The success of high school wrestling In New York State, and certainly in Section 5, is due in no small part to Frank Marotta. He loves the sport - that goes without saying. More important, he loves the kids. After graduating from the University of Rochester in 1959, Frank returned to his high school alma mater and began a 35 year career as a social studies teacher in the City of Rochester school system. His coaching and officiating career began in 1961 when became the Assistant Varsity Wrestling Coach at Madison High School. He became the Head Wrestling Coach at Madison in 1970 and held that position until the school was closed ln 1981. While he was the JV Coach, his teams lost only one dual meet in nine years. His dual meet record as Head Coach Is 101 - 25. Madison was its league's champion outright in 1972, 1975 and 1980 and was co-champion in 1974 and 1978. He coached many Section 5 champions; and several of his wrestlers went on to compete at the collegiate level. His high school coaching ended when Madison was closed. Frank then taught at East High and assumed heavy responsibilities in that school's accelerated academic program until his retirement in 1994. In 1994 he received the Excellence in Secondary Teaching Award from East High and the University of Rochester. Although no longer coaching a team, Frank continued to teach wrestling as the head male Instructor of the NCAA-sponsored National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) at Monroe Community College during the summers from 1981 to 1994. Frank became the Executive Secretary of the Wrestling Officials Association of Section 5 in 1965 and he represented Section 5 at state meetings since then without ever missing a one. In 1976 he was elected NYSWOA Vice President and was appointed chairman of the Ethics Committee. Frank served as President of the NYSWOA from 1978 to 1980 in which capacity he attended the National Rules Meetings representing New York State and served as the Official Rules Interpreter for the state. Since 1980, Frank has served as the Chairman of the NYSWOA Selection Committee which screens applicants nominated by local chapters to officiate at the State Championship Tournament. Frank is also the Chairman of the NYSWOA Evaluation Committee (and has been since 1980) which reviews and evaluates the 12 officials who work the state tournament each year. His computer database includes evaluations of every official who worked the State Tournament since 1978. In the early 1970s, Frank was involved in the organization of the Association of Greater Rochester Sports Officials, which later became the United Sports Board Council (USBC), for the purpose of negotiating fees and working conditions between Section 5 and all sport officials' groups. He is currently the Vice President of the USBC and represents the WOA of Section 5 before that organization. Frank was one of the organizers of the Friends of Section 5 Wrestling, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting high school wrestling in the area. This group does all the things you could expect of it, including soliciting contributions, running an annual golf tournament to raise money, hosting an annual Dinner of Champions, sponsoring the Section 5 Wrestling Hall of Fame and providing uniforms, warm-ups, t-shirts and such to their wrestlers. In addition, the organization helps Brockport Coach Don Murray in the running of the Brockport/Oklahoma Wrestling Tournament which is accompanied by a wrestling clinic each November, giving their kids a chance to see some outstanding Division I competition each year. Frank's efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 1975 he received the Leo Bernabi Award for outstanding contributions to officiating. He received the National Federation Award in 1985 and the Terry Justice Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to wrestling in 1992. He was inducted into the New York State Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994. Last year he received the Friends of Athletics Award for outstanding contributions to coaching. A great coach, a fine teacher, a tireless volunteer for his sport, a benefactor to countless kids, Frank Marotta enjoys the esteem of all who have worked with him. He brings a sense of professionalism to all his endeavors on behalf of our sport that reflects well on all of us, and especially on himself. He is very deserving of the recognition by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.