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Despite National Wrestling Hall of Famer Wade Schalles' collegiate, national and international career successes, the 58-year old's fondest memory is winning his first and only Pennsylvania high school state championship.

As a 154-pound senior at Hollidaysburg High in 1969, Schalles pinned the two-time defending state champion to cap an undefeated season and an unprecedented 96 percent pin-to-win ratio.

"I've won a world championship and national championship, but the state championship in high school was my defining moment and means the most to me," Schalles said. "It was a defining moment of, ‘Wow. I found a formula that works for my body and my skill set.' I realized I could do it and with a little more hard work and ‘grr' factor I can [win again]."

With that in mind, Schalles — who recently moved to the Gaithersburg area from Orlando, Fla. — will open the doors to his EagleHawk Academy on Sunday at the Landon School in Bethesda. Practices and clinics will be geared towards developing and preparing local youth and high school wrestlers for all aspects of wrestling, on and off the mat.

Schalles said his academy's classes will be designed to supplement and work in conjunction with the philosophies of area high school and club coaches. He also will help top student-athletes and their families navigate the college recruiting process.

"We are looking forward to having him work here and help raise the bar for not only Montgomery County, but the entire state," said Landon head coach Andy Katz. "Wade is world-class in his expertise and there is no comparison in terms of what he has done in his wrestling career. We just finished making renovations to our wrestling facility last year so it will be nice to expose the kids to it."

Added Whitman head coach Derek Manon, "How can you not pay attention? I learned for two straight hours from [Schalles]. … He has a world of knowledge and presents wrestling techniques in a unique way that the kids seem to really enjoy and soak in. Hopefully some of my guys go to EagleHawk."

Schalles is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most all-time pins (530) and wins (821) of anyone who has ever competed in the sport.

As a middleweight at Clarion (Pa.) University, he compiled a 153-5-1 collegiate record and amassed a staggering 106 falls, 33 more victories and 21 more pins than Iowa State legend Dan Gable.

Schalles, who often found himself trailing on points in many matches before performing his signature counterattacks, is credited with creating and naming several pinning combinations, including the Spladle and Cement Mixer.

Since arriving in Maryland, the four-time NCAA champion, four-time Pennsylvania State Conference title holder, 1977 World University Games gold medalist, and accomplished coach has traveled throughout the state offering his expertise as the sport's finest pinner of all time.

"I came to Maryland for three reasons," Schalles said. "To be closer to my son, [Naval Academy freshman wrestler] Jake, earn a living and be an asset to Maryland wrestling."

The state boasts growing youth programs and the emergence of Kerry McCoy's University of Maryland program. The Terrapins have won the past two Atlantic Coast Conference championships and are ranked No. 6 in the preseason D1CollegeWrestling.net poll.

Schalles believes that Montgomery County and the entire state will eventually reach the level of competition found in Pennsylvania and the Midwest.

"Maryland is coming," said Schalles, who coached Oviedo High (Fla.) to four consecutive state titles during a six-year tenure from 2003-08. "Other states do so well because they have been wrestling for 100 years in high school and Maryland hasn't. … Wrestling gives you a test your first year and a lesson your second. When you don't have a middle school program, kids start wrestling in ninth grade as a developmental year. By the time they are getting good, they graduate. In Pennsylvania, kids are wrestling by the time they are out of diapers."

Note: EagleHawk Academy will hold an open house on Sunday afternoon for any interested wrestler. Visit www.eaglehawkacademy.com for more information and registration forms.