In 1972, as a sophomore at Erwin High School, Mark Snider was told that he was going to wrestle that coming year by legendary coach, Jim Jeffrey. As it turned out, Coach Jeffrey was correct. 1972-73 was Mark’s first year in high school wrestling and he hated it. But by the time he got to mid-season, Mark was starting to catch onto this sport and it was the start of a lifetime in a sport that Mark loves to this day.

In high school, Mark was a 2-time state champion and was voted as the Outstanding Wrestler at the state tournament in 1975. His 3 year high school record was 65-6.

After high school, Mark attended Auburn University on a wrestling scholarship from 1975-1980. As a college wrestler Mark wrestled in the SEIWA Tournament, the SEC Tournament, and the NCAA Tournament. He placed high in all three tournaments except the NCAA where he missed All-American status by an overtime loss.

After college, Mark worked in the private sector for West Building Materials and The Home Depot from 1980 to 1996. In 1996 Mark was offered a teaching/coaching position at his Alma Mater E. B. Erwin High School. In his 2 years at Erwin (1996-1998), we produced 1 State Champion and 9 state-place finishers. After 2 years at Erwin, Mark took over as the head wrestling coach at Hewitt-Trussville High School in 1998. Mark coached at Hewitt-Trussville through the 2014-15 season. After 19 years of coaching high school wrestling, Mark went into officiating high school wrestling. He officiated wrestling for 7 years (5 of those years he officiated at the state tournament.) In the last 2 years, Mark has been helping Springville High School with wrestling. In 21 years of coaching wrestling, Mark has had 78 state place finishers, 13 state champions, and 4 of his wrestlers won Outstanding Wrestler at the State Tournament, and he has had 16 teams finish in the top 10 at the state tournament. Eight of those 16 teams finished in the top 5 at the state tournament.

It has been such a blessing to have coached all of these kids over all of these years. I still see many of them from time to time. They are like my own children in many ways. You never stop caring and loving them. All of these young men are just like my sons. They have been a big part of my life.

Mark and his wife Barbara, have been married for 32 years. They have 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild.