David Zabriskie

David Zabriskie (born December 19, 1986) is a retired American amateur wrestler and current wrestling coach for Elevation Fight Team in Denver. Zabriskie wrestled for the Iowa State Cyclones and is a three-time Big 12 Conference champion, three-time All-American in NCAA Division I collegiate wrestling, and won the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in the 285lb weight class in 2010.

Early life Zabriskie began wrestling in 1996 while in the 4th grade, but did not continue after that season. He would return to the sport in 1999 to give wrestling a second try for the Branchville Bombers. It was then that Zabriskie started to find his love for the sport.

Wrestling career High school 2000-2005 Zabriskie wrestled for High Point Regional High School in Wantage Township, New Jersey under head coach John Gardner. As a freshman Zabriskie wrestled at 171lbs on Junior Varsity for the Wildcats, he would not break the varsity starting lineup until the following year. As a Sophomore Zabriskie moved up to 189lbs and compiled a 20–5 record, but failed to qualify for the Region and NJ State tournaments. During his junior year Zabriskie once again moved up a weight class to 215lbs. He compiled a record of 30-7 and placed 2nd in district 3, 2nd in region 1, and 6th at the NJSIAA State Wrestling Tournament. As a senior Zabriskie remained in the 215lbs division and went undefeated finishing 1st in District 3, 1st in Region 1, and finishing 1st in the state of New Jersey. He finished his high school career with a combined record of 89–13.

High school accolades High School Record 89-13 New Jersey State Champion 2x State Placer

Collegiate

Redshirt In 2005 Zabriskie used a Redshirt to postpone his NCAA eligibility.

Freshman Zabriskie This qualified Zabriskie for the 2007 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan He would go 3–2 at the tournament finishing one win short of becoming an All-American as a Freshman, but helping his team to a second-place finish as a team. Zabriskie finished his rookie season with a record of 27-8 and 13–2 in dual meets.

Sophomore Zabriskie Iowa state would still win its second consecutive team title a qualify at all 10 of its varsity wrestlers for the NCAA tournament. At the 2008 NCAA tournament in St Louis, Missouri, Zabriskie would earn his first All-American honors placing 6th at the tournament, helping contribute to Iowa State's 7 all Americans that year. They finished 5th as a team.

Junior Zabriskie

Senior In Zabriskie's In his first-round match he wrestled Wisconsin's Eric Bugenhagen to a 6-2 decision. In the second-round he defeated Arizona states Erik Nye via decision 4–2. Moving on to the quarter finals he wrestled the returning 2009 NCAA Champion, Mark Ellis, winning 4–1. His win against Ellis secured Zabriskie his 3rd All-American finish and moved him into the semifinals again against Duke Blue Devils Konrad Dudziak the returning 2009's NCAA finalist. Zabriskie won the match this time by decision 6–5. In Zabriskie's first appearance in the NCAA finals he would face 2009's 3rd-place finisher, Jared Rosholt, this was the 10th time in their collegiate careers they would face off. Zabriskie won their final bout and the 2010 NCAA Title by decision 3–2.

Collegiate accolades Collegiate Record 116-22 Dual Meets, 57-7 4x NCAA D1 Qualifier 3x All-American 3x Big 12 Conference Champion

Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club 2012-2016 After the 2012 Olympic Trials, Zabriskie moved his training to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to compete for the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club. Zabriskie would go on to All-American at U.S. Senior Nationals two more times, take a bronze at the Pan Am Championships, and take silver at the Alexander 2013 Medved Golden Grand Prix.

Coaching Collegiate Colorado School of the Mines 2019–Present Zabriskie was hired as an assistant wrestling coach for the 2019–2020 season wrestling for the Colorado Mines Orediggers in Golden, Colorado

MMA Elevation Fight Team 2016–Present Zabriskie started working with the team in the fall of 2016 and became the wrestling coach for Elevation Fight Team at the start 2017 taking over for former wrestling coach and head coach of the team Leister Bowling. Notable Fighters Drew Dober Neil Magny Andrew Kapel Cory Sandhagen Alistair Overeem Bojan Veličković Shana Dobson

Acting Foxcatcher In 2012, Zabriskie was cast for the role of Dan Bane in the 5x Academy Award nominated movie Foxcatcher. His character is based on real-life wrestler, friend, and teammate of Dave Schultz and Mark Schultz, Dan Chaid. During production Zabriskie additionally participated in the films wrestling choreography and training for the main cast helping teach Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo period correct wrestling technique.

Football Cleveland Browns In 2010, after coming off of a heavyweight national championship, Zabriskie received an invitation from then head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Eric Mangini to attend their summer rookie camp Zabriskie tried out for the inside linebacker position but was not picked by the Browns after the camp. This was Zabriskie's 1st and only venture into football.

Awards and honors

2016 (4th) Dave Schultz Memorial International (97 kg) US Olympic Trials Qualifier (120 kg) Inducted into the HPRS Hall of Fame Inducted into the NJ Region 1 Wrestling Hall of Fame

2015 Inducted into the Sussex County Sports Hall of Fame

2014 (6th) US Freestyle Nationals (97 kg)

2013 Alexander Medved Prizes (96 kg) Pan American Championships (96 kg) Pan American Championships (Team) (7th) US Freestyle Nationals (96 kg) (5th) US Freestyle World Team Trials (96 kg)

2012 (5th) Cerro Pelado International (96 kg) (6th) US Freestyle Olympic Trials (96 kg) Hargobind International (96 kg)

2011 (5th) Cerro Pelado International (96 kg) (5th) Dave Schultz Memorial International (96 kg) (4th) US Freestyle Nationals (96 kg) US Olympic Trials Qualifier (120 kg)

2010 NCAA Division I (285 lbs) NCAA Division I (Team) Big 12 Conference (285 lbs) Big 12 Conference (Team) Midlands (Team) National Duals (Team) (8th) US Freestyle Nationals (120 kg) University World Team Trials (120 kg) Northern Plains Regional (120 kg) (4th) Sunkist Kids International (96 kg) 2009 Big 12 Conference (285 lbs) Big 12 Conference (Team) (5th) NCAA Division I (285 lbs) NCAA Division I (Team) Midlands (Team) National Duals (Team) (4th) Sunkist Kids Open (120 kg)

2008 Big 12 Conference (285 lbs) Big 12 Conference (Team) (6th) NCAA Division I (285 lbs) (5th) NCAA Division I (Team) Midlands (Team)

2007 Big 12 Conference (285 lbs) Big 12 Conference (Team) (R12) NCAA Division I (285 lbs) NCAA Division I (Team) Midlands (Team) National Duals (Team) Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie First Team 2006 Midlands (Team)