Legendary Wilkes wrestling coach John Reese and three-sport star Joseph Wiendl were elected into the MAC Hall of Fame inaugural class

REESE, WIENDL ELECTED TO MAC HALL OF FAME INAUGURAL CLASS

5/4/2012 11:28:00 AM

REESE, WIENDL ELECTED TO MAC HALL OF FAME INAUGURAL CLASS

ANNVILLE, PA – Legendary Wilkes University wrestling coach/administrator John Reese and three-sport star Joseph Wiendl '69 have been elected in the inaugural Middle Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame.

The MAC Hall of Fame, an initiative of the MAC 100, is an honor to recognize student-athletes, coaches, administration, faculty, or staff from the Middle Atlantic Conferences who have demonstrated success in athletics, academics, and in the community. Thirty-six individuals (22 athletes and 17 staff/administrators) were inducted into the Inaugural MAC Hall of Fame, representing 25 schools and 13 different sports.

Reese, a fixture at Wilkes for over 42 years, built one of the finest wrestling programs in the country during his tenure leading the Colonels on the mat. He is the second winningest coach in NCAA wrestling history, and in 1994 became just the second wrestling coach to top the 500-win mark. Retiring in 1995, Reese left with a collegiate dual record of 515-171-10, including five undefeated seasons. He led the Colonels to 14 MAC titles in 19 years and guided his 1974 team to the NCAA Division III National Championship.

On top of that, he coached ten individual national champions, 61 MAC champions, and 46 All-Americans. Reese had 40 winning campaigns, including 39 straight from 1955-1993. He moved the Colonels into the NCAA Division I and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association in 1976.

Wiendl was a three-sport star for the Colonels and is still the only 12-time letter winner and three-time Athlete of the Year in school history. He starred on the gridiron, becoming a two-time All-American, Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) and Associated Press All-State All-Star, and a three-time All-MAC selection. Wiendl helped the Colonels to 32 straight wins and two Lambert Bowls.

On the wrestling mat, he was a four-time All-American and two-time National Champion and finished his career with a dual mark of 49-1. In baseball, Wiendl hit over .300 for his career and over .400 in his senior campaign. Wiendl had his #44 jersey retired, one of just three Wilkes athletes so honored.

Inaugural MAC Hall of Fame Class
Name, School, Sport/Position, Year(s)
Richard (Dick) Riffle, Albright, Football/Baseball/Basketball/Track & Field, 1938
Ted Cottrell, Delaware Valley, Football/Track & Field, 1969
Yvonne Kauffman, Elizabethtown, Basketball/Field Hockey/Tennis Coach, 1966-Present
Robert Shields, FDU, Athletic Director, 1976-1989
Mary Beth Bowler, King's, Basketball, 1983
Lou Sorrentino, Lebanon Valley, Basketball/Baseball/Football SA, Basketball/Football/Baseball/Golf Coach, Athletic Director,
Budd Whitehill, Lycoming, Wrestling/Football/Baseball Coach, 1956-93
David Brandt, Messiah, Soccer Coach, 1996-2008
Bill Manlove, Widener, Football Coach/Athletic Director, 1969-1991
John Reese, Wilkes, Wrestling Coach, Athletic Director, 1953-1995
Joseph Wiendl, Wilkes, Football/Wrestling/Baseball, 1969
Grant Krow, Albright, Track & Field, 1963
Robert Odell, Bucknell, Football Coach, 1958-1964
David Freysinger, Dickinson, Basketball, 1982
Denise Shotwell Hubley, Dickinson, Field Hockey/Track & Field, 1989
Simone Edwards, FDU, Basketball, 1993
William Marshall, Frankling & Marshall, Squash Coach, Athletic Director, 1974-1991, 1971-1998
Arif Husain, Gettysburg, Track & Field, 1993
Robert Kenworthy, Gettysburg, SID, 1959-1999
Dick Voith, Haverford, Basketball, 1977
Bill Milne, Johns Hopkins, Swimming,
William (Bill) Stromberg, Johns Hopkins, Football, 1982
Larry Bock, Juniata, Volleyball Coach,
Al Cantello, La Salle, Track & Field, 1955
Tom Gola, La Salle, Basketball, 1955
Frank Girardi, Lycoming, Football Coach/Athletic Director, 1972-2007
Carol Fritz, McDaniel, Basketball/Volleyball/Softball Coach, Associate Athletic Director, 1967-2007
Rebecca Martin, McDaniel, Basketball/Volleyball/Track & Field/Softball SA, Basketball Coach, 1980, 1981-Present
Rocco Calvo, Moravian, Football/Basketball/Baseball Coach, Athletic Director, 1955-1992
Harold "Gil" Gillespie, Moravian, Baseball Coach, Basketball Coach, Athletic Director, 1937-1974, 1939-1957, 1937-1975
Bobby Smith, Rider, Soccer, 1972
Bob Bessoir, Scranton, Basketball Coach, 1951-1955
Cory Mabry, Susquehanna, Football/Track & Field, 1991
Guy Rodgers, Temple, Basketball, 1958
Edward Athey, Washington, Football/Basketball/Baseball SA, Coach, Athletic Director, 1947, 1948-1997
Billy Johnson, Widener, Football, 1975

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