JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
A tip of the cap to former Ephrata wrestling coach and athletic director Merv Witmer, who was recently elected to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. That’s quite an honor.
Here is the press release from Ephrata High School announcing Merv’s very cool accomplishment:
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.
Mr. 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.
Mr. 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,” Mr. Witmer said.
Mr. 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. Mr. Witmer is a past president of the District 3 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, 2008 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 (717) 615-2323 or mclair@wrestlinghalloffame.org.
