Daniel Mahony

In high school on Long Island Dan played football, basketball and baseball. He played football at Clarion University, where he became an All-National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) wide receiver.  His niche, however, would be officiating high school wrestling. Following a short stint playing semi-pro football, he settled into teaching and coaching for 42 years. Twenty-eight of those were as a wrestling official. He pioneered the wrestling program at Lancaster High School in Pennsylvania while also serving as football coach. After a brief stop at East Paterson High School (now Elmwood Park), he settled in at Bridgewater-Raritan where he coached wrestling for 10 years, football for 15 years and taught history for 37 years. In 1997, he was named Bridgewater-Raritan's Teacher of the Year. In 1998, he won the Rich Mirshak Award for excellence in officiating. He would be president of the Union-Essex chapter of the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association for 18 years, state association president two years and headed the association's ethics committee six years. He was on the board of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame New Jersey Chapter, was Director of the Somerset County Wrestling Tournament 32 years, and District 18 Director 32 years. He is also in the Region 5 Hall of Fame. Dan also found time to umpire local softball, and for 25 years was co-chair of the Parks and Playgrounds Commission. He was President of the NJWOA three years and secretary of the association six years. On the mat he refereed 21 years at the state tournament and officiated seven finals. He was President of the NJWOA three years and secretary of the association six years. On the mat he refereed 21 years at the state tournament and officiated seven finals. In 1994 Dan was named an Outstanding Official by the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association. He is also in his college Athletic Hall of Fame. Dan passed away two years ago, leaving behind his wife Kathleen and their three children.

Awards:

Year
2019
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
Chapter/Region
New Jersey

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