Jake Varner
Jacob Stephen "Jake" Varner (born March 24, 1986) is an American wrestler. Varner won the gold medal in the 96 kg category at the 2012 Summer Olympics in freestyle wrestling. Varner wrestled collegiately for the Iowa State University Cyclones. He was a four-time NCAA Division I finalist and two-time NCAA Division I champion (junior and senior). In high school, he was also a two-time California wrestling state champion for Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, California, where was coached by his cousin Andy, who served as head coach, and his father Steve, who served as an assistant. His performance in 2005 earned him the Junior Schalles Award for top high school pinner. Varner served as an assistant wrestling coach at Penn State from 2016 to 2021. In November 2021, Varner was promoted to head the Penn State Olympic Regional Training Center (RTC), also known as the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. In 2022, Varner was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member. Varner defeated Pat Downey by decision at RAF 02 on October 25, 2025.
 Varner in 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jacob Stephen Varner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | March 24, 1986 Bakersfield, California, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 96 kg (212 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | Freestyle and Folkstyle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Iowa State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Nittany Lion Wrestling Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | USA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Cael Sanderson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jacob Stephen "Jake" Varner (born March 24, 1986) is an American wrestler. Varner won the gold medal in the 96 kg category at the 2012 Summer Olympics in freestyle wrestling.[1][2][3]
Varner wrestled collegiately for the Iowa State University Cyclones. He was a four-time NCAA Division I finalist and two-time NCAA Division I champion (junior and senior). In high school, he was also a two-time California wrestling state champion for Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, California,[4][5] where was coached by his cousin Andy, who served as head coach, and his father Steve, who served as an assistant. His performance in 2005 earned him the Junior Schalles Award for top high school pinner.[6]
Varner served as an assistant wrestling coach at Penn State from 2016 to 2021.[7] In November 2021, Varner was promoted to head the Penn State Olympic Regional Training Center (RTC), also known as the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.[8]
In 2022, Varner was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.[9]
Varner defeated Pat Downey by decision at RAF 02 on October 25, 2025.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jake Varner". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 7, 2013.
- ^ "Jacob Stephen Varner". London2012.com. London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. August 13, 2012. Archived from the original on August 22, 2012.
- ^ "American Jacob Varner takes 96kg freestyle wrestling gold". BBC. August 13, 2012. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- ^ Californian, The Bakersfield (September 10, 2022). "Former Driller Varner named head coach of Nittany Lions Wrestling Club". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ "Wrestler Jake Varner's gold medal was a family production". SI. August 12, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ "Junior Schalles Award". WIN Magazine. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ^ "Jake Varner - Wrestling Coach". gopsusports.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ "Jake Varner promoted to head coach of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club". November 12, 2021.
- ^ "Jake Varner". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ Immel, Richard (October 26, 2025). "Olympic champions Maroulis, Varner among RAF 02 winners at Penn State". USA Wrestling. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
External links
[edit]
- Jacob Stephen Varner at United World Wrestling
- Jake Varner at Tapology.com
- Jake Varner at the International Wrestling Database
- Jake Varner at Olympics.com
- Jake Varner at TeamUSA.com
- Jake Varner at TeamUSA.org (archived)
- Jake Varner at Olympedia
- Jake Varner at InterSportStats
| |
|
| Men's Greco-Roman |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Women's freestyle | ||
| Men's freestyle | ||
| Men's Greco-Roman coaches | ||
| Women's freestyle coaches | ||
| Men's freestyle coaches | ||
  | This article about a wrestling Olympic medalist of the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |