St. Vincent-St. Mary, Highland hire wrestling coaches with championship pedigrees

The zest for wrestling in the rooms of St. Vincent-St. Mary and Highland may have reached an all-time level this week.

Both schools announced the hiring of new coaches.

Nic Skonieczny takes over for Dan Rooney at STVM after Rooney resigned for family reasons. Dave Habat takes over at Highland after Tim Maxworthy was non-renewed.

The Fighting Irish coach knows all about what wrestling means in the area.

Skonieczny, 30, was an assistant at STVM the last two seasons and was part of the North Akron wrestling club for two seasons.

“One of the biggest things when I took over was that we have such a good coaching staff,” he said. “I would put it against anyone in Ohio when you look at statistics and accomplishments.”

Nic Skonieczny and an all-star coaching staff will have STVM rolling

The 2012 Walsh graduate isn’t wrong. His father, Mark, a former coach at STVM, will be there. So will three-time All-American and state champion Mike Hurley, two-time All-American and state champion Ryan Hurley, state finalist Shane Mast, and longtime coaches Jeff Black and Fred Daugherty.

Skonieczny is no slouch himself.

He was a two-time state placer for the Warriors and helped the squad to a state runner-up finish in 2011. Skonieczny was also a national qualifier at Findlay.

STVM is coming off a season in which Bryce Skinner won his second state championship, and Calvin Gwinn and Bryson Getz also placed.

While those seniors exit the program, state placers Braden Dunlap and Rylan Hurley return.

“I’m super excited with great coaching staff and the kids we have now, you couldn’t walk into a better situation,” Skonieczny said. “We have a couple of junior state placers and a champ coming in and some really great junior high kids. We have some work, but I’m so excited for it.”

David Habat brings championship pedigree to Highland wrestling

The excitement is the same at Highland for Habat, 31, who comes from Western Reserve Academy.

Habat arrives with a pedigree as well.

A former assistant at Dundee and Brighton in Michigan, Habat’s accomplishments on the mat were incredible.

He was a four-time state placer at St. Ignatius, a two-time state finalist and a state champion. He also was a four-time NCAA qualifier, a two-time All-American and a runner-up at Edinboro.

While WRA can’t compete at the OHSAA state championships, the Pioneers were the only area school with an Ironman finalist in Sam Cartella, who was also a national prep runner-up.

WRA also had two other national prep All-Americans this spring.

“When I posted it on Facebook I couldn’t believe all the people who congratulated me,” Habat said. “That sends you a message right there, doesn’t it? Everyone knows why you want to go to Highland. There’s a lot of potential over at Highland. It’s a great community with a lot of support, and that’s what you need with wrestling.”

The Hornets thrived under Maxworthy, who took a program small in numbers and gave it its first conference title in 26 years two seasons ago.

While Habat lost his only state placer, Lukas Stiles, to graduation, he returns a solid nucleus with Zisimos Giaties, Chase Crutchley and Conner Haney.

“Having all the support makes it easier,” Habat said. “It makes it fun. It also will put me in a position where I can get better and grow. If you’re in a position where people aren’t passionate, you’re going to slow down or stop. Being around people that are constantly invested, you’re going to keep growing.”

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: STVM and Highland hire wrestling coaches with fantastic legacies