Ricky Bonomo made history at Bloomsburg University, winning three NCAA titles and setting school records that still stand. But his collegiate wrestling career almost never happened.

In 1981, Ricky and his twin brother Rocky became the first twin brothers since 1945 to win Pennsylvania state championships in the same year. Content with their accomplishments and suffering a “love-hate” relationship with wrestling throughout their high school careers, the two decided they weren’t interested in attending college. After a year of working in a factory, however, they changed their minds. Alerted by their high school coach, the legendary Floyd “Shorty” Hitchcock, Bloomsburg head coach Roger Sanders came calling. The two committed to continuing their wrestling careers side-by-side at Bloomsburg.

As a redshirt freshman in 1984, Ricky went 26-5-1, won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and finished second in the Eastern Wrestling League championship at 118 pounds. At the NCAA tournament, however, he went 2-2 and just missed All-America honors. Known as a freshman for an arsenal of upper-body throws, Ricky adapted his style, focusing on great defense and leg attacks. The adjustment made all the difference.

For the next three years, he dominated the competition, finishing his career with an overall record of 116-12-3. In fact, both he and his former coaches acknowledge, his greatest opponent was not on the mat, but on the scale. If he could win that battle, he knew he could outwrestle anyone. For three straight years, this fierce competitor won all the major events on the Bloomsburg schedule—the PSAC, the EWL and the NCAA Championship. In each of those years, he was named the PSAC and EWL Wrestler of the Year.

His 74.75 points set an EWL record for career NCAA scoring, and his 25.5 points in the 1985 national tournament set the league single season record. Overall, he went 18-2 in the NCAA and holds the EWL record with 16 consecutive wins. Making the records all the sweeter, his brother Rocky also won three EWL titles and twice earned All-America honors. The two, known as one of the greatest lightweight tandems ever, were inducted into the Bloomsburg University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.

Ricky continues to give back to the sport of wrestling, working as a clinician and private instructor, using the wrestling mat he installed in his basement at home.

As a champion of great achievement, Ricky Bonomo is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.