AI Sosa is a lifelong resident of New York State. He wrestled in high school at Babylon, Long Island. Afterwards, he wrestled at Cortland State. As a wrestler, he never had a coach who had wrestled. His love of athletics led him into coaching and teaching. Today, he is an Associate Professor and the Department Chair of the Physical Education Department at SUNY College at Oneonta. AI arrived at SUNY Oneonta in 1966 and assumed the duties of Head Wrestling Coach, a position he held until 2004 . In 1974, AI married Doreen. They have five children ranging from 44 to 22 years in age. His Oneonta Teams have included twelve All-Americans, 81 NCAA Qualifiers, and twelve Academic All-Americans. Between 1976 and 2004, Al's teams produced 77 All-State wrestlers. AI has contributed greatly to the NCAA Division III Wrestling Coaches Association over the years. He has served as a representative to the NCAA Division III National Seeding Committee and as a member of the NCAA Division III National Poll Committee. He has served three terms as President of the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Coaches Association and has also put in fifteen years as the Executive Secretary of that busy organization. Al's contributions to wrestling in New York State include his efforts in organizing the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference and its NCAA Qualifying Tournament. He has also served as Director of the Red Dragon Collegiate Invitational Tournament for fifteen years. His efforts on behalf of the sport were recognized by his peers in 2001 when he was inducted into the NCAA Division III Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2004, AI was further honored by his induction into the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. As Chair of the Physical Education Department at SUNY Oneonta, AI Sosa works with young people who aspire to be coaches, trying to instill in them an appreciation of the profound influence they will have. They are fortunate because of the example they have before them. The New York State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is proud to induct AI Sosa with the Lifetime Service Award.