Mark Strickland is no stranger to success, and while that phrase might come across as cliche, everywhere Strickland has been, he's been a winner. A two-time high school state champion at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Strickland was known for his dominant wrestling skill-set, earning him the nickname "The Terminator" for the number of falls he racked up in high school. Finishing his senior year ranked third in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News, Strickland then went to college, and as a freshman at Garden City Community College in Kansas, went undefeated winning the NJCAA National Championship. That parlayed him into a chance to wrestle at Oklahoma State under John Smith. Strickland was a letterman for the Cowboys before returning home to Virginia, wrestling his final year of eligibility under two-time Olympian Gray Simons at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. At Old Dominion, Strickland was the CAA Outstanding Wrestler, the ODU Athlete of the Year and finished in the top 12 at the NCAA Division I tournament.

Strickland returned to his alma mater, Great Bridge, and was the head assistant for three seasons --and in all three, the nationally-ranked Wildcats won state championships each year. Strickland then moved south to New Orleans where he coached Jesuit High School to three high school state championships, earning him Wrestling USA Magazine's 2004 National Coach of the Year. BRUTE also named Strickland the Most Outstanding Coach, a national award, in 2004.

He was also the 2005 National Wrestling Coaches Association Southern Region Coach of the Year. W.I.N. Magazine also recognized Strickland's Jesuit program as the second-most improved program in the nation in 2005.

As a coach, he's guided 46 wrestlers to state titles in both Virginia and Louisiana. Currently, Strickland is in his first year as the head coach at Poquoson High School.

Strickland made a run at the 2000 Olympics, placing third at the Southeast Regional Olympic Trials and was the 2001 Outstanding Wrestler for the Southeast Regional Freestyle Open. He's been in the Top 10 at the U.S. Nationals and is excited to help guide another group of promising wrestlers to state, regional and national championships.