This is a little awkward, but if I had received something like this from a classmate - I would be pleased and happy to share it with you!! I hope you don't think I'm patting myself on the back, but I am very proud to share this with you - my classmates!
Last Saturday at the PIAA Southeast Pennsylvania Regional Wrestling Tournament, I had the honor of being inducted into the Southeast Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame. This was a most unusual and humbling event in my 47 years as a PIAA Wrestling Official. Usually we just get booed when on the mat - not receive accolades!! It was especially poignant for me because I was working my first State Tournament in Hershey in 1998 when Coach Art Weiss was inducted into the Pennsylvania State Wrestling Hall of Fame!! How proud and happy I was to be officiating the state finals in front of my Coach, about 12 Clearfield State Champions and 300 fans from Clearfield that had made the trip to watch (and cheer) when our beloved coach was honored. Coach Weiss retired from coaching in 1959 - our senior year. I would like to lay old rumors to rest - it was NOT my team that drove him into retirement!! He just simply decided to go out on top!!
Following are some pictures of that night. My son, Paul (a very good local high school wrestler), presented me with my plaque, as Ralph Wetzel (Assistant Coach at Clearfield after we graduated) read the "accolades".
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| My son Paul, after giving me the plaque |
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| My friend and Co-Inductee, Eddie |
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| My fellow officials who were working the tournament |
