92 Consecutive Dual Meet Victories

In 1977 Coach Frank Millard started his Delhi Tech Broncos on a 92-consecutive string of victories that ran to 1985. Coach Millard started his wrestling career at Watertown High School under the guidance of Upstate New York Chapter of the NWHoF Coach Jack Williams. While at Watertown, Millard won two Section III crowns and would continue his wrestling career at Cortland State. At Cortland he a was 4-year starter and conference runner-up for 2 years. In addition, he served as the sports editor of the college newspaper.

In 1971 Millard commenced his coaching career at Delhi Tech, a two-year junior college in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. The Broncos wrestled in the region III of the National Junior College Division and face stiff competition from the likes of Morrisville, Alfred, Niagara, Monroe, Cobleskill and Jamestown; furthermore, Millard never hesitated to wrestle against Nassau Community College, the best on Long Island, and the New Jersey powerhouse teams of Middlesex and Sussex. Millard never paused to wrestle the best in the region. On their way to the 92 consecutive victories Millard claimed, “that his teams were made up of hard-nose, hardworking, blue collar type of wrestlers.” However, there would be many of his wrestlers who would go on to make a name for themselves at four-year colleges. Anthony Bellai would finish his wrestling career at Oklahoma State, Bob Hilfiger completed his wrestling at Appalachian State, Anibal Nieves competed for East Stroudsburg State and now is their coach, and Mark Cody who journeyed to Missouri and later became an accomplished coach at American University, University of Oklahoma and is presently mentoring the newly established boys and girls wrestling program at Presbyterian College.

Frank undoubtedly remembers the evening that the Morrisville Mustangs, coached by Dennis Nostrand, terminated the win string. Coach Millard recalls that there were a number of very close bouts and it could have been a Bronco victor with a few breaks here and there. But the “wrestling Gods” would not cooperate. Frank added a very interesting side bar to the story – after the defeat, the Delhi Tech team would go on another 35 match streak before they were defeated again. Coach Millard left Delhi and became the Athletic Director, and coach of softball, golf and wrestling at Northfield-Mount Hermon prep school in Massachusetts. Millard would win many league championships and be named the Coach of the Year several times in the New England prep school conference.

Coach Millard reflected on his wrestling and coaching career by stating, “wrestling changed my life, everything that I accomplished and enjoyed in life was directly related to wrestling. I am grateful for everything that the sport provided for me and my family.” Millard has been inducted into the Northfield-Mount Hermon, Cortland State and the Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Frank has indeed given so much to all his wrestlers and athletes in so many sports.