Would you give your wrestling playbook to your biggest rival?

That’s what former St. Ed’s coach Howard Ferguson did for Bill Barger in the late 1980s. Barger mimicked the attitude, training program, and singlet color at Walsh-Jesuit High School. 

What happened next is the stuff of legend, and ‘Clash of Dynasties’ — a four-part docuseries chronicling the intense 1990s high school wrestling rivalry between these two programs — captures the essence of wrestling.

Former Iowa coach Dan Gable sets the tone when he says that the Cleveland area has the best high school wrestling in the country. A telling statement for a man who led the Hawkeyes to 15 NCAA Championships during 21 seasons (1977-97). 

Through interviews with former athletes, coaches, and key figures, the series brings to life the passion, drama, and fierce competition that defined Northeast Ohio wrestling in the ‘90s. The story also captures the lasting impact the rivalry had on the wrestling community, as well as the camaraderie and respect that eventually brought these former foes together to tell their shared story.

As the story unfolds, audiences witness the evolution of Ohio wrestling and the legacies of coaches like Howard Ferguson, Greg Urbas (St. Edward), and Bill Barger (Walsh Jesuit), who shaped their programs into national contenders.

The rivalry was so intense that duals were aired on national television. It reached a fever pitch when parents from the same team fought at the edge of the mat.

‘Clash of Dynasties’ also examines the human condition, including the tragedies that struck both programs during the height of their powers. 

This is a must-watch series for wrestling fans and essential viewing for anyone interested in learning how dynasties are built. 

Visit clashofdynasties.com to learn more about viewing this incredible series. It is available for streaming on iTunes, Prime Video, Google Play, and YouTube.

Ben Hatta's 'Clash of Dynasties' Captures The Essence Of Iconic Rivalries

About the Episodes

Episode 1: Building a Dynasty (The Beginning - 1991) (Runtime 34:33)
In the premiere episode, the bitter rivalry between St. Edward and Walsh Jesuit begins to unfold. The episode explores St. Ed’s rise from its early wrestling struggles to a decade of dominance during the 1980s under legendary Coach Howard Ferguson. Meanwhile, 40 minutes away, Walsh Jesuit’s Coach, Bill Barger, begins building a fierce team of his own with one goal in mind- to take down St. Ed's! As St. Edward struggles to rebuild after a tragic loss, the stage is set for an epic showdown between these two dynasties.

Episode 2:The Takedown (1992 - 1993) (Runtime 32:53)
The heated rivalry between the St. Edward Eagles and Walsh Warriors intensifies. Adding more star power to their lineup, the Eagles make a triumphant comeback, bolstered by returning coaches and a season dedicated to a late teammate. However, the Warriors step up to the challenge by adding more coaches of their own and a new crop of North Akron wrestlers, putting St. Ed’s 14-year streak of dual meet wins on the line. Another state and national title are up for grabs, though controversy and tragedy strike both teams unexpectedly.

Episode 3: On Top (1994 - 1995) (Runtime 34:23)
Episode 3 of "Clash of Dynasties” features one of the wildest and closest dual meets of the entire rivalry, which was held at Walsh for the first time and broadcast by ESPN. The 1994 State Tournament would also end up coming down to the wire. Despite personal losses in 1995, Walsh Jesuit would cement its legacy in Ohio history, setting multiple state records along the way. That season would also include the creation of the famous Ironman Tournament, the first national wrestling mega-tournament of its kind, held at Walsh and still going to this day.

Episode 4: The Reversal (1996- The End) (Runtime 34:21) 
In the final episode, the Walsh dynasty starts to show signs of fatigue just as St. Edward is reloading with young, talented wrestlers. The 1996 season kicked off with the most dramatic dual meet ever, and again, the epic battle for the state and national title would be another nail-biter. After some shocking news to both Walsh Jesuit and Coach Barger in 1997, the rivalry would never be the same, and with a new contender on the scene, both teams would struggle to assert their dominance. As the decade would come to a close, the rivalry would begin to cool, and only one team would end up on top.