Pitt Offensive Lineman Signee Shep Turk Retires from Wrestling

Pitt football is getting a tough, physical offensive lineman who won’t be afraid to get his nose dirty in Thomas Jefferson’s Shep Turk.

While Turk won’t be on campus until the summer, it is for good reason as he wanted one last go around on the mat with TJ wrestling.

In his senior season, the heavyweight left a lasting impression that included another WPIAL title and a strong showing at the PIAA tournament that helped the Jaguars place second overall.

On Saturday, Turk officially concluded his wrestling career at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic at Peters Township High School. At 285 pounds, Turk helped seal the victory for the WPIAL All-Stars over the New Jersey All-Stars with a 9-3 win in his final bout.

Marking his retirement from the sport, Turk left his shoes on the mat as he walked off to a standing ovation, Steve Rotstein of the Pittsburgh Union Progress reported.

After closing out the WPIAL-NJ dual with a 9-3 win against New Jersey heavyweight James Lynch, @TJHSJaguars senior and @Pitt_FB recruit Shep Turk leaves his shoes on the mat as a symbol of his retirement from the sport of wrestling.

WPIAL beats New Jersey, 29-17: pic.twitter.com/SawBe8onmA

— Steve Rotstein (@SteveRotstein) March 29, 2025

Last year, Turk became the first heavyweight wrestler to win a WPIAL title at Thomas Jefferson and was a part of the first trio to bring home individual district gold. He followed that up with another WPIAL championship this spring.

Turk added a first-place finish at regionals before finishing third at the PIAA 3A tournament a few weeks ago. As a senior, Turk finished with a 47-7 record with 38 pins as he surpassed 100 wins in February. Overall, Turk compiled a record of 115-38 in his wrestling career.

Thank you TJ wrestling
-2X County Champ
-2X state qualifier
-2X WPIAL CHAMP
-Powerade Placer
-PIAA AAA 3rd Place Finish
Onto the next… @Pitt_FB @CoachDuzzPittFB @CoachDarveau pic.twitter.com/91z0sD4zFI

— Shep Turk (@TurkShep) March 11, 2025

Wrestling and football have coincided with one another in Turk’s life for many years with each sport proving beneficial for the Pitt signee.

“They really help with each other,” Turk said in an exclusive one-on-one with Pittsburgh Sports Now during the fall. “I think wrestling helps with football more than football helps with wrestling. Just the leverage, the hand fighting, the strength and flexibility help.”

“One of the major things that has helped him the most is wrestling,” TJ football head coach Bill Cherpak added. “It’s helped his leverage, it’s helped his feet. He stays on blocks as good as anybody we’ve ever had. He finishes on more blocks than any lineman we’ve had in a long time. He has that killer instinct. You put all that together, it’s pretty effective.”

Turk committed to play football at Pitt in May of 2024 and signed on early National Signing Day.