Bellefonte Area High School

** HALL OF FAME **

Mr. Shane Alterio 

Inducted 2019

Mr. Alterio is a 2009 graduate of Bellefonte High School. He started wrestling at age 6, under Mike Masullo. He was then coached by John Wood in Jr High and then Larry Walker and Mike Maney at the varsity level.  During his high school career he was a:

• 4 time varsity letter winner
• Member of the 2007 District 6 dual championship team that qualified for dual state tournament in Hershey.
• A 2008 District 6 and NW Regional Champion at 145 pounds.
• He was a 3 time recipient of the Dave Adams award
• A 2-time MAWA Champion.
• A 3 time PIAA state qualifier and in his senior season he placed 7^th in the state at 145 lbs.
• Shane ended his high school career with a record of 115 wins and 47 loses, which currently places him 6^th on Bellefonte’s all-time wins list.

He went on to wrestle at Penn State DuBois where he was an NCWA Mid-East Conference champion as well as a 2 time PSUAC champion and a  2 time NCWA qualifier. Shane ended his college career with a 51-9 record.

Shane earned his Associate’s Degree from Penn State in Human Development and Family Studies. He resides in Zion and is a Service Sales Representative for Cintas Corporation.

Shane would like to especially thank his family and coaches for all their support during his wrestling career.

The Bellefonte Wrestling family would like to congratulate Shane Alterio for his induction into the Bellefonte Wrestling  Hall of Fame.

Mr. Daren (“JR”) Brown 

Inducted 2019

Mr. Brown is a 2007 graduate of Bellefonte High School and 2012 graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Management with an emphasis in environmental education. While at Penn State he was member of the Penn State Wrestling team, where he was a two year letter winner. 

His wrestling career at Bellefonte started at the age of 7 where he was coached by Joel Jones and Mike Masullo where he had a lot of success with multiple MAWA placings, 2^nd at the Ohio Tournament of Champions, a top 5 finish at the Pennsylvania Junior Olympics.  In 8^th grade had an undefeated season, was a Big 7 champion and was voted OW of the tournament.

JR was coached in Jr High by John Wood and Varsity by Larry Walker. As a varsity wrestler he recorded 103 career wins, placing him 12^th on Bellefonte’s all-time wins list.  He placed in the top four at the Super 32 tournament in North Carolina and in his senior season, he assisted the 2007 team by beating Bald Eagle Area in the District finals (which was the first time in many years) to qualify Bellefonte to enter the PIAA State Dual Tournament in Hershey, PA. 

JR is currently a police officer for the Spring Township Police Department. He married Allie Smith in 2014 and they have one daughter Reese.

The Bellefonte Wrestling family would like to congratulate Darren “JR” Brown for his induction into the Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mr. Preston Snyder 

Inducted 2019

Mr. Snyder is a 2008 graduate of Bellefonte High School. Preston started wrestling at a young age and came up through Bellefonte’s youth program coached by Mike Masullo.  He was coached by John Wood at the Jr High level and Larry Walker on Varsity.

During his varsity career Preston was a:

• 4 year varsity starter for Coach Walker.
• A 2008 Dave Adams award winner.
• Member of the 2007 District 6 dual championship team that qualified for dual state tournament in Hershey.
• A 2008 NW Regional Champion his senior year at 130 pounds.
• A 2 time PIAA state qualifier, placing 6^th his senior year.
• Preston ended his varsity career with over 90 wins.

After graduation Preston continued working with family in the concession business as well as on the family farm. Preston is married to Elizabeth and has three children; Hale (7), Eli (3) and Nora (1).

Preston said “through all my years of wrestling, I have learned hard work and dedication. I was lucky enough to have my twin brother, Addison by my side to push me-even if it brought us to fist fights”.

The Bellefonte Wrestling family would like to congratulate Preston Snyder for his induction into the Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mr. Tom Traxler 

Inducted 2019

Mr. Traxler is a 2012 graduate of Bellefonte High School and 2017 graduate of Lock Haven University with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. He started wrestling at age 5 and was coached at the Youth level by Mike Masullo, Jr High by Tom Alterio and finally in high school by Mike Maney, where he was a four year stand out. 

Here are Tom’s accomplishments during his Bellefonte career:

• He’s a 4 time Big 7 all star selection
• A 3 time Central Wrestling Conference all star selection
• A 4 time Mountain League all star
• A 2008 MAWA Champion
• A 4 time district 6 finalist
• One of only 5 wrestlers in Bellefonte history to become a 3 time district 6 champion
• A 4 time regional finalist winning 2 of those for regional titles.
• Tom is Bellefonte’s only 4 time PIAA state place winner finishing 5^th twice, 6^th once 7^th once
• Tom ended his career with 131 wins and 27 losses which places him 3^rd in wins, all time behind Mitchell and Brock Port.

It goes without saying that Tom is certainly one of Bellefonte’s most decorated wrestlers.

Tom has been supported throughout his career by his parents Tim and Sue Traxler, as well as his brother Joe and sisters Diana and Taryn. Tom is currently residing in Bellefonte while working in his family business.

The Bellefonte Wrestling family would like to congratulate Tom Traxler for his induction into the Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mr. Mitchell Port 

  Inducted 2017

Mr. Tyler Fishburn   

 Mr. Josh Jones    

Mr. Tim Traxler    

Mr. Don Hess  

Mr. Patrick “Pat” Corbett

Inducted 2012

Pat graduated from Bellefonte Area High School in 1958. As a young child he was involved in scouting, excelled in swimming, golf, judo, football and wrestling. While in high school he earned letters in football and wrestling. During his wrestling career he recorded 24 wins, 12 of which were pins, and 9 losses giving him a winning percentage of .727.

After graduation, Pat enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving his country for 23 years and upon his retirement held the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. He held a second degree black belt in Judo and competed in many judo competitions while in the corps.

During his military career he received the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, the Good Conduct Medal with 4 Conduct Stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three stars, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Medal.

After his retirement Pat moved to Denver Colorado and received his business degree from Metro College. While in Denver, he became involved in TREA (The Retired Enlisted Association) where he served as Director, First Vice President, and President. During his tenure as the National First Vice President, he testified before the House and Senate Veteran Affairs Committee on behalf of TREA. He met President George W. Bush on numerous occasions and was invited to two United States Presidential Inaugurations.

In 2002, Pat moved back to Bellefonte to be close to his 2 sons, Patrick, Jr., and Michael, and a daughter Carrie Ann and his 5 grandchildren.

In addition to TREA, Pat was a member of the Marine Corps League, The Masons, Veteran of Foreign Wars, American Legion, the Elks, and the Eagles. In July of 2008, while serving his second term as the National President of TREA, Pat passed away. He was buried in Union Cemetery in Bellefonte with full military honors.

Pat would be honored and proud to be inducted into the Bellefonte High School Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mr. Patrick “Pat” O. Kelley, Sr.

Inducted 2012

Pat was a 1950 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School. Upon graduation, Pat enrolled in Penn State and Gettysburg Universities for one semester each. Pat enlisted in the United States Navy and serve from 1952-1956 and was a Korean War Veteran. In 1952 he met his wife, Nancy, and they were married in 1954 and have 2 children, a son, Pat, Jr and a daughter, Kathy. They have 4 granddaughters, Heather, Megan, Sara, and Kylee.

After his service in the Navy, he went to work for Titan Metal Products, later renamed Cerro Copper and Brass, working in the Tool and Die department and later becoming a supervisor of the Estimating Engineer Department . Pat was retired from 1997 until his untimely death in January of 2009.

In 1947, as a freshman, Pat was a member of Bellefonte's first wrestling team, coached by the legendary and Hall of Fame member Glenn Smith. While wrestling at 154/165lbs., he had a career record of 28 wins, 10 losses, and 1 tie for a winning percentage of .736. While on the mat, Pat was known as a very tough and tenacious wrestler. During his high school career he earned 4 letters in wrestling and football.

Pat was a true wrestling fan, attending the district and regional tournaments for over 40 years with his friend Dick Fisher. He was also an avid Penn State Wrestling and Football fan and is dearly missed by his family, friends and everyone who knew him.

Pat would be so proud and extremely honored to be inducted into the Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mr. Woody Ishler

Inducted 2012

Woody was a 1964 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving his country for four years as a jet engine mechanic. He and his wife Pamela were married in 1966 and live in Camp Hill, PA and are blessed with three sons, Brian, Darin and David. They also have seven grandchildren, Wil, Lauren, Tyler, Gabriella, Alexis, Austin, and Sierra and love spending time with them. Woody worked 22 years for Amp, Inc and retired last year from the Mechanicsburg Navy Depot.      

Woody began his wrestling career in the 5th grade for the very successful and outstanding elementary wrestling Coach William Corbett, and gained a true compassion for the sport of wrestling. During that year he wrestled in the first "measles" tournament, after a major German measles epidemic that disrupted the regular tournament.

During his high school career, Woody lettered his sophomore, junior and senior years. He was undefeated in his junior year going into sectionals and was seeded first at 103 lbs. While working out with the Penn State team, preparing for the sectional tournament he suffered 3 cracked ribs. He tried wrestling his sectionals match but was forced to forfeit out of the tournament due to the injury. One of his most memorable matches was against Chief Logan's Woody Johnson. It was a very close match, with a very vocal and boisterous Bellefonte crowd spurring him on to a barn-burner victory winning by 1 point. While at Bellefonte, Woody recorded 25 wins, 7 losses for a career percentage of .781

Wrestling taught him that if you believe not only with your head, but also with your heart, you can do anything. Woody has fond memories of wrestling with so many fine athletes, as well as, his coaches, Bill Corbett, Guy Guccione& Tom Musser who contributed to his love for the sport and gave him positive guidance.

He is extremely proud and honored to be inducted into the Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mr. George Lyons, Jr.

Inducted 2012

George was a 1995 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School. Upon graduation, he went to work for Bellefonte Lime Company, currently known as Graymont. While employed with Graymont he traveled around the United States and Canada training others on the new computer system that was being implemented. In 2005 he took a position with J.P Donmoyer Trucking Company where he currently manages a fleet of 30 or more trucks and drivers.

George and his wife Kristin were married in 2000. They have a daughter Sophia and a son Mitchell. While at a Bellefonte wrestling match before his son was born he read the name Mitchell Port on the roster and decided he would name his son Mitchell.

George's parents are George, Sr and Diana Lyons. He has a sister Janel and a brother Joel who was inducted into the class of 2011 Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame.

George began his wrestling career in 1984 at the Bellefonte YMCA under Coach Wayne Gephart. During his elementary career he made 2 trips to the Junior Olympics States in Erie, Pa, and a trip to the AAU Eastern Nationals where he placed 5th. In 1989 he began his junior high wrestling career under Coaches Pat Masullo and Roger Port. In the last year of junior high he was undefeated with a record of 22 wins, no losses and 1 tie. He wrestled varsity from 1992-1995 earning varsity letters, wrestling for Coach Fran Johnson. His sophomore year, George lost a tough match in the last few seconds in the quarter finals of the district tournament and then lost a close match in the semi-final consolation round ending his sophomore year. In his junior year he suffered a dislocated arm during the Bald Eagle match and was unable to wrestle until his senior year. During George' senior year he won the District 6 Title, recording 4 wins, 3 of which were by falls. In his final match he pinned Tony Rinella from Lock Haven. He went on to the regional tournament and lost to Shane McChesney from Corry in the finals qualifying him for the state tournament in Hershey.

George is honored to be inducted into the 2012 Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mr. Joel Lyons  

Inducted 2011

Joel is a 2000 graduate of Bellefonte High School and a 2005 graduate of Lock Haven University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education.  At Bellefonte, Joel was a three year wrestling letter-winner and posted a career record of 71-38.  When he graduated, he was tied for #2 on Bellefonteâs all-time career fall leader list.  In the 64-year history of Bellefonte wrestling, Joel is one of only two wrestlers who have recorded more than 70 career wins and also recorded falls in more than 50% of his victories.  Joel was also a standout defensive lineman on the 1999 Bellefonte football team which won the District 6AAA championship and advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals.  Joel will always be remembered for demonstrating uncommon sacrifice for his team and his teammates; even in a sport as tough as wrestling.  He finished his senior football season weighing 205 pounds and three months later Joel won the 160-pound title at the Class AAA Northwest Regional Tournament at Clarion University.  Earlier in his senior season, Joelâs victory by fall in the 160-pound 2000 Centre County Tournament finals clinched the first and only team title that Bellefonte ever won in the history of that storied event.  In his career, Joel never wrestled in the district finals; but his two regional tournaments will always be a part of Bellefonteâs great and growing post-season lore.  As a junior, Joel went 5-1 in the regional tournament with his only defeat coming at the hands of DuBoisâ state champion Garret Bontempo.  En route to his 3^rd place regional finish and state qualifier status, Joel became the first and still only wrestler from any school to ever record 4 falls a single Northwest Region Class AAA tournament.  As a senior, Joel roared to his regional title with a 4-0 record at Clarion; knocking off the favored District 9 champion by a 3-2 count in the semi finals and then winning by injury default in the finals over the District 10 champion.  After working for several years in management for WAWA in Philadelphia, Joel returned to Centre County and is currently a manager with the Apple American group in State College.  He is being presented for induction by his parents George and Diane Lyons and his brother George and nephew (Mitchell) and niece (Sophia).

Mr. Michael "Mike" Reish   

Inducted 2011

Mike is a 2002 graduate of Bellefonte High School.  He went on to graduate in 2006 from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutritional Sciences and from Marywood College in 2008 with a 3.97 GPA and a Master of Science Degree in Sports Nutrition and Exercise Science.  Due to his excellence in the classroom, Mike is a member of the distinguished academic honors society, Kappa Omicron Nu.  At Bellefonte, Mike earned four-year varsity letters in wrestling and three in baseball; where he was awarded all-conference recognition as a senior centerfielder.  But it was as a wrestler that Mike truly made his name as one of Bellefonteâs all-time greats.  Mikeâs career started as a 2^nd grader in Bellefonteâs Youth Program under Hall-of-Famer Andy Thal.  In 1997, Mikeâs youth career reached its summit as he won the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling 80-pound state championship.  He went on to post an outstanding 126-20 career varsity record; which included an awesome record of 70-1 in dual meet bouts.  He recorded 40 career falls.  At the time of his graduation, Mike was Bellefonteâs career leader in wins and #3 on the schoolâs all-time falls list.  Mike became the second 4-Time District Champion in Bellefonte history when he claimed titles in 1999 at 103; 2000 at 112; 2001 at 125; and 2002 at 130.  He joined the great Dave Adams as a 3-time regional champion by winning titles in 1999, 2000, and 2001.  He also placed 3^rd in the 2002 regional tournament.  Mike earned all-state recognition with his 8^th place medal at the 2000 PIAA tournament.  At Cornell, Mike competed at 141 and 149 pounds for PA wrestling legend Coach Rob Koll.  His nationally-ranked Cornell teams won four consecutive Ivy League titles and the 2006 EIWA team championship.  Cornell finished in the Top 5 teams at the NCAA tournament during both Mikeâs junior and senior seasons.  In his final season at Cornell, Mike backed up future NCAA Champion Jordan Leen.  When Leen was injured and unable to compete in the national team duals, Mike stepped into the Big Red lineup and won the meet-deciding bout for Cornell against Northern Iowa.  That performance in the 2006 NCAA Team Duals earned Mike Cornellâs prestigious â11^th Man Award.❠ In two years leading up to his induction, Mike has studied and worked as a registered dietician at the Hershey Medical Center, Penn State University, and Restek Corporation.  Presently, Mike lives in Morris Plains, New Jersey where he works at the Life Time Athletic Health Club as a registered dietician and personal trainer.  He also serves as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach at Whippany Park High School.  Mike is being presented for induction by his parents Lew and Cheryl Reish.

Mr. Jason Scott   

Inducted 2011

Jason is a 2000 graduate of Bellefonte High School and also a graduate of Penn College of Technology in Williamsport, PA, where he majored in Tool and Dye Trades.  At Bellefonte, Jason was a three year wrestling letter-winner and posted a career record of 77-29 with 14 falls.  Jason was a tough, hard-nosed wrestler who was never charged with using any injury time in his 106 career bouts in a Raider singlet.  He epitomized the success that comes through intense work ethic and dedication as he improved throughout his career.  Jason posted a 22-14 record as a sophomore and then went 20-9 as a junior in which he placed 3^rd in the District 6AAA tournament and qualified for the regional tournament.  As a senior, Jason put together a super 37-6 season that included championships in the Centre County Tournament and the 171-pound title in the District 6AAA tournament.  Jason was a terrifically conditioned wrestler who won many very close bouts in the final period or seconds.  His 4-2 win over Philipsburg-Osceola star Aaron Levonick in a late January 2000 dual meet mathematically clinched Bellefonteâs stunning upset of the Mounties who were 12-0 entering the dual meet and ranked among the stateâs top teams.  Jason won similar, hard-fought down to the wire decisions against the same tough opponents in both the County and District finals.   Jason was the 2000 Northwest Regional Runner-up at 171 to eventual state champion Dusty Heist of Meadville.  But it was Jasonâs win the regional semi finals over the District 8 champion that sealed the teamâs five for five Saturday morning run to the finals in Clarion and clinched the Raidersâ first and only team regional team title.  In the state tournament, Jason was on fire in the first two rounds recording 8 takedowns in a pair of win; before dropping a hard-fought semi final bout on Saturday morning.  He wrestled back to earn the 4^th place medal and All-State status to close out his Bellefonte career.  Presently, Jason works full-time on the Scott Family Farm; and with his parents and his wife in Scottâs Family Concession and Catering Business in Bellefonte.  Jason is being presented for induction by his parents George and Brenda Scott and by his wife Amanda, and their 8-month old daughter Bailee.

Mr. Michael "Mike" Gardner

Inducted 2011

Mike is a 2001 graduate of Bellefonte High School and a 2003 graduate of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, PA where he earned an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Masonry Technology with Magna Cum Laude academic honors.  At Bellefonte, Mike was a three year wrestling letter-winner and posted a career record of 96-26 record with 43 falls.  At the time of his graduation, Mike was #2 on Bellefonteâs all-time fall leadersâ chart behind Hall-of-Famer Scott Corl.  Mike was a tenacious competitor who began wrestling as a 4-year old in the 45 pound weight class; despite being more than 5 pounds under weight.  Mike placed 3^rd in District 6AAA and 4^th in the Northwest Regional as a sophomore at 112 despite weighing just 100 pounds.  He was the District 6 Class AAA champion in 2000 at 103 and in 2001 at 112.  He went on to earn regional runner-up awards in both of those seasons and earned All-State status with a 3^rd place finish at 103 in the 2000 PIAA Tournament.  Mike got the Raiders off and running to both their Centre County and Northwest Regional Team Titles.  In the 2000 Centre County tournament finals, Mike launched the Raiders championship run in the finals with a technical fall victory over State Collegeâs future PIAA state champion and University of Pittsburgh NCAA All-American Matt Kocher.  And, Mikeâs dominating 13-6 win over Erie Cathedral Prepâs unbeaten Sean Wise in the regional semi finals, started Bellefonteâs perfect round and run to the team title.  Mikeâs great success at Bellefonte carried over to his career at Thaddeus Stevens where he earned National Junior College Athletic Association All-American status with a 6^th place finish at the 2003 NJCAA Tournament.  Mike lives in Lancaster County and currently works a mason and certified welder for Witmer Masonry and Restoration.  He has also served as a PIAA high school wrestling referee since 2006.  Mike is being presented for induction by his parents, Jerry, Sr., and Karen Gardner; and by his wife JoAnna and their daughter (Adoree) and son (Zane).

Captain Nathan "Nate" Lingle  

Inducted 2011

Nate is a 2001 graduate of Bellefonte High School and a 2006 graduate of West Virginia University where he graduated with honors while earning at Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.  Nate was also commissioned as a US Army Lieutenant through the Army ROTC program at West Virginia University.  At Bellefonte, Nate was a four year wrestling letter-winner and posted a career record of 112-43 record with 37 falls.  Nate was a powerful and punishing mat wrestler who carried on Bellefonteâs great tradition of being proficient with leg wrestling.  Nateâs daily brutal live scrimmage sessions during his career with Bellefonte Assistant Coach and Hall-of-Famer Jim Thal will remain an enduring image of how intense Raider practices were during the 1999-2000 season âWhen the Raiders Ruled the Region!❠ Nate won back to back District 6 and Northwest Regional Class AAA championships at 119 pounds in 2000 and 2001.  He was a two-time All-State wrestler placing 5^th as a junior and 6^th as a senior in the PIAA tournament at Hershey.  Nate won a thrilling 3-2 decision over Bald Eagle Area star Adam Fisher in the 2000 Centre County Tournament finals at State College avenging several defeats earlier in his career and helping push the Raiders to their long-awaited Team Title.  Nate continued his wrestling career at West Virginia where he was coached by NCAA legends Craig Turnbull and Zeke Jones during the four years that he was a member of the powerful Mountaineer program.  After graduating from college, Nate attended and graduated from the US Army Infantry Officers Course, Ranger School, and Airborne School.  He was assigned to the 101^st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as a platoon leader in March 2007 and deployed to Iraq in October 2007.  During his more than year-long deployment, Nate and his soldiers were involved in more than 400 combat missions, including 10 air assault missions in the explosive region south of Baghdad.  At the conclusion of their Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment, Nate and the soldiers of the 101^st returned to Fort Campbell to a heroâs welcome.  Presently, Nate is in the midst of a career transition as he leaves the US Army for a position in private industry.  Nate, who was supported throughout his wrestling career by his sisters Amber, Heather, and Heidi, is being presented for induction by his parents, Larry and Cindy Lingle.

Mr. William "Bill" Alterio  

Inducted 2010

William (Bill) Rocky Alterio was a 1950 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School. In 1951 he married Mary Corl before serving our country in Korea . Bill and Mary had 3 sons, Dave, Bob and Tom, and 1 daughter Linda.

Bill Alterio was a member of Bellefontes+

+first wrestling team, coached by Glenn Smith in 1947. As a freshman, Bill wrestled as a varsity starter at 145 lbs. For the next four years, Bill was a main stay at 138 and 145 lbs. The first two years of Bellefonte wrestling were truly a trial period, with dual meets against powerful teams like Clearfield and Muncy, which were a mere exhibition to see if the sport would take off. With a strong core of dedicated team mates, Bellefonte became a state power in 1949, and Bill was there to anchor the team. Being a starter all four years he wrestled, Bill became known as a tough mat wrestler by riding out opponents in an era where riding time was a factor in wins. This was a time when only the district champion moved on for a shot at a state title, and Bill was a district runner-up in 1949 and 1950, losing close matches to hall of famers and state champions Jerry Maurry of Clearfield and Charlie Roselle of Chief Logan.

In 1949, Bill was a member of the team that wrestled against Clearfield at Penn States Recreational Hall in front of an estimated crowd of 6,000, with Bellefonte dropping a hard fought 21-20 dual meet. This was the first ever high school match to be wrestled at Rec Hall and proved to really jump start high school wrestling to new heights in central Pennsyvania.

The 1950 team was undefeated tying 17-17 with the powerful Clearfield team that was considered the cream of Pennsylvania wrestling. Wrestling became a sport that the community supported, and Bill joined that supportive community after he graduated in 1950. Bill was also a four year starter at right guard for the Bellefonte football team and earned Big 33 honorable mention in 1950.

Bill lived and supported Bellefonte Athletics all his life and instilled his passion for sports in his three sons. Many people remember seeing Bill wrestling his wife Mary while they were in the stands watching their sons compete. The Alterio family, under Bills guidance, has produced Bellefonte wrestlers that cover the decades from the 1940s to the present. His family, including his sons and grandsons, have 23 varsity letters in wrestling and many more from participating in other Bellefonte athletics.

Bill died suddenly of cancer in 1985. While he had the pleasure of watching and coaching his three sons, he never had the chance to see his grandsons compete. He would have been proud to see the tradition continue and to watch his grandsons reach the accomplishments he dreamed of. Bill demanded a commitment to wrestling . . . to give it your all and to never, never quit . . . no matter what. He taught his family well and they passed that down through generations of family and friends involved in wrestling.

The Wrestling team of 1947 was truly a pioneering group of young men. Bill often mentioned how proud he was to have been a founding member of a sport that made Bellefonte a proud community. His family is very proud of what he started, and through all the years of Bellefonte Wrestling, a piece of him is still there.

To participate in a sport that demands so much, where there is no place to hide when you lose, and to give it your all and compete. If you can say youre a wrestler, then I can say youre a man and I would be proud to know you. Bill Alterio believed this, lived it, and instilled it in others. He was proud to be part of Bellefonte Wrestling, and so is his family, who continue his tradition of dedication, toughness, and sportsmanship in a sport that he loved and was so proud of.

Bill would have been extremely honored to be inducted into the Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame, as is his entire family.

Mr. Dan Faulkner   

Inducted 2010

Dan Graduated from Bellefonte High School in 1970. After his high school graduation, Dan went on to Temple University and earned a BS in Education.

At Bellefonte, Dan earned 9 Varsity letters, 3 in wrestling, 3 in Football and 3 in baseball. Dan played quarterback on the football team for 3 years leading Bellefonte High School to their first undefeated season in 1968. His junior and senior year, he was 2nd team All State . Dan, also wrestled 3 years on the varsity team. He was undefeated his junior year and lost in the District finals to Wade Schalles, from Hollidaysburg, who went on to win the 154lb state championship.

While at Temple University, Dan wrestled 1 year and lettered in football for 3 years. He was a starter on the football team for 3 years and lead the team in interceptions.

For 2 years Dan coached football and taught at Pennsbury High School. He then went on to coach football and teach at Delaware Valley College for 6 years. As the football coach, at Delaware Valley his football teams won 3 MAC Football Championships.

Dan and his wife Connie reside in Colorado and have 4 children, Katie, Amy, Paden and Jared. Dan is employed by Lee Carpets in Colorado.

Dan is very proud and honored to be inducted into the Bellefonte High School Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mr. Ellery Seitz  

Inducted 2010

Ellery graduated from Bellefonte Area High School in 1962. After graduating he went on to Penn State University on a football grant in aide. After graduating from Penn State he went on to the University of Pennsylvania and earned a degree in Physical Therapy. He resides in Blackburg, VA where he is a Physical Therapist. Ellery is married to Mary Kathryn Goette. They have 4 daughters. It has been said, that Ellery Seitz was considered one of the best athletes to graduate from Bellefonte Area High School.

While in high school he earned 10 varsity letters, 4 in baseball, 3 in wrestling, and 3 in football. Ellery was selected to the Big 33 All Star team playing for the Pennsylvania Western Division against the Eastern Division.

Ellerys 3 year varsity record was 37 wins and 15 losses. As a junior he won the Boiling Springs Holiday Tournament. In Ellerys Senior year he was a district runner-up, losing a hard fought, 4-3 decision to defending state champion, Jerry Swope of Lock Haven. Swope went on to win his second state championship that year..

At Penn State, he earned 6 letters, 3 in football, while playing for Coach Rip Engel and was a defensive co-captain his senior year. He earned 3 letters in wrestling, wrestling 2 years for Charlie Doc Speidel, and 2 years for Bill Koll. In the 1965/1966 season he co-captained the wrestling team. He placed 4th and 3rd in the EIWA Championships which qualified him for the NCAA Championships his junior and senior years. In 1968, he qualified for the Olympic Trials placing 1st and 2nd, but was unable to participate any further. Ellery participated in the Bellefonte YMCA 1968 state tournament, placing 2nd and in the National YMCA Tournament in Akron, Ohio. He also placed 4th in Freestyle and 1st in Grecco Roman.

Ellery is very proud and honored to be inducted into the Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2010.

Mr. Gary Young    

Inducted 2010

Gary was a 1964 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School. After graduation, he attended Williamsport Technical Institute, and then served in the United States Navy. After military service, he was employed by Applied Research Lab at Penn State University from where he retired. In 1966, Gary married Linda Ishler. Gary and his wife Linda are now living in Richmond, Virginia, and they have one son, Terry, who is currently employed by Verizon Communications.

Gary began wrestling during the 5th grade, under Coach William Corbett, who initiated a grade school and junior high wrestling program. He won his weight class every year matching his desire and talents to continue his wrestling career. He wrestled varsity for four seasons, (1961-1964), all at the 95lb. weight class compiling a record of 48 wins and 13 losses. As a freshman he began wrestling at the 95lb weight class on the varsity team, weighing in at only 88lbs and taking his lumps and eating what he wanted. In 1962, he pinned an opponent in 15 seconds. In 1962, 1963, and 1964, he recorded 3 Sectional Championships, and in 1964 was a runner-up in the Districts to Lock Havens Larry Rippey, ending Garys chances to advance to the regional and state tournaments,
in a time when only the district champion moved on,

Gary would like to acknowledge the coaches that pushed him to excel in the Bellefonte Area Wrestling program, William Corbett, Guy Guccione, and Tom Musser and say he is proud to be a part of the Bellefonte wrestling program and very honored to be inducted into the Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mr. Richard Houser

Inducted 2009

Rich was a 1967 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School.  He wrestled three years, 1965 to 1967 under Hall of Fame member, Coach Tom Musser.  In 1967 he won the 138 pound District 6 Championship.

After graduation he attended St. Francis College in Loretto along with Hall of Fame member Jim Torsell, compiling a record of 13-5 as a Freshman.

In October, 1968 Rich joined the United States Navy and served until 1972.  While in the Navy, he met his first wife Sherrie.  There were married and June 9, 1973.

After his discharge from the Navy, he attended Millersville University and wrestled one year at heavyweight.

He and Sherrie settled in Lancaster and have three sons, Jason, 31, who also served 13 years in the Navy, Bryan, 29 a Lancaster postman, and Eric, 27, an assistant manager at a Lancaster restaurant.  Rich and Sherrie also have four grandchildren.

He has worked as a salesman in the food sales business of one type or another.

Rich’s dad, Norm, and stepmother, Jo, living in the State College area.  His sister, Susan, is also a local resident.  He also has two brothers, Jim and David.

Rich is honored to be placed in the Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Due to a conflict with his work schedule, Rich is unable to attend this evening.

Mr. Roger Port

Inducted 2009

Roger is a 1988 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School.  He was a three year varsity wrestler for the Red Raiders.  He began his varsity career as a sophomore at 98 pounds.  His senior year he posted a 24-5-1 record, coached by Hall of Famer John Wood.  That year, Roger won the 132 pound Championship at the Boiling Springs Holiday Tournament and then won the Centre County Tournament at 126 pounds. Roger then went on to claim the District 6 Championship also at 126 pounds.

After graduation Roger continued his love for wrestling by coach the Junior High team for four years.  Today he enjoys helping out with the Bellefonte Youth Wrestling Program which his son participates in.

Roger and his wife, Stacy, have two children, Brock, 10 and Makenna, 5, and they reside in Bellefonte.

Mr. Harry "Skip" Whitehill

Inducted 2009

Skip was a 1961 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School where he participated in three sports – football, baseball and wrestling – earning 11 varsity letters in the sports.  In 1961, he was named to the  All Centre County Football Team as a running back and linebacker.

His wrestling career began in 6^th grade under Coach William Corbett.  During his freshman and sophomore years, Skip was coach by Mike Flanagan, his junior year he was coached by Hall of Famer Sam Markle, and his senior year he was coached by Guy Guccione, wrestling at 154 pounds and compiling a record of 11-2-1.  In the Sectional Tournament held in Lock Haven in 1961, he pinned Len Rockey from State College and Marty Rusnak from Philipsburg Osceola.  Skip went on to win the 154 pound District 6 Championship by defeating Hollidayburg’s Terry McKendree 8-2 in the finals, and placed second at Regionals.

After graduation, he enrolled at Lycoming College where he played football and earned a Bachlelor of Arts Degree in Psychology.  In 1999, he retired after 29 years of working in a variety of sales and sales management positions with Xerox Corporation.

Skip and his wife Mary, also a Bellefonte graduate, are the parents of three children, Andrew, Michele, and Seth, and they presently reside in Bellefonte.

Mr. Bill Workman

Inducted 2009

 Bill’s wrestling career began in 1968 under Hall of Famer Sam Markle.  His varsity career began in 1970 as a freshman coached by Sam Markle.  During this freshman year, he was undefeated, wond the Centre County Tournament, and was tied for the most team pins.  Due to an operation, Bill missed his sophomore year.  In 1972, he continued his wrestling career under Hall of Famer Tom Muir.  In the Sectional Tournament held in Lock Haven in 1973, Bill defeated Bill Cole from Penns Valley, Butch Henry from Bald Eagle Area, and Dave Coffee from Bald Eagle Nittany.  He then went on the win the 119 pound District 6 Championship by defeating an undefeated wrestler in the semifinals.  At the Regionals that year, he was defeated by Jimmy Carr in the semifinals.  Carr was a member of the United States Olympic Team in 1972 before becoming a Pennsylvania State Champion in 1973.

After graduation Bill attended Thaddeus Stevens Trade School.

Bill’s parents are Bill and Janice.

Bill and his wife, Faith, have been married for 25 years and reside in Bellefonte.  He has four children, Jamie, 32, Laura, 28, Joshua, 23, and Erica, 21, as well as three granddaughters, Abigail, Victoria, and Madyson.  Bill previously worked for Cerro Metal Products for 30 years and is presently employed by Graymont Lime Company.

Mr. Mike Masullo

Inducted 2008

Mr. John Wood

Inducted 2008

Mr. Tom Muir

Inducted 2008

Mr. Dennis Sciabica

Inducted 2007

Mr. Shawn Fishburn

Inducted 2007

Mr. Frank Masullo

Inducted 2007

Mr. Steve Yarnell & Mrs Linda Yarnell

Inducted 2007

Mr. Tony Lingenfelter

Inducted 2006

Mr. Kenneth "Buck" Smith

Inducted 2006

Mr. Rodney Mitchell

Inducted 2006

Mr. Thomas Crater

Inducted 2006

Mr. Jeremy Rose

Inducted 2006

Mr. Budd Whitehill

Inducted 2005

Mr. John Weber, Mr Ed Pierce, and Mr Ralph Dale

Inducted 2005

Mr. Sam Markle

Inducted 2005

Mr. Brandon Frantz

Inducted 2004

Mr. Frantz is a 1997 graduate of Bellefonte High School and a 2002 graduate of Penn State University.  He was coached in high school by Dr. Fran Johnson.  He was a member of the Penn State wrestling team throughout his college career.  At Bellefonte, Mr. Frantz was a three-year varsity starter.  His overall record at Bellefonte was 79-27 (including an outstanding 62-10 mark during his final two seasons).  Forty three of his seventy nine career wins were worth bonus points.  Included in that total were 27 falls. 

     After a .500 sophomore season in which he normally competed several weight classes above his natural weight, Mr. Frantz worked intensely to improve.  A 3rd place finish in the Eastern Regional AAU Championships sent him on his way to a superb final two seasons in his Raider career.  He was runner-up in the 1995 and 1996 Warren Holiday Tournament.  He won Bellefonte’s first-ever Lock Haven Holiday Classic title as a junior in December 1995 and he was a runner-up in that event the following year. 

     He won a pair of very impressive and thrilling, back-to-back Centre County Tournament Championships in 1996 and 1997.  In the host Philipsburg-Osceola gym, Mr. Frantz was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the 1997 event after defeating Bald Eagle Area’s future PIAA champion and two-time NCAA All-American, Mike Maney, in the finals. 

     He also defeated the BEA star two more times that season; in both the District Six finals and again in the District 6-9 Sub-Regional Finals.  With a dominating 5-0 decision in the Altoona Fieldhouse, Mr. Frantz won the 50th District 6 Championship in school history. One year earlier, he had rallied from an upset loss in the District 6 quarterfinals to win four straight matches and claim 3rd place.  He was a regional runner-up in 1997 and advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals. 

Upon his graduation from Penn State, Mr. Frantz served as a Bellefonte assistant coach under fellow Hall of Larry Walker for two seasons.  As of his induction, the youngest member of Bellefonte’s Hall of Fame lives in Baltimore where he works as a manager for Mass Movement.  He plans to return to coaching in the future. 

Mr. Gary Poorman

Inducted 2004

Mr. Poorman is a 1961 graduate of Bellefonte High School.  He was coached in high school by Mike Flanagan, Sam Markle, and Guy Guccione.  Mr. Poorman was a four-year varsity standout who compiled an outstanding 56-7 career record.  That record included a marvelous 39-3 mark (with 20 falls) in dual meet bouts. 

As of his induction, Mr. Poorman still has the 6th best won-loss record in the Bellefonte’s storied six decades of high school wrestling.  The only five wrestlers in Bellefonte history with better won-loss records are previous Hall of Fame inductees and each of them wrestled prior to Mr. Poorman’s outstanding career. 

Mr. Poorman, who was called the “toughest guy I ever wrestled” by fellow Hall of Famer, Andy Thal, won the first two Boiling Springs Tournament titles in Bellefonte History when he won back to back 112-pound titles at that holiday classic in 1959 and 1960. 

For several decades after his graduation, Mr. Poorman still held the school record for pinning consecutive opponents by recording eight straight falls.  That achievement broke a record that was co-owned by Bellefonte state champions and charter members of the Hall of Fame, Ken Moyer and Ron Pifer.  Mr. Poorman recorded a 17-second fall; which at the time of his graduation was the second fastest pin in school history. 

In 1961, while competing at 112 pounds, he won the school’s first-ever sectional championship.  The following week, Mr. Poorman won the 25th District 6 Championship in Bellefonte history. 

Mr. Poorman’s great accomplishments have withstood the test of time and more than four decades after he wrestled for Bellefonte; his record still ranks among the best-ever among Red Raiders.

Mr. Andy Thal

Inducted 2004

Mr. Thal is a 1959 graduate of Bellefonte High School who earned three letters as a varsity starter in 1957, 1958, and 1959.  In his three-year career as a Raider lightweight, Mr. Thal posted an overall record of 27-15-3 and more than half of his wins were falls.

While he was coached in high school by Mike Flanagan, Mr. Thal had the distinct privilege of being a part of the Raider Wrestling Family for more than a decade before he reached the varsity level.  Beginning in the late 1940’s as an elementary school youth, Mr. Thal worked out in the Bellefonte wrestling room with some of the school’s and Pennsylvania’s most legendary wrestlers and coaches.  Included in that group were eight members of the 1999 charter class of Bellefonte Hall of Fame inductees. 

Now in his amazing 6th decade of contribution to and involvement with the sport and his school community, Mr. Thal has achieved a legacy that merits his induction into the Hall of Fame.  He has served the youth of the Bellefonte community for nearly four decades as a Little League baseball coach.  Mr. Thal led the effort to officially rename Bellefonte’s outstanding elementary wrestling tournament as the “Larry Fornicola Memorial Tournament,” in honor of the lone NCAA champ to come from the storied Bellefonte program. 

Throughout the 1970’s and 80’s, Mr. Thal was considered by fans, coaches, and wrestlers across the state to be one of the premier and most-preferred officials for major dual meets and key tournaments including the PIAA Championships.  He is generally regarded to be one of the finest referee mentors anywhere in Pennsylvania; and many of his former understudies have gone on to become top-flight PIAA and NCAA referees. 

When he first walked into the legendary Coach Glenn Smith’s practice room as a seven year old in 1948; Mr. Thal surely could have never dreamed that nearly sixty years later he would still be a living, breathing symbol of every era in Bellefonte’s wrestling history. 

Yet, while his profound love of the program has withstood the test of time; no wrestling moment ever touched Mr. Thal as deeply as on that March night in 1991 when his son Jim won the 9th PIAA state title in school history.  At that moment, Mr. Thal simply smiled and then he wept.   

Mr. Larry Walker

Inducted 2004

Mr. Walker is a 1987 graduate of Bellefonte High School and a 1992 graduate of Lock Haven University.  He was coached in high school by John Wood.  Mr. Walker was an outstanding three-sport athlete who led the Red Raiders to multi-sport excellence during his senior year. 

In the fall, his all-conference performance on the football field helped propel Bellefonte to their finest season in more two decades and to the Big 8 and Central Counties Conference titles.  In the winter, Mr. Walker moved on to the wrestling mats where he won a Centre County Tournament championship at 167 pounds.  He won the 40th District 6 championship in Bellefonte history by pinning Hollidaysburg’s outstanding Dane Delozier in the 167-pound AAA finals of the 1987 tournament.  He was the 1987 regional runner-up and joined fellow Hall of Famers Todd Fishburn and Ken Walker in the state tournament.  Mr. Walker advanced to the quarterfinals of the PIAA tournament as the team finished in the Top 10 for the first time since the PIAA officially began team scoring at the states. 

As soon as wrestling season ended, Mr. Walker moved on to the baseball diamond where he was a standout infielder on what may have been the greatest team in school history; as the Raiders won the District 6 title, before placing 3rd in the state. 

Mr. Walker moved on to Lock Haven University, where his outstanding wrestling career saw him qualify for and compete twice in the NCAA Championships.  On the college football field, he was a devastating tackler for the LHU defense and made several All-American teams.  More than a decade after he last played for LHU, Mr. Walker still holds the school records for tackles in a game, season, and career. 

Following graduation from LHU, Mr. Walker returned to his alma mater and served as an assistant coach to Dr. Fran Johnson for several seasons.  He assumed the role of head coach at Bellefonte at the start of the 1997-98 season and while his coaching career is still young, it has seen some fine success.  His 1999-2000 team won the school’s first-ever Centre County Tournament and Northwest Regional Team Championships and qualified five wrestlers for the state tournament enroute to four place winners and a 4th place PIAA finish.  As of his induction, Mr. Walker has coached 10 District 6 champions, 6 Northwest Regional Champions, and 5 PIAA place winners.  As a tribute to the efforts of so many people involved with the Bellefonte youth and junior high wrestling programs, Mr. Walker plans to add to those numbers in upcoming seasons.

Mr. Stan Mousetis

Inducted 2003

Mr. Mousetis is a coaching legend in Pennsylvania and across the United States. He began his career as an assistant coach at Bellefonte under the program’s founding father, Coach Glenn Smith. In 1953, Mr. Mousetis became the head coach at Bellefonte High School. In his three year stint at Bellefonte, Coach Mousetis guided the Red Raiders to a dual meet record of 25-6. In that brief period of time, his wrestlers won 7 District Six titles, 4 Central Northwest Titles, and a pair of PIAA championships. In fact, probably the most famous Bellefonte wrestling photograph ever taken features ecstatic first-year head coach Stan Mousetis flanked with his arms around 1953 Red Raider state champions Ken Moyer and Dave Adams shortly after the state finals. Coach Mousetis led the Red Raider powerhouse to a perfect 10-0 dual meet mark in 1954 against what was considered to be the state’s most difficult schedule. Thus, that Raider team was considered by the experts at the time to be the number team in the state. His 1954 and 1955 won the District 6 Tournament team titles. Those were the first two seasons that District Six ever awarded a team title; and to this day, they are the only two ever claimed by Bellefonte. Coach Mousetis moved on from Bellefonte following the 1955 season, but his legacy remains forever. In a career that spanned more than four decades after he left Bellefonte, Coach Mousetis’ teams at four different high schools produced an all-time record of 343-260-11; placing him the state’s all-time Top 25 for career wins. He was inducted into the prestigious Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches’ Hall-of-Fame in 1994.

Mr. Albert Leitzell

Inducted 2003

Mr. Leitzell was a standout wrestler at Bellefonte High School under Coach Tom Muir. During his senior season of 1971, Mr. Leitzell was one of the favorites to win the 165 pound weight class. That year he knocked off Les Shcrader of Shamokin at the Boiling Springs tournament. The loss convinced Les to drop to the 154 pound weight class at the end of the year. Les went on to win the 154 PIAA gold medal. Mr. Leitzell’s battles with Hollidaysburg’s Dan Brenneman were epic. They wrestled in dual meet action early in the season with the match ending in a draw. At the District Six tournament, overtime was required to decide the outcome with Mr. Brenneman coming out on top. Brenneman went on to win gold the following week at the PIAA Championships. There were no wrestlebacks in 1971.

Albert was well respected by his teammates and the Bellefonte student body. He was also a standout Linebacker and fullback for the legendary coach William Luther.

Mr. Robbie Weikel

Inducted 2003

Mr. Weikel graduated from Bellefonte High School in 1996. He was a four year varsity standout. He was coached in high school by Fran Johnson. At the time of his graduation, Mr. Weikel had the most wins in Bellefonte’s long and storied program with an overall mark of 109-14. He was also one of just three wrestlers in school history to have won at least three District Six titles as he won in 1994 at 130 pounds; 1995 at 135 pounds; and 1996 at 140 pounds. He followed those performances with a pair of terrific regional performances as he won back-to-back Northwest Regional crowns in 1995 and 1996. He rolled to the state finals in 1996; where he was the PIAA Class AAA silver medalist. Mr. Weikel represented Pennsylvania in the nation’s premier high school all-star wrestling meet; the Dapper Dan Classic in Pittsburgh and then continued his career at Lock Haven University. Mr. Weikel is now a teacher in Clinton County and just completed a very successful first year as the head wrestling coach at Central Mountain High School in which his wrestlers won three medals at the 2003 PIAA tournament.

Mr. Bob Wert

Inducted 2003

  Mr. Wert was a three year varsity wrestler for the Red Raiders from 1953 through 1955. His high school coach was Hall-of-Famer Stan Mousetis. Mr. Wert was one of Bellefonte’s greatest wrestlers on some of the school’s greatest teams. His all-time record was 39-4; including a terrific dual meet mark of 27-1. He served as a captain on Bellefonte’s only two District Six team championship squads in 1954 and 1955. As a junior, he was a key performer on the Raiders’ perfect season and top state ranking. He finished that season as a District Six runner up. Mr. Wert then captured the 1955 District Six title at 120 pounds. He was one of four Raiders to claim District crowns for Coach Mousetis that evening during the team’s title run. Mr. Wert was unbeaten in dual meet competition as a junior and senior; and in his remarkable senior season he did not yield a single bout point in dual meet competition. Mr. Wert pinned over half of the opponents he faced in his Raider career. Mr. Wert’s sons will accept this Hall-of-Fame award in honor of their father who is certainly one of the wrestling legends of Bellefonte’s Golden Era.

Mr. Gene Bennett

Inducted 2002

Mr. Lynn Stover

Inducted 2002

Mr. Bill Fisher

Inducted 2002

Mr. Mark Bush

Inducted 2002

Mr. Scott Corl

Inducted 2001

Mr. Denny Anderson

Inducted 2001

Mr. Matt Hardy

Inducted 2001

Mr. Todd Fishburn

Inducted 2001

Mr Kenny Walker

Inducted 2001

Mr. Rodney Musser

Inducted 2000

Mr. Musser is a 1969 graduate of Bellefonte High School who was a 4-year varsity wrestler for the Red Raiders. He was coached in high school by Hall-of-Famer Tom Musser. At Bellefonte, Mr. Musser posted an excellent record of 52-13-1. Included in this record are 30 victories in dual meet bouts. He is the only Bellefonte wrestler to ever win three titles at the Boiling Springs Holiday Tournament (in the 33-years that Bellefonte competed in this event). He was the 127-pound champ at Boiling Springs in 1966, 1967, and 1968. Competing at that same weight class, Mr. Musser won Sectional and District Six Titles in 1968 and 1969. He also went on to win the 1969 Central Northwest Regional Title. Heavily recruited coming out of high school, Mr. Musser went on to wrestle for national power Michigan State University. At Michigan State, he got an opportunity to wrestle with some of the top collegiate and Olympic coaches and athletes of that time. After graduating from college. Mr. Musser returned to Central Pennsylvania. Today, he and his family operate a successful family farm near Bellefonte. Mr. Musser also serves as an editorial writer for the Centre Daily Times and is a member of the Bellefonte Area School District's Board of Education.

Mr. Jim Torsell

Inducted 2000

Mr. Torsell is a 1967 graduate of Bellefonte High School who was a 3-year varsity wrestler for the Red Raiders. He was coached in high school by Hall-of-Famer Tom Musser. At Bellefonte, Mr. Torsell posted an excellent record of 53-9-2. This record includes a superb mark of 30-4-2 in dual meet bouts. Mr. Torsell won the 1966 Boiling Springs Holiday Tournament at 165 pounds. He excelled in the postseason tournaments. In 1966, Mr. Torsell won Sectional and District Six Titles at 154 pounds. He was the 1966 Central Northwest Regional Runner-up. In 1967, Mr. Torsell moved up to 165 and won Sectional, District Six, and Central Northwest Regional Titles. After graduating from Bellefonte, Mr. Torsell went on to wrestle for a small college power, St. Francis College in Loretto. He was a 4-year starter on his college team and posted a terrific college career record of 80-7. This record included just two losses in dual meet bouts. He was a two-time runner-up in the national Catholic College Tournament. Since graduating from St. Francis, Mr. Torsell has dedicated three decades of service as a teacher in the Altoona Area School District. He has also coached high school football and wrestling at several Blair County schools and is currently the head varsity wrestling coach at Bellwood-Antis High School. He and his family reside in the Bellwood area.

Mr. Bill Krebs

Inducted 2000

Mr. Krebs is a 1950 graduate of Bellefonte High School. He was a 4-year varsity wrestler who competed for the first four teams in school history. He was coached in high school by Hall-of-Famer Glenn Smith. During his high school career, Mr. Krebs posted an excellent record of 42-9-1. He was the District 6-9 Champion at 138 pounds in 1948 and at 145 pounds in 1950. He was the PIAA State Runner-up in 1950. During his final three seasons at Bellefonte, the Red Raiders posted a dual meet record of 31-1-1 and were considered to be among the top teams in the state each year. Mr. Krebs went on to wrestle at Penn State University; where he was a member of Coach Charlie SpeidelÌs 1953 NCAA Championship Team. After college, Mr. Krebs began his teaching and coaching career at Biglerville High School; where he started the varsity wrestling program. He was then summoned to the Lehigh Valley by Coach Glenn Smith; where in 1956, Mr. Krebs started the varsity wrestling program at Emmaus High School. He served as the head coach at Emmaus High for 18 seasons and his teams won two Lehigh Valley Conference championships. Previously, Mr. Krebs was inducted into the prestigious District 11 Wrestling Hall-of-Fame. He and his wife are retired teachers who still reside in Emmaus.

Mr. George "Whitey" Noll

Inducted 2000

Mr. Noll is a 1956 graduate of Bellefonte High School. He was a 3-year varsity wrestler for the Red Raiders. He was coached in high school by Stan Mousetis and Mike Flanagan. At Bellefonte, Mr. Noll compiled an excellent record of 31-8-2. Over one half of his victories were by fall. As an underclassman, Mr. Noll was a standout on the Bellefonte teams that won the school's first two (and still only) District 6 Tournament Team Titles in 1954 and 1955. In 1956, he captained an outstanding Raider team that went 10-2. Competing at 133 pounds, Mr. Noll won District Six and Central Northwest Regional Titles in 1956. He was also the PIAA State Runner-up at 133 in 1956. After graduating, Mr. Noll continued his wrestling career for three seasons at the Thaddeus Stevens Trade School in Lancaster. He then attended Penn State University; before beginning his career as a homebuilder and contractor. Mr. Noll is now semi-retired and resides with his wife in the Bellefonte area.

Mr. Larry Taylor

Inducted 2000

Mr. Taylor is a 1963 graduate of Bellefonte High School. He was a 2-year varsity wrestler for the Red Raiders. He was coached in high school by Guy Cuccione and Hall-of-Famer Tom Musser. At Bellefonte, Mr. Taylor compiled an excellent record of 38-6-1. This record includes a superb mark of 22-2-1 in dual meet bouts. Competing at 154 pounds, Mr. Taylor won the 1962 Boiling Springs Holiday Tournament. He went on to enjoy an excellent postseason career at Bellefonte. He was the Sectional and District Six Champion at 154 in both 1962 and 1963. He also won the Central Northwest Regional Title in 1963 and was the PIAA State Runner-up one week later. After graduation, Mr. Taylor attended the University of Maryland before he returned to Pennsylvania. Mr. Taylor retired not too long ago following a long and successful career with the Pennsylvania State Police. He and his wife still reside in the Bellefonte area.

Mr. Glenn Smith

Inducted 1999

Mr. Smith was one of the founding fathers of the sport at Bellefonte High School. He became the school's first coach in 1946. As the story goes, the newly formed team didn't have uniforms so Coach Smith got long johns and dyed them green. Then, he had his wrestlers pull black swimming trunks on over the long johns. Raider wrestling singlets have come a long way in the five decades since then. Coach Smith was known as a fierce competitor and strict disciplinarian. But, his Raider teams responded like none other in school history. After a 1-5 opening season in 1946-47, Coach Smith remained at the helm for five more seasons during which time the Red Raiders were on of the state's great powers, compiling an amazing dual meet record of 51-2-1 with three undefeated seasons. During his six-year career, Mr. Smith coached 17 District and Regional Champions and four PIAA State Champions. Mr. Smith presently resides in Allentown and could not be with us tonight because he is celebrating his 54th wedding anniversary. He is honored to have his former wrestlers in this Hall-of-Fame Class accept this award on his behalf.

Mr. Tom Riglin

Inducted 1999

Mr. Riglin was Bellefonte High School's first state wrestling champion. He captured District 6-9 and PIAA honors in the 95-pound weight class in 1948. Mr. Riglin was also the first underclassman in District VI history to claim a state championship by winning his title as a 10th grader. He went on to a 32-5 career record and was a leader on several of Glenn Smith's great teams. Following high school, Mr. Riglin wrestled for four years at Frankin and Marshall College. While still in the prime of his life and not far removed from his wrestling days at Bellefonte, Mr. Riglin was trgically killed in a military aviation accident. Tonight, Bellefonte's first PIAA state champion is represented by many members of his family. On his behalf, they accept this Hall-of-Fame honor.

Mr. Joe Masullo

Inducted 1999

Mr. Masullo posted a career record of 27-10-3 and in 1949 claimed the PIAA title at 112 pounds to become Bellefonte's second state champion. Mr. Masullo was a junior when he became a state champion. He also won the District 6-9 title in 1949. Mr. Masullo always was team oriented and says that his finest wrestling accomplishment was simply being part of the great teams in Bellefonte High School history. Tonight's award is a cause for double celebration as this is also Mr. Masullo's birthday. Today, Mr. Masullo is still very active as a community leader right here in Bellefonte.

Mr. Tom Musser

Inducted 1999

Mr. Musser became Bellefonte's third PIAA state champion in 1950 when he won the title at 127 pounds as a junior. He was also the District 6-9 Champion in 1950 and claimed District VI and Central Northwest Regional honors in 1951. Mr. Musser still holds one of the top five winning percentages in school history after posting a superb 52-5-2 record in his career. He wrestled in college for Lock Haven State University. After graduating from college, Mr. Musser founded the wrestling program at Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg where his wrestlers won five district titles and three regional crowns. Mr. Musser returned to his alma matter and became the Raiders' head coach in the 1962-63 season. In his seven years as head coach, Mr. Musser produced eleven Holiday Tournament Champions, ten Sectional Champions, six District Champions, and three Regional Champions. Still serving his alma matter, Mr. Musser teaches science in the Bellefonte Middle School.

Mr. Dave Adams

Inducted 1999

Mr. Adams was the first wrestler in both Bellefonte and District VI history to win two PIAA state championships. He claimed his state titles at 120 pounds in 1951 and at 138 pounds in 1953. He remains the only four-time District Champion in Bellefonte history. He also claimed Central Northwest Regional titles in 1951, 1952, and 1953. He still holds one of the school's top five all-time winning percentages after posting a career record of 67-4 with 35 falls. Mr. Adams was a co-captain for Penn State and won the EIWA title at 147 pounds in 1957 after finishing as a runner-up the year before. He was the NCAA runner-up in 1957. Mr. Adams coached for 25 years at several schools; most notably as the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh. He served 19 years on the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee. This is the fourth wrestling hall-of-fame induction for Mr. Adams as he has been previously honored by: District VI, the NCAA's Eastern Wrestling League, and the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches. The top Bellefonte wrestler in each grade (10 through 12) is awarded the "Dave Adams Award" each March at the team banquet. Mr. Adams currently resides in Akron, Ohio and has several family members with him at tonight's ceremony.

Mr. Ken Moyer

Inducted 1999

Mr. Moyer won the PIAA state title at 127 pound in 1953. Since he claimed this title just several minutes before Dave Adams won his second crown, Mr. Moyer is officially the first senior in Bellefonte history to win a state championship. He also won the District title at 95 pounds in 1950 as a freshman and District and Regional titles in 1953. Mr. Moyer still holds one of the top five winning percentages in school history after compiling a career record of 54-6-1 with just three dual meet losses in four years. Still active in the community, Mr. Moyer had a long career in vocational-technical teaching in Centre County and is still know to many as "Foxy".

Mr. Ron Pifer

Inducted 1999

Mr. Pifer won PIAA state championships in 1957 (138 pounds) and 1958 (154 pounds) to become the second two-time state champ in Bellefonte history. He is also one of just two Bellefonte wrestlers to win three District VI titles (1956, 1957, and 1958). He claimed Central Northwest regional titles in 1957 and 1958. Four decades after he last wrestled for Bellefonte, Mr. Pifer still has the best winning percentage in school history at .967 (with a career record of 60-2 including 39 falls). He wrestled at Penn State University and earned All-American honors three times. He had a distinguished head-coaching career at State College High School and the United States Military Academy at West Point. He is the author of a best-selling book and video on leg wrestling techniques. Previously, Mr. Pifer has been elected to both the District VI and the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches' Halls-of-Fame. Despite his storied career, Mr. Pifer acknowledges that one of his proudest moments in the sport occurred in March 1983 when his son Scott won the 119-pound AAA State Title while wrestling for State College High School. This event made Ron and Scott Pifer one of the very rare father-son state championship teams in PIAA history.

Mr. Jim Thal

Inducted 1999

Mr. Thal won the ninth PIAA championship in Bellefonte history when he claimed the 125-pound title in Class AAA in 1991. He posted a 25-0-1 record during his senior season en route to that title. Mr. Thal also claimed District and Regional honors in 1991. Following a mediocre start during his first two varsity seasons, Mr. Thal had a solid junior season in 1990 in which he was a District and Regional runner-up and placed 5th in the PIAA championships. He wrestled in the Pittsburgh Classic. His win in the state title bout was a 4-3 decision over Penn-Trafford's Lee Shickel; who went on to win an NCAA Division II National Title at UP-Johnstown. As of this induction ceremony (12/23/98), Mr. Thal is the last Centre County or District VI AAA wrestler to win a state championship. Presently, he works for the Department of Corrections in Houtzdale and serves as Bellefonte's assistant wrestling coach.

Mr. Larry Fornicola

Inducted 1999

Mr. Fornicola was the 1955 NCAA National Champion at 137 pounds while wrestling at Penn State University. He battled his way to the national title by first winning the EIWA title with overtime victories in both the semifinals and finals. During his career at Bellefonte, Mr. Fornicola wrestled for the legendary Glenn Smith and compiled a record of 32-7-2 with 17 falls. He won District titles in 1950 and 1951. In honor of his legacy as Bellefonte's only NCAA champion, the Bellefonte Wrestling Club hosts an annual youth tournament called the "Larry Fornicola Memorial Tournament".  After a distinguished lifelong career in wrestling, Mr. Fornicola passed away a few years ago. He is represented tonight by his brothers.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has recognized Mr. Fornicola with the Lifetime Service to Wrestling honor for his "years of dedication to the development of leadership and citizenship in young people through the sport of wrestling".