Wrestling champion finds his calling with sheep shearing business

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. — Shamus O'Grady has never been one to sit tight.

The former St. Cloud State All-American wrestler won a 2013 Division II 184-pound national championship. After the Coon Rapids native and four-time All-American accomplished that goal and graduated from SCSU, he started to train in mixed martial arts and landed a few UFC-style fights.

But then the real world came calling and O'Grady started bouncing around from job to job. The longest job he had before 2019 only lasted a year and change. There were jobs at Target and Office Furniture Warehouse. He was even a fireworks operator for a time.

"I've always had an issue staying in one spot long enough," O'Grady said. "The fireworks job really suited me because it was seasonal and I could travel a little bit. But I knew I wanted to go into a trade, I just hadn't found it yet."

O'Grady, who was pursing a degree in special eduation for a time, admitted it was hard for him to find his identity after his wrestling career was over.

"Wrestling was a huge part of my life — and I still miss it," O'Grady said. "But, it's something I had to move on from. After it was over, I went on a path of self-discovery."

O'Grady's self-discovery journey led him to Montana in 2019. His girlfriend at the time and her family ran a sheep shearing business and O'Grady started to work for them. Even after the relationship ended, he stayed on and worked for her family's business for a time.

"We went our separate ways, but her dad helped convince me to get into sheep shearing," O'Grady said. "Now I've been doing it for four years."

After three-plus years of working for different crews, he started his own sheep shearing business called O'Grady Works LLC. O'Grady's home base is an apartment in Wyoming, but most of his time is spent on the road with his crew.

When reached by cellphone on Wednesday, April 24, O'Grady and his crew were at a job in Clearlake, California, which is about 100 miles northwest of Sacramento. Most of his crew's work is for ranchers in the Midwest and western United States.

O'Grady has created a network for himself and goes wherever the jobs are.

"I was tired of working for other people," O'Grady said. "I wanted to lay down some roots and that's why I have my place in Wyoming. Before that, I lived on the road. Including myself, we have four shearers and two others who help bring in the wool. They take in the wool and decide whether it's fine wool or coarse wool.

"This is a very seasonal job. I'm not a married man, I have no major debt and it's very profitable. If I was supporting a family, I probably wouldn't be able to do it."

Being a sheep shearer isn't easy work. O'Grady's wrestling and mixed martial arts background, along with his physicality, allow him to round up the sheep that aren't cooperating when it's time for their haircut.

When a sheep comes into the trailer to be shorn, O'Grady has to use proper techniques (just like he would on the wrestling mat) to pick them up and get them into place.

"You have to grab them by their nose, hold them by the butt and keep them in a good position," he said. "You don't want them to be off-balance otherwise they could fall to their hip and that's not where you want them to be. Being a wrestler has helped a lot. Knowing how to use my body is my biggest advantage with this job."

O'Grady admits that when a sheep isn't happy and is flailing about, it makes the job harder. To him, it reminds him of a toddler throwing a tantrum.

"That's when I have to get into wrestling mode," he said with a laugh. "No sheep is shorn the same way. I've gotten better gear and equipment and that has helped. I see myself making this a lifelong career."

O'Grady returned to St. Cloud State last fall when he was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 7, 2023. He is one of only 10 four-time All-Americans for the Huskies. He placed sixth in 2010, fourth in 2011 and fourth in 2012 at 174 pounds before bumping up to 184 for his senior year. O'Grady 40 wins during his senior year is still a single-season record at SCSU.

The honor meant a lot to him, even if he thought he was being pranked when St. Cloud State head coach Steve Costanzo and longtime assistant coach Brady Wilson first called him about it.

"I didn't believe it. I thought Brady was pranking me. But they were insistent about it. I asked about the requirements for the hall of fame and they knew those so that's when I knew it was legit," O'Grady said. "When I won the national title I was overwhelmed. It's something I never thought I could do.

"But because of Coach Costanzo's foresight in bringing me to St. Cloud, it happened. He saw me wrestle in high school and believed in me. I owe him a lot. He's always been like a second dad to me."

O'Grady has another big ceremony to attend this summer when he enters the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Hall of Fame. The ceremony is Tuesday, July 9, in Minneapolis. O'Grady was also selected as one of the NSIC's top 25 male athletes in its history in 2016.

"The only two St. Cloud State athletes selected were me (and former SCSU track and field standout) Heather Miller ," O'Grady said. "That was funny because she was a senior when I was a freshman. She worked at the Green House (which offers academic support for students). I was forced to study there for many hours.

"I remember talking to her and telling her I would win a national title one day. She just looked at me like I was crazy, but she was always really nice."

O'Grady spent nine weeks last summer in Australia and New Zealand traveling around both countries and shearing with a crew.

That experience had a big impact on him, so much so that he wants to make Australia his permanent home. He also met his current girlfriend there and she recently spent some time in the United States with him.

"When I was in Australia looking for jobs I got in contact with her," O'Grady said. "Before she went back to Australia a few weeks ago we had decided we were dating. I plan on going back there soon to see her. I want to settle down and start a family at some point. Staying in one spot has been more appealing to me as I've gotten older.

"I think my restless heart would enjoy that very much."

• One of only 10 four-time NCAA All-Americans in SCSU wrestling history.
• Helped lead the Huskies to three straight second-place finishes from 2011 to 2013.
• Won the 184-pound Division II national title.
• Posted a 21-0 dual record during his senior year and finished with 40 wins (an SCSU single-season record).
• Inducted into St. Cloud State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.
• Will be inducted into NSIC Hall of Fame in 2024.
• The 2013 NSIC wrestler of the year.
• The 2013 Super Region 3 Most Outstanding Wrestler.
• All-NSIC wrestler from 2010 to 2013.