Charles Sacavage

Charles Sacavage was an undefeated high school wrestler at Mt. Carmel High School, as well as a football and track star. Unfortunately, at that time, Pennsylvania did not yet have a state wrestling tournament. Therefore, he did not have the opportunity to compete for a state wrestling title. In 1934 he graduated from Mt. Carmel and went on to Gettysburg College, where he was captain of both the football and wrestling teams. While there he was a 2-time Middle Atlantic Wrestling Tournament Champion. But unfortunately again, he was unable to compete in the National Championships because Gettysburg did not send athletes to National Championships. In 1939, he became a PIAA Wrestling Official. In 1950, he returned to Mt. Carmel High School as a teacher and convinced school officials to restart the wrestling program, which had been dropped at the beginning of World War II. From 1950 till 1964 he was the Head Wrestling Coach at Mt. Carmel. Lacking facilities, equipment, and sometimes cooperation from school officials, he began building a winning wrestling team from scratch. Like his counterpart at Shamokin High School, Mal Paul, he started by developing an elementary and junior high system, which had been non-existent at Mt. Carmel. In 1964 he retired from coaching, but continued officiating the sport till 1989. His 50-year legacy in officiating is a record that has never been duplicated in this state and possibly in this country. Charles is a widower. His late wife, Elizabeth, passed away 5 years ago. They were blessed with 4 children, Charles Jr., Robert, Bev and Greg. All three sons followed him into wrestling both the high school and collegiate levels. Charles Jr. and Greg both followed him into coaching and officiating. There has been somebody competing, coaching or officiating from the Sacavage family continuously since 1934. This 63-year feat by a family in the sport of wrestling is a legacy that will rarely be duplicated.

Awards:

Year
1998
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
Chapter/Region
Pennsylvania

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