Peterson finally gets spot in state wrestling Hall of Fame
By John Sacco
For The Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
Lester Peterson, Canon-McMillan High School’s first PIAA wrestling champion, was inducted Sunday into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Peterson, a three-time WPIAL champion, won his state title in 1969 when he defeated defending champion Dave Clark of Clearfield in the finals.
Peterson fell way behind Clark, who scored a takedown, two-point near fall and an escape, in the second period to claim a 6-0 lead.
Peterson managed a reversal and took Clark to his back for two near-fall points, cutting the lead to 6-4. Peterson escaped Clark in the third period to make it 6-5. But Clark scored another takedown for a three-point lead.
Peterson escaped to make it 8-6. With time clicking away, he made his move.
“He put his arm down and then grabbed my arm,” Peterson explained. “I had him in a bear hug. All I needed to do was the pancake. I hit it at just the right time and caught him. I was a little too far underneath to really turn him over and he was too strong to just hold him there. I got the takedown and the near fall to be up by two points. I let him go the last 20 seconds and he couldn’t take me down.”
As for his induction into the state Hall of Fame, Peterson said recently: “I guess it means I was pretty good. I was trying hard to win that match and the state championship.”
Peterson was inducted into the Washington-Greene County Hall of Fame in 2022.
He won his three WPIAL titles in 1967-69
Several former Big Macs and a Canon-McMillan coach said Peterson has been overlooked throughout history.
“Unfortunately, Lester’s legacy has not been recognized like so many great athletes from our area,” said Angelo “Butch” Marino, one of those three-time WPIAL champions and a two-time state champion, previously said.
“Lester was a tremendous wrestler,” said Dave Cook, a WPIAL champion in 1967, PIAA runnerup and legendary coach and official once said of Peterson. “He would be considered elite today. Lester did things that nobody did back then. I don’t think people knew what they were seeing.
“He did accomplish so much. I don’t think a lot of wrestling fans realized how accomplished and creative he was out there. He had that balance and such good feet. You couldn’t take him down. He was hard to coach against because you never knew what was coming. You would sit there and watch and often ask: ‘what was that?’ He’s been overlooked.”
Peterson, who also participated in track and field in high school and excelled in the hurdles, does not feel disrespected. When he looks back, he wishes he could have done better as a sophomore and junior in the state tournament.
“I just did what I did, what I liked to do,” Peterson said. “I wrestled because I liked doing it.”
Norm Palovcsik, former chairman of the PWCA HOF, accepted for Peterson Sunday. Ironically, he defeated Peterson in the state semifinals in 1968.
“I was honored to present him,” Palovcsik said. “He had a remarkable career. In 62 matches he lost just two and both to the eventual state champion. He was tough. He was very athletic.
“Lester was as strong a young man as I ever wrestled. He had strength that was unmatched. I’m honored to see him take his place in the Hall of Fame.”