May 31, 2016 3 min read

Richard Wilson, one of the most prolific wrestlers from this area, will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this weekend.

Wilson, a PIAA champion from Trinity High School, was a three-time NCAA runner-up at the University of Toledo and competed in Greco-Roman wrestling in three Olympics before embarking on a successful coaching career.

The induction ceremony will be held at the 40th Anniversary Honors Weekend Friday and Saturday in Stillwater, Okla. For more information on Honors Weekend, please telephone (405) 377-5243.

Joining Wilson, who died in 2009, are Carlton Haselrig, Brandon Slay, William B. Harlow, Dick Wilson, Randy Bortles, Joseph Galli Jr., Marcia Haise and Ron Good.

“This group of extraordinary individuals have made a significant impact on the sport of wrestling,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum in a release. “It is our privilege to honor them, but, more importantly, we appreciate the opportunity each year when we get to let people know what each of these remarkable individuals has done.”

Wilson won three Mid-American Conference championships at Toledo and was undefeated in dual meets throughout his college career. Wilson had a 49-3 record in college.

He won the Olympic Trials in Greco Roman in 1956, 1960 and 1964, and in freestyle in 1960. In three Olympics, Wilson’s best finish was fourth in 1964. He was team captain for the United States wrestling team in 1960 and ’64.

Wilson returned to Toledo in 1967 and coached there until 1974. His team won the MAC title in 1969 and three others finished second. He coached numerous All-Americans and MAC champions at Toledo, including Greg Wojciechowski, who won the NCAA Championship in 1971 and went on to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic freestyle team at heavyweight in 1980.

He is a member of the University of Toledo’s Varsity T Hall of Fame and the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Doug Gudenburr, a four-time letterwinner and two-time PIAA qualifier for Ringgold High school, will attend The Citadel next fall to continue his academic and athletic careers. He will pursue a degree in engineering.

The Citadel is a military college in Charleston,, S.C.

Gudenburr compiled a 130-29 career record, the most varsity wins in the program’s history. He was third-place finisher in the WPIAL Class AAA Championships twice and finished as high as third in the Tri-CADA Wrestling Tournament.

Two football players at Bentworth High School – Noah Peternel and Tyler Mitchell – have committed to Presidents’ Athletic Conference colleges.

Peternel, a 6-1, 175-pound wide receiver, will attend Grove City College and Mitchell, a 5-10, 160-pound wide receiver, will go to Washington & Jefferson.

Peternel also played defensive end and had 21 tackles and three sacks. He caught 54 passes for 848 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

Mitchell, also played cornerback, where he had six interceptions. At wide receiver last season, he caught 43 passes for 647 yards and seven touchdowns.

Washington High School senior Markel Pulliam, a two-sport standout for the Prexies this year, will continue his basketball and academic careers at Carlow University.

Pulliam, who originally committed to play football at Walsh University, will pursue basketball after a breakout senior season when he led Wash High to the PIAA Class AA playoffs and averaged 14.8 points per game as the Prexies’ point guard.