Kerwin "Skip" Pine retired from coaching in 1994. He presently resides in Silver Springs, Maryland and Clarence Center, New York. He has three grown children"”P. Scott Pine, 53; Michael Shawn Pine, 50 and Shari Christine Pine, 47. After a successful high school wrestling career at Gowanda High School (Section VI) in the 1950's, Skip pursued a teaching degree and attended Buffalo State Teachers' College. After graduating from college in 1961, he started his coaching career as an assistant at Kenmore East High School (Section VI) from 1961-1964. In 1964 Skip became the head wrestling coach and remained in that position until 1994. During this period his teams won several Niagara Frontier League wrestling championships and he coached 52 Section VI place finishers, 15 Section VI champions, 8 New York State place winners, and 2 New York State Champions (Bob Rust at 168 lbs. in 1966 and Chris Lawson at l67 lbs. in 1985). Bob Rust would go on to place 2nd in the NCAA Division I wrestling championship at 190 pounds while representing Syracuse University in 1970. Skip's wrestling coaching career at Kenmore East spanned 33 years and Coach Pine's dual meet record was 259 wins and 138 losses. Skip Pine also served wrestling well when he was the Section VI Wrestling Chairman from 1978-1990. Earlier he served as Niagara Frontier League representative to Section VI. In addition, he served wrestling in Section VI through his involvement early on with the Empire State Games. During his 33 years of coaching, Skip Pine achieved many successful accomplishments that helped the growth of wrestling in Section VI and provided positive leadership for his athletes. All of Coach Pine's athletes have indicated that Skip has taught them far more than wrestling. He has spent countless hours getting them to summer tournaments, camps and competitions. Furthermore, Skip has taught them that hard work, discipline, commitment and the drive to be successful are the building blocks of not only making an accomplished wrestler but a successful member of any society. His lessons of life have been instrumental in the development of many of his former wrestlers. They will remain thankful for his influence on their lives. For his many years of dedication to the sport of wrestling, the New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of Kerwin "Skip" Pine by inducting him into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.