District Four Hall-of-Fame 2005  by Frank Dimon

The District 4 Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame ceremony was held before the finals of the Class AA tournament at Williamsport High School Saturday night and featured a huge slice of Mount Carmel history when ten new members were inducted.

    Mount Carmel's three state champions -- Edwin Rakocy, John Zukowski, and Robert Sacavage -- joined Dave Becker (Selinsgrove), Bob Wirth (Liberty), Mike Davis (Liberty), Rich Shnyder (Mifflinburg), Lon Balum (Muncy), Dave Patrick (Wyalusing), and Rick Mahonski (Williamsport) as the newest members of the hall.

    Rakocy became Mount Carmel's first state champion in 1939 when he won a PIAA championship at 155 pounds. Rakocy, qualified for the tournament in 1938 as a heavyweight even though he weighed just 155 pounds. He earned four letters in wrestling and three letters in football for the Red Tornados.

    Zukowski became Mount Carmel's second state champion in 1942, capping an unbeaten senior season by beating George Yates of Cannonsburg 8-0 in the 145-pound final. Zukowski only loss as a junior was in in the finals to Clearfield's Frank Shirey. Zukowski won three consecutive Disstrict 4 championships.

    Sacavage, president judge of Northumberland County, won a state championship for Mt. Carmel was the  165-pound champion in 1969. Sacavage was a three-time sectional champion, a two-time district champion, and one-time regional champion. He later wrestled at Columbia University and was a first team All-Ivy League selection. Sacavage was also a 1st Team All-State selection.

    Becker won a state title for the Seals at 155 pounds in 1974 and posted a high school record of 65-5. He later wrestled at Penn State, compiling a 74-5 record with a fifth place finish at the NCAA tournament in 1978.

    Wirth coached Liberty High School to 11 Northern Tier League Small School championships. As a member of the District 4 Wrestling committee, Wirth has been West-Central sectional tournament director for 12 years, district tournament director for eight years, and this will his 11th year as the assistant tournament director for the Northeast Regional tournament.

    Davis was a state runner-up at 155 pounds in 1985 and was a three-time sectional champion, a two-time district champion, and a two-time regional champion. He posted a career record of 106-15-1.

    Shnyder was a state runner-up at 275 pounds in 1989 and finished fifth in 1990. He was a three-time sectional champion, a two-time district champion, and a two-time regional champion. Shnyder was a 1st Team All-State football selction in 1990.

    Balum won a pair of district championships and twice was named the tournament outstanding wrestler. At Wilkes University, Balum was a two-time MAC champion and placed third at the Division III national tournament. Balum also finished second at the EIWA tournament.

    Patrick paced three times at the PIAA tournament, winning at 135 pounds in 1999, placing second at 125 pounds in 1998, and fifth at 145 pounds in 2000. Patrick was a four-time sectional champion, a two-time district champion, and a two-time regional champion. He compiled a career record of 145-17.

    Rick Mahonski won Williamsport's first state championship in 1972 at 112 pounds and was selected as one of the 40 wrestlers in the country in 1973. Mahonski was an NCAA Division III runner-up and an EIWA runner-up in 1976. He posted a collegiate record of 68-14.