Joe Wier

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 (sister of wrestling great Scott Schatzman) and they have four wonderful children: Alex, Ashley, Amy, and Andrew.

Coach Cornell Robinson grew up in St. Louis, Missouri as the youngest of four boys. Cornell was introduced to wrestling through his two older brothers and did not start competing in the sport of wrestling until his freshman year in high school. However, it did not take long for him to catch on and begin racking up wins on the local high school circuit. He competed as a varsity heavyweight all four years of high school and ended his impressive high school career with 96 wins that included an undefeated season / State Championship.

Coach Robinson also excelled in football that included being named as a Blue Chip All-American.

After a short stint as a Junior College wrestler, Cornell focused his time on football where he earned Junior College and NAIA All-American.

Now living back in Missouri, Cornell is the high school wrestling coach for Wentzville Timberland High and has had an immediate impact on that program that include two State Champions and eleven medalists.

Cornell has also spend several years in the Purler Wrestling Academy wrestling room and is a regular at many Purler Wrestling camps and clinics…including the reknown Takedown Machine Drill Camp.

Andrew Wood

Andrew Wood was the very first Purler Wrestling Academy student and we are happy to have him on staff operating training for us.  When he began back in 1999, Andrew was hardly a .500 wrestler.  He and his dedicated father, Rodney, would make the 3.5 hour round trip drive to our training sessions and Andrew’s dedication quickly began to pay off for him.  He ended his High School career by winning a Missouri State Championship for Hannibal High and was also a Cadet All-American at the prestigious Nationals event in Fargo, ND.  From there, Andrew continued his wrestling career and is now a student-athlete at Mizzou.