My wrestling experience started out a little different than most. My high school (Patton, Pa.) didn’t have a wrestling team. My first experience was in 1945 in Europe after the war ended. The army held a tournament to entertain the troops. I had worked all my life on our farm and was strong as an ox. My opponent was a lieutenant who had wrestled in college. I got a good hold on him and pinned him.
The Army (I belonged to the 508th Parachute Regiment) took the winner and toured all over Europe wrestling foreign teams and some other army units. The fall of 1946 I had two years of college to finish. After classes I would occasionally go to Rec Hall and watch the team practice. The coach at that time was Charlie Speidel. One evening he asked me if wanted to try out for the team. I said “Yes.” I knew very little about technique, but I was strong. I made the team.
I wasn’t a star, but I won more matches than I lost. In 1948 State College High had a promising heavyweight [Lynn Illingworth, Penn State, ’54], but he needed some competition. They asked me if I would practice with him. I think I weighed around 165 lbs at the time. I was happy to hear he won the state heavyweight crown.
That year the college national tournament was held at Lehigh University. The coach took me and one other wrestler. I think I placed 5th. Three of my four children graduated from Penn State. They say the team picture still hangs on the wall. I enjoyed wrestling at Penn State. My biggest regret is losing some close matches I should have won.
