Upstate NY Chapter mourns Reed Hawke

Upstate Chapter Lifetime Service to Wrestling award recipient and Hall of Fame honoree Reed Hawke passed away on July 19th at 97 years of age. Reed was a past member of the Upstate Chapter Board of Directors, NYSWC chairman, and a past president of the NYSWOA, amongst numerous other titles both professionally and as a volunteer. Reed was the wrestling chairman of Section III and was instrumental in securing the Onondaga County War Memorial arena in Syracuse which was the home of the NYS federation wrestling championships for 34 years. Reed was born on April 22nd, 1929 and was also a Korean War veteran serving in the United States Navy. Reed was married to Fern for 75 years. Reed received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award and induction to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame with the Upstate New York Class of 2006. 

St. John Fisher tabs Zach Altman as next men’s head wrestling coach

Cardinal Wrestling will be under new leadership in Pittsford starting with the 2026-2027 season as Zach Altman is the new head coach of the team. Altman was previously an assistant coach at Adrian College and head coach at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford. Altman wrestled at Adrian for five seasons, was a team captain four times, and had a stellar career for the Bulldogs including qualifying for the NCAA Division III championships in 2023.

For more about Altman and St. John Fisher wrestling please follow the link below to the official St. John Fisher hiring announcement:

https://sjfathletics.com/news/2026/7/10/altman-named-st-john-fishers-head-wrestling-coach.aspx 

Twelve Upstate wrestlers earn Fargo All-American

A dozen Upstate NY Chapter area wrestlers reached podiums at the 2026 United States Marine Corps Fargo Nationals. Five Upstate NY boys claimed All-American while seven girls did likewise in their respective divisions. Additionally, six Upstate place winners helped land team New York a 6th place finish in the final state team standings in the Girls 16u freestyle tournament. Congratulations to the following individuals on their All-American performances in Fargo:

 Boys

Jaxson Tocco – St. Francis HS (CHSAA)

8th place – 100-pounds

Jr. freestyle

Louden Elliott – Carthage HS (III)

6th place - 138

 Jr. Greco

Danny Jones – Burnt Hills HS (II)

6th – 144

Cadet freestyle

6th – 150

16u Greco

Wyatt Rock – Duanesburg HS (II)

8th – 144

16u Greco

Samson McKissick-Staley – Pittsford HS (V)

7th place – 150

Jr. Greco

Girls

Gigi Sullivan – Monroe-Woodbury HS (IX)

3rd – 130

16u freestyle

Noli Paddock – Chautauqua Lake (VI)

Runner up – 135

16u freestyle

Delaney Dixon – Windsor HS (IV)

8th – 145

16u freestyle

Ava Guilmette – Shenendehowa HS (II)

Champion – 155

16u freestyle

Ava Gregg – Shaker HS (II)

4th – 207

16u freestyle

Petyon Mullin – Dundee HS (V)

4th – 235

Jr. freestyle

Zavanna Evans – Groton HS (IV)

7th – 235

16u freestyle 

Upstate New York Chapter Golf and Social is August 10

The Upstate New York Chapter of the NWHOF is planning to have a social event this summer at O’Hara Restaurant located at the Millstone Golf Course in Elbridge, NY.

The purpose is to offer past honorees and advocates/friends of wrestling an opportunity to enjoy each other’s fellowship. We are planning to have a lunch at 1:30 pm and anyone interested in golfing should arrive between 8:00 am and 9:00 am – there are no tee times at Millstone, first come, first served. If you go between these times you should be finished by the time of the luncheon. 

This is NOT a fund-raising event. Just a chance to say hello, enjoy good friends, and reminisce about the past. Please feel free to come a little earlier to talk with your friends.

Where: Millstone Golf Course - 354 NY-5, Elbridge, NY 13060

Who: Past Honorees and friends of wrestling

What: Lunch & golfing – we will have three lunch options. Individuals will be responsible for the cost of their lunch and golf.

When: August 10, 2026

Please let us know if you are planning to attend by August 3, 2026. We will need numbers for the catering at the restaurant.

Contact – Carl Koenig – 607.244.8432 – carlkoenig@stny.rr.com 

Upstate NY Chapter NWHOF Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Ceremony is Sunday, September 27

Mark your calendar for the 2026 Upstate NY Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s banquet and awards ceremony coming up on Sunday, September 27 at the Double Tree Hotel & Conference Center in East Syracuse. The event begins at noon with a social hour followed by dinner and the awards & Hall of Fame ceremony.