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12/10/2008 3:32 AM

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Bob Truby and Nick Petronka wrestled in different eras, and under different rules.

Truby was one of the greatest wrestlers to emerge from Trinity High School, one of the few wrestlers who finished with an undefeated record in the PIAA.

Truby was 80-0 and won state titles for the Hillers in 1986 and '87. He probably could have won four PIAA championships but spent the first two years of his varsity career in Maryland, where he was a two-time state champion and compiled a 60-2-1 record at Sherwood High School in Sandy Springs.

Petronka was a hard-nosed wrestler from Washington High School, where he won state championships in 1953 and '54. He competed at a time when qualifying for the postseason was much harder than it is today, or even in the 1980s.

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Truby and Petronka will share at least one experience in wrestling. Both will be inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame this year.

Truby and Petronka will be joined by another area wrestler, Jim Husk, a graduate of Waynesburg High School. Husk made his mark as a wrestling coach in Florida, leading two high schools - Archbishop Curley and Miami Southwest - to more than 700 combined victories.

Nine other individuals, including Teague Moore, a state champion from North Allegheny, will be inducted. The ceremony will be held Saturday, April 18 at the Ramada Inn in State College.

The list also includes Mark Cesari, a four-time state champion from North Schuykill; Joe Geesey, one of the nation's top wrestling officials; Tim McCall, a state champion from Erie Strong Vincent; John McHugh, longtime coach at the University of Maryland; Fred Richardson, a respected wrestling official; Jeff Richardson, a state champion from Johnstown; Rich Santoro, a two-time state champion from Bethlehem Catholic; and Troy Sunderland, a two-time PIAA champion from Mount Union and current wrestling coach at Penn State.

Chartiers-Houston tournament

One of the better early season tournaments gets under way Friday, when 24 teams gather for the 14th annual Chartiers-Houston Invitational Wrestling Tournament.

Opening rounds begin at 4:30 p.m., Friday; semifinals are at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, followed by the consolation finals and finals at 4 p.m.

Area teams competing include Avella, Bentworth, Beth-Center, Charleroi, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, Jefferson-Morgan, and South Fayette.

Returning champions are defending state champion Anthony Zanetta of Keystone Oaks, John Prezzia and Colin Checkan of South Side Beaver and Aaron McKenney of West Allegheny.

Matt Matters

The start of the wrestling season also means that the Mat Matters blog is up and running. If you haven't taken a look yet, do so at http://joesmatmatters.blogspot.com

Assistant sports editor Joe Tuscano can be reached at jtuscano@observer-reporter.com

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