Hall of Fame honors 100 years of wrestling excellence at Penn State
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by Gary Abbott
100 years is a long time. That is how long Penn State has had a wrestling team.
There are a few colleges that have been competing in the sport a few years longer. However, it is hard for any school to compare with the century of success that Penn State has had on the mats. Part of the celebration of the century of Nittany Lion wrestling this year is taking place at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Okla.
In addition, this evening, the 1953 Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team was honored for its national championship run in 1953. Penn State had one national champion and five total All-Americans that year in winning the NCAA Championships, which was held on their home mats at Rec Hall. It was the first team from the East Coast to win a NCAA Div. I team title.
Three of the 1953 team members were able to attend the event this year, Jerry Maurey, Bill Cramp and George Dvoroznick. Maurey was one of the All-Americans on the team, placing third at 137 pounds.
"It has been pleasant to get this recognition 55 years after the event," said Maurey. "It has been enjoyable being here. I regret that we couldn't get more teammates here. Three of the team members have been deceased and others couldn't come. It was great to see the support we did have."
It was the second year in which the Hall of Fame has honored a great team during its honors weekend, as part of its Tribute to Great Teams program. Last year, the 1947 Cornell team was recognized.
This visit to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame capped off a full year of celebration of Penn State wrestling, which was honored at Penn State competitions all season. To make it even better, Penn State had a strong performance at the 2008 NCAA Championships, with individual champion Phil Davis at 197 pounds and a third-place finish as a team.
"We had an up and down year," said current Penn State coach Troy Sunderland. "We were even ranked No. 1 for awhile. Our kids came on strong at the end, with four All-Americans, 4-3-2-1. It was a great culmination for the 100th year."
Sunderland appreciates the opportunity to be part of a program with so much history and success.
"It has been an honor for me to see the tradition, and what wrestling has meant to the University for 100 years," said current Penn State coach Troy Sunderland. "Our booster club here has been so proud of our achievements, holding socials and inviting wrestlers back all year."
Rich Lorenzo, a long-time coach for Penn State, was also able to come to Stillwater to enjoy the recognition of the program and the people who have been part of building the tradition.
"This has been a tremendous occasion," said Lorenzo. "My number one prayer is that it goes another 100 years, and the people get the same opportunities and experiences that I have. Wrestling has been my whole life and has brought so many other people into my life."
Penn State wrestling takes great pride in its tradition, and many of its coaches have also been competitors there, including the last three Penn State coaches, Lorenzo, John Fritz and Sunderland.
"Coach Lorenzo is here with me. He coached me and he also wrestled at Penn State. This means a lot to him and I. The same is true for Coach Fritz. We all wrestled and coached here. We had great mentors and teachers."
The year-long celebration was spearheaded by a group of leaders from the booster club, led by Connie Christiansen, who have been planning it for the last four years. They have done numerous things to mark the anniversary, such as setting up socials, designing commemorative pins, giving out special blankets and many other activities.
Christiansen was an Iowa native who attended the Univ. of Northern Iowa when Bill Koll was the coach there. When she moved to Pennsylvania and attended a dual meet at Penn State, she discovered that Koll was now coaching there, and she has been active with the booster club ever since. She is especially excited about the 100th anniversary celebration.
"We have brought guys back together that have not seen each other in 50 years. They hugged and cried. That kind of relationship is precious," said Christiansen.
The final conclusion of the 100th year anniversary is the publication of a book, which goes into print in June and will be available during the summer. A group of historians participated in researching the book. They have already presold 300 copies of the book, and all of the champions from past Penn State teams, including conference and national champions, will receive a copy of the book.
A website has also been developed filled with many stories about the 100 years of Penn State wrestling. Copies of the book can also be ordered there by visiting:
http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org
During the evening at the Hall of Fame, a special presentation was made by wrestling historian and author Jamie Moffat, who gave a speech and slide show about that magical 1953 season. Moffat talked about the special people on the team, who made history that weekend 55 years ago.
The Nittany Lions went 9-0 in dual meets by a combined score of 206-52. Penn State won the EIWA title at Princeton and then hosted the NCAA Championships in Rec Hall.
Head coach Charlie Speidel's squad put it all together at the national tournament. Hud Samson won the individual national title at 191 while Dick Lemyre was second at 130. Jerry Maurey was third at 137, Donald Frey was third at 147 and Joe Lemyre was third at 167. The team title was clinched when Samson pinned Weber from West Chester in the finals. Penn State won the title with 21 points, followed by Oklahoma with 15 points and Cornell with 13 points.
"Bringing all of this together was challenging," said Marty Strayer, who is a leader with the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "I want to thank all of the Penn State people from other teams who came here this weekend. I am proud that the Hall of Fame gave Penn State the opportunity for this honor."
There are a few colleges that have been competing in the sport a few years longer. However, it is hard for any school to compare with the century of success that Penn State has had on the mats. Part of the celebration of the century of Nittany Lion wrestling this year is taking place at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Okla.
In addition, this evening, the 1953 Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team was honored for its national championship run in 1953. Penn State had one national champion and five total All-Americans that year in winning the NCAA Championships, which was held on their home mats at Rec Hall. It was the first team from the East Coast to win a NCAA Div. I team title.
Three of the 1953 team members were able to attend the event this year, Jerry Maurey, Bill Cramp and George Dvoroznick. Maurey was one of the All-Americans on the team, placing third at 137 pounds.
"It has been pleasant to get this recognition 55 years after the event," said Maurey. "It has been enjoyable being here. I regret that we couldn't get more teammates here. Three of the team members have been deceased and others couldn't come. It was great to see the support we did have."
It was the second year in which the Hall of Fame has honored a great team during its honors weekend, as part of its Tribute to Great Teams program. Last year, the 1947 Cornell team was recognized.
This visit to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame capped off a full year of celebration of Penn State wrestling, which was honored at Penn State competitions all season. To make it even better, Penn State had a strong performance at the 2008 NCAA Championships, with individual champion Phil Davis at 197 pounds and a third-place finish as a team.
"We had an up and down year," said current Penn State coach Troy Sunderland. "We were even ranked No. 1 for awhile. Our kids came on strong at the end, with four All-Americans, 4-3-2-1. It was a great culmination for the 100th year."
Sunderland appreciates the opportunity to be part of a program with so much history and success.
"It has been an honor for me to see the tradition, and what wrestling has meant to the University for 100 years," said current Penn State coach Troy Sunderland. "Our booster club here has been so proud of our achievements, holding socials and inviting wrestlers back all year."
Rich Lorenzo, a long-time coach for Penn State, was also able to come to Stillwater to enjoy the recognition of the program and the people who have been part of building the tradition.
"This has been a tremendous occasion," said Lorenzo. "My number one prayer is that it goes another 100 years, and the people get the same opportunities and experiences that I have. Wrestling has been my whole life and has brought so many other people into my life."
Penn State wrestling takes great pride in its tradition, and many of its coaches have also been competitors there, including the last three Penn State coaches, Lorenzo, John Fritz and Sunderland.
"Coach Lorenzo is here with me. He coached me and he also wrestled at Penn State. This means a lot to him and I. The same is true for Coach Fritz. We all wrestled and coached here. We had great mentors and teachers."
The year-long celebration was spearheaded by a group of leaders from the booster club, led by Connie Christiansen, who have been planning it for the last four years. They have done numerous things to mark the anniversary, such as setting up socials, designing commemorative pins, giving out special blankets and many other activities.
Christiansen was an Iowa native who attended the Univ. of Northern Iowa when Bill Koll was the coach there. When she moved to Pennsylvania and attended a dual meet at Penn State, she discovered that Koll was now coaching there, and she has been active with the booster club ever since. She is especially excited about the 100th anniversary celebration.
"We have brought guys back together that have not seen each other in 50 years. They hugged and cried. That kind of relationship is precious," said Christiansen.
The final conclusion of the 100th year anniversary is the publication of a book, which goes into print in June and will be available during the summer. A group of historians participated in researching the book. They have already presold 300 copies of the book, and all of the champions from past Penn State teams, including conference and national champions, will receive a copy of the book.
A website has also been developed filled with many stories about the 100 years of Penn State wrestling. Copies of the book can also be ordered there by visiting:
http://www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org
During the evening at the Hall of Fame, a special presentation was made by wrestling historian and author Jamie Moffat, who gave a speech and slide show about that magical 1953 season. Moffat talked about the special people on the team, who made history that weekend 55 years ago.
The Nittany Lions went 9-0 in dual meets by a combined score of 206-52. Penn State won the EIWA title at Princeton and then hosted the NCAA Championships in Rec Hall.
Head coach Charlie Speidel's squad put it all together at the national tournament. Hud Samson won the individual national title at 191 while Dick Lemyre was second at 130. Jerry Maurey was third at 137, Donald Frey was third at 147 and Joe Lemyre was third at 167. The team title was clinched when Samson pinned Weber from West Chester in the finals. Penn State won the title with 21 points, followed by Oklahoma with 15 points and Cornell with 13 points.
"Bringing all of this together was challenging," said Marty Strayer, who is a leader with the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "I want to thank all of the Penn State people from other teams who came here this weekend. I am proud that the Hall of Fame gave Penn State the opportunity for this honor."
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