While he didn’t get introduced to the sport of wrestling until he was a freshman in college, Richard Attonito didn’t let the late start slow him down.

A standout grappler at Indiana State University, Attonito made his biggest contributions to the sport as a coach and one of the most well-respected officials in Garden State history.

Attonito donned the whistle in 1972 starting a career in officiating that spanned close to five decades.

He would climb through the ranks of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association and become the organization’s president for three years from 2002-2004. He also served as the NJWOA’s secretary (1997-2000) and vice president (2000-2002).

Attonito, who was also a cadet supervisor for 13 years, officiated in numerous NJSIAA state finals, sectionals, districts and regional tournaments.

In 2002, Attonito was honored with the National Federation New Jersey Official of the Year award and, three years later, earned the prestigious Richard C. Mirshak Award.

Attonito made a difference in the sport as a coach as well.

After coaching wrestling for two seasons at Roselle Park High School, Attonito started the Mendham program in 1971 and guided it for nine years, winning a pair of two conference titles.

Attonito was the head football coach at Mendham for 18 years, leading the program to three conference titles and a state title in 1975. He was also the head tennis and golf coach at the school for 14 years.

Attonito has been inducted into the Roselle Park and Mendham Hall of Fames and was selected to Mendham’s Wall of Fame for his contributions as a teacher.

After overcoming polio as a toddler, Attonito underwent years of physical therapy and the rehab work enabled him to compete in athletics.

He was a three-sport star (football, basketball and baseball) at Holy Cross High School in New York and later at Carteret Prep School, earning the school’s Athlete of the Year award.

At Indiana State, Attonito was a three-year starter on the wrestling team, compiling 49 wins. He was a two-time conference champion and team MVP as a senior. He also played football and was an all-conference selection for the Sycamores.

A life member and Battalion Chief of the Madison Fire Department, Attonito was awarded with the Heroism Award in 1986 and the American Legion Firefighter Valor Award in 1996.

He and his wife Loretta who have six children, Erica, Rich Jr., Michael, Nicole Fenrarella, Katlyn Oliva, and Brandon Ackerman, live in Columbia.