St. John Fisher University Athletics

Alex Ekstrom has been an assistant coach for the St. John Fisher wrestling team since the program’s resumption in 2022-23. 

With Ekstrom on staff, the Cardinals have had several NCAA DIII Region II placers, including six last season, and Alex Samson (141 lbs) became the program’s second-ever wrestling All-American and first since the program’s resumption in 2023-24. Samson won the Region II title and placed seventh in the NCAA Wrestling championships at his weight class that season, which he finished with a 25-2 overall record. 

Ekstrom, who wrestled at 133 pounds, competed collegiately at the University of Oklahoma. From nearby Palmyra, he attended Pal-Mac High School and went 226-19 over four seasons on its varsity wrestling team. The three-time Pal-Mac team captain was one of only four wrestlers in state history to have won four New York state titles at the time of his graduation. 

Ekstrom won a Junior National Championship in 2008 and was New York’s recipient of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2009. One of the most prestigious honors for high school wrestlers in the United States, the award recognizes and celebrates the nation's most outstanding high school senior male student-athletes for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship and community service.

Before joining the Fisher staff, Ekstrom made coaching stops at Peru and Pal-Mac high schools. 

Ekstrom resides in Fairport and enjoys archery, the outdoors and playing pickleball in his free time.