Sheldon Thomas is arguably the greatest wrestler in Delaware history, having been a three-time NCAA Division I All-American for Clarion University, where he also won an NCAA title at 118 pounds in 1996. Thomas is the only Delawarean to win an NCAA mat championship. Sheldon wrestled for St. Marks High School, where he earned four individual state championship titles. He was named Delaware’s outstanding prep wrestler two consecutive years (1991 and 1992).

A highly accomplished freestyle wrestler as well, Thomas finished fifth at the Olympic Freestyle Trials in both 1996 and 2000. In 1998, he made the USA Senior National Team, and was a three-time Junior National Champion during his high school years. Thomas is an inductee of the Delaware Wrestling Hall of Fame. During his four years as a starter for the Clarion University Eagles, Thomas posted a 124-12 career record.

Sheldon has served as an assistant wrestling coach at Clarion and was a club coach at Lock Haven University. He was an assistant for the University of Pennsylvania beginning in 2003, where his role was to develop and train the team’s lightweights. A few years after Sheldon began at Penn, Quakers wrestler Matt Velenti made a name for himself by winning two national titles in the 125 pound and 133 pound classes. Thomas currently operates the Thomas Wrestling Academy in Delaware.