UNCP Athletics

Having already cemented himself as one of the most decorated student-athletes in the history of the UNC Pembroke wrestling program, Blaze Shade begins his fourth season as an assistant coach with the Braves in 2020-21.
 
A three-time all-American and a four-time qualifier for the NCAA Championships, Shade tacked up a 124-29 (.810) career record across an illustrious collegiate career (2012-17) that included runner-up finishes at the NCAA Championships as both a junior and a senior. More than half (63) of his collegiate wins came of the bonus-point variety, and he placed among the top 8 at 19 different events over his career. The 2016-17 Eastern College Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Year also collected all-conference nods following each of his last two seasons as well.
 
A product of Erial, N.J., Shade compiled a 73-9 (.890) record over his last two seasons at Timber Creek High School and helped lead the Chargers to a pair of conference, region and sectional titles. He was also a state qualifier at Timber Creek as well.
 
Shade also serves as the head coach of the local NC Pride Wrestling Club and has also gained experience at the annual O.T. Johnson Wrestling Camps. He has also served as a guest clinician at the Beat The Streets: Top of the Podium Camp in New York City. He is also an active member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), and was the recipient of a scholarship to attend the 2019 NWCA Leadership Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
 
Shade earned his bachelor’s degree in sport biology from UNCP in 2017, and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in sport administration at UNCP as well. He currently resides in Pembroke with his partner, Faith, and their son, Brayden.