Wrestling: South Jersey Hall of Fame announces 2017 class
The South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame has announced its 2017 class, to be honored with a ceremony and banquet on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Masso’s Crystal Manor in Glassboro.
A 6 p.m. cocktail hour will precede the dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets for the event are $40 and can be purchased by contacting Mike Schuld at (609) 206-2206.
Here’s a look at the inductees:
John Atkinson, Woodbury and Rahway High School – Atkinson graduated from Rahway as a three-year varsity performer in 1953 and wrestled at Rutgers in college. He left the Scarlet Knights soon after when he was drafted into the Army Security Agency, where he decoded classified information in the Korean War.
After his three-year military tour, Atkinson went into business with his father and also worked for Delta Airlines in Florida for a decade. He moved to Woodbury after that and has since been a fixture in the wrestling community. Atkinson’s spent the past 41 years as a youth coach and also a scorekeeper at all levels of the sport, especially high schools. Among his many accomplishments in wrestling, one top notable is the work he’s done at the state level.
Atkinson served as timekeeper and announcer for the New Jersey individual and team state tournaments. He’s spent time as a volunteer in many venues, especially for the Woodbury Booster Club for more than 20 years. He’s also a Platinum Club member of the SJWHOF, where he spent 12 years on the executive committee. He lives in West Deptford with his wife of 59 years, Marjorie.
Mike Ahern, Paul VI – A fixture in the South Jersey scene since high school, Ahern notched three District 28 and Region 7 titles for the Eagles. In 1989 – his senior year – Ahern was named Most Outstanding Wrestler in the region.
He placed seventh in the state in 1988 and sixth a season later at 119 pounds. His Paul VI career ended with a 101-25 record. At Elizabethtown College, Ahern won three Middle Athletic Conference crowns and qualified for the Division III tournament in each of his four years there.
Ahern held a 122-16 mark at Elizabethtown, still the school record. He’s been head coach at Penns Grove, Sterling and Haddon Heights and helped guide three state champions in Mark Manchio, Ivan Wiggins and Alex Thompson. Twice, he took home district Coach of the Year honors. In 2001 and 2002, his Silver Knights claimed South Jersey Group 2 titles. Ahern lives in Blackwood, where he spends time with his 8-year-old daughter and longtime girlfriend. He teaches at Clayton.
Greg Austin, Ocean City – The 1999 Red Raiders’ grad took home three District 32 first-place finishes to go with a Region 8 title and two trips to the state tournament. At 125 pounds in 1998, Austin wrestled back to grab seventh place in the state.
A year later, Austin bumped up to 135 pounds and finished second. His career high school record ended up at a stellar 105 wins against 14 losses. He then wrestled at Rutgers where he placed four times in the EIWA Tournament and twice reached nationals.
He finished with a 106-44 mark for the Scarlet Knights and began as a volunteer assistant for Ocean City. A state employee, he lives in Upper Township with his wife Kristen and their two children.
Ryan Bridge, Absegami – A two-time state champion, Bridge also won four District 32 titles and three Region 8 crowns. In addition to those accolades, he placed third in another trip to states – that one came in 2001 as a 119-pound sophomore.
His junior season started with a Beast of the East title at 125 pounds. He went on to finish unbeaten with a 4-3 triumph in the final at Atlantic City. In 2003, Bridge beat Jarred Mercado in the final at 130 pounds. As a Brave, the star went 136-11.
Bridge then attended Cornell University before he joined the Marine Corps. As a member of the division’s team, he won an Armed Forces Championship in 2009. He completed his college career after his time in the Marines at Stevens Institute of Technology. There, he earned All-American honors twice and finished up with a 32-7 overall record. He spent time as an assistant coach at Morris Hills high upstate and plans to assist at powerhouse Delbarton next season. He lives in Denville with his wife, Kristy.
Dan Calhoun Washington Twp. – Calhoun, who graduated a Minuteman in 1995, claimed a trio of District 30 championships, a Region 8 title and twice qualified for states.
In his senior season, Calhoun claimed third place to complete his career with a 94-14-1 record. In college, he grappled for Gloucester County and was part of a 1996 squad that finished third in the JUCO National Tournament. Calhoun was a two-time JUCO All-American and went to North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He qualified for the 1998 NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels won the ACC in 1998 and 1999.
His final combined college record stands at 117-27. Calhoun assisted at Delsea and Williamstown before he became the Braves’ head man, a spot he held for seven years. He won two Region 8 Coach of the Year awards in his time in Monroe Township. After Williamstown, he moved on to Gloucester County College where he earned Region 19 Man of the Year notoriety in 2010.
Four of his wrestlers became JUCO All-Americans. He’s also worked as a clinician for the Patriot and Sunkist Kids wrestling clubs. He lives in Ocean City with this three children.
Doug Umbehauer, Lenape – Umbehauer placed in the state tournament on three occasions. He took fifth in his sophomore year, fourth as a junior and second in 2004, his final season for the Indians. The high placement came at 189 pounds.
He also took second in the Senior National Tournament and holds a 128-16 career high school record. At Rider, Umbehauer won 100 matches and two CAA Conference titles. He took third place in the NCAA Tournament in 2009 at 184 pounds and earned All-American honors.
The star wrestled for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club for three years after he graduated from Rider. He placed second in University Nationals in 2010, third in the Sunkist Open in 2010 and third in the 2011 NYAC Open. He stayed in the sport afterward as a clinician at camps and wrestling clubs.
He currently works with the Seneca Youth Wrestling Club and lives in Shamong with his wife, Michelle and their five children.
Ivan Wiggins, Sterling – Wiggins enjoyed an illustrious high school career with the Silver Knights that included four district titles, three Region 7 crowns, a state title and three other state placements.
At 103 pounds as a freshman, Wiggins took second place in Atlantic City. He took fifth the next season at 103. In 2002, the star wrestled at 112 pounds and grabbed his title with an 8-4 decision against Millburn’s Zack Tanelli. At 130 pounds his senior season, Wiggins lost in the semifinals to Bridge, another 2017 inductee.
He wrestled back to take third to end his high school career at 128-15. He then went to Northern Iowa and claimed a third-place finish in the UNI Open as well as a fourth-place finish in the Kaufman-Brand Open. Wiggins dedicates his induction to his late father, Ivan Wiggins Sr.
Ivan Wiggins lives in Somerdale.
Kyle Young, Cherry Hill West – Young’s career as a Lion featured three District 27 titles, two Region 7 first-place finishes and three state tournament appearances.
The 1992 grad fell ill as a sophomore and missed states. At 119 pounds his senior season, Young finished second in the state. His career record on Chapel Avenue is 92-20.
Young went on to wrestle at Southern Connecticut State. He won the Coast Guard Tournament and the Old Bridge Collegiate tourney at 135 pounds. He took third at the regional qualifier for nationals at 135 pounds in 1994. He helped Cherry Hill West wrestlers in his free time and eventually became the volunteer coach at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia.
In 2015, he became the school’s head coach in 2015. In three years, Roman Catholic’s produced its first Public Catholic League champ. The club reached the team playoffs for the first time since 2008 and sent eight athletes to regions. Young’s tutelage also helped prepare the first two grapplers in school history to reach states.
Young lives in Philadelphia.