HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, held its induction ceremonies Sunday afternoon in the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel and several inductees from the Centre Region were honored.
Topping the list was legendary wrestling coach and world famous fly fisherman Joseph Humphreys honored as an “Outstanding American from Pennsylvania.”
Lifetime Service to Wrestling Awards were presented to Ron Bracken of Philipsburg; David Caslow of Osceola Mills; John Fritz of State College and Lloyd Rhoades Jr. of Howard.
Joseph Humphreys
“To say I was overwhelmed when I was notified about this honor would be an understatement,” explained Humphreys. “I never, ever dreamed that I would ever be honored this way by the wrestling community. I had no idea that this honor was ever really in the works and I am very humbled by this award.”
Humphreys coached wrestling at Kittanning, Penns Valley, including Penns Valley first varsity win in 1957 and Bald Eagle Area, which produced the Eagles’ first-ever PIAA champion in Lew Craig, during his long career.
Following his high school career, Humphreys moved on to his alma mater Penn State where he proceeded to assist the legendary Bill Koll.
“For two years I was able to work for coach Koll, who was a three-time national champion at Iowa State Teachers College,” explained Humphreys. “His record for Iowa State Teachers College 72-0 and he was never taken down and was never ridden. He was an outstanding wrestler and his quote when I was coaching and working with him his statement to the team was this and it stayed with me and is oh, so true today — ‘the basics fundamentals refined to perfection are your most advanced techniques.’ That is also true in fly fishing, my other true love.”
Following his coaching career, Humphreys did extensive radio and television work with wrestling. And if that wasn’t enough, he helped put Centre County on the national fly fishing map with his national prowess.
Humphreys has been a fishing instructor to many, including former president Jimmy Carter, former vice president Dick Cheney, basketball coaching legend Bobby Knight and actor Liam Neeson. Humphreys has authored several books and articles on Fly Fishing. In addition, he hosted the first national fly fishing series on U.S. television “Fly Fishing Journal” which was cablecast on ESPN.
Ron Bracken
Bracken is a retired award-winning sportswriter for the Centre Daily Times and resides in Philipsburg with his wife, Joan. He is a graduate of Bald Eagle Area and attended Penn State University. Bracken’s covered wrestling over a 41-year period.
Bracken is a member of the Bald Eagle Area, District 6 and Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Halls-of-Fame and has received the George Henslip Media Award for Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference coverage; 12 Keystone Press Awards; two Pennsylvania Managing Editor Awards; two Associated Press Sports Editor Awards, which is a national award and is considered the most prestigious award in sports journalism.
“I’m humbled,” Bracken said. “I never felt I had done anything that would merit such an honor. I always thought that the night I was inducted into the State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame with (Philipsburg-Osceola’s) Dave Caslow and (Bald Eagle Area’s) Dick Rhoades was as good as it could get and more than I deserved.
“I was fortunate to have covered high school wrestling in Centre County and District 6 during what I call the Golden Era,” Bracken said. “I remember covering dual meets in gyms that were packed and there was closed circuit television hooked up in an auditorium or cafeteria to handle the overflow crowds.
“I recall the 1984 dual meet between Philipsburg-Osceola and State College that had fans tailgating in the P-O parking lot early in the afternoon. There were the great Bald Eagle Area-State College battles, the BEA-Shikellamy meets, the State College-Clearfield wars and, in the early years, the duals between Penns Valley and BEA where there were fans sitting five deep around the mat at Penns Valley.”
Being an alumnus of Bald Eagle Area, Bracken had a front row seat during the great run by the Eagles that was capped with a National Team Dual title.
“And of course, there was the BEA dynasty in the 90’s that was capped with the Eagles winning the Beast of the East and Manheim Tournaments, the District 6 and Northwest regional championships as well as the inaugural PIAA Team Duals championship and the PIAA individual tournament and being named the No. 1 team in the country in a national poll in 1999,” Bracken explained. “It’s doubtful we’ll ever see a run of excellence to equal that.
“And the best part of it was that I got paid to watch all of that and report it,” Bracken said. “I was so lucky to have met so many great people in wrestling from hall of fame coaches to NCAA champion wrestlers and I’m thrilled just to be a part of the wrestling fraternity. And I’m grateful for any honor that has come my way.”
David Caslow
Caslow has spent his lifetime involved in wrestling. He competed for Clarion State College and was their first ever NAIA place winner, finishing fourth at123 pounds in 1963.
Caslow coached at Tyrone, Warrior Run, Philipsburg-Osceola and West Branch, spanning 1966-1984. Caslow was the 10th coach in Pennsylvania to achieve 400 wins.
He has been involved with PA Junior Wrestling serving as the Area II Co-Chairman (1971-present). Caslow is a member of the PWCA Hall of Fame 1997 and the Clarion Sports Hall of Fame 2001.
“I am a product of the sports world,” stated Caslow. “Nearly every aspect of my life has been influenced by sports people and devoted to people through sports. I gratefully see this event as a gift to me from the wrestling community. It has been a time of reflection upon the circumstances, people and events that shaped my life in very positive ways.
“The most meaningful part of this honor is feeling the love of some of my closest family members and friends in attendance,” Caslow said. “All six of my sons and daughters made significant sacrifices to be there. My brother, sister and cousins drove from the Pittsburgh area and one of my childhood friends drove all the way from Connecticut. Several of my closest friends acquired through wrestling camp relationships also made the effort to be at the banquet.”
Caslow, who spent 34 years as a coach especially appreciated the number of attendees from the Philipsburg-Osceola area.
“The number of former Philipsburg-Osceola wrestlers, fans and friends who made the trip to Harrisburg also honors me,” said Caslow. “I hope that I have made a difference in their lives. My primary desire was to use wrestling as an educational tool and have it accomplish as much for others as it has done for me. In the process, I simply wanted to love others and be loved, both in victory and defeat.
“Receiving this honor is a collective experience and must be shared with the many people who molded, shaped and presented me with opportunities,” said Caslow. “I coached for three wonderful communities that placed a high value on wrestling. Thirty-four of my years were spent at Philipsburg-Osceola where administrators, assistant coaches, athletes, parents and fans gave their hearts out in support of P-O wrestling. I shall always be privileged to have been part of this cooperative effort and proud to be a Mountie.”
John Fritz
Fritz has been involved with wrestling in Pennsylvania since his high school days at Bethlehem Liberty. Fritz wrestled for Penn State where he won a National title at 126 pounds in 1976. He became the Nittany Lions coach in 1993 and in six seasons as coach Fritz posted five top five NCAA finishes including a second in 1993, Penn State’s highest finish in 39 years.
He also guided four national champions, nine NCAA finalists, 21 All-Americans and 12 Big Ten champions. He was named the 1993 NWCA National Coach of the Year after leading Penn State to a school record 22-0-1 dual meet record, a No.1 national ranking and a national dual team title. Fritz also earned 1998 Big Ten Coach of the Year honors.
Lloyd Rhoades Jr.
Rhoades began coaching in 10th grade at Bald Eagle Area Elementary Intramural program. In 1978, he organized the Bald Eagle Elementary Wrestling Club and remained as head coach until 2001.
Rhoades was a PIAA Official from 1973-1981 and officiated District 6 Championships twice. He later became Chief Financial Officer of PA Junior Wrestling in 1994 (and remains in that capacity to-date).
Rhoades is a member of the Bald Eagle Area Hall of Fame and was previously named the District 6 Man-of-the-Year; he is the prime driver for the PJW’s move to the eastern half of the state, growing the organization to a fully statewide organization, expanding from three age divisions in eight areas to five age divisions in 11 Areas.
There were 6,727 wrestlers who competed in the PA Junior Wrestling event in 2011-12. Rhoades also initiated PA participation in NUWAY (National United Wrestling Association for Youth). He has also helped expand the national coverage of this association and provided administrative structure for this organization.
