Tell us a little about yourself.

[Aardvark86]

57 from outside Harrisburg. Spent some time in the practice room in jr high/hs counting ceiling lights with Tim Cochran on top of me. Now in nova. Life sciences attorney. My real passion is cycling, and having raced bikes, I tend to stick my nose up at stick and ball sports, in favor of hard man sports. Like wrestling, cycling, and biathlon.

 

[82bordeaux]

Dunedin. In the Tampa Bay area.

Yes, my brother-in-law lives in Oldsmar and his lady friend lives in Dunedin. Nice place.

 

[82bordeaux]

…gotta “fess-up”… I’m 89 and still feeling rather healthy, thanks to an Aortic Valve replacement a couple of years ago…
…I never wrestled…I was a swimmer for Edinboro my freshman year and that’s where I saw my first wrestling match…
…when I arrived at Penn State my sophomore year I pledged DU and met a slew of athletes including the Maurey brothers - Don and Jerry - who introduced me to Charlie (Doc) Speidel - the head wrestling coach. Charlie had no children - his teams were his children. I became a manager for him and served 3 years - over that time Penn State went undefeated in dual meets, won 3 straight EIWA titles and the NCAA title my Senior year … the first title for PSU and the first Eastern team to win it. It should be noted that back then the NCAA title was almost an impossible accomplishment for Eastern teams who typically sent only individual EIWA champions to the NCAA tournament- because of the cost of transportation back then. The tournament was most often held in the mid-West. Charlie recognized the future strength of his early 50’s team and persuaded the PSU Athletic Department to host the 1953 NCAA ‘s where he was able to enter almost a full team - and the rest is history!
Over the ensuing 68 years I have maintained a very close relationship with the teams and coaches …. though somewhat less the last 10 years as the attention to a growing family - 4 children, 8 grand children and 8 great grand children (a 9th is on the way) have taken up more of my attention, and rightly so.
I have been able to attend 57 NCAA tournaments where many old friends gather year after year - though the numbers are starting to decline noticeably. That’s why this venue is so important in providing a place to talk over past history and look forward to the new history that is being written every year.

Swimmer for Edinboro? You must be familiar with Mike Zafirovski. My good friend was his roommate at Edinboro. His story is amazing. Came to the USA from Yugoslavia with his family when he was 16. Didn't speak a word of English and started public school in Cleveland. Got a swimming scholarship to Boro, worked for GE becoming President of the Lighting Division. Ended up CEO of Nortel Networks. Quite the success story.
The funny part was regaled by his former swim coach when he was inducted into the Edinboro Sports HOF. He told the story of recruiting a Yugoslavian kid in Cleveland. He showed up at the house and was invited in. He was offered a beer and a cigarette which he declined. Then his recruit sat down in a chair next to him, opened a can of Budweiser and lit a cigarette.
He said the greatest dumb thing he ever did was offer him a scholarship anyway. And the rest is history.

 

[androcles]

…Mike was born in 1953 - the year I graduated from The Pennsylvania State College - so I did not have the pleasure of knowing him … he was obviously a great contributor to Edinboro since the Swimming Complex there is named after him… I was a PS student “farmed out” to Edinboro … all PS freshmen spent their first year at various affiliated colleges in Pennsylvania for their first year back then because of the wave of veterans returning home after WW II …

 

[District four]

51 with three daughters and one son. Never wrestled but played baseball and football. Went to warrior run high school right in the middle of district four. Went to college at Bucknell and graduate program at Lock Haven university Grew up watching some great wrestlers. Bobby Simpson was in my class so I watched most of his matches. Took second at states four consecutive years ream bummer. I also followed Jason Betz who ended up at PSU for a short time always thought he would have done better in college. I now live in central mountain school district so state college is right up the road. Really enjoy the path our team is on nothing beats wrestling although my wife consistently tells me I need to calm down while watching it lol we are and Iowa isn't lol

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Psalm, we tend not to mention Travis Wittlake around here or any others that get off the hook before they are in the boat. 😉

As a former high school distance runner, Steve Prefontaine was the man.

I looked at my calendar and I'm free for the period between the Big Tens ( also known as the warmup tournament) and Nationals. Thanks for the housing offer! Getting a little tired of Bordeaux's Cottage and hearing Stand with Pride doing metal working at 3:00 am.

7brwnpsu, Here 's a photo of a beautiful mural of Prefontaine in downtown Coos Bay:

 

[johnstownsteel]

…gotta “fess-up”… I’m 89 and still feeling rather healthy, thanks to an Aortic Valve replacement a couple of years ago…
…I never wrestled…I was a swimmer for Edinboro my freshman year and that’s where I saw my first wrestling match…
…when I arrived at Penn State my sophomore year I pledged DU and met a slew of athletes including the Maurey brothers - Don and Jerry - who introduced me to Charlie (Doc) Speidel - the head wrestling coach. Charlie had no children - his teams were his children. I became a manager for him and served 3 years - over that time Penn State went undefeated in dual meets, won 3 straight EIWA titles and the NCAA title my Senior year … the first title for PSU and the first Eastern team to win it. It should be noted that back then the NCAA title was almost an impossible accomplishment for Eastern teams who typically sent only individual EIWA champions to the NCAA tournament- because of the cost of transportation back then. The tournament was most often held in the mid-West. Charlie recognized the future strength of his early 50’s team and persuaded the PSU Athletic Department to host the 1953 NCAA ‘s where he was able to enter almost a full team - and the rest is history!
Over the ensuing 68 years I have maintained a very close relationship with the teams and coaches …. though somewhat less the last 10 years as the attention to a growing family - 4 children, 8 grand children and 8 great grand children (a 9th is on the way) have taken up more of my attention, and rightly so.
I have been able to attend 57 NCAA tournaments where many old friends gather year after year - though the numbers are starting to decline noticeably. That’s why this venue is so important in providing a place to talk over past history and look forward to the new history that is being written every year.

Loved this one. If it were only reply to this thread it would still be considered a gem. 57 tourneys is incredible. Hell, I'm just hoping to live that long. I didn't know that back in those days typically it was just the eiwa champs that went to the tourney out west. When did that start to change?

 

[Locolion]

I'm not the youngest.

I am gay but haven’t told my parents yet. I never had a job and live in my parents’ basement, it’s damp n cold down there. I sometimes gag-ball myself. Also known to put on a Wizard of Oz-type/ Dorothy dress, half-tie myself to railroad tracks and “bust free” right before a train hits me. The “damsel in distress” thing really gets me going.
I sleep quite well.
My pronouns are: they/them/theirs
Anyone wanna meet up?

 

[johnstownsteel]

I am gay but haven’t told my parents yet. I never had a job and live in my parents’ basement, it’s damp n cold down there. I sometimes gag-ball myself. Also known to put on a Wizard of Oz-type/ Dorothy dress, half-tie myself to railroad tracks and “bust free” right before a train hits me. The “damsel in distress” thing really gets me going.
I sleep quite well.
My pronouns are: they/them/theirs
Anyone wanna meet up?

Wonder whatever happened to the guy that would post his rankings of the wrestlers looks, their bods and things like that. Sadly I'm juvenile and thought it was funny as hell...

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Loved this one. If it were only reply to this thread it would still be considered a gem. 57 tourneys is incredible. Hell, I'm just hoping to live that long. I didn't know that back in those days typically it was just the eiwa champs that went to the tourney out west. When did that start to change?

No doubt. I am 57 and have never been to one tournament! Androcles, it sounds like you have lived a blessed life. Here's to hoping you see many more happy years and PSU-winning National tournaments! Also, how cool is it that we have posters here from 18 to 89?! A big thank you to all who have contributed to this thread.

 

[PSUcup1]

If you are 70, you must have been in hs in the '60s. 1973 was the first year of 98 pounds. Before that it was 95 pounds. And at the first states I attended, (1961), they had an 85 pound exhibition final because the WPIAL was the only region that still had that weight class.

I saw my first match in 1958. I began wrestling in 5th grade. I saw Mike Johnson and Jim Nance at states (a kid on my team won in '61 along with a bunch of studs - none of whom were him). In '62 I met Elliot Gray Simons - the god of wrestling then. He was coaching at West Point and I cornered him after the Lehigh meet.

My little brother lost to Andy Matter by a point in a high school dual. My older brother wrestled behind Mike Caruso at Lehigh - which means he didn't wrestle much there. I wrestled in Jr Hi, HS, and 4 years of college. I coached youth wrestling for 20 years -- had a couple of Nat Prep champs and place winners, and a number of PIAA place winners. I actually coached Matt Storniolo for a year when he was 6, and told his mother he was going to be a super star. I never said that to any other parent. Matt could bend his body like a pretzel and come out the other end. He style was so unique and his core strength even young was terrific. I knew the sky was the limit for him..

I'm among a group of guys that have been coming to PIAA states since '85. So I got to see Kolat and Ty Moore in their prime. One of my wrestlers gave Ray Brinzer all he could handle his senior year at states -- actually tied 9 - 9, I think, going into the 3rd period. Oh well, it might have been.

I have one claim to fame. In 10 years of wrestling I gave up a total of 3 back points. And I still maintain that I was screwed. Never pinned. Wrestled a lot of state champs, a national champ, a couple of national place winners. My final claim to fame: the national champ I lost to by a point is currently facing sexual assault charges in Colorado. I have mixed emotions about that. He's 74 years old too. Is he on viagra or what?

I'm thinking that the younger readers might not recognize the names I dropped:
Mike Johnson--4x PIAA champ and considered PA's all-time great in the '60s
Jim Nance - 2x NCAA champ, NE Patriots all-time fullback, the guy the PIAA created the HWY division for.
Mike Caruso -3x NCAA champ.
and the NCAA champ I wrestled that is currently in deep doodoo: Wayne Boyd.

Outstanding youth wrestling coach right here ^^^^.

 

[johnstownsteel]

Outstanding youth wrestling coach right here ^^^^.

Yes. He's someone wrestling fans from other states rarely think about when trying to pin down why Pennsylvania wrestling is so tough. It all starts with coaching and in my opinion we have the best youth to hs coaching in the country. Everyone thinks about the great wrestlers we pump out....Only a few think about the unsung heroes that produce them.

 

[IndianaNittanyLion]

I grew up in Corry and graduated from PSU in ‘76. As for wrestling, I came from a poor family and had to work and save for tuition, so I never played any sport in HS. For me, it was a matter of working a job every day after school. I graduated with Jim Bennett (PA State and NCAA national champ). In HS I beat everyone I wrestled in gym class, even though all the kids weighed more. In retrospect, I wish I would have wrestled and played football. My wife and I see PSU whenever they come to Indiana, Purdue or Northwestern and we used to do the Southern Scuffle. We’ve done BIG 10s at Iowa, Michigan State and Indiana, but can’t get tix to Rec Hall for anything. Best Moment: 2018 NCAAs - When Bo flipped Miles Martin for the pin. My wife and I vaulted out of our seats at home, yelling and screaming. The dog ran upstairs and hid under the bed and the neighbors called to see if everything was okay.

Today, I am a professor at a small university in Indiana, where I’ve taught for 35 years. I teach ancient Greek, New Testament and Archaeology. You can see a documentary of my work on Amazon Prime: The Last Apostle. If interested, you can also check out some of my publications, photographs and website at: www.AncientBiblicalWorld.com. I have been selected for a Fulbright Scholar Award for the 2021-2022 year and will spend that time finishing a book and also doing research at an underwater basilica discovered at ancient Nicea in Turkey. Fifteen years ago, while teaching Greek, the students talked me into wrestling students whenever they messed up their translations. I ended up wrestling over 20 of the guys that semester. I beat everyone . . . except a heavyweight who placed in the Indiana State championships. I stopped when one of the students threw up. I read this forum almost every day and love the insights and banter – even the contributions from our Iowa friends.

 

[KCLion]

Ok, I’ll give it a go. I’m 61 having lived with Cystic Fibrosis my entire life. Diagnosed at about 6 years old and my folks were advised that at that time vey few CF patients would see their teens. So fortunate my folks encouraged me to be involved in any sports I enjoyed which I believe kept my lungs functioning as long as they did. Baseball was probably my early passion and I had great coaching, but sadly HS baseball teams in NW/NC PA were few and far between. Also played varsity RB on a HS football team that won 30+ consecutive games and Singles Tennis in the mid to late 70s. Like several of our guys, I went to PSU on an ROTC scholarship, Navy in particular.

I started wrestling in our great JR Olympics program (still have my 55LB bracket) in that same D9 town that was very football and wrestling centric and continued through HS. As freshman, I wrestled JV at 105/112 for the early part of the season am then took my lumps on the varsity side wrestling up a couple of weights at 126. Most enjoyable years were Sophomore and Jr wrestling very well at 126 except for the times that I met a certain Red Bank Valley kid in Districts both years. Senior year (New Head Coach Kris Koll - yes, the Koll family) and the weight cut from the football bulk and new regime fatigue killed my interest. Had those days others mentioned in which I would catch a returning State Champion on his back and then lose to someone I had beaten many times before. When I lost to the same RBV kid again at either District or Regionals, I swore I would never lose weight to wrestle again!!!! That lasted until I met my pledge brother the infamous 82Bordeaux and wrestled for our fraternity IM team. He’s modest, he crushed everyone on the mat at 149. I wasn’t as fortunate; as he mentioned before, he was patching my forehead up in my finals match (a Delaware State Champion) at 142.

Nearly 7 years ago now, I was blessed with a second chance at life through the wonders of a double lung transplant from an anonymous donor. First comment I made after waking from anesthesia and removal of intubation tube was “I can breathe”! In retrospect I sometimes wonder how the pre-transplant me was able to compete with my compromised lung function.

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

I grew up in Corry and graduated from PSU in ‘76. As for wrestling, I came from a poor family and had to work and save for tuition, so I never played any sport in HS. For me, it was a matter of working a job every day after school. I graduated with Jim Bennett (PA State and NCAA national champ). In HS I beat everyone I wrestled in gym class, even though all the kids weighed more. In retrospect, I wish I would have wrestled and played football. My wife and I see PSU whenever they come to Indiana, Purdue or Northwestern and we used to do the Southern Scuffle. We’ve done BIG 10s at Iowa, Michigan State and Indiana, but can’t get tix to Rec Hall for anything. Best Moment: 2018 NCAAs - When Bo flipped Miles Martin for the pin. My wife and I vaulted out of our seats at home, yelling and screaming. The dog ran upstairs and hid under the bed and the neighbors called to see if everything was okay.

Today, I am a professor at a small university in Indiana, where I’ve taught for 35 years. I teach ancient Greek, New Testament and Archaeology. You can see a documentary of my work on Amazon Prime: The Last Apostle. If interested, you can also check out some of my publications, photographs and website at: www.AncientBiblicalWorld.com. I have been selected for a Fulbright Scholar Award for the 2021-2022 year and will spend that time finishing a book and also doing research at an underwater basilica discovered at ancient Nicea in Turkey. Fifteen years ago, while teaching Greek, the students talked me into wrestling students whenever they messed up their translations. I ended up wrestling over 20 of the guys that semester. I beat everyone . . . except a heavyweight who placed in the Indiana State championships. I stopped when one of the students threw up. I read this forum almost every day and love the insights and banter – even the contributions from our Iowa friends.

Dr. Fairchild, it is great to have you on this Forum. I just read The Search For Jesus article and found it very informative. Thank you for listing some of your publications. As a lay person who loves to study not only the Bible, but Bible history and archaeology, I look forward to reading more of your writings. I visited Israel last February for the second time, and would love to one day visit Turkey to see some of the Biblical and early Christian sites.

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Ok, I’ll give it a go. I’m 61 having lived with Cystic Fibrosis my entire life. Diagnosed at about 6 years old and my folks were advised that at that time vey few CF patients would see their teens. So fortunate my folks encouraged me to be involved in any sports I enjoyed which I believe kept my lungs functioning as long as they did. Baseball was probably my early passion and I had great coaching, but sadly HS baseball teams in NW/NC PA were few and far between. Also played varsity RB on a HS football team that won 30+ consecutive games and Singles Tennis in the mid to late 70s. Like several of our guys, I went to PSU on an ROTC scholarship, Navy in particular.

I started wrestling in our great JR Olympics program (still have my 55LB bracket) in that same D9 town that was very football and wrestling centric and continued through HS. As freshman, I wrestled JV at 105/112 for the early part of the season am then took my lumps on the varsity side wrestling up a couple of weights at 126. Most enjoyable years were Sophomore and Jr wrestling very well at 126 except for the times that I met a certain Red Bank Valley kid in Districts both years. Senior year (New Head Coach Kris Koll - yes, the Koll family) and the weight cut from the football bulk and new regime fatigue killed my interest. Had those days others mentioned in which I would catch a returning State Champion on his back and then lose to someone I had beaten many times before. When I lost to the same RBV kid again at either District or Regionals, I swore I would never lose weight to wrestle again!!!! That lasted until I met my pledge brother the infamous 82Bordeaux and wrestled for our fraternity IM team. He’s modest, he crushed everyone on the mat at 149. I wasn’t as fortunate; as he mentioned before, he was patching my forehead up in my finals match (a Delaware State Champion) at 142.

Nearly 7 years ago now, I was blessed with a second chance at life through the wonders of a double lung transplant from an anonymous donor. First comment I made after waking from anesthesia and removal of intubation tube was “I can breathe”! In retrospect I sometimes wonder how the pre-transplant me was able to compete with my compromised lung function.

KCLion, thanks for sharing. I am so happy you were able to get the double lung transplant! What a blessing. Your story is very inspirational. The closest I felt to needing a double lung transplant was last year in Israel when I decided to hike the trail up to Masada rather than take the tram! I was a hurting puppy by the time I finally made it to the top. It's a shame youth is wasted on the young.

 

[Cali_Nittany]

Ok, I’ll give it a go. I’m 61 having lived with Cystic Fibrosis my entire life. Diagnosed at about 6 years old and my folks were advised that at that time vey few CF patients would see their teens. So fortunate my folks encouraged me to be involved in any sports I enjoyed which I believe kept my lungs functioning as long as they did. Baseball was probably my early passion and I had great coaching, but sadly HS baseball teams in NW/NC PA were few and far between. Also played varsity RB on a HS football team that won 30+ consecutive games and Singles Tennis in the mid to late 70s. Like several of our guys, I went to PSU on an ROTC scholarship, Navy in particular.

I started wrestling in our great JR Olympics program (still have my 55LB bracket) in that same D9 town that was very football and wrestling centric and continued through HS. As freshman, I wrestled JV at 105/112 for the early part of the season am then took my lumps on the varsity side wrestling up a couple of weights at 126. Most enjoyable years were Sophomore and Jr wrestling very well at 126 except for the times that I met a certain Red Bank Valley kid in Districts both years. Senior year (New Head Coach Kris Koll - yes, the Koll family) and the weight cut from the football bulk and new regime fatigue killed my interest. Had those days others mentioned in which I would catch a returning State Champion on his back and then lose to someone I had beaten many times before. When I lost to the same RBV kid again at either District or Regionals, I swore I would never lose weight to wrestle again!!!! That lasted until I met my pledge brother the infamous 82Bordeaux and wrestled for our fraternity IM team. He’s modest, he crushed everyone on the mat at 149. I wasn’t as fortunate; as he mentioned before, he was patching my forehead up in my finals match (a Delaware State Champion) at 142.

Nearly 7 years ago now, I was blessed with a second chance at life through the wonders of a double lung transplant from an anonymous donor. First comment I made after waking from anesthesia and removal of intubation tube was “I can breathe”! In retrospect I sometimes wonder how the pre-transplant me was able to compete with my compromised lung function.

Wow, KC! Cystic Fibrosis and wrestling. You are a medical marvel. This just might be the most inspirational post I've seen on this forum.

 

[82bordeaux]

I grew up in Corry and graduated from PSU in ‘76. As for wrestling, I came from a poor family and had to work and save for tuition, so I never played any sport in HS. For me, it was a matter of working a job every day after school. I graduated with Jim Bennett (PA State and NCAA national champ). In HS I beat everyone I wrestled in gym class, even though all the kids weighed more. In retrospect, I wish I would have wrestled and played football. My wife and I see PSU whenever they come to Indiana, Purdue or Northwestern and we used to do the Southern Scuffle. We’ve done BIG 10s at Iowa, Michigan State and Indiana, but can’t get tix to Rec Hall for anything. Best Moment: 2018 NCAAs - When Bo flipped Miles Martin for the pin. My wife and I vaulted out of our seats at home, yelling and screaming. The dog ran upstairs and hid under the bed and the neighbors called to see if everything was okay.

Today, I am a professor at a small university in Indiana, where I’ve taught for 35 years. I teach ancient Greek, New Testament and Archaeology. You can see a documentary of my work on Amazon Prime: The Last Apostle. If interested, you can also check out some of my publications, photographs and website at: www.AncientBiblicalWorld.com. I have been selected for a Fulbright Scholar Award for the 2021-2022 year and will spend that time finishing a book and also doing research at an underwater basilica discovered at ancient Nicea in Turkey. Fifteen years ago, while teaching Greek, the students talked me into wrestling students whenever they messed up their translations. I ended up wrestling over 20 of the guys that semester. I beat everyone . . . except a heavyweight who placed in the Indiana State championships. I stopped when one of the students threw up. I read this forum almost every day and love the insights and banter – even the contributions from our Iowa friends.

Great story and great accomplishments! Our annual fancy vacation every summer during my youth was a week at Hemlock Lakes Campground just south of Corry. You were also at Corry when Dave Crowell was there, the former Easton head coach. Hope you make it to Rec Hall soon. We'll find you tickets!

 

[Aardvark86]

I grew up in Corry and graduated from PSU in ‘76. As for wrestling, I came from a poor family and had to work and save for tuition, so I never played any sport in HS. For me, it was a matter of working a job every day after school. I graduated with Jim Bennett (PA State and NCAA national champ). In HS I beat everyone I wrestled in gym class, even though all the kids weighed more. In retrospect, I wish I would have wrestled and played football. My wife and I see PSU whenever they come to Indiana, Purdue or Northwestern and we used to do the Southern Scuffle. We’ve done BIG 10s at Iowa, Michigan State and Indiana, but can’t get tix to Rec Hall for anything. Best Moment: 2018 NCAAs - When Bo flipped Miles Martin for the pin. My wife and I vaulted out of our seats at home, yelling and screaming. The dog ran upstairs and hid under the bed and the neighbors called to see if everything was okay.

Today, I am a professor at a small university in Indiana, where I’ve taught for 35 years. I teach ancient Greek, New Testament and Archaeology. You can see a documentary of my work on Amazon Prime: The Last Apostle. If interested, you can also check out some of my publications, photographs and website at: www.AncientBiblicalWorld.com. I have been selected for a Fulbright Scholar Award for the 2021-2022 year and will spend that time finishing a book and also doing research at an underwater basilica discovered at ancient Nicea in Turkey. Fifteen years ago, while teaching Greek, the students talked me into wrestling students whenever they messed up their translations. I ended up wrestling over 20 of the guys that semester. I beat everyone . . . except a heavyweight who placed in the Indiana State championships. I stopped when one of the students threw up. I read this forum almost every day and love the insights and banter – even the contributions from our Iowa friends.

Very cool. My son would love to meet you. Aero engineer at uva who reads Latin for pleasure in the summer. Two years of Greek in high school.

so professionally, opinions on jaroslav Pelikan?

 

[Aardvark86]

Ok, I’ll give it a go. I’m 61 having lived with Cystic Fibrosis my entire life. Diagnosed at about 6 years old and my folks were advised that at that time vey few CF patients would see their teens. So fortunate my folks encouraged me to be involved in any sports I enjoyed which I believe kept my lungs functioning as long as they did. Baseball was probably my early passion and I had great coaching, but sadly HS baseball teams in NW/NC PA were few and far between. Also played varsity RB on a HS football team that won 30+ consecutive games and Singles Tennis in the mid to late 70s. Like several of our guys, I went to PSU on an ROTC scholarship, Navy in particular.

I started wrestling in our great JR Olympics program (still have my 55LB bracket) in that same D9 town that was very football and wrestling centric and continued through HS. As freshman, I wrestled JV at 105/112 for the early part of the season am then took my lumps on the varsity side wrestling up a couple of weights at 126. Most enjoyable years were Sophomore and Jr wrestling very well at 126 except for the times that I met a certain Red Bank Valley kid in Districts both years. Senior year (New Head Coach Kris Koll - yes, the Koll family) and the weight cut from the football bulk and new regime fatigue killed my interest. Had those days others mentioned in which I would catch a returning State Champion on his back and then lose to someone I had beaten many times before. When I lost to the same RBV kid again at either District or Regionals, I swore I would never lose weight to wrestle again!!!! That lasted until I met my pledge brother the infamous 82Bordeaux and wrestled for our fraternity IM team. He’s modest, he crushed everyone on the mat at 149. I wasn’t as fortunate; as he mentioned before, he was patching my forehead up in my finals match (a Delaware State Champion) at 142.

Nearly 7 years ago now, I was blessed with a second chance at life through the wonders of a double lung transplant from an anonymous donor. First comment I made after waking from anesthesia and removal of intubation tube was “I can breathe”! In retrospect I sometimes wonder how the pre-transplant me was able to compete with my compromised lung function.

Unbelievably impressive. I mean simply unbelievable, and god bless! Out of curiosity, was your transplant pre or post the vertex products coming to market.?

 

[KCLion]

Unbelievably impressive. I mean simply unbelievable, and god bless! Out of curiosity, was your transplant pre or post the vertex products coming to market.?

My transplant was just prior to the release of the latest meds from Vertex. Sounds like you are familiar, so I’ll elaborate. My last daily regimen included inhaled saline solution, pulmozyme and Tobramycin (Toby) and a bunch of oral antibiotics and digestive enzymes.

I should have added that I was fortunate to have one of the Pioneers in the field of CF, Dr Joan Rodnan at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh (now UPMC) treating me through childhood and HS and probably the best lung transplant center in the country (UPMC) to do my procedure.

 

[Aardvark86]

My transplant was just prior to the release of the latest meds from Vertex. Sounds like you are familiar, so I’ll elaborate. My last daily regimen included inhaled saline solution, pulmozyme and Tobramycin (Toby) and a bunch of oral antibiotics and digestive enzymes.

I should have added that I was fortunate to have one of the Pioneers in the field of CF, Dr Joan Rodnan at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh (now UPMC) treating me through childhood and HS and probably the best lung transplant center in the country (UPMC) to do my procedure.

Good old Tobi. People don't realize Pittsburgh's incredible role in modern organ transplantation. I used to do some work for Vertex - met Josh Boger and helped them with the launches of their initial protease for Hep C and then for the CF product. The Billion Dollar Molecule and The Antidote are great reads for insight into just how hard it is to take a compound from discovery to treatment.

I'm still just mind boggled at what throwing the transplant switch must have meant to you.

 

[82bordeaux]

Ok, I’ll give it a go. I’m 61 having lived with Cystic Fibrosis my entire life. Diagnosed at about 6 years old and my folks were advised that at that time vey few CF patients would see their teens. So fortunate my folks encouraged me to be involved in any sports I enjoyed which I believe kept my lungs functioning as long as they did. Baseball was probably my early passion and I had great coaching, but sadly HS baseball teams in NW/NC PA were few and far between. Also played varsity RB on a HS football team that won 30+ consecutive games and Singles Tennis in the mid to late 70s. Like several of our guys, I went to PSU on an ROTC scholarship, Navy in particular.

I started wrestling in our great JR Olympics program (still have my 55LB bracket) in that same D9 town that was very football and wrestling centric and continued through HS. As freshman, I wrestled JV at 105/112 for the early part of the season am then took my lumps on the varsity side wrestling up a couple of weights at 126. Most enjoyable years were Sophomore and Jr wrestling very well at 126 except for the times that I met a certain Red Bank Valley kid in Districts both years. Senior year (New Head Coach Kris Koll - yes, the Koll family) and the weight cut from the football bulk and new regime fatigue killed my interest. Had those days others mentioned in which I would catch a returning State Champion on his back and then lose to someone I had beaten many times before. When I lost to the same RBV kid again at either District or Regionals, I swore I would never lose weight to wrestle again!!!! That lasted until I met my pledge brother the infamous 82Bordeaux and wrestled for our fraternity IM team. He’s modest, he crushed everyone on the mat at 149. I wasn’t as fortunate; as he mentioned before, he was patching my forehead up in my finals match (a Delaware State Champion) at 142.

Nearly 7 years ago now, I was blessed with a second chance at life through the wonders of a double lung transplant from an anonymous donor. First comment I made after waking from anesthesia and removal of intubation tube was “I can breathe”! In retrospect I sometimes wonder how the pre-transplant me was able to compete with my compromised lung function.

@KCLion left out a few facts about himself. I'll take the liberty of filling in the blanks.

1. He was the first one to coin "excuses are for wussies". 99.9% of the people that knew him at PSU ever knew that he had CF. It never prevented him from doing anything. ROTC, fraternity events, intramural sports, cheerleading, and the list goes on. He did more than most students and did them all well...except perhaps for your wardrobe. You can take the kid out of Ridgeway, but...

2. Kinda where I was going above. When he did some stuff with us he was a bit like Dorothy in the Emerald City. Always had a sense of amazement and loved everything he was doing. Now that I'm older, that makes a lot more sense. And he has awesome parents. They were always a lot of fun to hang out with.

3. Now this is the one that I don't understand to this day. Girls loved him. Now, he wasn't a bad looking guy, but he's no Brad Pitt. He always had good looking girls interested in him, including my sister, K.S., Mazeltov, and more. I'll chalk it up to that "awe shucks" charm. Still SMH...

Looking forward to playing golf with you in 2 weeks! Safe travels brother, and we will see you on the 27th!

 

[KCLion]

@KCLion left out a few facts about himself. I'll take the liberty of filling in the blanks.

1. He was the first one to coin "excuses are for wussies". 99.9% of the people that knew him at PSU ever knew that he had CF. It never prevented him from doing anything. ROTC, fraternity events, intramural sports, cheerleading, and the list goes on. He did more than most students and did them all well...except perhaps for your wardrobe. You can take the kid out of Ridgeway, but...

2. Kinda where I was going above. When he did some stuff with us he was a bit like Dorothy in the Emerald City. Always had a sense of amazement and loved everything he was doing. Now that I'm older, that makes a lot more sense. And he has awesome parents. They were always a lot of fun to hang out with.

3. Now this is the one that I don't understand to this day. Girls loved him. Now, he wasn't a bad looking guy, but he's no Brad Pitt. He always had good looking girls interested in him, including my sister, K.S., Mazeltov, and more. I'll chalk it up to that "awe shucks" charm. Still SMH...

Looking forward to playing golf with you in 2 weeks! Safe travels brother, and we will see you on the 27th!

Now I’m blushing! Love ya bro!! You did pretty damn well in that third category if I remember correctly and I’m not so old that I don’t, lol!!

 

[86PSUPaul]

Now I’m blushing! Love ya bro!! You did pretty damn well in that third category if I remember correctly and I’m not so old that I don’t, lol!!

Get a room you guys! JK, love hearing the banter, awesome to have deep friendships that last decades!

 

[NoVa Lion]

I am 66 retired, and living in State College. I was to stupid to wrestle. I kept going out for bball and getting cut. Grew up in State College (Puddintown) and when to every HS and PSU wrestling dual from 7th thru 10th grade. Went to NCAAs in 1968 which were held in Rec Hall. Dan Gable one his first NCAA title there, but truth be told, I had no idea who he was until 1972 when he won Olympic Gold.

Moved to MD when I was 16 and ended up going to George Washington University because my Mom was nurse at the hospital which meant free tuition, an offer I could not refuse. Got a degree in accounting and spent 39 years working, the last 30 for government contractors.

Meanwhile, I have been a wrestling season ticket holder since 1996 and have gone to every NCAA (that they let fans into) since 2002, a streak which is in jeopardy due to health issues. Lately I have become very active in the Penn State Wrestling Club so any of you are not members, sign up today. Link to website is below.

Penn State Wrestling Club – wrestling lives here

www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org

 

[Locolion]

I am 66 retired, and living in State College. I was to stupid to wrestle. I kept going out for bball and getting cut. Grew up in State College (Puddintown) and when to every HS and PSU wrestling dual from 7th thru 10th grade. Went to NCAAs in 1968 which were held in Rec Hall. Dan Gable one his first NCAA title there, but truth be told, I had no idea who he was until 1972 when he won Olympic Gold.

Moved to MD when I was 16 and ended up going to George Washington University because my Mom was nurse at the hospital which meant free tuition, an offer I could not refuse. Got a degree in accounting and spent 39 years working, the last 30 for government contractors.

Meanwhile, I have been a wrestling season ticket holder since 1996 and have gone to every NCAA (that they let fans into) since 2002, a streak which is in jeopardy due to health issues. Lately I have become very active in the Penn State Wrestling Club so any of you are not members, sign up today. Link to website is below.

Penn State Wrestling Club – wrestling lives here

www.pennstatewrestlingclub.org

I just signed up. Appreciate the tip

 

[NoVa Lion]

I just signed up. Appreciate the tip

Thanks loco. FYI, for you and others the Penn State Wrestling Club is a non-profit so at the end of each fiscal year we donate our excess funds to the Penn State Wrestling Program. It has been in excess of $100k the past few years.

 

[johnstownsteel]

I grew up in Corry and graduated from PSU in ‘76. As for wrestling, I came from a poor family and had to work and save for tuition, so I never played any sport in HS. For me, it was a matter of working a job every day after school. I graduated with Jim Bennett (PA State and NCAA national champ). In HS I beat everyone I wrestled in gym class, even though all the kids weighed more. In retrospect, I wish I would have wrestled and played football. My wife and I see PSU whenever they come to Indiana, Purdue or Northwestern and we used to do the Southern Scuffle. We’ve done BIG 10s at Iowa, Michigan State and Indiana, but can’t get tix to Rec Hall for anything. Best Moment: 2018 NCAAs - When Bo flipped Miles Martin for the pin. My wife and I vaulted out of our seats at home, yelling and screaming. The dog ran upstairs and hid under the bed and the neighbors called to see if everything was okay.

Today, I am a professor at a small university in Indiana, where I’ve taught for 35 years. I teach ancient Greek, New Testament and Archaeology. You can see a documentary of my work on Amazon Prime: The Last Apostle. If interested, you can also check out some of my publications, photographs and website at: www.AncientBiblicalWorld.com. I have been selected for a Fulbright Scholar Award for the 2021-2022 year and will spend that time finishing a book and also doing research at an underwater basilica discovered at ancient Nicea in Turkey. Fifteen years ago, while teaching Greek, the students talked me into wrestling students whenever they messed up their translations. I ended up wrestling over 20 of the guys that semester. I beat everyone . . . except a heavyweight who placed in the Indiana State championships. I stopped when one of the students threw up. I read this forum almost every day and love the insights and banter – even the contributions from our Iowa friends.

I loved reading this one! And I have seen The Last Apostle .After the death of my son, I really dove into anything and everything New Testament (most notably Saul of Tarsus or Paul) and Old….eventually landiing on your film. Doctors, counseling….searching and searching until I realized inner peace for me would only come through my God and my faith. So really, In some small way you played a part in getting me well again. Don’t mean to get all “sappy” on you. Just wanna give you a heads up that sometimes a persons work may affect people in ways you didn’t really think of…

 

[PhilaNit]

KC,

I have to ask since you gave your age and said that you were at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, but did you happen to know a Norm Kreiger when you were there? He was my cousin and battled CF his entire life. He would have been a year older than you but only lived until he was 21 years old. He was from the south hills area of Pittsburgh and had documented every day of his life with CF. His notes were used for research studies for many years later.

I spent a lot of time with him and saw his struggles. So I can imagine what you may have gone through too. Glad to hear that you are doing well now. You must be a battler too.

Take care.

 

[Gray52]

I’m 51. My family and i have lived in State College the past 13 years. My wife went to school here and we feel fortunate to raise our family in Happy Valley. My daughter plays volleyball for State High. My son never enjoyed sports (he’s 6’2”, 270lbs 😳), but he is a beast in the classroom. I couldn’t be more proud of both of them. In HS, I was recruited by D2 schools for football and baseball. I chose baseball. Unfortunately, my elbow gave out midway through my HS senior baseball season and I was never the same after. I went to Clarion as a freshman to play baseball but had nothing left in my arm. So, I transferred to Slippery Rock, played a year of Rugby, and promptly gave up on collegiate sports glory.
For the past 14 years, I have been a stay-at-home dad. No question, the best 14 years of my life. Not an easy job, but rewarding. Just before Covid hit I took a part-time job working in finance/budgets. Fortunately, I’ve been able to work from home the past 1-1/2 years.
I got interested in wrestling just after graduating college. I worked as a sports writer in my hometown in western PA. Our HS team was/is pretty darn good. Following them around for 7 years, the sport really grew on me. I became a PSU season ticket holder the day Cael got hired. Outta the blue I got a call from a buddy. He said “Cael Sanderson was just hired to be the coach at Penn State. You need to hang up and get season tickets right now.” A couple hours later, I had season tickets.
I absolutely love reading this board… and I’m not gunna lie… i also like trolling HR.

 

[lookleft goright]

Well . . this has been a hoot to read all
The mini- bios of those who haunt the Wrestling Room. Thanks Psalm for the interesting nudge! I’m 72 (PSU 70) and never wrestled. I played Lacrosse 67-70 at PSU and had a room mate on the wrestling team. My sister coached 2 sports at PSU and gave me a place to crash after matches in Rec Hall throughout the 70’s. I’m a long time season ticket holder and even commuted 465 miles each way (Bristol, Va/Tn) to most matches in the 1993 to 2005 seasons. I was lucky enough to retire in 2005 and ended up buying a house in “Vortex”. Today I split my time between State College and a working farm in far southwestern VA. I’m also a wrestling season ticket holder at Virginia Tech ($60/year) and Appy State. Just like all the rest of you lucky SOB’s .... I’m just livin on Cael’s planet .... and enjoying the ride to world domination.

What are your thoughts about App State? My son is starting his freshman year there and we think it will be a great place for him.

 

[KCLion]

KC,

I have to ask since you gave your age and said that you were at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, but did you happen to know a Norm Kreiger when you were there? He was my cousin and battled CF his entire life. He would have been a year older than you but only lived until he was 21 years old. He was from the south hills area of Pittsburgh and had documented every day of his life with CF. His notes were used for research studies for many years later.

I spent a lot of time with him and saw his struggles. So I can imagine what you may have gone through too. Glad to hear that you are doing well now. You must be a battler too.

Take care.

PhilaNit,

I can’t say that I knew or remember Norm specifically. I remember that there was an area where us kids were allowed to play together while waiting for test results, appointments, etc, but we were very young. As more was learned, they started to isolate us from each other in attempt to mitigate cross infection (before it was called 5ft apart). I can assure you of this, he had to be a “fighter”, especially in those days.

In retrospect, I wish that I, too would have documented my “journey”. So many of my transplant team and staff at UPMC have asked me to write a book of inspiration for others, but so many of the memories are so foggy that I’m not sure it would be a fair depiction. Had I been as diligent as Norm obviously was, it would be a great start.

I hope that you can remember all of the best days with your cousin Norm and that you can minimize the roughest days because I can assure you that the good days are the days that he remembered with you..

 

[Nitfan]

I am a 75 year old 3 time PSU grad (BS, Masters and PhD). Season ticket holder since 1968. Still teach as an adjunct here on Long Island. Was born and raised in Manhattan NY. Have a daughter who is a doctor at North Shore LIJ here on Long Island and try to stay in shape by walking 6 or 7 miles every day. Love my Lions! WE ARE !

 

[tikk10]

I am a 75 year old 3 time PSU grad (BS, Masters and PhD). Season ticket holder since 1968. Still teach as an adjunct here on Long Island. Was born and raised in Manhattan NY. Have a daughter who is a doctor at North Shore LIJ here on Long Island and try to stay in shape by walking 6 or 7 miles every day. Love my Lions! WE ARE !

We share a lot of locations. I grew up in Levittown LI, went to HS school in Brookville, before moving to Manhattan (where I was also born). Curious where you live and teach now on LI.

 

[lookleft goright]

I was born as a lovable and cuddly child almost 62 years ago in central Illinois. In those 61 plus years, I grew into a charming, charismatic, handsome, and humble man that I am today. In between , I started wrestling as a freshman in high school - because someone told that I would be good at it. I loved it!!

My senior year I was undefeated going into state and lost first round. The only other kid on our high school team with a winning record was my younger brother who was a freshman at 98 pounds. I wrestled in Junior College: placing 4th my sophomore year. I went on to wrestle D1 and was a one time NCAA qualifier.

I got a mechanical engineering degree from Arizona State U and worked for a year and a half designing airplane engines. Then I gave it all up to go back to my college as an assistant coach (making 4,000 dollars a year). As a result of the pay cut, I began a painting company because it was what I did as a summer job and it was busy during the of season and not in the winter. After 10 years as a coach - 7 as an asst. and 3 as the head coach, Title 9 took my job away. (March 1995)

I continued painting because I had a 2 year old son when my wife died in November. The program was dropped the following March and I knew I could not raise him properly and coach wrestling at the D1 level both. I have been coaching at various high schools and junior high schools and kid clubs ever since. For over 20 of those years, I was one of the coaches at whatever program my children were at.

My oldest son (29 years old) made 2 greco junior world teams and is working a construction job in Missouri. My youngest son (18 years old) earned a partial wrestling scholarship and has just begun his freshman year at App State. We are hoping he can earn a starting spot. He loves the sport and my wife and I love watching him wrestle.

I do not feel that I have given back to the sport anywhere close to what it has given me, but I have tried. Coaching is/was the best way I could think of to contribute to society. I try to teach the kids about discipline, hard work, using their God given talents, cherishing the moments they have and being grateful for the gift of life and having a healthy body to pursue dreams and face challenges.

I am not sure if I will coach anymore, since I want to follow my son in college, but I will probably help out somewhere. You may not believe it, but there are actually some people who like me. Then again, I am charming, charismatic, handsome, and humble.

 

[KCLion]

I was born as a lovable and cuddly child almost 62 years ago in central Illinois. In those 61 plus years, I grew into a charming, charismatic, handsome, and humble man that I am today. In between , I started wrestling as a freshman in high school - because someone told that I would be good at it. I loved it!!

My senior year I was undefeated going into state and lost first round. The only other kid on our high school team with a winning record was my younger brother who was a freshman at 98 pounds. I wrestled in Junior College: placing 4th my sophomore year. I went on to wrestle D1 and was a one time NCAA qualifier.

I got a mechanical engineering degree from Arizona State U and worked for a year and a half designing airplane engines. Then I gave it all up to go back to my college as an assistant coach (making 4,000 dollars a year). As a result of the pay cut, I began a painting company because it was what I did as a summer job and it was busy during the of season and not in the winter. After 10 years as a coach - 7 as an asst. and 3 as the head coach, Title 9 took my job away. (March 1995)

I continued painting because I had a 2 year old son when my wife died in November. The program was dropped the following March and I knew I could not raise him properly and coach wrestling at the D1 level both. I have been coaching at various high schools and junior high schools and kid clubs ever since. For over 20 of those years, I was one of the coaches at whatever program my children were at.

My oldest son (29 years old) made 2 greco junior world teams and is working a construction job in Missouri. My youngest son (18 years old) earned a partial wrestling scholarship and has just begun his freshman year at App State. We are hoping he can earn a starting spot. He loves the sport and my wife and I love watching him wrestle.

I do not feel that I have given back to the sport anywhere close to what it has given me, but I have tried. Coaching is/was the best way I could think of to contribute to society. I try to teach the kids about discipline, hard work, using their God given talents, cherishing the moments they have and being grateful for the gift of life and having a healthy body to pursue dreams and face challenges.

I am not sure if I will coach anymore, since I want to follow my son in college, but I will probably help out somewhere. You may not believe it, but there are actually some people who like me. Then again, I am charming, charismatic, handsome, and humble.

Much respect for your entire story and your sixth paragraph is so on point. The sport of Wrestling has given each of us so much form those who directly participated to those who have simply enjoyed entertainment of the human struggle in competition and you have brought that so clearly into view.

 

[Nitfan]

We share a lot of locations. I grew up in Levittown LI, went to HS school in Brookville, before moving to Manhattan (where I was also born). Curious where you live and teach now on LI.

Live in Rocky Point and teach at St Joseph's college in Patchogue.

 

[baccafarmer]

What are your thoughts about App State? My son is starting his freshman year there and we think it will be a great place for him.

Boone, NC has a cool college town vibe. It’s a good bit like State College, but, perhaps only 1/3 the size. The town and college are closely knit and they love their sports. They have a surprising number of cultural events and festivals in Boone. Appy State students and fans are a very proud bunch .... and rightly so because they have a good thing going. Several ski resorts including one that is practically in town. I employed a few Appy State grads over the years (Chemistry) and they showed an earnest work ethic not unlike how PSU grads are viewed. Good luck to your son . . . and enjoy Boone and the surrounding area when you visit.

 

[AndEEss]

I'm 36 years old, married, with a beautiful baby boy.

Grew up in the Chicago suburbs. Was a four sport varsity athlete in HS (XC, track, wrestling, soccer), and ended up walking on at the University of Illinois. Got injured , took up cycling, eventually became a "pro" mountain bike racer. Good enough to get my teeth kicked in by the real talent.

Moved out west to OR a couple years after college. Worked for a very small CivE shop in Hood River, OR. Was a jack of all trades, doing everything my boss didn't want to do. CAD, GIS, surveying, density testing, concrete testing, asphalt testing, welding inspections, etc. I have an ecology degree, and saw the writing on the wall: I'd never really move up.

One day, I stopped by the local Army/Navy/Marine Corps recruiting station out in The Dalles, OR, on my way home from a job two+ hours east. The MC dudes weren't in that afternoon and the ocean scares the shit out of me. After a couple of weeks (ASVAB had to be conducted in Portland), they had two contracts drawn up. OCS (09S) or 11x Option 40 (Airborne/Ranger Assessment and Selection Program). I did best two out of three in the parking lot, and Officer Candidate School won.

Spent a year of my life at Fort Benning, GA. Basic training, OCS, IBOLC , Ranger School and Airborne. Started dating my now-wife, who was in law school in Atlanta, while there. Ten plus years later, I've been stationed in multiple locations in the US and Afghanistan. I'm no longer on active duty, but still in the Reserve, in lovely CO. I work as a DOD contractor and my wife is a professor in the University of Colorado system.

Connection to PSU: My dad was roommates with multiple HOF PSU football players. He graduated in the mid-70s.