Raised in Youngsville, Jim Hoffner was an outstanding athlete from 1989 to 1993. As a football player he earned four varsity letters playing tackle and defensive end. Jim periodically played fullback and is remembered for scoring a crucial touchdown on a sixty-yard run. Though Jim only weighed in at 210 pounds, he wrestled as a Heavyweight for the Eagles and Coach Tony Fera.
Wrestling against 275 pounders, Jim's career record was an outstanding 81-17. He was a two-time section runner-up in his first two years. In the '92-'93 season Jim won the section and the District 10 Championship. Going on to regionals he defeated Todd Ford of Ridgway a strong contender for the state title. These two wrestlers were the class of their field and they met once again in the PIAA 2A Heavyweight State Finals. Jim defeated Ford once again claiming the first ever wrestling State Championship for any Warren County athlete. “He paved the way for other athletes to follow,” reported Coach Tony Fera.
As Youngsville's' first Wrestling State Champion, he opened up the possibilities for other athletes to follow,” he added. Because he won the State Championship, Jim was invited to the prestigious AA vs AAA Wrestling Challenge. This annual event wrestles the AA versus the AAA State Champions to see who is best. In that event Jim defeated the AAA State Champion by a 3-2 score to win the event. Competing in the Nationals Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships in Fargo, North Dakota, Jim weighed in at a light 220 pounds. He finished 3rd in the event with the larger 275 pounders in Greco-Roman which is based on upper body wrestling.
In college, Jim wrestled for Bismarck State College in Bismarck, North Dakota. In his freshman year he led the team in wins and was voted Most Outstanding Wrestler. Ranked as high as #2 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Mid-West Region, Jim was voted team captain for his sophomore year. A broken hand ended his season. Jim has been coaching for the past seven years with Eagles Coach Tony Fera in Youngsville. Jim specializes working with the heavy-weight wrestlers and has helped many athletes get t the State and National level. Among his athletes trained is Mike Sullivan.
