Courtesy of John Harrison
A three-time All-American wrestler for Penn State, Ron provided many outstanding memories through the years for Penn State wrestling fans. He is especially remembered for his overcoming of bigger and stronger opponents through his leg use in his matches. Ron has been a successful and highly respected high school and college head coach and school administrator since his wrestling career ended. So popular has he been with the students and staff of State College (Pa.) Area High School that he has been chosen, not once, but twice (1976 and 1999) as the school’s commencement speaker.
Some of Ron’s wrestling accomplishments:
- Two-time P.I.A.A. State Champion
- Eastern Intercollegiate Champion
- Three-time NCAA All-American: finished second, third and fourth in the country
- Co-Captain of team in senior year
- Ten Year Head Coach of State College Area High School (85-32-2)
- Coached five State Champions
- Invited to Olympic and World Team training camps
- Head Coach of U.S. Military Academy
Ron, what have you been doing since you graduated from Penn State?
I graduated from Penn State with a commission in the U.S. Army and I served as an Infantry Officer in Ft. Knox, Kentucky and West Point from 1963-1966. I was invited to the 1964 Olympic wrestling training camp and World Team training camp in 1966. While in training I was reassigned to West Point where I coached the West Point plebe team from 1964-1966. In 1966 I accepted a teaching position and the head wrestling coach position at State College Area High School in State College, Pa. In 1968 I was appointed Athletic Director at the school.
Ron Pifer was my coach, my mentor and always my friend. I often said that I’ve been very fortunate to have had some of the country’s finest coaches throughout my high school and college experiences. The best way an athlete can show his/her gratitude to a coach is to pass on the lessons learned. While techniques sometimes change, the work ethic and mental preparation are a constant. Ron, thanks from myself and all of the athletes I have coached that also have benefited from your teachings.
-former State College and Penn State wresttler and current Waynesboro (Pa.) High School Head Coach, Dave Weber
Ron has given alot to the sport as a wrestler, a high school and college coach and as an administrator. He is still contributing by doing clinics. His teams always had great setups and turns and were extremely sound with respect to fundamentals. When Ron chose to go into school administration, wrestling lost a really good man. You could always see Ron in his sons’ behavior both on and off the mat. Both were outstanding wrestlers and classy guys. Ron is a good man and I have great respect for him.
-Philipsburg-Osceola (Pa.) High School Head Coach, Dave Caslow
In 1976 I was selected as the Head Coach at West Point and after a successful tenure at West Point, I accepted an administration position in the State College Area School District in 1980. My family and I came back to Central Pennsylvania so that our boys could wrestle for State High with it’s accompanying support, crowds and fan interest. My son Jeff subsequently finished fifth in the state and my son Scott won a state title.
While at the State College Area High School, I served as Assistant Principal, Associate Principal, Principal and was very active in developing school spirit and recognition activities. I served on the Human Relations Commission and was recognized as the Pennsylvania Thespian Administrator of the Year in 1997. I also organized a group of students, teachers and other interested people to develop a non-tobacco use group to help and assist students and staff quit using tobacco. This group has been recognized and is one of the very few of it’s kind at the high school level today. I am very proud of this group!
I retired in July of 1998 and my wife and I are enjoying our grandkids and I have also been playing alot of golf. In 1996, I went through a prostate operation; my P.S.A. count is fine and I would like to take this opportunity to remind wrestlers out there to get a regular physical exam and have your prostate checked. I didn’t have any symptoms, but the cancer was there!
I am still very active in summer wrestling camps and have written a book, Offensive and Defensive Leg Wrestling and have developed a four hour video, “Leg Wrestling Video”.
I have known Ron Pifer as a coach and as a very good friend. He is one of the most respected clinicians on the topic of leg wrestling. He is in demand all over the country for his expertise. Even though he has enjoyed success as a wrestler and a coach, he has remained very grounded and is equally respected as a person. I’m proud to call Ron Pifer a friend.
-former Lock Haven (Pa.) High School Head Coach, Tom Elling
I’ve known Ron for a long time–we were both from the District Six area. In high school we worked out together at tournament time. After high school I went to Lehigh and he to Penn State, but we still saw alot of each other. After college, we coached against each other; he was at West Point and I at Lehigh. He has always been a fine competitor, one of the best leg men in the country. He did an outstanding job as a coach. I have always admired him a great deal as a friend, competitor and an opposing coach.
-former Lehigh Head Coach, Thad Turner
I have been inducted into the Bellefonte (Pa.), District Six and the Pennsylvania Halls of Fame. In my ten years as the State College Area High School Head Coach, I coached five State Champions. I am past president of the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches’ Association and a former member of the National Wrestling and Coaches’ Executive Committee. In 1996, I was recognized as the Penn State Wrestling Club Outstanding Alumni.
Ron, how did you get started in wrestling?
In the fifties, Bellefonte was the hot bed of Pennsylvania wrestling. My sister dated Sam Markle (a Bellefonte and Penn State wrestler) and I followed the Penn State wrestling program and it’s wrestlers very closely. There were alot of high school and Penn State wrestlers around to serve as mentors and give advice when I was growing up. My wrestling career actually started when I was in the third grade.
My family was always very supportive of my wrestling–they were always there for me, fixing special meals, supervising my outside running (my sister June used to follow me in a car) and giving me loving support. My folks never missed a meet and it sure was a help.My classmates, coaches and teachers also helped develop a special relationship such that even though I wanted to win so badly I also knew they would be there for me if I didn’t. I didn’t want to let them down, it was not a me thing but a family and school thing.
What life-experiences are you most proud of?
There are four areas that I am most proud of:
- my two sons enjoyed and had success in wrestling,
- I was a charter member and officer when the Penn State Wrestling Club was first organized,
- my son Scott and I are one of the few father/son State Champion duos in the rich history of Pennsylvania wrestling and
- the support my wife Barbara has given me so that I can spend so much time with other people’s kids both in school and on the mats.
Ron kept the sport fun for us. He kept us enthused through practice and matches. He made us better; he pushed us hard and instilled confidence and, as a result, we better enjoyed the great competition we had then.
-former State College wrestler, John Sefter
He could talk to you, teach you and wrestle with you no matter your position on the team–whether you were a lower or an upper weight–whether you were a state champion or just making varsity for the first time. He made you believe in yourself and he got the best out of you.
-former State College wrestler, Chris Sefter
What has it meant to you to be a Penn State wrestler?
From having watched so many great Penn State wrestlers while growing up in Bellefonte (about 15 minutes from the PSU campus), I wanted so badly to wear the blue and white and wrestle in Rec Hall in front of a packed house. Charle Speidel (then the PSU wrestling coach) was my family’s idol as long as I can remember. After having been through the experience of being a Penn State wrestler, I look back and realize that I wouldn’t change a thing.I am very proud to have been a Penn State wrestler, although I must admit it would have been fun wrestling in the Bryce Jordan Center!
Ron knew how to motivate each one of us. Having reached the highest levels of achievement both at the high school and collegiate levels, he understood what it took to prepare us, especially for the tournaments. Not only did we get the benefit of his coaching but he would work out with us and this proved to be an invaluable experience for us. If you look at the success our upper weights had, ie., my brother Larry (two-time State Champion), Dirk Grissinger (State-Runnerup), John Sefter (State Champion), my brother Matt (third place in states) and my state championship at heavyweight, you can see the results that came from our having worked out with, and been coached by, Ron.
-former State College wrestler, Paul Suhey
Ron really knew how to motivate us and he was always fun to be with–he had a level of enthusiasm that was contagious. He had as much energy as anybody I ever met in my life. He was an outstanding coach, administrator and father.
-former State College and Penn State wresttler, Larry Suhey
How has the Penn State wrestling experience affected your life/career?
Rarely does a day go by that someone doesn’t mention something about Penn State Wrestling to me, in general, or something about seeing me wrestle at Rec Hall. Remember, I am from Bellefonte, so I always had the privilege of having local supporters and friends. I think they loved to see the tall thin boy put the legs in and ride opponents who, most of the time, were bigger and stronger.
When serving as an administrator at State College Area High School, it became apparent to me that most of the parents knew me as a former Penn State wrestler or as the former high school wrestling coach and, as a result, I think I felt more comfortable in my dealings with the students. I also think coaching helped me be a better administrator, because I was always tryng to get the best out of the staff and students.
I’ve known Ron since the early 70’s when we coached against each other. What impressed me most about him is that he was such a great competitor and that he worked so hard and did everything possible to make his teams successful. This attitude carried over into his career as a principal as he worked very hard to make things better for the school and the kids and to help them become successful in their lives He is a super individual.
-Head Coach Bald Eagle (Pa.) Area High Schhool, Dick Rhoades
How has collegiate wrestling changed since you were a wrestler at Penn State?
I think wrestling is more freestyle oriented–alot of time is spent on one’s feet. I still love the sport and might actively get involved in coaching again, maybe in the South Carolina area.
Ron, what advice do you have for collegiate wrestlers today?
Work hard, promote wrestling and realize how great it is to wear your school colors (especially the blue and white!) and represent the sport. Keep your family and friends part of your experience, they will be there for you. You only get this chance one time so make the most of it!
Thanks Ron!
