Zach Rey (born March 27, 1989) is an American former wrestler. He competed for Lehigh Valley Athletic Club and represented the United States at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships at 125 kg in freestyle wrestling.

Zach Rey
Personal information
Born (1989-03-27) March 27, 1989 (age 35)
Hopatcong, New Jersey, U.S.
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
Event(s)Freestyle and Folkstyle
College teamLehigh
ClubLehigh Valley Wrestling Club
TeamUSA
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Toronto 125 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Lehigh Mountain Hawks
NCAA Division I Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 Philadelphia 285 lb
Silver medal – second place 2012 St. Louis 285 lb
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Omaha 285 lb

Early life and education

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Rey was born in Hopatcong, New Jersey and attended Hopatcong High School from 2003 to 2007, where he was a three-time place wrestling winner of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament and won two New Jersey state titles, in 2006 and 2007.[1] Rey was also an all-state New Jersey football player his senior year.

Rey attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was a four-time NCAA Division I qualifier and three-time place winner, finishing third in 2010, second in 2012, and winning an NCAA championship as a junior in 2011. Rey finished his collegiate wrestling career at Lehigh with 120 wins and 15 losses for a winning percentage of 89%.

International

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While in college, Rey represented the United States at the 2010 University World Championships, where he finished in 8th place with a 1-1 record. Rey has since gone on to success at the senior level, making three freestyle national teams and finishing among the top three for the World Team and Olympic trials. He won two Pan American Championships (in 2013 and 2014), the Pan American Games (in 2015), the Dave Schultz Memorial (in 2013), and the Cerro Pelado International (in 2014 and 2015).[citation needed]

In 2015, after losing in the finals at the World Team Trials, Rey was awarded the opportunity to compete in the 2015 World Wrestling Championships after World Team Trials winner Tervel Dlagnev was forced to miss competition due to injury. Rey went on to finish 0-1 at the championships.[citation needed]

Coaching

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In 2019, Rey was hired by his alma mater, Lehigh University, where he served as assistant coach for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks college wrestling program.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Former Hopatcong High star Zach Rey is one of 32 New Jersey wrestlers in NCAA tournament". NJ.com.
  2. ^ "Zach Rey" at Lehigh Mountain Hawks Wrestling
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