It was quite appropriate that the final two bouts of Mark Caffrey’s coaching career were in the PIAA Class 2A finals and the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic.

Caffrey concluded his 28th season as McGuffey wrestling coach as the most successful coach in school history.

“It was a mentally enjoyable, but physically tough season for me,” said Caffrey, who announced his retirement after coaching Highlanders senior Christian Clutter in his final two bouts.

“Christian Clutter is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached. I wanted to see him conclude his career with a PIAA title. He came very close, but had to settle for a silver medal.”

Clutter’s loss to Chestnut Ridge’s Jared McGill in the PIAA finals and his win over Chapaqua New York’s Aaron Wolk in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic marked the final two bouts of Caffrey’s career.

“It was a little emotional in the state finals,” Caffrey admitted. “It was even more emotional at the Wrestling Classic, knowing it was the final bout of my career.”

Caffrey posted a 417-108 record in three coaching stints at McGuffey. He is one of only four WPIAL coaches to record 400 or more victories. His win total ranks 23rd in PIAA history.

“When I began coaching, I never dreamed I would coach this long,” said Caffrey, who took over as McGuffey’s head coach in 1983. “I figured I would coach five, maybe 10 seasons, then get out of coaching.”

Caffrey almost got out of coaching at the start of the 2000-01 season. He stepped down after McGuffey’s first match because of health concerns.

“I decided not to coach that season and I really missed it,” said Caffrey, who returned to McGuffey the following year after dealing with a minor blood-pressure concern. “Once you get wrestling in your blood, it’s tough to step away.”

Caffrey coached four more seasons before taking a seven-year hiatis from head coaching. He returned as Highlanders coach for the 2012-13 season and led the team to six WPIAL team tournament appearances in his final seven seasons.

“I had been thinking about retirement the last couple years,” Caffrey said. “I’m 63 now. I felt it was my time to go.”

A midseason injury played a part in Caffrey’s decision.

“I ruptured my Achilles’ tendon on the second day of the Powerade tournament,” Caffrey said. “I stepped on a water bottle that I didn’t see and I went flying.”

Surprisingly, the injury didn’t keep Caffrey from coaching in the Powerade finals.

“I only missed two days of practice,” said Caffrey, who was in a cast for a month and forced to wear a boot for the rest of the season. “I still haven’t fully recovered.”

Caffrey credits assistant coaches Rich Burgdolt and Jared Roberts for “picking up the slack” during the second half of the season.

“I was blessed to have a lot of very good coaches during my career,” Caffrey said. “I was also blessed to have a lot of really talented and dedicated wrestlers.”

Burgdolt has known Caffrey since his first season.

“I wrestled for Mark the first four years of his career,” said Burgdolt, a 1987 graduate. “I’ve also coached with Mark quite a few years. He even served as my assistant coach when I was at Washington for three years. He was always prepared for everything.”

Caffrey graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in 1973. He was a three-time finalist and one-time champion in the Catholic League State Tournament. He continued his academic and athletic career at Slippery Rock and concluded both at California University of Pennsylvania.

He began coaching and teaching at McGuffey in 1983. The Highlanders had a 4-13 record that year, the only losing season of his 28-year career. From 1989 until 2000, the Highlanders made 11 consecutive appearances in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals.

“We wrestled in the WPIAL title match seven straight years,” said Caffrey, referring to a stretch from 1993-99. “That’s still a WPIAL record in Class 3A.”

Caffrey led the Highlanders to WPIAL team titles in 1996, 1998 and 1999. His wrestlers accumulated 23 WPIAL individual titles, including three by Jeremy Hunter, and seven PIAA champs, including four by Hunter.

“Mark has meant everything to McGuffey wrestling,” said Eric Nicolella, who graduated with Burgdolt and served as an assistant with the Highlanders program for 10 years. “He turned the program around and put McGuffey on the map.”

First Published: April 12, 2019, 1:00 p.m.