Berwick Wrestling Records Historic Program Win #500
At Berwick Duals On December 28
Posted December 29, 2006

A historic moment has been realized for the Berwick Wrestling Program and Berwick High School on December 28, 2006.

When the Dawgs secured the team dual championship in their last match at the Berwick Duals by defeating Mifflinburg 46-28, they did something very special.

It was Berwick Wrestling Program Win #500.

Coach Allen Turner started it all and served at the helm of Berwick Wrestling from 1954 to 1961.

Then it was Coach Dick Rimple who took the next step and guided the Dawgs to 108 wins from 1961 to 1974.

Coach Jim Ross followed to steer the Berwick Wrestling Program from 1974 to 1975. 

Coach Jeff Lorson then commandeered Berwick Wrestling from 1975 to 1988 and notched 125 wins. Coach Lorson is still actively involved as head coach of the junior high program.

Current Head Coach Ernie Yates has piloted the Dawgs since 1988 and has notched a whopping 204 wins as of the end of last season.  Coach Yates is now at win #210 and still counting.

Then there are all of the wrestlers.  The heart and soul of Berwick Wrestling.

Since Berwick's very first season of 1954-1955 and through the following decades to the present, Dawgs of different generations have shared the sweat, blood, heartbreak of loss, and the joyous triumph of victory.

Bob Dalberto was the first state championship qualifier earning his bid in the 1961-1962 season. State place winners, state qualifiers and 100-match winners were to follow.  Names associated with the "Best of the Best" of historic accomplishment in Berwick Wrestling that will never be forgotten include Jack Fenstemaker, Mike McCabe, Kerry Bankus, Matt Simone, Jack Johnson, Lance Whitmire, John Frey, Adam Maczuga, Scott Beaver, Garry Huntington, Tim Holter, Brent Yates, Mark Fisher, Jeremiah Mensinger, Jeremy Griffith, Nick Yalch, Ryan Mardon, Mike Viti, Roland Singletary, and Anthony Bujno.

The pride and tradition of Berwick Wrestling is part of every Berwick wrestler who has ever donned a Dawg singlet.

The pride and tradition of Berwick Wrestling is part of every wrestler who has ever stepped into the wrestling room to participate in practices that have no equal in intensity versus any other scholastic sport.

The pride and tradition of Berwick Wrestling is part of every wrestler who has ever stepped onto the mat to try his hardest, physically and mentally, to defeat his opponent and win for the team.

Program Win #500 is a glorious moment in the history of Berwick Wrestling.

Program Win #500 is a glorious moment for every wrestler and coach that has ever represented Berwick Wrestling.

The 2006-2007 edition of Berwick Wrestling was honored to record the victory over Mifflinburg.

However, the win, Berwick Wrestling's 500th Win, belongs to and is owned by the Berwick Wrestling Program and to every wrestler that has ever shed the drops of sweat for the continued success and glory of Berwick Wrestling.

The Berwick Wrestling Program is always bigger than today's current snapshot of time.  One's glorious moments become history only to be replaced by another.

It is this continuity in the pursuit of success, of self-sacrifice, of dedication and commitment, that perpetrates the pride and tradition of Berwick Wrestling.