The New Jersey Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame held its 24th Induction banquet before more than 220 attendees in late September, held at the Westin Hotel in Princeton.

Six wrestling legends were honored with Lifetime Service awards for contributions that ranged from their wrestling careers, coaching careers, to officials and administrators.

Those honored were Doug Bower, Joseph Forte, Edward Gibbons, Ronald Hamrick, Carmine Rossi, and the late Alexander Sidar.

Their introductions to the sport ranged from being 8-year-olds to being freshmen in high school. Their journeys were just as varied.

Growing up in Bridgewater, NJ, Forte was taught the sport by his older brothers Rocky and Bob, both who went on to wrestle in college. Rocky was inducted into the Hall last year.

“This brings back a lot of memories,” Forte said. “It’s just a good feeling to be here and see guys I haven’t seen in a long time. It’s fantastic. I’m really excited for the day.”

Coaching high school wrestling 22 years he won more than 200 high school matches.

Gibbons didn’t have such sibling support.

“In grade school I was the skinniest and smallest kid. I was called Eddie Spaghetti. I always got beat up,” he said with a smile. “When I went to another school, the gym teacher talked about wrestling in weight classes, so I got into wrestling. But it had nothing to do with wrestling. I finally could fight somebody my size.

“I always wanted to be a teacher and always wanted to be a coach. I was born to do this,” he said. “I never really gave it much thought.”

After coaching he went into administration, both as a high school athletic director and principal.

“Today, to be a member of a special group of men and women who have had a great impact on wrestling in New Jersey, to be part of that group is special for me,” he said. “And I want to thank the coaches who challenged me, inspired me and made me better.”

Doug Bower, inspired by high school coaches and at The College of New Jersey, went on to be a very successful high school wrestling coach for many years. He has also held positions in numerous New Jersey wrestling associations. For the past 15 years or so he has coached with his sons Jeff and Steven.

“That’s been pretty cool,” he said.

Asked if they’ve ever beaten him in a match, he quickly smiled and replied, “Never. And wouldn’t today.”

Ron Hamrick’s journey began in a Pennsylvania high school, stayed in-state at Edinboro College and then got a Master’s degree at Springfield College in Massachusetts. He began his coaching career there as an assistant.

He relocated to South Jersey for a head coaching position at Collingswood. Coaching high school, however, wasn’t his long-term goal.

“That wasn’t the plan,” he said. “I was going to coach for one year. The kids were great and I ended up doing it for 25 years.’

He would have 22 winning seasons and finish with 414 victories. He also went on to hold administrative positions.

“This,” he said about the Hall of Fame, “is quite an honor. Some of my best friends have been inducted into this.”

Carmine Rossi didn’t get into the sport until his freshman year of high school.

“I never heard of wrestling,” he said. “The first time I did I said “like on the TV?’ The gym teacher called my father and told him I was showing progress on the mat, and he said why not.”

The kid would win an NJSIAA championship as a junior before a football injury ended his wrestling career.

The sport caught up to him when he was student teaching in Pennsylvania and the head wrestling coach asked him to help out.

His first Jersey coaching job was at Dover High School, where he coached from 1964-80. He then went on to coach on the youth at middle school levels and then became director of a wrestling club.

“This means the world to me,” he said of going into the Hall. “It’s been my entire life. Little did I know that winning the state championship would change my life forever. Not only my life, but my family’s life.”

Sidar’s award was accepted by his son Alexander and daughter Elizabeth. “My dad would be so thrilled,” his son said. “Wrestling meant something to him his whole life. This would be a great honor for him. He’d be beaming with joy.”

He wrestled at Thomas Jefferson High School in Elizabeth before going off to Rutgers in 1940. When the war broke out he would become a pilot inspector for fighter planes and helicopters in the states. He returned to Rutgers and would be named captain as a senior.

Sidar, who passed in 1997, was an outstanding official and held numerous administrative positions, most of which were on the collegiate level. His final position as head coach was re-establishing the wrestling program at Gill-St. Bernard’s in Gladstone.

“He was a great person,’’ his daughter said. “A great inspiration to a lot of young men, and women I might add.”

Like his constituents, he did not lose site of who helped shape their journey.

On the podium the honorees mentioned the importance and sacrifices of family; starting with their wives and their patience, their support, the late dinners, some even working the clock or keeping score during home meets, or simply rooting from the bleachers.

“This award is shared with my wife,’’ said Forte, somewhat emotional. “I love you with all my heart.”

The perspective went even further.

“Wrestling has given me more than I could have given back,” Gibbons said. “I’ve been rewarded with the journey, relationships, and the moments that made this journey so meaningful.

“On a closing note, I want to acknowledge my three grandchildren who are here today. I’ve been called a lot of things,” Gibbons cracked, “but grandpa is as good as it gets.”

2025 Banquet Program