1970 Wrestling Team (1999)

The 1970 Wrestling Team grappled to the finest team and individual finish in its history, falling just six points shy of a League title while winning five individual championships. The wrestlers began the season slowly because of an unstable lineup. But as the season progressed, twelve staunch men developed from Coach Wright's ranks led by three seasoned veterans, tri-captains Dave Fear, Art Ferrara, and John Foran. Discipline, determination, and desire were the three elements that the wrestlers practiced all season. Coach Wright stated at a meeting early in the season, "Wrestlers do not live by bread alone. They must hunger for something greater, and that is victory!" This goal of victory was achieved in a dual meet against Mendel High School, which held an unprecedented string of six Catholic League wrestling championships. The Loyola gym was packed with frenzied fans awaiting the Magnificent Monarchs' fall. And fall they did, by a score of 24-19, a victory the team will long remember. Carrying a 10-4-1 record into the Catholic League championship meet, Loyola had high hopes for the title. The team rose to the occasion as five Ramblers captured crowns in their weight divisions to pile up the points. Art Ferrara at 135 pounds, Joe Hayes at 138 pounds, John Foran at 165 pounds, Mike Miller at 185 pounds, and Dave Fear at heavyweight took home gold medals. Other contributors were juniors Tom Garrity (second place), Joe House, and Pat Cummings; sophomore Luke Ursini; freshman Mike Savone; and seniors Chris Ford, Kenny Gibson, John Brundage, and Kevin Courtney. The Rambler grapplers fell just short of the championship, but their valiant effort to capture it surely ranks as one of Loyola wrestling's finest hours. 1970 Wrestling Team (left to right) Tom Garrity, Luke Ursini, Pat Cummings, Joe House, Joe Hayes, Art Ferrara, Kevin Courtney, Kerry Gibson, John Foran, Mike Miller, Mike Savone, Dave Fear. Kneeling: Coach Frederick Wright. Not pictured: John Altman, Gerald Barry, David Batow, Ernie Battaglia, Tom Brinegar, John Broderick Jr., Kevin Broderick, John Brundage, Brian Brunderman, John Colaluca, Rick Conaghan, Larry Cordell, Tom Cornille, Richard Cummings Jr., Charles Dillon, Chris Ford, Tom Gleason, Neil Gudgeon, Bill Hofherr, Richard Hyland Jr., Ed Kelly Jr., Bill Kosar, Tim Kullman, Dave, Loria, John Loebel, John Maloney, Larry Marshall, Bill McGowan, Tom Mosele, Robert Muellner, Bob O'Brien, John O'Brien, Richard Pastor, Tom Reh, Mike Ryan, Ken Simpson, Jim Skrak, Tom Syron, Ron Tazioli, Gerard Thometz, John Tynen, Kelly Tyrell, Mike Vallone, and Joe Venturi.