I was on the PSU wrestling squad from 1937 to 1940. The main thing I remember about wrestling is Coach Charlie Speidel. He was a very dynamic leader and teacher. He was always optimistic and encouraged us to be as good a wrestler as possible.
The last time I saw him was in 1950. PSU was in Charlottesville, Virginia to wrestle the University of Virginia. I was at the university on business and saw the notice of the wrestling meet. I went to watch our team and stopped by to greet Charlie to see if he remembered me. He not only remembered me, he introduced me to the team and invited me to sit on the bench with him during the meet. I enjoyed visiting with Charlie and greatly appreciated being invited to be part of PSU wrestling again. PSU won the meet by a goodly margin.
One other memory I have of PSU wrestling is of my teammate Roy Gensler. We always roomed together on trips and became very good friends. We worked out at the same times. I ran with him for many miles to get in shape. I wrestled at the 121- and 128-pound class, and Roy was a 165-pounder. I learned a lot of wrestling skills with Roy’s help, and, although he outweighed me by more than 30 pounds, we wrestled in practice quite often. He always said he liked to work out with the lightweights because they moved faster than the big men, and it made him move quicker.
Roy had a very good sense of humor. One time we were both working hard on a Friday afternoon to lose some weight before the weigh-in Saturday morning. After practice, we stopped in at Fred’s Diner for a little supper. I had my usual “before meet days” meal: one soft-boiled egg and half a slice of toast. Roy had a hamburger, fries, potato chips, and salad. Then, as we left the diner, he ate a large chocolate bar. I told him he would never make 165. His response was, “I’ll burn it up with water.” He weighed in at 164½ pounds.
I have many fond memories of wrestling at PSU. It was a great change of pace for me from classes and gave me satisfaction when I won a bout, and when I lost one it made me realize life would not always go the way I wanted it to go.
In later years I looked back at my time at PSU and realized those years were very good for me. I went from a boy to a man, and wrestling was a big factor in that change.
[David in February 2008 sent the Committee another message along with a surprise. His message follows.]
I enrolled at Penn State in the fall of 1936 and renewed my acquaintance with Charlie Speidel, wrestling coach. I had met him at a Penn State–Temple wrestling meet in the spring of 1936. My brother, Dick Waite, was a team member, and I was invited to attend the meet. I was impressed as I was allowed to sit with the team.
I was on the wrestling squad for most of my four years at Penn state until a knee injury ended my career in March of 1940. I had a great time and made many good friends during those years.
Enclosed is my “S” sweater that I am donating to the Sports Museum.
Sincerely,
David M. Waite, Class of 1940
