West York Wrestling
www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com
Feature...Interview
"Q&A"
with
West
York
Wrestling's
Randy Blasdell '78
The "Blazer"
▪ West York
HS/Lehigh University Alum - Randy Blasdell (right)
ALUMNUS
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*2009 Interview
w/Randy Blasdell
westyorkwrestlingalumni.com
Randy Blasdell is a 1978 West
York High School graduate, and a 1982 Lehigh University
marketing graduate.
Randy is married to the lovely Kris. Randy and Kris have two boys
each... Will, Taylor, Ben and Luke (boys ages 14-20). The Blasdell's live
in Columbia, PA.
The boys are active in lacrosse, hockey - and Luke is wrestling for the
first time this year
in the
Hempfield program. Randy enjoys spending time with his family
and friends, as
well as the beach, golf, skiing, cooking and attending Philadelphia Flyers
games as a
season ticket holder. Obviously, Randy is a huge supporter of Lehigh
and Hempfield
sports. For the past 26 years, Randy has been in the investment
business, now as
President of his own firm -
Sanctuary Financial Group LLC. located in
Mountville, PA.
Sanctuary Financial Group oversees over $40 million of assets for over 250
clients.
Randy & Kris volunteer at their church. Also, Randy serves as
co-President of the
Susquehanna Valley Lehigh Alumni Club and is a 20-year proud volunteer of the
American
Red Cross.
DL
- Randy, you give so much back to the local community as the Chairman
of the Susquehanna Valley American Red Cross Annual Golf Outing (2009 was
the 20th year!). The ARC golf outing has raised almost $350,000 for the
Red Cross, and is getting so big at Cool Creek GC, that you have
2 full separate outings in the morning and afternoon! How did you get
involved with the Red Cross and do you have plans for next year?
RB
- It was really
just by chance.
I had the idea to start a golf outing just for some guys that I went to high
school and college with... as a way to have fun. I thought that if we
actually made some money, we should give it to a worthy cause. One of
my good friends and fellow West Yorker - Mark Hague, has just started
working for the American Red Cross. So, that's who we decided to give
the proceeds to! In the first year ('90), we had 56 golfers and raised
$1200. Last year (our 20th), we had over 200 golfers and raised almost
$20,000! As you mentioned, that brings the total raised to almost
$350,000... which is amazing! I am so thankful to all our golfers,
volunteers and sponsors who have made this such a successful event.
And, the American Red Cross is truly a great organization worthy of ALL our
support. And, yes... next year's event is on
May 21, 2010 @ Cool
Creek Golf Club, so I hope many of you can join us. As you know Don,
it really is a fun event and as long as it remains so, I'll be involved.
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DL
- You grew up in the Shiloh area of West York, graduated in 1978, and went
on to Lehigh University. You didn't wrestle at Lehigh, but I know you
are a staunch supporter of the Lehigh University Wrestling Team and
the Lehigh University Football Team! Are you planning on hitting any
Lehigh dual meets this year?
RB
-
Yes, Don - I went to Sunset Lane Elementary (Trimmer), then West York JH and
SH. I then had the GREAT
fortune of being accepted at Lehigh University. I was accepted
at Delaware also, but as soon as I saw Lehigh's campus, I knew that was
where I wanted to be. It is an awesome school! Coach JT Toggas
encouraged me to try out for the wrestling team, but I was there on an
academic scholarship... and there were a FEW All-Americans at Lehigh ahead
of me (Mike
Brown,
Colin Kilrain)!! I decided to concentrate on school and the social
life. I joined Chi
Psi fraternity and that just added to the whole Lehigh experience.
While I did not wrestle at the collegiate level, I did keep my foot in the
ring (so-to-speak) as Lehigh has a very good intramural tournament every
year with over 500 entries, many of whom were quite good in high school.
I won that tournament 3 times and finished 2nd once to Cumberland Valley's
Paul Anastasio. After I graduated from Lehigh, I was asked to try and
resurrect the local alumni club in this area. I am still co-President
of the
Susquehanna Valley Lehigh Alumni Club.
I also spent two years serving on the Lehigh Alumni Association Board.
It's fun and a great way to stay connected with the school and fellow
alumni. We have a number of events during the year, including an
Annual Wrestling Luncheon here is Lancaster, PA with Lehigh Head Coach
(former PIAA State and NCAA Wrestling Champion) -
Pat Santoro. It's a nice event and I would encourage anyone to
come and hear Pat talk about wrestling at the highest level. I also
get to a couple Lehigh football games and I am planning to attend a couple
of Lehigh Wrestling matches. Lehigh already has victories over Pitt
and Penn State, so it looks like Pat Santoro has us on the road to another
great season!
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DL
- Also - there is an annual Bulldog Golf Open and an annual "Football Game"
at the Trimmer Elementary School for you and your friends. Camaraderie
is very important to you - do you think your body will ever tell you to stop
playing in those football games?
RB
-
Yes, we started the golf outing again, just as a way to get some old friends
together and have some fun. Now, old friends like yourself, Bruce
Stambaugh and Dr. Perry Tallman join us every year. The football
started right after we got out of college. Since everyone was home for
the holidays... we decided to get together on Black Friday and play football
and we've been doing it ever since! We call it the Bulldog Athletic
Living Legends Society (B.A.L.L.S.) and we just played last week. We
had 16 players and yes - I was a bit sore! My buddy John "Smoke"
Eyster plays every year and he said that we'll still be coming even if they
have to push us up to the field in wheelchairs!
Next to my faith and family -
relationships with friends are the most important things in the world.
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DL
- When did you take up the sport of wrestling and did you participate in any
other sports while at West York?
RB
-
I started wrestling in 4th grade in the WY Elementary program. I then
took a year off and started up again in the 6th grade where I banged heads
with Perry Tallman for the first time in the end-of-year tournament.
That would be the first of MANY hours spent banging heads with Perry over
the next six years. It was tough and a pain sometimes, but it made us
both better wrestlers and we became very good friends. Also, I have to
say that I almost didn't go out in the 7th grade. I was hanging out
with some bad kids and even though I was signed up, I decided not to go to
practice the first couple of days. Well, once again a good friend -
Bruce Stambaugh called me out and said I better get to practice... and I
did. I believe that changed my life, because if Bruce wouldn't have
confronted me, I probably would have quit wrestling and who knows where I
would be today? Probably not a good place... so, thanks Stummy, I owe
you! Per your other question - a lot of my buddies played football and
Coach John Sprenkle was always trying to recruit me, but I was a naive idiot
and didn't care for Coach Lou Orndorff - so, I decided not to play.
That decision was always a big regret because I think I could have been a
good player. I use that as an example for my kids... I would rather
try something and fail than not try and regret not trying years down the
road.
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DL
- I remember after completing my student teaching at Wilkes-Barre Meyers
High School and helping out Billy Hilbert with the wrestling team - Coach
John T. Toggas hired me as a second assistant coach to John Sprenkle... and,
I know it was to specifically work out with you, Perry Tallman and Dave
Stram! We had some pretty spirited practice bouts back in the 1978
season! What are your memories of those heated workouts?
RB
-
My memories are that I hated it! No, seriously, I can remember
when you, Mike Stambaugh, Kevin McCleary, etc., were in college and you guys
would all come back over Christmas "break" and come to practices - and just
beat the snot out of us! Literally, I used to dread "shark bait."
It was Perry Tallman, Dave Stram, myself, you, Coach John Sprenkle and some
other alumni and it was hell. But, it was amazing also, because these
were all the guys we looked up to as we came up through the West York
Wrestling program... and we got a chance to wrestle you.
It was very intimidating, but it
also helped us to be so much better. I know personally, you
taught me to be a much tougher wrestler and I know that helped me win a few
key matches (like Dallastown). I think we need more of that
interaction with the alumni and the current kids... so, thank you!
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DL
- Your 1977-78 West York
Wrestling Team went 14-0 and captured the YCIAA League Wrestling
Championship. I'm sure the dual match that stands out from that time
was the Dallastown match. What are your memories from that crucial
dual meet?
RB
-
That was absolutely one of the most
exciting things I have ever experienced to this day! I tell
people about it sometimes and they can't believe that there could be such an
unbelievable atmosphere for a high school wrestling match! It started
the year before, when we were tri-champions with Dallastown and Hanover.
Hanover beat Dallastown, we beat Hanover, and we lost to Dallastown (at
Dallastown). I was wrestling heavyweight (while weighing 180lbs.) and
Coach JT Toggas was upset by the many questionable calls all night by
referee Bill Billet. During my match, I was getting beat up pretty
bad... so, Coach Toggas threw in the towel during the match and we literally
walked off without finishing (in protest). I remember people booing
and screaming at us as we left the mat and throwing things at our bus when
we left for home. That terrible feeling stayed with us and gave us
motivation for our senior year because we were NOT going to let that happen
again. So, when it came time for the Dallastown match in the '77-'78
season, the atmosphere was unbelievable! You were part of it and I'm
sure you remember, but it was the ultimate cool. Very
nerve-wracking, but amazing none-the-less. My older brothers even took
the train home from Philadelphia to be there... which I'm so grateful for.
In the locker room before the match, all of these great wrestlers (WY
Alumni) from the past came down and wished us luck. Then, we walked
out into that dark West York gym with the spotlights on and all you could
see were FANS. The West York gym was standing room only and the
cafeteria had closed circuit TV coverage! I remember passing the late
Mark Kraber (who we just sadly lost) and he reached out with his big "paw",
shook my hand, and said... "Kick their ass!" And pretty much, that's
what we did. After it was over - I remember the fans running all over
the floor and we threw the coaches in the shower and simply reveled in the
moment. One for the ages!
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DL
- A big disappointment for me, as an assistant coach, was to see yourself
and Perry Tallman not achieve your goal of a Sectional Championship.
Take us back to that 1978 county tournament.
RB
-
Well, I remember getting a bad seeding draw and was in the same bracket as
Bill Shellenberger of Red Lion, who had beaten me in our dual meet. I
won the first round by pinning Rick Dover of Dallastown and then had to
wrestle Bill the next day in the semi-finals. Shellenberger was a big,
strong kid and I knew I'd have my work cut out for me. But with your
help from the corner, I wrestled as well as I ever had... but,
unfortunately sometime during the match, I hurt my knee (torn cartilage) and
I ended up losing by one point. I was upset, but I wrestled very well!
I then had to wrestle Brian March in the consolation finals and with your
encouragement while being hurt, I hung tough and the regulation match ended
in a tie. We went to overtime and I lost by a point, again. I
was physically spent. It was the most exhausted I have ever
been. I was really disappointed in myself, because I knew I could have
won. I sat in the locker room
afterward, realizing this was probably the end of my wrestling career - and
I just cried.
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DL
- But, you did get that Josten's YCIAA Wrestling Championship ring!
What did Head Coach John T. Toggas mean to you at that time in your life?
RB
-
I STILL have that ring and have shown it many times to my kids.
Not to brag about what I or we did, but to show them that sometimes when you
work hard and make sacrifices, there are rewards.
Coach JT Toggas was so important.
As a West York Wrestler, he made you feel like you were someone special.
He treated you that special way. I always tell people that in some
small way, I know what it must be like to be a Florida or USC football
player, because that's how it felt to be a West York Wrestler in those days!
People looked up to us and respected us. Coach Toggas gave us special
freedoms - like passes to get out of class and go hang out in his office or
in our special room we made with a refrigerator and a radio. They were
just small insignificant things, but they made a big
difference. And, the Coach taught us valuable lessons, like the
importance of being a team, not an individual. Although it is an
individual sport for the most part... he emphasized team, hard work and
sacrifice. I remember doing "gut busters" and calisthenics BEFORE a
full practice and Coach JT would say, "We will not run out of gas. We
will be the best conditioned team in York County. When it comes
down to the third period and the other guy's tanks are on empty, we will
win!" And, we did! Obviously, those are lessons that have
carried over to every aspect of my life.
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DL
- I know that Coach John W. Sprenkle was a huge influence on you, also. What
do you remember about Coach Sprenkle?
RB
-
Coach
John Sprenkle was
my hero growing up. My oldest brother Ron played on the 1968
West York Football Team that went undefeated. That team was awesome...
and was truly one of the best football teams in York County history.
And, "Big John" was the key to that team along with Bobbie Bailey, Mark
Brenneman, George Knokey, etc. And, of course Coach Sprenkle went on
to win a PIAA State Wrestling Championship in 1969. In my opinion,
John Sprenkle was THE BEST ATHLETE ever from York County. Period.
And, as I was scrounging around in my mom's basement, I found a picture I
had drawn of John Sprenkle... so yes, I thought very highly of Coach
Sprenkle. I remember as a 9th grader going up to practice with the
varsity and seeing Coach Sprenkle sitting up on the medal podium... running
drills. It was like watching West York royalty! The first time I
had to wrestle him, was obviously very humbling. He was a huge
powerful man, but he was so quick, it was unbelievable. Having to
wrestle him in practice day after day made you a better wrestler.
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DL
- It was great to see Bruce Stambaugh, Perry Tallman, Coach JT Toggas, your
brother Rick... and some other WY'ers at your
Bulldog Golf Open.
And, Lehigh's Jon Trenge played along at your outing with Matt Toggas.
We have to get more alumni to that tournament! How can we make that
happen?
RB
-
I'm not sure, but I am open to any ideas on how to get more people involved.
It is really fun and laid back.
This year was a LOT of fun.
(although you and I stayed way too late!) We talked a lot of
wrestling. It was great to meet Lehigh's
Jon Trenge. I had
seen him wrestle many times at Lehigh, but had never met him. I was
not sure what to expect, but he is a really wonderful guy and I hope
he can join us next year. If any other alumni or anyone... wants to
join us next year, give me a call or e-mail (below)!
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DL
- Also - you and a group of your teammates were honored before the 1/10/09 West
York/Dallastown match - for the
30th anniversary of the
1977-78 14-0 YCIAA Wrestling Championship season. I'm sure it was
great seeing some of your fellow wrestlers... Rod Stough made the
trip from Tennessee, Bruce Stambaugh from New Jersey and Don Botterbusch from Florida to be with their fellow
alumni! Your thoughts on that special gathering?
RB
-
First, thanks to you for all of your help in putting it together. And,
I'd like thank the coaches, the booster club, Kevin Drawbaugh of
JK
Images (great job of refurbishing our old team photo!) and WYAD Roger
Czerwinski for making it a day to remember. It was awesome to get
together and share memories of that remarkable season.
It was especially great that Coach
John W. Sprenkle could join us. And, so many parents, including
my mom, (who were part of the wrestling booster club) were there to support
us - just like they were 30 years ago! Obviously, without their
sacrifices, we wouldn't have succeeded in wrestling or in life. The
great thing about that '78 team is that it was sort of pre-destined, if you
will. Most of us on that team started wrestling together in elementary
school. Rod Stough, Ken Shorts, Perry Tallman, Bruce Stambaugh and
myself. We wrestled together all through junior high and won a junior
high championship in 9th grade. Coach Toggas and Sprenkle saw
something in us very early on and they nurtured us. It is unbelievable
that so many of is stayed together for so long and ultimately ended up
winning 3 championships together - culminating with that 14-0 season.
What a way to finish!
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DL
- Rod Stough, your close friend, had some funny stories to share about the
"old" wrestling days in his Q & A interview. Can you share one or two
with us?
RB
-
Well, Rod's a funny guy! I've known Rod since the 1st grade at Sunset
Lane (Shiloh) school. Can you believe that?
We were friends from 1st grade and
still are to this day. A lot of the funny stories might be
inappropriate for your website!! But, I remember sometimes during
practice, Bruce Stambaugh and I would do drills and Coach Sprenkle would
blow the whistle and we'd go at it for 30 seconds or so to see if we could
escape or take the other guy down... so, Bruce and I would take each other
into the wall and slam our hand on the mat and make a lot of noise and grunt
and groan. Coach Sprenkle would go nuts, and would be yelling -
"That's the way you do it!" But, what he didn't know was that we were
scripting it like the WWE! Bruce would say... "now, you throw me...
and let's slam into the door!" Afterward, we would look at each other
and just laugh!
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DL
- Randy... you, Kris and your great family live across the river now, but I
know you still follow West York Wrestling. What do you want to say to
the team this year?
RB
-
I want to say to work hard and be
proud to be part of the great tradition that is West York Wrestling.
All storied programs go through tough times, look at Penn State Football a
few years back. But, you can get back to where we were. It just
takes hard work and sacrifice. I'd encourage the team to recruit their
friends who play football or other sports to give wrestling a try.
Wrestling will absolutely make them
a better athletes. And, I'd encourage them to have their
parents call the school administrators and school board and lobby them to
make sure we have all the tools and resources necessary to get back to that
high level. Finally, I'd encourage them to not give up. I'm a
big fan of quotes, so in the words of Winston Churchill... "If you find
yourself going through hell - keep going!" Basically, PERSEVERE.
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DL
- Randy, I always ask this. I know you loved the sport of wrestling
while at West York High School. If you had to do it all over again -
what would you do to be even a better wrestler?
RB
-
I would have started lifting weights earlier and more often to get
stronger! Also, I would have entered more off-season tournaments to
keep fresh. Finally, I would have played football. Because I
believe, as the studies now show, that athletes who compete in more than one
sport are better athletes and suffer less injuries. Other than
the above - nothing!
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DL
- Were there any mentors when you were young that steered you towards
competing in the sport of wrestling?
RB
-
My brother Rick wrestled in Junior High, which is why I went out for the
sport in the first place... so thanks Rick! Like I mentioned, in 7th
grade - Bruce Stambaugh made sure I got on the right track.
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DL
- What did the sport of wrestling teach you that you have used in your
financial career?
RB
-
MANY things - like the
importance of setting goals, keep pushing ahead with resolve no matter what
is going on around you... and, the need to depend on and support your team.
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DL
- Randy, thanks for doing the Q & A interview and I hope to see you, soon.
Also, thank you for your support of the West York Wrestling Alumni
website!
RB
-
Thank you, Don. It was an honor to be asked. Keep up the great
work on behalf of the West York Wrestling Alums everywhere! Lastly
best wishes to you and your family, and all the readers and alumni
for a joyous Christmas season!
May God bless each and every one of you!!!
You can e-mail Randy Blasdell
HERE!
West York Wrestling Alumni -
if you want to support this website -
GO HERE!
FLYERS SUPPORTER
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Randy C.
Blasdell (WY '78)
President
Sanctuary
Financial Group, LLC
Asset Management, Financial Services,
Retirement Income Planning
129 Oak Ridge Drive
Mountville, PA 17554
Call Randy Blasdell @...
717-522-1604 office
717-475-4533 cell
717-522-1608 fax
Randy Blasdell
-
rblasdell@1stallied.com
Visit Sanctuary
Financial Group, LLC @
www.sanctuaryfinancial.net
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1977-78 West York Wrestling
YCIAA
Championship Team (14-0)
Front (L-R) Joel Pugh, Rod Stough,
Van
Emig,
Ken Shorts,
John Silar,
Clyde Poe, Dennis Heath, Don Botterbusch.
Back (L-R) Larry Gay, Barry Gay, Lynn Martin, Bruce Stambaugh,
Dave Stram,
Randy Blasdell, Perry Tallman.
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CLICK HERE FOR LARGER 1/10/09 PHOTO
West York 1977-78 Championship Team Reunion
Front Row (L-R) Don Botterbusch, Bruce Stambaugh, Rod Stough, John Silar.
Back Row (L-R) Larry Gay, Barry Gay, Asst. Coach Don Lehman,
Randy Blasdell,
Dave Stram, Head Coach John T. Toggas, Asst. Coach John Sprenkle ('69 PIAA
Champion).
▪ Photo by
Kevin Drawbaugh of
JK Images
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Randy Blasdell photo - American Red Cross @ Cool Creek GC
Randy Blasdell
'78,
Chairman of the Annual Red Cross
Outing since its inception, was honored during the 20th
annual tournament on May 15th, 2009. Blasdell started
the event in 1989, which has raised close to $350,000
over its 20-year history!
Randy Blasdell - SV American Red Cross Golf Committee
Chairman.
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