In the coming 2024-2025 wrestling season, the team has been blessed with a new addition to the coaching staff. A class of 2000 Bennington graduate, ex-professional fighter for the MCC (Midwest Combat Coalition), and veteran, the Knights welcome Joe Trader as the new associate coach. He joins current coaches Bob Sullivan, Sean Murphy ‘09, Marty Smith, and John Detwiler.

Trader joins the team during an especially busy season. After the 2023-2024 season concluded, Coach Detwiler underwent knee surgery, restricting his ability to walk without crutches. On top of this, Coach Murphy recently welcomed a new member of his family, Miles, this fall. For these reasons, the wrestling team was in search of not a replacement, but someone to step in and assist Coach Sullivan in the role that Detwiler occupied during his time at The Mount.

Trader has high school wrestling experience, winning third in state in 1999 and winning a state championship in 2000. Combined with his combat and a professional fighting career experiences, Trader will be an impactful addition to the team.

“He gets us motivated,” first-year junior varsity wrestling Charlie L’Heureux ‘26 said. In particular, Trader’s locker room speeches have been known to energize the team.

“I feel like I’m prepared,” L’Heureux said. “He [Trader] has very hard conditioning, but it helps us.”