Ken Bernabe wrestled and graduated from Bridgewater-Raritan High School, and Rider University, earning his advanced degree from Seton Hall University. He began his teaching and coaching career in 1969 at the then Bridgewater-Raritan East High School, serving as an assistant wrestling and football coach. In 1973, he was appointed head wrestling and assistant football coach at the newly opened West Windsor-Plainsboro High School where he was the architect of its wrestling program, and in only five years his teams compiled a record of 54-16-2, winning the conference title in 1977, while also finishing that same year with a team ranking of #10 in Region 5 as a Group One school. During those 5 years at West Windsor-Plainsboro H.S., he coached ten Mercer County Champions, sixteen additional place winners, while also coaching three runner-ups, and eighteen place winners at the very competitive District 17 Championships at Hunterdon Central High School. Thirty-three of his wrestlers were named to post season all star teams. During his tenure as wrestling coach, Ken was also instrumental in organizing, directing, and serving as a clinician for recreational wrestling programs in several communities, and he directed a summer camp for wrestlers at the Mercer County Community College for 2 years. In 1978, Ken began both his administrative and officiating careers, and in July of 2005 he retired as a Principal after 36 years of service in the public schools of New Jersey. He has been recognized with several honors for his leadership as a principal at the state, county, and local levels, and in 1992 he was presented with the "Golden Lamp Award for Excellence in Leadership" by the NJ Principals and Supervisors Association. For better than 25 years, Ken has officiated numerous holiday and county tournaments, state sectionals, district, regional, and some level of the state tournament, including the prestigious state finals on three occasions. Ken has realized an active leadership role in the New Jersey Wrestling Officials Association serving as its state President and Vice President. He has chaired numerous committees for the NJWOA, and he served as President of the Union/Essex Chapter of Wrestling Officials for 15 years. His involvement was further extended through his position as cadet supervisor for the chapter for 17 years where he helped train aspiring officials. In March of 2000, Ken was inducted into the Region Five Wrestling Hall of Fame as a former coach and official, and one of Ken's greatest accomplishments was to be honored in 2002 as the recipient of the prestigious Richard C. Mirshak Award presented annually to the wrestling official "who demonstrates excellence, dedication, service, and for contributions to the sport of wrestling". In 2002, and again in 2007, he was also awarded the Official of the Year by the Greater Middlesex Conference Wrestling Coaches. Ken worked hard at his craft being assigned matches for many of the state ranked teams throughout New Jersey, and he is a retired member of the EIWOA where he officiated matches at the collegiate level for several years having been awarded "Honorary Life Membership" by the EIWOA in 2012 Ken remains an active member of the New Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Directors where he served for ten years as Master of Ceremonies for its Annual NWHOF Induction Banquet. His dedication and leadership in the sport of wrestling is well recognized as a successful coach, highly regarded official, and competent leader and administrator in New Jersey. Click for a video interview with Ken at his induction to the NJ NWHOF.