Ken Shirk wrestled for Bald Eagle Area High School from 1975-77, winning the Manheim Holiday Tournament at 105 pounds in 1975.

Since 1990, Shirk has become a storied coach for the Eagles over the past 34 seasons and counting, guiding various age-level Eagle wrestlers to success on and off the mats.

Starting as an elementary coach for seven seasons beginning in 1990 under Hall of Famer Lloyd Rhoades and under the tutelage of another Hall of Famer in varsity coach Dick Rhoades, Shirk pulled double duty beginning in 1997, juggling elementary and junior high coaching roles.

Ever since, Shirk has coached at all levels of the BEA program and also founded the Mighty Eagle Wrestling Club in 2003.

Since 2000, Shirk’s track record includes helping coach 49 District 6 champions, 30 Northwest Regional champs, 72 PIAA State qualifiers, 33 state place winners and four PIAA state champions.

As a team, Shirk helped lead Bald Eagle Area to a varsity record of 217-58 in that span and also helped the Eagles place at the PIAA Team Championships three consecutive seasons from 2005-07, including a state runner-up finish in 2006.

Individually, Shirk helped coach state champions Quentin Wright, who went on to win two NCAA titles at Penn State, Mike Cook, Gage McClenahan, Grace Stem, as well as multiple-time state placers in Brandon Guenot and his son, Clint Shirk.

Ken resides in Julian, Pa. and is the father of Kenton, Clinton and Jacob Shirk.