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19214_Cover:2013 covers 1/2/13 12:12 PM Page 1 19214_Cover:2013 covers 1/2/13 12:12 PM Page 2 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:24 AM Page 1 Long Island Wrestling 2013 Published By: Editorial Staff* The Friends of Bill Brennen is a 1956 graduate of Mepham H.S. He graduated from Pratt Long Island Wrestling Institute in 1960 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree and is now a retired partner 775 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY 11793 of Brennen & Sadera, a New York based (516) 804-8676 graphic design firm. He has been active www.friendsoflongislandwrestling.com in various aspects of Long Island wrestling for over thirty-five years, working with www.foliw.com The Nassau County Wrestling Coaches Association and The Friends of Long Editorial Staff Island Wrestling, where he is a board Executive Editor Jerry Seckler member. Deputy Editor Pascal Perri Copy Editors B.A. Schoen & Robin Earl B.A. Schoen attended Baldwin High School Design Director Bill Brennen and wrestled there for coach Buzzy Friedel. He Layout Bill Brennen & Jerry Seckler attended Moorhead State College in Minnesota and majored in Mass Communications. He Research Editors Bill Brennen & Jerry Seckler was a referee for years, including two as Staff Photographer Pete Venier President of the LI Wrestling Official’s Advertising Jerry Seckler & David Hayes Association. In 1996 he was elected to the Baldwin Board of Education and, in 2009, to the board of Nassau BOCES, positions he holds Editorial Contributors today. Besides writing for this publication, he T.J. Brocking • Mike Candel • Glen Jochum • Chris Messina has assumed the lead roll in the “Friends” Jamie Moffet • Larry Owings • Pascal Perri • James Sagos presence on the web. Don Sayenga • B.A. Schoen • Jerry Seckler • Richard Shane Jim Sheehan • Yar Smada • Lee Roy Smith • Dan Wetzel Pascal Perri was a champion wrestler at Michael White both Mepham High School and Syracuse University. He became one of the premier The Friends of Long Island Wrestling would like to thank the many people and wrestling officials in the United States. organizations that have graciously contributed stories and photographs in this issue of He founded the National Association of Long Island Wrestling: The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum, Mike Candel Wrestling Officials and is past president of (Nassau Community College), Pete Venier, Joe D’Aquila, Glen Jochum & John Griffin The Eastern Collegiate Wrestling Officials (Stony Brook University), Jim Sheehan (Hofstra University) and all the families and Association. In 1995 he was inducted into friends of our Hall of Fame inductees. We are grateful to all of our Sponsors: Asics The National Wrestling Hall of Fame as an Corporation, Bethpage Credit Union, Michael DerGarabedian, Joe Settinari. In addition, “Outstanding National Official.” He is an officer and board member of The we thank all the individuals and businesses who have taken ads. Without this support, Friends of Long Island Wrestling we would be unable to publish this book each year. In the mid 1950’s, Marlboro cigarettes was looking for a rugged, good-looking athlete to feature in their national ad *Jerry Seckler Jerry Seckler biography campaign. Bill Farrell, a found on page 3 with the Presidents Hofstra alumni and Little All- Message American apparently had the “look” and was selected to be the model for the Marlboro Man Campaign. The picture on the cover of this publication is of Bill Farrell smoking a Marlboro and covering his right Pete Venier is a 1956 graduate of cauliflower ear with Wantagh High School where he was a Long his fist.On the back of his Island wrestling champion.He then went on fist was a tattoo. Bill’s to wrestle at Colgate University. While photograph appeared nation- serving as an assistant wrestling coach at wide on billboards and in Connetquot H.S., he began to photograph numerous newspapers and local wrestlers. His expertise soon became magazines. Bill Farrell,a physical fitness fanatic certainly did not smoke. nationally known. His work has been As you will read in these pages, Bill, became a multiple time National and featured in virtually every national International Champion. He was also the U.S. Olympic wrestling coach in 1972. He wrestling publication, and in many college later founded one of the most successful sports oriented businesses in the nation. wrestling guides. He was inducted into the Bill recently passed away at the age of 83 and is missed by all in the wrestling National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009. community. 1 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:24 AM Page 2 Friends of Long Island Wrestling Officers, Directors and Committees Officers: Hall of Fame Selection: Jerry Seckler, President Jack Friedman, Of Counsel William Zagarino, Chairman • Bob Bury Pascal Perri, Pete Venier, Comptroller Larry Cantor Mike Davey • Bill DeSario Vice President Reggie Jones, Jr. • Jack Mahoney • Joe Patrovich Pascal Bill Trichon, Treasurer Perri • Jerry Seckler • Pete Venier Board of Directors Group Representatives: Roger Bogsted Neil Duncan Christopher Messina Bill Brennen Dennis Dunne Kevin Murphy Sections — Nassau: Mike Davey • Howie Greenblatt Suffolk: Chris Messina • Bill DeSario Paul Brodmerkel William Farrell Paul Schmidt Catholic & Private • George Dlugolonski Richard Bury Jack Friedman B.A. Schoen Robert Bury Ronald Friedman Frank Seckler Colleges — Paul Schmidt Larry Cantor Louis Giani Joe Settineri Officials — B.A. Schoen Pete Cimino Howie Greenblatt Paul Schmidt Publications & Website Mike DerGarabedian David Hayes William Zagarino Bill Brennen • Dave Hayes • Pascal Perri Bill DeSario Reggie Jones, Jr. B.A. Schoen • Jerry Seckler • Pete Venier George Dlugolonski Paul McCarthy Advisory Board Tournaments: Bob Bury • Paul McCarthy • Pascal Perri Roger Bogsted Nick Gallo Jerry Seckler Michael DerGarabedian Kevin Murphy Dennis Dunne Pascal Perri Awards: Ron Friedman Joe Settineri Paul Brodmerkel • Neil Duncan Committees: Golf Outing: Hall of Fame Induction Dinner: Pete Cimino • Mike DerGarabedian • Dennis Dunne B.A. Schoen • Frank Seckler • Pat Seckler George Dlugolonski • Nick Gallo • Kevin Murphy Jerry Seckler • Bill Trichon Pascal Perri • Jerry Seckler •Joe Settinerri • Bill Trichon StantonBishopScholarshipAward Membership: Bill Brennen • Pascal Perri • B.A. Schoen • Jerry Seckler Mike Davey Chairman Bob Bury is a charter member of the Friends of Long Mike Davey is a graduate of Calhoun High School Bill Zagarino graduated from Mepham June 1950 Island Wrestling Board of Directors. He was a where he wrestled for Coach Bob Bury. He went on He wrestled varsity Jr & Sr Year ,for legendary National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee in 1987. to wrestle for SUNY Cortland where he helped his Mepham coach, “Sprig” Gardner. He then began He began his wrestling career at Mepham High team to a New York State Collegiate Championship. college at Hofstra and wrestled on the freshman School in 1945 under the tutelage of famed Coach After college he secured a position at South Side High team. He transferred to Millersville State Teachers “Sprig” Gardner and was a three year Long island School in Rockville Center and was the wrestling Collage and wrestled varsity his second and third champion. He continued his exemplary wrestling coach for thirty five years, coaching numerous year.Bill graduated in January 1955 so he did not career at Syracuse University. Nassau County Champions and NYS placewinners. wrestle the last 6 months. After graduation he Bob Bury, the outstanding wrestler, became Bob During that span Mike served terms as the Nassau assisted JoeValla atAmityville high School and began Bury the distinguished wrestling coach in 1958.and County NYSWrestling Coordinator and President of officiating wrestling. He was an official up to the coached for 23 years.He coached many outstanding the Nassau CountyWrestling Coaches Association.In early 1980's As an official he twice represented wrestlers during his career and compiled a 200-76 2011, he was inducted into The National Wrestling Suffolk County in the State Tournament . record that included 61 Division Champions, 23 Hall of Fame He recently spent four years researching He joined The Friends of Long Island wrestling and Nassau County Champions and 8 New York State and publishing the second edition of“ The History Of became an active board member. He serves as Champions. Two of his wrestlers, Tom Schlendorf Long Island Wrestling”. He is a charter member of chairman of the Hall of Fame selection committee. and John Walter, went on to win NCAA The Friends of Long Island Wrestling and serves as and also volunteers to work at the annual golf outing. Championships. Membership Chairman. 2 19142.qxd:2013 pages 1/11/13 9:24 AM Page 3 Jerry Seckler, wrestled at Valley dominated the Eastern United States. His unusual coaching Stream Central High School where he lost only one dual meet freshmen style was offered to any and all coaches who were interested, through his senior years. He was twice and because of his “open room” policy and his students, a Long Island Champion; National thousands of programs were effected and Long Island Prep School Champion; Jr. and Sr. Metropolitan Champion; undefeated became nationally known for exceptional wrestling two years at Penn State; member of the prospects. Wrestlers from Long Island Schools were Penn State EIWA Championship team; recruited by colleges across the nation. varsity co-captain his senior year at Penn State; varsity wrestling coach at Gardner brought a spirit of leadership to Long Island Columbia University; past President of wrestling and now it is time that new leaders emerge to pick EIWA Coaches Association; Board up the tradition begun by “Sprig”. The Friends of Long Member of the Metropolitan Wrestling Association; member of the EIWA Hall Island Wrestling are proud that two of our members are now of Fame Committee; President of the ready to join in that leadership role. The challenge for New York Downstate Chapter of the wrestling is no longer for changes in coaching styles, but in National Wrestling Hall of Fame.