Jon Trenge
- 3x NCAA Division I All-American (Lehigh University, 197 lbs)
- 3x EIWA Champion
- 133-14 career record — most wins in Lehigh wrestling history
- 2x NCAA Finals competitor (2002, 2003)
- 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials finalist (4th place, 211 lbs)
- Subject of the documentary 'Veritas: The Story of Jon Trenge' (2007)
- Former Parkland High School head wrestling coach
From Parkland to Lehigh: A Wrestling Career Built on Relentless Offense
Jon Trenge grew up in Orefield, Pennsylvania, and started building his legacy at Parkland High School. He finished his high school career 145-16, including a perfect 40-0 senior season, two Pennsylvania State Championships at 189 lbs, and a first-place finish at the 1999 National High School Championships. By the time he graduated, he was rated the nation’s top 197 lb. recruit.
He chose Lehigh University, where he wrestled under head coach Greg Strobel and compiled a career record of 133-14 with 34 falls. That win total still stands as the most in Lehigh wrestling history. He was the fastest Lehigh wrestler ever to reach 100 career wins, hitting the mark during the 2002-03 season.
Trenge earned All-American honors three times. In 2002, he reached the NCAA Finals at 197 lbs, where he faced Cael Sanderson, the only undefeated four-time NCAA champion in history. Trenge lost 12-4 but later said: “I wanted to throw him to his back and pin him. He was really something special.” The following year, he was back in the finals, losing a tight 5-4 decision to Damion Hahn of Minnesota. In 2005, he placed 3rd.
He won the EIWA Championship three times, the Midlands Championship twice (the first Lehigh wrestler to win Midlands since Darryl Burley), and competed internationally at the Junior World Team Trials, University Nationals, and Junior Nationals in both Greco-Roman and freestyle.
In 2003-04, Trenge deferred his final college season to train for the U.S. Olympic Trials at 211 lbs. He finished 4th, the highest Olympic Trials finish for a Lehigh wrestler since Bobby Weaver in 1984.
His senior season was the subject of the feature documentary Veritas: The Story of Jon Trenge (2007), rated 8.6 on IMDb.
After earning his B.S. in Environmental/Earth Science and a Master’s in Education from Lehigh, Trenge served as an assistant coach at Lehigh before returning to Parkland High School as a teacher and eventually head wrestling coach.
Teaching Philosophy: Systems Over Moves
Trenge does not teach moves. He teaches systems.
Every technique in his FightScience courses connects to the next one. The Russian tie creates openings for the snap down. The snap down feeds into the underhook. The underhook sets up the single leg. A failed single transitions to a double. Nothing exists in isolation.
His coaching cues are specific and physical. On the penetration step, he uses “steering the wheel on the bus” to fix head position. On grip technique, he says: “Grab his head like a cantaloupe. Don’t just pull his head — it doesn’t move him anywhere. That’s a mistake that really experienced wrestlers make.”
He is blunt about risk management. On his favorite tie position: “The great thing about this move is that I’m not underneath him. I’m not risking anything. I’m not on my knees. He only has one arm to wrestle me with. Worst case scenario, I push it away and let it go. Almost zero risk.”
On defense, he reframes the entire concept: “A lot of people think the best reaction when the guy starts to shoot is to reach for him. That’s actually incorrect. That’s the worst thing he can do.” Instead, he teaches a closed-window defensive stance and a 7-step sprawl system that turns every defensive action into a scoring opportunity.
His philosophy in one sentence: “Winning is not the most important thing to focus on. If you focus on all else, you will inevitably win.”
What You Get in Trenge’s FightScience Courses
Trenge’s complete wrestling curriculum on FightScience covers 118 videos across four courses and over 13 hours of instruction:
- Wrestling Takedowns — 40+ takedown techniques. Single legs, double legs, setups from every tie position, and chain wrestling sequences that connect them all.
- Rock Solid Wrestling — The six building blocks of successful wrestling. Inside control, Russian tie systems, head positioning, hand fighting, and a complete leg attack system.
- Clinch Domination — 35 videos across six volumes covering every clinch takedown: arm drags, Polish throws, inside trips, snap downs, Thai clinch for MMA, and Russian tie advanced attacks.
- Bulletproof Wrestling — Skills, drills, and takedown defense. Opening stance development, speed and timing drills, and a complete counter leg attack system.
All four courses are available together in Jon Trenge’s Complete Wrestling System for $299.