April 3, 2008

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

UW head wrestling coach Steven Suder announced Thursday the hiring of former volunteer assistant coach Travis Shufelt to full-time assistant coach. Shufelt will become the number two assistant while Ben VomBaur will be elevated to the number one assistant. The change in coaching staff was spurred by the resignation of former associate head coach Matt Johnson to pursue other opportunities.

"We had a pretty good idea of what we were going to get when we added Travis as a volunteer assistant coach two seasons ago," Suder said. "When he arrived, we got a lot more than we expected and we are glad to give him this opportunity and reward him for his efforts."

Shufelt will enter his third season with the Wyoming coaching staff for the 2008-09 season.

Shufelt was an All-American and a captain at The University of Nebraska. At 149 pounds, Shufelt was a four-time National Qualifier and a two-time Big 12 runner-up. As a junior he was the Las Vegas Invite Champion and was the outstanding wrestler at the Virginia Duals.

Travis brings an impressive high school career to Wyoming as well. He collected three state championships and has the record for most wins in a career and a season. Was the team MVP, Wrestler of the year, and first team All-Conference his freshman through senior years.

Shufelt was born September 22, 1981 in Green Bay, Wisc. and is one of two children of Debi and Dennis Shufelt.