at 184 lbs. to round out the most successful national tournament in Newberry history. Also qualifying for nationals were Latra Collick at 149 lbs. and Josh Whitelock at 174 lbs.
The wrestling program also experienced success in the classroom as Tony Washington, Raleigh Abbott, Willie Jarman and Steven McLeod were named to the NCAA Division II All-Academic team. Wainwright was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society.
For the second straight year, Newberry College was named the best wrestling program in the Carolinas by the Takedown Report
In the 2007–2008 season, Newberry Wrestling continued its ascent upwards into the nation’s elite. Newberry garnered a school best national ranking of 6th during the regular season and culminated the season with a 8th place national finish. The scarlet and gray qualified eight wrestlers for the national tournament and had nine place winners at the NCAA East Region Qualifying Tournament. With the nine placers, Newberry took home the first ever Region Title for the school and broke the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown 19 year stranglehold on the title. Newberry had two individual Region Champions in Kelly Anundson (197) and Cy Wainwright (285), four region runner-up finishes in Matt Oliver (125), Andrew Young (133), Tony Washington (141) and Latra Collick (149). Bryant Blanton (174) and Keeno Griffin (184) each placed 3rd in their respective weight classes and Alonso Azumendi finished 5th at 165 pounds. The NCAA Division II National Tournament was held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Newberry Wrestlers captured 4 All American Honors with Cy Wainwright placing 3rd, Andrew Young, Kelly Anundson and Keeno Griffin each placing 7th. Bryant Blanton, Tony Washington and Latra Collick each lost out in the All American round and finished in the top ten in the nation and freshman Matt Oliver finished in the top 16 with his performance. Along with an 8th place showing at Nationals, Newberry held a 16-3 mark against non-Division I competition defeating six Top 12 programs along the way. Newberry won the East Region Duals Tournament along with the 2008 Virginia Duals Tournament setting a tournament record in going un-scored and defeating their opponents by a combined score of 153–0. Newberry also finished second in the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis, Ind. with seven grapplers taking home placement honors. The team also was recognized by the Takedown Report of the Carolinas as the Top Team regardless of Division beating out the likes of NC State, UNC, Appalachian State and UNC Greensboro. Each starter on the Newberry Wrestling Team was named to the Carolinas Top 7 Team in their respective weight classes. The awards didn’t end there as Valek was selected as the 2007-2008 East Region Coach of the Year and 2007-2008 National Coach of the year finalist (Top 5).
The 2006-2007 was the most successful season in Newberry wrestling as the team went 17-5-1 and had six wrestlers qualify for the National Championships. The scarlet and gray picked up dual meet victories over No. 12 West Liberty State and No. 18 Carson-Newman and were ranked as high as 12th in the country themselves. Seven wrestlers placed in the East Regional, led by freshman Latra Collick, who placed second at 149 lbs. Andrew Young, Brandon Kelly, Keeno Griffin, Kelly Anundson and Cy Wainwright also placed. In the National Tournament, Wainwright fell just one match short of earning All-American honors for Newberry as the team finished in 25th place.
The 2005-2006 season marked the inaugural season of Newberry College moving to NCAA Division II status. Under Valek’s direction, Newberry posted an undefeated home record of 5-0, defeating rivals Anderson, UNC Pembroke, Carson-Newman, Spartanburg Methodist, and Limestone. The season culminated with a 6-5 overall Division II record as well as having seven wrestler ranked in the Top Eight of the East Regional Rankings. The season only got better as Newberry placed eighth as a team in the East Region and qualified three wrestlers: Tolbert, Anundson, and Azumendi, to the National Championships held in Finley, Ohio. Once again Tolbert (174) made history as he brought home accolades as the first All-American in Newberry College athletic history. Tolbert placed seventh going 4-2 over two days of competition. Also representing Newberry was Anundson (285), who was only one match away from garnering All-American status and placed in the Top 12 nationally. Azumendi (165) finished the season ranked in the Top 16 as he fared well at the nationals and placed third in the East Region. The efforts of these young men allowed Newberry to finish in the Top 25 (24th) final season poll in their first season.
In his first season at Newbery College Valek led Newberry to an 11-4 dual meet record while competing against NCAA, NJCAA, and NAIA competition. The scarlet and gray took home the Maryville Duals Tournament Championship as well as a fourth place finish in the Newport News Builder Invitational. On the national level, the team tallied runner-up honors in the Mid-Atlantic Regional and garnered a 5th place finish at NCWA Nationals. The first year program totaled eight national qualifiers leading to an eventual national champion, Quinn Tolbert (174) and All-Americans, Tony Washington (3rd-141) and Trevon Fordham (6th-165). Under Valek’s guidance, Tolbert became the first National Champion in any sport in the 149 year history of Newberry College. Newberry also had some impressive individual honors in its first season with Andrew Young (125) taking home titles at The Sunshine Open and Southern Slam Invitational, Chris Wetmore (197) claiming gold at the NNBI to go along with Tolbert’s 2nd at The Sunshine Open and 3rd in Southern Slam. Washington (141) took home runner-up finishes in the NNBI and The Sunshine Open and 3rd at the Southern Slam.
Since his arrival to Newberry in 2003, Valek has devoted his energy to form the Newberry County Parks and Recreation Commission youth wrestling league as well as heading the coaching of the Chapin Recreation Commissions Youth League. He is also an active member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association and the South Carolina Wrestling Coaches Association.
Prior to Valek arriving at Newberry College, he served as head coach for Newberry High. Valek was voted the Region III-AAA Coach of the Year and received Honorable Mention for South Carolina Wrestling Coach of the Year. Under his tutelage, the program at Newberry High jumped from one win the year before Valek’s arrival to an 11-8 season in 2003-04 and 13-5 in 2004-2005. His teams finished 4th and 5th respectively in the state. Under his supervision Newberry High had two individual state champions, two runner-up finishes, three state placers and a total of seven qualifiers.
Prior to his time at Newberry High, Valek served as an assistant coach at two Columbia-area schools, A.C. Flora High School and Irmo High School. From 2000-2002, he worked as a volunteer assistant with national qualifiers in the state to prepare them for the high school national tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. During that span, Valek worked with nine state champions, five state runners-up, and three third place finishers.
Valek is a 1998 graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in sports management. He resides in Newberry.
