Angle leads Hall class

Overlooked in the bustle of covering the state wrestling tournament was the list of inductees for this year's Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame. My apologies.The one local name is Mark Angle, a state champion from Canon-McMillan who was 148-3. He won four WPIAL titles and one National High School title before graduating in 1995. He wrestled at Clarion, where he was three-PSAC champion, a two-time Eastern Wrestling League champion, and three-time NCAA All-American placing third in 1999 and fourth in both 1998 and 2000.
He is one of 13 people who will be inducted at the PWCA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, which will be held at the Ramada Inn in State College Sunday, May 20.
Here is a brief look at the other 12:


Marc Billett, Latrobe coach, who amassed a record of 209-95-4 with a combined record of 386-116-5 including junior high. He coached 7 WPIAL champions and 27 state qualifiers with 12 state placewinners, 6 finalists and one state champion.

Bruce Bittenbender who coached varsity wrestling at Stevensville Lakeshore High School, where he is coaching in his 42nd consecutive year. Entering the 2011-2012 season, he teams had amassed a 41-year record of 787-192-2.

Ron Frank, who in 29 seasons at Fox Chapel has a 325-235-7 record, which ranks eighth in WPIAL history. He is a founding member of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame selection committee.

George Heebner, whose overall coaching record at Octorara was 194-180-5, which included his Southern Chester County League record was 140-69-3.

Ben Kundick, who in 22 years as head coach at Redbank Valley, compiled a 207-73-1 record for a 73.6 winning percentage.

Francis Michael, who refereed 30 NCAA qualifying tournaments, 20 Pennsylvania Conference tournaments, 6 PIAA regional champions, 5 PIAA state championships and two NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship tournaments.

Jason Robison, who was a three-time WPIAL finalist and a two-time WPIAL champion and a three-time PIAA state placewinner, finishing 4th in 1991, 2ndin 1992 and first in 1993 for Hampton. He was a three-time NCAA placewinner at Edinboro, including a runner-up finish in 1998.

Bryan Snyder, who was a three-time state place-winner and a 1997 state champion at Easton.

Bill Stecklein, who he officiated on both the high school and college levels refereeing in one PIAA state tournament and 4 New Jersey state high school championships.

Earl Stoddard, who served as head coach at Northern Lebanon from 1986-2007, a period of 21 seasons.During his tenure at Northern Lebanon, he coached four PIAA state placewinners including PIAA Class AA state champion Jimmy Collins in 2001.

Martin Strayer, who is on the Board of Governors for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Past President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.