On July 15th, the Upstate New York Chapter held its second golf/social for past Hall of Famers and other wrestling advocates at Millstone Golf Course in Elbridge, New York. Over forty people attended the gathering and enjoyed socializing and share the good times with their fellow wrestlers. Orlando Turco, Leo Johnson and Jim Howard were shown in one of the photos pictured and they represent over 150 years of service to the sport of wrestling. Orlando coached at Ithaca, Leo at Baldwinsville, and Jim coached at Oswego State. Our other photo depicts Gene Mills, a Division I national champion and Outstanding Wrestler Award winner, Rick Armstrong, a Division III National Champion at Cortland State, and Rick Gumble, former coach at Chenango Forks and 2017 Hall of Famer. Our last photos show former Cornell University wrestler Dave Auble, a two time NCAA wrestling champion and an Outstanding Wrestler Award winner along with Marty Nichols, Ithaca College coach, and Mike Fusilli, who was coached by Dave and is a 2021 Hall of Famer.

The 2024 Section III Wrestling Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 19th at Theodore's Restaurant in Canastota. This year's class includes David Camaione, Todd Fallon, Paul LeBlanc, Mike Letcher, and John Richard.

For more information on each of the inductees and to purchase tickets to the event, please follow the link below:

https://www.cnywrestling.com/iii/hof/

The Upstate New York State Chapter would like to introduce two more 2024 inductees to our Hall of Fame. Bill Hadsell, Section V wrestling chairperson and former Ithaca College wrestler, and Mike Howard, coach of the Oswego State wrestling team and coach of the Lakers golf team, too. He will join his father, 1997 inductee Jim Howard, former Lakers coach.

William 'Bill' Hadsell came from a family of seven boys and wrestling was a way of life for the Hadsell family with all the boys wrestling. His brother Dick was a member of the first Section V team representing the section at the NYSPHSAA championships in 1968.  Additionally, brother Bruce was a New York State Champion in 1973 and brother Robert finished 3rd in 1973 and 6th in 1976. Bill would place 4th in the 1980 state championship for Canandaigua Academy and all the boys wrestled for legendary Coach Weldon Canough. While in high school Bill served as the team captain for the Braves, who were Section V team champions in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980, and he was selected as the Most Valuable Wrestler for Canandaigua in his senior year.

Bill would start his collegiate career at the University of Buffalo for Hall of Fame Coach Ed Michael in 1980-81. Then finish up his college wrestling career grappling for another Hall of Fame coach, John Murray, and the Ithaca Bombers. His 1989 and 1990 Ithaca College teams were Division III NCAA champions and in 1991 Bill would become an All-American for the Bombers finishing eighth in the 190 pound weight class. Furthermore, he was selected the Most Outstanding Wrestler and served as the captain of the squad.

Coach Hadsell started his coaching career in the Geneva City School system in 1993. He served as the coach at Geneva from 1993 to 2009 and during his tenure there he was named the 1996 Section V Coach of the Year. In addition, Coach Hadsell guided his first state champion, Bill Payne, to the 155 pound championship for the Panthers. Bill would later coach Owen and Craig Scott to state championships at Pal Mac in 2011. In his illustrious coaching career, he has coached 12 NYSPHSAA place winners including five finalists. On the sectional level Hadsell has coached 34 class champions as well as numerous champions of local wrestling tournaments. As result of his distinguished career as a wrestler and coach, Bill has been selected to the Canandaigua Academy Athletic Hall of Fame, the Geneva Sports Hall of Fame and last year he entered the Section V Wrestling Hall of Fame. Coach Hadsell has also coached girls’ soccer, girls’ and boys’ tennis. Recently he has guided the Fishback brothers, Ryan and Drew, to inspiring finishes in the NYSPHSAA Tennis Championships – Ryan finished 1st  in 2019 and 4th, and Drew placed 3rd last year as a sophomore.  This year Bill guided Drew to the NYSPHSAA Championship at USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, the home of the US Tennis Open. Hadsell has truly made an impressive impact as a coach at many sports and levels.

On the administrative level of the sport, Bill has served as the Finger Lakes League Chairman and the Section V Class chairman for 10 years where he established an extraordinary record. His work as a class chairperson enabled him to make a seamless transition into the role of the New York Public High School Athletic Association’s Section V Wrestling Coordinator. There he has established himself as a highly respected and esteemed coordinator. Kathy Hoyt, Executive Director of Section V, stated that “his positive rapport with all – athletes, coaches, officials, assignors, committee members and administrators is exceptional.” And “all sectional tournaments are run efficiently and effectively each year.” Bill record is impeccable!

Bill has indicated that he owes a great deal to his high school coach Weldon Canough and his collegiate college John Murray. These men were very instrumental in his development as both a wrestler and person. In addition, he gives credit to all his brothers but especially Bruce, who helped with his growth and maturity. He feels that the most important life lesson that wrestling teaches is that of “taking responsibility for yourself.” 

The Upstate New York Chapter of the NWHOF is privileged and proud to welcome William Hadsell into their Hall of Fame for all that he has done for wrestling in his section and state.

Mike Howard

After his 34th season as the head wrestling coach at SUNY Oswego, Mike Howard will be inducted into the Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his lifetime service to wrestling on September 29, 2024 at the Double Tree Hotel in East Syracuse.

Mike started his wrestling career on the mats at Oswego State where his father Jim Howard was coaching the Lakers. Jim would later be inducted into the Chapter’s Hall of Fame in 1997 following a stellar career of coaching. During Mark’s high school   wrestling career, one of his highlights was when he won the first Section III title that Oswego High School ever had. While at Oswego High School Mark wrestled under the guidance of Elmer Akley, another Hall of Famer, who later would become his father-in law. In addition, Mark won many local scholastic high school tournaments and was highly regarded by many excellent collegiate programs.

Howard began his collegiate wrestling career with the University of Buffalo, and wrestled there from 1981-1983 before transferring to SUNY Oswego where he wrestled from 1984-1986. During his time with the Lakers, Howard wrestled in the 167-pound weight class and was a two-time co-captain.

After spending three seasons as the assistant wrestling coach for the Lakers Howard was hired by SUNY Oswego in 1989 to be the associate head coach with the Oswego State wrestling program. Howard and the Lakers has had a lot of success from the start, making 20 straight team NCAA championship appearances from 1990-2009 and 27 appearances total throughout his tenure. During this time, he has had 72 NCAA championship individual qualifiers.

Howard has been named Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference (ECWC) coach of the year on two separate occasions, once in 1996 and again in 2001.

The wrestlers he has coached over the years have racked up a high number of accolades under his command. He has had 22 individuals earn All-America honors, 26 conference champions, and 199 conference place winners.  Five of his wrestlers have been honored as the Conference Most Outstanding Wrestler and two have earned Conference Rookie/Freshman of the Year awards.  Eight individuals have won the New York State Collegiate Championships with 130 total NYS place winners. Since 2013 when the NCAA created regional competition in the sport of wrestling, he has coached three regional champions and 34 regional place winners. Twenty-eight of his wrestlers have been named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Scholar All-America team. Mark Howard has certainly carried on the torch for the Howard family at SUNY Oswego.

Furthermore, Mike has been a very successful coach of golf at Oswego State. In 2019 and 2022, Howard was selected as the Empire 8 Conference Coach of the Year. During his 28 years at the helm of the Lakers golf team, his team has won numerous championships to add to his remarkable coaching resume.
           

During his tenure Howard has also served as the Chair of the NWCA Division III Ranking Committee and served multiple years on the NCAA Championship Seeding Committee. In 2022, Coach Mark Howard was recognized by the SUNY Oswego Alumni Association with the Oswego Impact Award, which is given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the college and the students. A very fitting award to such a deserving coach and leader.

For all that Mike Howard has accomplished in collegiate athletics, the Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is pleased to enshrine him into the State Chapter Room of the Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma.