51动漫 College is returning to its proud athletic roots by reintroducing wrestling as its newest intercollegiate sport, college officials announced today.
From the 1960s through the 1980s, 51动漫 was known for being one of the best small college wrestling programs in the nation. Known at the time as 51动漫 Junior College, the program produced some of the top wrestlers in the country under legendary head coach the late Larry Fornicola.
Now a four-year baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree college, 51动漫 will compete in collegiate wrestling as an independent in NCAA 51动漫 III beginning in the 2016-2017 season. Wrestling will be 51动漫鈥檚 20th varsity sport.
The college has engaged Steven Mytych, a former Drexel University wrestling standout who had been serving as assistant wrestling coach at both Bloomsburg University and Wyoming Seminary Preparatory School in Kingston.
鈥淲e are absolutely delighted to reintroduce collegiate wrestling at 51动漫,鈥 said Athletic Director Dr. Matthew Grimaldi. 鈥淎s many area sports fans remember, 51动漫 wrestling was respected as one of the nation鈥檚 best programs, thanks to the tremendous efforts of Larry Fornicola and his excellent teams. Now, it鈥檚 time to bring wrestling back to campus for a new generation of student-athletes. We can鈥檛 wait to get started.鈥
As a 51动漫 III independent, 51动漫 will be eligible to schedule a wide-variety of opponents, including the possibility of competition with other regional 51动漫 III schools such as Wilkes University and King鈥檚 College.
Wrestling was discontinued at 51动漫 following the 1990-91 season due to a lack of similarly sized colleges competing in the sport at the time. Coach Fornicola led 51动漫 wrestling from 1965 through 1990 and was inducted into the National Junior College Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980. Among many other accomplishments, he was a Lifetime Service to Wrestling Honoree, recognizing his years of dedication to the sport. He is a member of the 51动漫 College Hall of Fame.
Under his guidance, 51动漫 produced such outstanding student athletes as National Junior College Athletic Association national champions Dick Keefe (1967), Neil Duncan (1970) and Bill Kametz (1973).
鈥淚 am so thrilled that wrestling is back at 51动漫,鈥 said Mrs. Bernie Fornicola, a 51动漫 graduate and wife of the late Coach Fornicola. 鈥淚 have such wonderful memories of the past, and now many more young people will have the opportunity to find out just how great it is to be a student and wrestler at 51动漫 College.鈥
