The beacon of Lehigh University's proud wrestling tradition, Mike Caruso set high standards for both athletic and professional achievement. He brought awesome credentials to the Lehigh campus, a spotless prep record of 81 victories, three state titles and an outstanding wrestler trophy, all at a small Catholic prep school in Newark, New Jersey.

At Lehigh, he won three NCAA championships and three Eastern Intercollegiate crowns at 123 pounds in 1965-66-67, and was the only wrestler to sweep both events three times. His college record was 57-1, and after a loss to Bob Steenlage of Army as a sophomore, he won 50 in a row. He was co-captain for the first East-West all-star dual in 1967.

His three epic struggles with Bob Fehrs of Michigan in the national finals were highlights of the 1960s. Each was close, high-scoring and a memorable victory for Caruso. During his career, long lines at ticket windows and noisy, packed houses in Grace Hall were regular occurrences.

Caruso received both prep and collegiate awards for academic achievement and leadership. In 1967, he was the EIWA's outstanding wrestler and its top scholar-athlete. He was voted New Jersey's top collegiate athlete and received the Boisey Reiter Leadership Cup from Lehigh.

After a year as an assistant coach at Virginia and two as freshman coach at Lehigh, in 1971 he founded Michael J. Caruso & Associates, a corporate insurance and benefits management firm in the Lehigh Valley. A leader in community and alumni activities for three decades, he has received numerous post-graduate citations and awards.

He remained close to St. Benedict's Prep in Newark. Although the school had become primarily a composite of inner-city minorities, Caruso served on its Board of Trustees, established a wrestling scholarship in his father's name, and sponsored youngsters to summer camps.

As an athlete of rare achievement, and as a successful businessman who remembers his roots, Michael Joseph Caruso is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.