Cliff Forziat was a three-sport varsity athlete in high school, president of the student council, and played in the band. He played football on Fordham University’s 1968 National champion club team.

“I had excellent high school and football coaches, but at 135 pounds it was really my high school wrestling experience that made this happen. Special thanks go to coach Ray Deren.”

After college, he went to work for Uncle Sam. He became a battalion S-1/ adjutant as a 2nd Lt. and later as Captain Forziat, while in command of an aerial surveillance detachment, he earned a unit commendation for his battalion from (at that time) Bird Colonel Colin Powell.

Forziat was hired at Herricks in September of 1972, three days before school started.

“Taught social studies in the high school, any grade, any course, didn’t care, had fun.”

At various times he coached football, lacrosse, spring track & field, and began coaching wrestling that year at Great Neck South. He added wrestling officiating to the mix, then, in 1976, when AL Muller stepped down from his high school wrestling position, Forziat shifted to Herricks. He assisted Bill Meisner for a year, then took over the helm in 1977-78.

He became president of NCWCA, serving from 1987-1989. At the same time, he was section VIII wrestling coordinator serving for six years beginning in 1987-1988. John Thomas from Great Neck had just been made NCWCA treasurer. A great many changes were instituted, dual match championships, qualifying tournaments, tournament seating procedures, and more. Section VIII really started setting the pace for the state in many regards.

No matter what he taught or coached, Forziat studied “the regs,” found and implemented ways to legitimately maximize opportunities for students, athletes and coaches. For the past 21 years, Herricks has conducted six significant multi-team wrestling events each year. The Herricks community Center became a wrestling Mecca of sorts.

As head wrestling coach, Forziat’s stewardship has resulted in 426 all-conference award winners, 164 conference finalists, 80 conferences champions, 70 all-conference award winners, 17 county finalists, 12 county champions, 4 New York state finalists, and 2 New York state champions. Three went on to become all-americans. His teams have won 14 conference/league titles. When asked how many matches he’s won, he invariably says “None. I sit on my box and watch. The kids won all the matches.” Those kids have amassed 138 league dual match victories and 323 dual match victories overall. He has been a four-time league coach of the year.

Over the years, Forziat has been presented with several awards including in 1993 a NYSPHSAA coaches honor award, in 2003 the LIWOA Sportsmanship Award, in 2011 the Nassau County Wellness Day “Community Champion Award,” in 2012 an NCWCA Service Recognition Award, and in April 2013 he was inducted into the Jericho High School Alumni Hall of Fame, a prestigious distinction not specific to athletics.

Wrestling has been for him a fraternity of the highest order. He is proud to be a part of it, and he hopes that his efforts over the decades have encourage others to feel the same way.