Merv is a 1966 graduate of Ephrata High School and a 1970 graduate of East Stroudsburg State College (now university) with a B.S. in Secondary Education. In 1973, he earned a Master's Degree from West Chester State College. Following his 1970 graduation from Stroudsburg, he became a high school teacher for 3 years in the Downingtown School District and then moved back to his roots at Ephrata where he was a classroom teacher for 19 years and then served as the Director of Student Activities for 15 more years. During his years as an athletic administrator, Merv served the Lancaster-Lebanon League as President of the Athletic Directors' Association and a member of the league's Board of Control. After 37 years he retired in June, 2007. In high school, Merv participated in football, wrestling, and track and field. Wrestling was a new sport at Ephrata starting in 1962. He went out for the team in 1963-64 as a sophomore and in the following year, he became the varsity heavyweight and finished as a Sectional runner-up. In 1966, he won the Sectional, and District 3 titles in the unlimited weight class. The district title was the first in Ephrata High School's history. Merv finished second in the South East Regionals to the eventual PIAA champion. Merv competed in wrestling for two years and football for four years at East Stroudsburg. In his freshman year, he placed second in the Navy Plebe tournament and 3rd in the East Stroudsburg Open. Following his sophomore year, he concentrated on football and was honored with the "Red Shirt Award" in 1968 (given to player who best exemplifies the qualities expected of a East Stroudsburg football player), named twice to the PSAC Second Team as an offensive tackle (1968 & '69), selected as a "Little All American Honorable Mention" in 1968, and elected as a team Tri-Captain for the 1969 Warriors. In 1970, Merv Witmer began coaching junior high football wrestling, and the field events in track at Downingtown. In 1973, he moved back to Ephrata and became an assistant football coach and volunteer wrestling coach. In 1974, he was named Head Wrestling Coach at Ephrata, a position I held for the next 29 years. During those 29 years, the teams amassed a record of 312-167-3. Six wrestlers won District 3 (Southeast Regional) titles, two were PIAA state runners-up and one, Pete Mielnik, earned a PIAA State Title. Ephrata established itself as a wrestling program to be respected. Included in the titles we won were 4 L-L Sectional, 3 Sectional Tournament titles, 1 District 3 Title, 1 District 3 Tournament Runner-up. As a result of the team's performance, the coaching staff was named "Coach of the Year" five times by our league and twice by the District 3 coaches. Merv was awarded the District Ill Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame-2003, Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches' Hall of Fame-2004, and Lancaster­ Lebanon Wrestling Coaches' Hall of Fame-2005. He continues to live in Ephrata with my wife, Cathy. They have two sons, Matthew and Mark.