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Witmer to be inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame in May
By EPHRATA REVIEW
Ephrata Review
Published: Apr 30, 2008 12:41 PM EST
EPHRATA - Retired Ephrata High School Athletic Director and Wrestling Coach Merv
Witmer has been selected for induction into the National Wrestling Hall of
Fame at a ceremony in May.
He is being honored for his lifetime
service to wrestling.
Witmer coached wrestling for 33 years,
including 29 years as the Ephrata High School Varsity coach from 1975 until
2003. In his 29 seasons with Ephrata, his squads compiled a record of 312
wins, 167 losses, and three ties.
Witmer also coached the Junior
High program at Downingtown School District for three seasons and served as
a volunteer for a year with the Ephrata High School program before becoming
the head coach in 1975.
"My record was the team's record. These
types of honors are a team thing. I had great kids and great coaches. This
is an honor for the school and the kids it represents," Witmer
said.
Witmer is a member of the District 3 Hall of Fame, the
Pennsylvania Coaches Hall of Fame and the Lancaster-Lebanon League
Wrestling Coaches' Hall of Fame. He is a past president of the District
Three Coaches' Association and was a member of the Pennsylvania Wrestling
Coaches' State Committee.
The National Hall of Fame Induction
Ceremony will be held on May 18 in Lancaster. Other Class of 2008 inductees
include: Richard Hammer, George Heebner, Dan Hinkel, Grover McLaughlin, Vic
Stanley, John Thomas, and Al Wolstenholme.
John Purnell will receive
the "Outstanding American" from Pennsylvania at the banquet.
For
more information about the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling
Hall of Fame or to order tickets for the dinner, please contact Michael
Clair, National Director, at 615-2323 or mclair@wrestlinghalloffame.org.
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