West York Wrestling
THE HISTORY
1964-65 West York Wrestling Team

▪ 1964-65 YCIAA League Wrestling Champions
▪ 1965 YCIAA Sectional Team Champions
Front Row (L-R) Jeff Linebaugh, Gary Carbaugh, ▪ Dana Luckenbaugh,
Darryl "Smokey" Dennis, Burton Snyder, Steve Kunkle, Tom DeLong.
Back Row (L-R) * Head Coach John T. Toggas, Jack Hershberger, Don Narber,
Fred Lehman, Chuck Bostic, Gary Narber, Bill Wiehe.
▪ Dana Luckenbaugh
1965 PIAA State Wrestling Champion
MORE!
* Coach John T. Toggas in his 1st year at West York



1934-35
Marked the first year of
West York Wrestling's
74 Year History!

▪ Coach Charles C. Richards, Jr.
began his teaching career at West York Area Senior High School in September of 1934.

West York Coach Charles Richards graduated from Erie Academy, Erie PA in 1929
and entered F&M College in Lancaster, PA graduating in 1934 with a B.A. in History.

Chuck Richards was West York's first head coach and was a pioneer in York County Wrestling! 
1934-35 West York team names included - McDonald, Dubbs, Sheffer, Sitz, Buchanan, Gohn, King,
Whitmore, Brokenshire, Silar, Wilhide, Gentzler, Sheffer, Desenburgh, and wrestling manager Poff. 
West York High School wrestled 8 dual meets that year against the likes of
 Gettysburg Freshmen, Manheim, F&M Freshmen, Atlas, and Patton Trade.
West York finished with a record of 4-4.  The 1st dual meet against Gettysburg's Freshmen
was held on 1/19/1935.  West York lost that first dual meet ... 35-5,
but the long and proud tradition had its beginning!

▪ The first West York Wrestling Team included wrestlers in grades seven through twelve!

Coach Richards' wrestling history was not very long.  He wrestled only intramurals at Erie Academy.
At F&M, he wrestled heavyweight, having to lose weight before each match to make the weight limit.
Coach Richards also started the football program at West York, organized a boys and girls
track program, coached basketball for one year, and coached a girls fencing team.

▪ Coach Chuck Richards left the WY coaching duties at the end of the 1955-56 season.



West York Wrestling
Coaching History
▪ Chuck Richards started the West York Wrestling Program in 1934 - 1st 9 years (88-21-4).
▪ Donald Gohn was the first West York Wrestler to win a match (1934) with a fall in 25 seconds!
▪ In 1944 - the Rev. Clark S. Smith was West York Wrestling head coach for one year - (8-3).
  ▪ From 1945 - 1956, West York was coached by Charles "Chuck" Richards and Donald Kocher (50-89-3).
▪ From 1957 - 1963, Robert Brown coached West York Wrestling - (46-21-2).
▪ Dr. D. Kenneth Ober coached West York Wrestling for one year 1963-1964 - (12-2).
▪ In 1964 - John T. Toggas became head wrestling coach at West York High School - (307-110-4).
(30 years - Biglerville and West York High Schools)
 ▪ After the John T. Toggas era, head wrestling coaches at West York included Kevin McCleary,
Bill Luckenbaugh, Orvale "Chip" Fissel, Jeremy Jones, Jeff Meckley, Josh Millard & Brian Gross.


John T. Toggas
Former head wrestling coach at Biglerville and West York High Schools,
was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his
"Lifetime Service To Wrestling"


Remember When...
Scholastic Wrestling News
October 15, 1978  Volume 14  Number 2 Issue
"Coach Toggas Earned his 200th Victory"


1998-99 West York Wrestling Staff
Front Row (L-R) Orvale "Chip" Fissel, Jeff Meckley.
Back Row (L-R) Jerry Mathison, Eric Lehman, Jim Haas.




 The 1st PIAA State Wrestling Championship
was held on:
March 18-19,  1938
@ Penn State's Recreation Hall
(78 competitors from 27 schools)
▪ 7 minute matches - 1st period (2 minutes) 2nd and 3rd periods (2 1/2 minutes) 
Pennsylvania's 1st PIAA State Wrestling Champions - 1938
85lbs. - Sam Harry  (Clearfield), 95lbs. - George Custer  (Canonsburg),
105lbs. - Sheridan Bannan  (Clearfield), 115lbs. - Roland Scandle  (Shamokin),
125lbs. - Joe Quethera  (Clearfield), 135lbs. - John Metzler  (Greensburg),
145lbs. - Harold Welker  (Shamokin), 155lbs. - Dick DiBatista  (Lower Merion),
165lbs. - Dick Brenneman  (Pottsville), 185lbs. - Phil Ahwesh  (Canonsburg).

▪ 1969 - West York, with 2 PIAA Champions finished 2nd in the quest for the "mythical" state
team points title with 36.5 points.  Easton had 42.5 points for the "mythical" 1969 team title.

▪ 1969 was the 1st year a "Coach of the Year" was awarded - Bob Zarbatany of Easton won that title.

▪ 1973 marked the first year the PIAA State Tourney included champions and runners-up from the
4 Regional Tourneys and expanded from 48 to 96 total competitors.  One extra day was needed.
1973 was also the last year for one enrollment competition class for all schools in Pennsylvania.

▪ 1974 marked the first year that 2 tournament classes "determined by enrollment" was used.  Also,
the weight classes were expanded from 8 to 16 competitors each.  The PIAA used Class "A" and Class "B"
for the classifications.  The Regionals were expanded to 5 areas.  "Riding Time" was also eliminated!

▪ 1976 marked the first year of "official" team scoring in the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament.

• PA District III's 1st PIAA State Wrestling Champion
was Robert Miller of Lancaster in 1945 @ 120lbs.!

CLICK HERE!.. for 1938 - 2008 PIAA State Wrestling Champions List



West York Wrestling's
16 PIAA State Wrestling Medalists

Looking Back...39 Years

1969 PIAA State Wrestling Championship Finals
▪ West York's John Sprenkle (right) controls Wilkes Barre G.A.R.'s Joel Kislin
@ heavyweight and gains a fall in 5:12 to win the state title!!

West York Wrestling
9 PIAA State Finalists & Results
 • 1938 PIAA State Finals - Dick DiBatista (Lower Merion) dec. Cletus Gentzler (West York)
 • 1940 PIAA State Finals - Tom Waters (Forty Fort) dec. Ken Smyser (West York)
 • 1941 PIAA State Finals - Jim Mohney (Clearfield) dec. John Bowser (West York) (6-6) 2-0 (ot)
 • 1947 PIAA State Finals - Frank Rich (Lock Haven) dec. Bob King (West York) 2-0
 • 1965 PIAA State Finals - Dana Luckenbaugh (West York) dec. Bill Welker (Shamokin) 4-3
 • 1968 PIAA State Finals - Norm Palovcsik (Clearfield) dec. Bill Luckenbaugh (West York) 11-8
 • 1969 PIAA State Finals - Bill Luckenbaugh (West York) dec. Bob Pratt (Easton) 8-2
 • 1969 PIAA State Finals - John Sprenkle (West York) pinned Joel Kislin (Wilkes Barre GAR) 5:12
 • 1975 PIAA State A Finals - John Eichenlaub (Lock Haven) pinned Jeff Meckley (West York) 3:24


1965 PIAA State Wrestling Champions

Front Row (L-R) Bob Hallman (North Penn), John Abajace (Trinity), Dana Luckenbaugh (West York),
Phil Detore (Greensburg-Salem), Barry Souder (Mt. Lebanon), Dan Kohlhepp (DuBois).
Back Row (L-R) Francis Michael (W-B GAR), Charles Houser (Allentown Dieruff), Paul Armstrong (Steel-High),
Mike Gudiness (Mt. Lebanon), Joe Yerg (State College), Bob Funk (Manheim Township).
Larger Photo of 1965 PIAA State Champs

1969 PIAA State Wrestling Champions

Front Row (L-R) Tom Teagarden, McGuffey; Rich Panella, New Castle; Carl Lutes, Easton;
Leslie Peterson, Canon-McMillan; Bill Luckenbaugh, West York; Dan Howard, Allentown Dieruff.
Back Row (L-R) Kevin Love, Carnegie; George Myers, Dallastown; Wade Schalles, Hollidaysburg;
Robert Sacavage, Mt. Carmel; Rodney Smith, Mt. Lebanon; John Sprenkle, West York.
Larger Photo of 1969 PIAA State Champs

West York Wrestling
7 PIAA State Medalists & Results
• 1985 PIAA 5th/6th AAA - Kevin Benton (Easton) dec. Wilmer Pressel (West York) 15-3
• 1992 PIAA 5th/6th AA - Jeff Wolfe (West York) pinned Ben Corbin (Fairview) 4:23
• 1992 PIAA 5th/6th AA - Matt Sprenkle (West York) dec. Jamie Canaday (Oxford) 3-1
• 1995 PIAA 5th/6th AA - Rob English (West Branch) forfeit over Chad Luckenbaugh (West York)
• 1996 PIAA 5th/6th AA - Randy Mort (Bethlehem Center) dec. Chad Luckenbaugh (West York) 9-4
• 1997 PIAA 5th/6th AA - Chad Luckenbaugh (West York) dec. Royce Eyer (Hughesville) 5-4
• 1999 PIAA 5th/6th AA - Todd Platts (West York) dec. Chris White (Schuylkill Valley) 6-1

◦ AAA PIAA State Wrestling Results 1974-2007 - CLICK HERE!
◦ AA PIAA State Wrestling Results 1974-2007 - CLICK HERE!

West York High School has produced...
74 PIAA State Wrestling Qualifiers since 1938!

West York's PIAA All-State Wrestlers/Qualifiers - CLICK HERE!
West York Wrestling Records - CLICK HERE!


▪ 1968 - PIAA Southeast Regional Wrestling Champions




1968-69 Wrestling USA Magazine All-Americans
June 20th issue 1968 - Volume 3  Number 12
▪ Bill Luckenbaugh of West York, PA - 1st Team HS All-American 
▪ John Sprenkle of West York, PA - Honorable Mention HS All-American



West York Wrestling's
ONLY 4-time Sectional Wrestling Champion...
Glenn Amsbaugh
 ▪ Glenn is a MD in York and was undefeated in "Dual Meets" for West York High School
 

Glenn Amsbaugh, MD

"Glenn wrestled at Lehigh University...
and was an EIWA runner-up in 1967!"
▪ Glenn's Lehigh Wrestling Stats are - CLICK HERE!
CLICK HERE! to see results of the 63rd annual EIWA Wrestling Tournament at U of Penn.

• Glenn wrestled in the 1967 NCAA DI Tournament (152lbs.)
at Kent State University.
CLICK HERE! to see the 1967 NCAA DI Wrestling Brackets with Lehigh's Glenn Amsbaugh




1964-65 West York Wrestling
YCIAA League and Sectional Team Champions
Front Row (L-R) Tom DeLong, Darryl "Smokey" Dennis, Dana Luckenbaugh,
Gary Carbaugh, Jeff Linebaugh.
Back Row (L-R) Coach John Toggas, Chuck Bostic, Don Narber, Gary Narber.
CLICK HERE!




Outstanding Open Wrestler "Mean" Gene Mills (Syracuse) on left...
with WY's coach and tourney director, John T. Toggas.
▪ Gene Mills was a 2-time NCAA Champion and Outstanding Wrestler!
1983 West York Summer Booster Club Open Tournament
West York Booster Club Summer Wrestling Tourney
"The Early WY Booster Tourney Years" - CLICK HERE!




1968 Carlisle Holiday Tournament
Outstanding Wrestler - Bill Luckenbaugh, West York
MORE TOURNAMENT RESULTS!

▪ While at East Stroudsburg State College ... Bill Luckenbaugh
pinned 59 of his 85 opponents for a .694 pinning percentage !!!




West York Wrestling History...
Easton High School's Prestigious Holiday
"Pat Reilly" Wrestling Tournament
CLICK HERE! for West York's Easton History


▪ 1972 Easton Holiday Tournament Wrestling Champions




West York's Jeff Wolfe was a 3-time ...
Governor Mifflin Holiday Tournament Champion!
Governor Mifflin Holiday Tournament
Placewinners History
CLICK HERE!



Tom Toggas of West York HS
won a National Prep Wrestling Championship!
Toggas, who graduated from West York in 1983, wrestled for Blair Academy

 
 Tom Toggas

1983 National Prep Wrestling Championships
▪ 159lbs.   Tom Toggas - 1st Place ... representing Blair Academy Wrestling


13 Lehigh wrestlers...
have won 3 individual EIWA titles!
 "West York's Tom Toggas is in that Elite Lehigh Thirteen!"*
 • Rudy Ashman, Harold Masem, George Feuerbach, Kirk Pendleton, Mike Caruso, Mike Frick,
Don McCorkel, Paul Diekel, Pete Yozzo, Tom Toggas, Troy Letters,
Jon Trenge & Cory Cooperman •

* Colin Kilrain, Mike Brown, Darryl Burley and Mark Lieberman
won "4" EIWA Titles for Lehigh University!  CLICK HERE!

Tom Toggas - Lehigh University
3-Time EIWA Wrestling Champion
▪ 1988 EIWA Fletcher Award
In 1988, Lehigh's Tom Toggas was presented with the "John Fletcher Memorial Trophy"
at the EIWA's for scoring the most points during his EIWA career.
▪ John Fletcher was a former Navy wrestler who died at sea serving his country. 
CLICK HERE for EIWA Fletcher Award list in (PDF)

1985 EIWA Wrestling Championships 158lbs.
1st: Tom Toggas (Lehigh) dec. Dan Sullivan (Army)  17-6
3rd: Tim Szymanski - Navy (4-0) 4th: Rick Rochelle - Princeton
5th: Tim Yoder - Franklin & Marshall (WFT) 6th: Phil Wiles - Cornell
1985 EIWA Brackets - CLICK HERE!

1987 EIWA Wrestling Championships 158lbs.
1st: Tom Toggas (Lehigh) dec. Kevin Turner (William & Mary)  7-6
3rd: Scott Schleicher - Navy (6-3) 4th: John Rippley - Army
5th: Rich Tavoso - Princeton (7-6) 6th: E.C. Muelhaupt - Brown
1987 EIWA Brackets - CLICK HERE!

1988 EIWA Wrestling Championships 158lbs.
1st: Tom Toggas (Lehigh) dec. Scott Schleicher (Navy)  2-0
3rd: John Rippley - Army (4-4, 1-0) 4th: Frank Ryan - Syracuse
5th: E.C. Muelhaupt - Brown (15-3) 6th: Mike Schroat - Wilkes
1988 EIWA Brackets - CLICK HERE!

▪ NCAA Division I Brackets from 1985, 1987, 1988 - w/Tom Toggas @ 158lbs.
1985 NCAA DI Wrestling Bracket (PDF)
1987 NCAA DI Wrestling Bracket (PDF)
1988 NCAA DI Wrestling Bracket (PDF)

▪ Lehigh's Tom Toggas 1984-88 record (70-33-1)
Toggas' 3-time EIWA Champion Lehigh Stats - CLICK HERE!

1974 PSAC Wrestling Champions
Front Row (L-R) Jack Spates -118lbs. (Slippery Rock), Craig Turnbull -126lbs. (Clarion),
Randy Watts -134lbs. (Bloomsburg),  Don Rohn -142lbs. (Clarion) &
Bill Luckenbaugh -150lbs. (East Stroudsburg).
Back Row (L-R) Tom Herr -Hwt. (Edinboro), Bill Shuffstall -190lbs. (Slippery Rock),
Wade Schalles -177lbs. (Clarion), Bill "Bimbo" Simpson -167lbs. (Clarion) &
Bob Stetler -158lbs. (East Stroudsburg).
▪ Full Listing of 74' PSAC Wrestling Medalists - CLICK HERE!

▪ East Stroudsburg State Placewinners ▪
B. Luckenbaugh (1st), B. Stetler (1st), D. Lehman (3rd), P. Conlin (4th)




• Bill Luckenbaugh of East Stroudsburg State College...
was the "2nd seed" at the 1974 NCAA Division One Wrestling Championships in Iowa City. 
Bill won his first 2 matches by fall, but a severe knee injury suffered at practice
the prior week hindered his progress in what would have been, a sure All-American medal. 
Bill won the NCAA DII wrestling crown the week before to qualify for the DI tournament in Iowa City.
▪ You can look at the actual    Division I 1974 150lb. bracket (PDF)
w/"Lucky" by clicking HERE!




• Brandon Luckenbaugh (formerly of West York High School)...
won a 1998 Florida AAAA State Wrestling Championship (152lbs.) for Lake Gibson High School.
▪ Brandon decisioned Jesuit's (Tampa) Todd Rametta, 13-9 for the state championship! 
▪ Brandon is the son of Mary & Bill Luckenbaugh, a former PIAA State Champion for West York.



West York Wrestling Alumni ...
"In the West York Football Record Book"
1979 - Most Season Rushes.. Alan Silar (226) #1
1979 - Most Season Rush Yards.. Alan Silar (1136) #2
1966 - Most Season Touchdowns.. Steve Kunkle (26) #1
1979 - Most Game Rushes.. Alan Silar vs. Red Lion (32) #1
1984 - Most Season Pass Receptions.. Troy Ketterman (31) #3
1984 - Most Game Pass Receptions.. Troy Ketterman (7) "twice" #2
1976 - Most Game Pass Receptions.. John Reiber (7) #2
1984 - Most Season Solo Tackles.. Chad Toomey (59) #2
1974 - Most Season Pass Interceptions.. Jeff Meckley (9) #1
1990 - Most Game Tackles.. Jeff Wolfe vs. Dover (13) #1
1996 - Most Game Tackles.. Matt Sheridan vs. Littlestown (12) #2
1990 - Most Game Tackle Assists.. Jeff Wolfe vs. Dover (12) #1
1990 - Most Total Game Defensive Points.. Jeff Wolfe vs. Dover (43) #1
1984 - Most Total Game Defensive Points.. Troy Ketterman vs. YS (34) #2
Most Game Sacks.. Bob Narber (3) #2




John Sprenkle...
a PIAA State Wrestling Heavyweight Champion for West York,
earned 3 varsity football letters at Virginia Tech!
   John lettered in 1970, 1971, and 1972 for the Hokies Football Team. 
 ▪ John also wrestled for the Hokies briefly at Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech Hokie Wrestling Website - CLICK HERE!

1970-1971-1972 Virginia Tech Football Letterman - CLICK HERE!
√ John's son, Matt Sprenkle...
was a 5th place PIAA Wrestling medal winner in 1994 @ 125lbs. for West York!



  1972 West York Grad
and 1976 East Stroudsburg College Grad...
Mike Stambaugh

Co-Captain of the (9-0-1)
1976 ESSC PSAC Championship Football Team
▪ Mike was an All-PSAC 1st Team Selection
at ESSC as a Defensive End in 1975 & 1976!!
▪ Mike Stambaugh was named the Lehigh Valley Scholar-Athlete in 1976
▪ Mike Stambaugh was a 3-year football letterman @ ESSC - 1974, 1975 & 1976


WRESTLING ARCHIVES 1973 to 77'
w/Stambaugh-Luckenbaugh-Lehman-Lichty
 CLICK HERE!




York Sports Hall of Fame

• 1995 - West York Wrestling's John T. Toggas was inducted into the
York Sports Hall of Fame!
Contact Coach JT Toggas @  jtmjtoggas@comcast.net