Pat Pecora poised to become the all-time winningest college wrestling coach

[tikk10]

...at tomorrow night's Pitt-Johnstown Mercyhurst dual. I believe many posters here know Pat or at least know of him.

I don't know Pat, but I'm friends with Pitt's media director who asked me if I knew anyone in wrestling media interested in writing about it. Jason Bryant already knows, of course, so I'm posting here. Let me know and I'll put you in touch.

 

[johnstownsteel]

Pat is a great guy....very happy for him.

 

[86PSUPaul]

Is he Spencer Lee's coach next year?

 

[TangSoo]

Great guy. Attended one of his camps during the Carter Administration. He's been a great coach for a long time.

 

[El-Jefe]

@smalls103 -- see OP

 

[The Japanese Whizzer]

I would like to hear about other opportunities that he turned down to stay at UPJ and what it was about that campus that made him stay. Certainly wasn't the money. Or weather.

 

[nittinsc]

Thanks for posting this Tikk. I was going to post something earlier, but figured it might get lost in the multiple RBY/Desanto threads.

The dual is televised and is at 7 pm so you can warm for PSU at 9.

A link is available here:

https://pittjohnstownathletics.com/sports/wrestling

 

[Str8DBLz]

Pat, is not only a great coach but an awesome human being! To see him on one of my best friends doorsteps as he recruited him to seeing at the same kids funeral just 3 short years later. When I ran into him at NCAA's last year and the surge this year he came up and said hello to me by name. He's a great guy!

 

[nittinsc]

Here's a photo of Pat (center) as a sophomore in high school. I think he went 103 that year. I'm in the upper left.

 

[LorenzoFan]

I've known Pat for 20+ years. Coached against him, argued with him and laughed with him. All good times!

 

[tikk10]

Here's a photo of Pat (center) as a sophomore in high school. I think he went 103 that year. I'm in the upper left.

View embedded media

Awesome. Both that you have it, you're in it, and that everybody has their tube socks cranked up to their knees. Thankful that's a fashion trend that's never been resurrected.

 

[nittinsc]

Awesome. Both that you have it, you're in it, and that everybody has their tube socks cranked up to their knees. Thankful that's a fashion trend that's never been resurrected.

Yes, those socks were really something. Pat and I were co-captains as seniors and I was also on the yearbook staff so I had access to lots of photos. I have more packed away somewhere.

What really is amazing regarding Pat's accomplishments is that we started out wrestling on old horsehair 4x8 mats and only got a real wrestling mat when we were sophomores. Vince Nola, the coach shown in the photo, had a reasonable knowledge of wrestling and was a good motivator, but was only there for our soph and junior years. He was able to get Doug Blubaugh to visit with us once. As seniors, we had a young teacher as coach, but he knew zero about wrestling and was as much a chaperone/administrator as anything. Practices were run by the experienced guys. Neal Brendel, who was a year behind us, was an AA at Yale. Several years later the school did away with wrestling.

After attending West Liberty, Pat coached one year at East Allegheny High then took the job at UPJ. The rest is history.

 

[tikk10]

I know there are a lot of kids that come to this board who probably don't care but I always enjoy when something comes up that affords the over 50 set an opportunity to tap into their high school and college years from decades ago. Thanks nittinsc.

 

[nittinsc]

Here's a direct link to watch UPJ at 7

https://portal.stretchinternet.com/upj/

 

[tikk10]

 

[nittinsc]

UPJ's write-up with career summary.

https://pittjohnstownathletics.com/...-victory-over-mercyhurst-on-alumni-night.aspx

 

[nittinsc]

nice article:

https://triblive.com/sports/upjs-pat-pecora-college-wrestlings-winningest-coach-keeps-climbing/

 

[amattaro]

PSU connection: Nolf’s high school coach won a title under Pecora at 125.

 

[Kale_yeah]

His best wrestler was? Hint also was a Pittsburgh steeler.

 

[Sportfan2017]

His best wrestler was? Hint also was a Pittsburgh steeler.

The Only 6 time NCAA Champ.....Carlton Haselrig…..easy

 

[nittinsc]

I would like to hear about other opportunities that he turned down to stay at UPJ and what it was about that campus that made him stay. Certainly wasn't the money. Or weather.

Here are the answers to your questions:

https://triblive.com/sports/family-bonds-help-pat-pecora-build-pitt-johnstown-wrestling-dynasty/

 

[nitlion6]

Here are the answers to your questions:

https://triblive.com/sports/family-bonds-help-pat-pecora-build-pitt-johnstown-wrestling-dynasty/

A really enjoyable article to read.

 

[LorenzoFan]

The Only 6 time NCAA Champ.....Carlton Haselrig…..easy

There is a wrestler that won 7 collegiate national championships

 

[PASLP2]

There is a wrestler that won 7 collegiate national championships

Pat Downey?

 

[El-Jefe]

There is a wrestler that won 7 collegiate national championships

At 7 different weights?

 

[LorenzoFan]

At 7 different weights?

Nope! At a PA School. Became a long time head coach