West York Wrestling

 
 




"Honor the Past,
Celebrate the Present...
Look to the Future!"


westyorkwrestlingalumni.com


WEST YORK WRESTLING


WY 1969 Yearbook
"Billy the Kid!"

BILL
LUCKENBAUGH
(69-5-0) WY Career Record

www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com
 

Some Photo's from the 2016 PWCA
PA
Wrestling Hall of Fame Banquet!


*Photos by the great Tom Elling of PA Wrestling


PA WRESTLING HALL OF FAME HISTORY

westyorkwrestlingalumni.com


                  The 2016 PWCA Hall of Fame Class (Bio's)
    ∙ Front Sitting Row (L-R) Doug Buckwalter, Bob Derr, Gib Fink, Bill Luckenbaugh.
    ∙ Back (L-R) Tom Teagarden, Robbie Waller, Col. Dave Warnick,
Ken Wunderley.
    (not pictured ... 2016 PWCA PA HOF inductee - Mike Pirozzola)
                  
2016 PWCA inductees photo by PA Wrestling's Tom Elling

 

westyorkwrestlingalumni.com

∙ (L-R) Jim Rivello, ESSC's '77... Gary Kessel & Sam Coursen.
2016
photo by PA Wrestling's Tom Elling

westyorkwrestlingalumni.com

∙ (L-R) Chad Luckenbaugh w/dad, PWCA HOF'er... Bill Luckenbaugh.
2016 photo by PA Wrestling's Tom Elling

westyorkwrestlingalumni.com

∙ WY's/ESSC's Bill Luckenbaugh receives his 2016 PWCA Award.
(L-R) Ron Frank, PWCA VP; Luckenbaugh & John Reynolds, PWCA President.
2016 photo by PA Wrestling's Tom Elling


PA Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductees... (full list)




The 2016 PWCA Inductees
Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame

Bill Luckenbaugh is inducted into the 2016 class!
"Bill joins previous West York HS inductees
- Charles "Chuck" Richards,
John T. Toggas and Dr. D. Kenneth Ober.
 Bill... also joins previous ESSC
inductees - Clyde H. "Red" Witman, Jack Childs, Jack Cuvo, Bob Guzzo,
Jerry McDonald, Gary Cook and John S. "Moc" Toggas."   
DSL

Billy the Kid!

PWCA "Official" Announcements (Norm Palovcsik)
"Meet the 2016 PWCA Hall of Fame Class" (9)
D. Buckwalter, B. Derr, G. Fink, B. Luckenbaugh, M. Pirozzola,
T. Teagarden, R. Waller, D. Warnick, K. Wunderley.


WRESTLING
 

www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com



                                                                          
            PENNSYLVANIA WRESTLING HALL OF FAME
                                        www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com

                                                                          

        
York, PA's PWCA Hall of Fame Inductees (13)
                             ▪ Charles "Chuck" Richards (West York) 1976
                             ▪ John T. Toggas (West York/Biglerville) 1992
                             ▪ Bill Bence (Dallastown) 1993
                             ▪ Dr. D. Kenneth Ober (West York/Elizabethtown College) 1994
                             ▪ Terry Conover (Hanover) 1996
                             ▪ Shaun Smith (Dover/Del Val) 2003
                             ▪ Joey Wildasin (South Western/GCCC/OSU) 2004
                             ▪ Tony Koontz (Delone Catholic/N. Iowa) 2011
                             ▪ Brad Lloyd (Red Lion/LHU) 2013
                             ▪ Charlie Jacobs (Dover) 2015 (46th Annual Ceremony Inductees)
                            
Bill Luckenbaugh (West York/East Stroudsburg State) 2016
                             ▪ Bob Gano (Delone Catholic/Biglerville) 2017
                             ▪
Mark Banks (York Vo-Tech/Bloomsburg/W. Va.) 2018

                                         
PWCA HALL OF FAME (1970-2018)

                 
* 2009 interview w/3-time NCAA All-American & 2015 PWCA HOF - Jon Trenge


                                          Dr. Ken Ober & John T. Toggas are in the
                                           National Wrestling Hall of Fame


                        10/27/15 "Lucky" article by Steve Heiser 

 

www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com


                                                               




October 27, 2015


Author:  10/27/15 COLUMN By Steve Heiser of The York Dispatch 

West York's Luckenbaugh Adds Another Honor...
by Steve Heiser 505-5446/@ydsports - sheiser@yorkdispatch.com
 

The... local wrestling community is justifiably proud of York County's tradition of excellence in the sport.
In the premier wrestling state in the nation, and against the toughest competition around, area high school athletes and coaches have thrived.

For proof, look no further than the list of local men who have been selected for the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

That prestigious honor roll is now up to 11.  (*update... now 13 w/Mark Banks 2018)

West York High School graduate Bill Luckenbaugh became No. 11 this week. He's also the fourth Bulldog to be picked.

The man known as "Lucky" truly deserves the recognition after excelling as both an athlete and a coach.

At West York, Luckenbaugh finished with a 69-5-0 career record, including 50 pins. He won three sectional titles, two District 3 crowns and a PIAA state championship as a senior in 1969 at 127 pounds.

At East Stroudsburg State College, he compiled a 77-7-1 record with 59 falls, including Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference and NCAA Division II titles in 1974 at 150 pounds.

As a high school head coach at Elizabethtown and later West York, Luckenbaugh finished with a 152-46-1 mark, including league titles at West York in 1992 and 1994. He was also the District 3 Coach of the Year in 1994.

That's one seriously impressive resume.

Luckenbaugh learned of his selection on Saturday, and he will be inducted in April 2016 in State College.

"I knew that I was nominated but being nominated doesn't mean you get in," he said. "It's a select fraternity,
and it's a wonderful thing. I'm really happy about it."

Family legacy: Luckenbaugh lives in Florida now, where he is in the air conditioning and heating business. He moved from York County in 1996. He hasn't been actively involved in wrestling since leaving his position as an assistant coach at Lake Gibson in Florida in 2003. The sport, however, has left him with many lasting memories.

"My brother Dana used to beat me up all the time on a rug in the basement," he said of his start in wrestling.
"I got a lot of brush burns. ... Dana got me going, and I wanted to be like him."

The early introduction to the sport would later prove invaluable. Dana Luckenbaugh was a dominant wrestler in
his own right and became York County's first PIAA state champion in 1965.

The legacy of Luckenbaugh wrestling excellence didn't stop there, either. Bill's sons were both mat standouts. Chad Luckenbaugh was a three-time Pennsylvania state medalist, and Brandon Luckenbaugh was a 1998
Florida state champion, with a little help from his father, who was an assistant coach with the team.

Building relationships: Despite his many mat accomplishments, however, Bill Luckenbaugh says he most cherishes the relationships he's built.

"What's really special is the people you're involved with and the coaches and the kids that you're around,"
he said. "I think wrestling people are a wonderful fraternity."

Bill Luckenbaugh made sure to note the huge influence on him of his two primary coaches, John Toggas at West York and Clyde H. "Red" Witman at East Stroudsburg. Both men are already members of the PWCA Hall of Fame. Toggas died within the last month. Luckenbaugh also wanted to thank former West York wrestling standout Don Lehman, who nominated him for the award. Lehman runs the respected westyorkwrestlingalumni.com website.

"Bill dedicated a huge portion of his life to the sport at the competitive, coaching and officiating level ... as well
as being the father of two sons who competed," Lehman said. "I thought, 'if anyone has the resume to be in the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame, it's Bill Luckenbaugh.'"

When he's inducted in April, Bill Luckenbaugh will actually be a five-time hall of famer. He's already in the
District 3, East Stroudsburg, NCAA Division II and Elizabethtown halls of fame.

More than the accolades, however, Lehman said he will remember Luckenbaugh, the person.

"When I was a sophomore, I suffered my only career dual-meet loss to Don Donley of York High, 3-2, early in
the 1970-71 season at heavyweight," Lehman said. "Bill was at that match, and as I sat dejected in the locker room after the meet, Bill came over and said: 'Don't worry Donnie, your day will come.' That meant a lot
coming from the best wrestler ever from West York."

Reason for county to celebrate: Lehman also believes that Luckenbaugh's induction should be a reason to celebrate for the entire York County wrestling community.

"(The York-Adams League and its predecessors) has had 40 PIAA state champions since 1965 — that is an unbelievable statistic when compared to all the other sports. (The York-Adams League) continues to have
great wrestling. Being inducted into the PWCA Hall of Fame is a real honor."

Lehman's right. It is a real honor, and no one deserves it more than the man known as "Lucky." 

Steve Heiser is sports editor of The York Dispatch. He can be reached at sheiser@yorkdispatch.com .

HALL OF FAMERS

Following are members of the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame with York County ties.

Charles "Chuck" Richards (West York) 1976

John T. Toggas (West York) 1992

Bill Bence (Dallastown) 1993

Dr. D. Kenneth Ober (West York) 1994

Terry Conover (Hanover) 1996

Shaun Smith (Dover/) 2003

Joey Wildasin (South Western) 2004

x-Tony Koontz (Delone Catholic) 2011

Brad Lloyd (Red Lion) 2013

Charlie Jacobs (Dover) 2015

Bill Luckenbaugh (West York) 2016

Bob Gano (Delone/Biglerville) 2017

Mark Banks (York Vo-Tech) 2018

x-Delone was not a member of the York-Adams League when Koontz wrestled, but later joined the league. In addition, many athletes from Delone live in York County.


Section:  York Dispatch Sports Page - 10/27/15 
*sports@yorkdispatch.com
______________________________________________________________________________________



www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com by Don Lehman

*Sports column by Steve Heiser, York Dispatch Sports editor.
(c) 2015 The York Dispatch.  All rights reserved.
*Steve Heiser is sports editor of the York Dispatch.  He can be reached at sheiser@yorkdispatch.com.


HEISER:  West York's Luckenbaugh Adds Another Honor
 

www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com



                                           WEST YORK WRESTLING HISTORY
         Looking Back @ 1967 West York Wrestling History...

                                                                                                       

                                                              January 1967
by Bob Dugan
             YORK COUNTY has had only one State PIAA wrestling champion - a lad named Luckenbaugh from
         West York.  But, John Toggas, Bulldog mat mentor, is spreading the word:  There's likely to be
         another one - a lad named Luckenbaugh from West York!
             In 1964-65 when Toggas took over the coaching duties at West York, his 112-pounder, Dana
         Luckenbaugh, went "all the way".  This year's unbeaten club has as one of its key performers
         at 103 pounds Dana's brother, Bill, a 10th grader who has the West York coach eyeing another
        
trip to University Park for the grappling finals.  "Bill has great potential." enthuses Toggas.  "He's
         almost a carbon copy of Dana.  He's a little taller, but has the same moves and the same strengths
         that made Dana a champion.  Like Dana, Bill is a pinner.  He's always looking for that chance to flip
         his opponent.  In five league matches, Bill has four falls and an 11-0 decision to his credit.  The
         decision was over Glenn Miller, a sectional champion last year from York Suburban."
             THE YOUNGSTER moved into a starting berth on the West York varsity after a junior high record
         of 35 wins and one loss.  The lone defeat was suffered as a seventh-grader in a match against
         Manheim Central.  Bill was nipped 5-4 last month in a tournament at Clearfield by Newport's Mike
         Shull, but came back to win runner-up honors by beating the Clearfield entry who is a defending
         
champion from District Nine.  The West York sophomore hasn't yet attained the coolness that his
         brother displayed "before the battle".  "Bill gets a little nervous waiting for the bout to start",
         Toggas stated, "but once he's on the mat, the nervousness disappears.  Dana would take it easy
         before a match and never seemed to worry about his opponent."
             THE BIG THING going for Bill is his desire; it's just as intense as Dana's.  The youngster has two
         big aims:  To match Dana's total of wrestling trophies and to win a State title.  And, Dana is doing
         his best to help his brother attain the goals.  He works out with Bill on the West York mats almost
         every night.  "Bill has the potential to be a State champ," Toggas repeated.  "And he has three
         years to make it.  I honestly feel he can't miss."  West York is currently tied with Dallastown and
         Dover for the York County League lead, all with 5-0 records.  The next three weeks should relieve
         the first place jam.  While Dover and Dallastown are meeting head-on at Dover this Thursday, West
        
York wrestles at Hanover.  Then the Bulldogs have successive home matches with Dover and
         Dallastown.
           
 "If we get by Hanover, we should have 1400 people at our matches with Dover and Dallastown,"
         Toggas predicts.  "We have a fine following.  There were about 40 fans who traveled all the way
         to Clearfield got the tournament during the Christmas holidays."

                                              More 60's at Charlie's 60's Page
 

www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com


Some "Lucky" Fishing!!

(L-R) West York Alumni - Bill Luckenbaugh & son Chad Luckenbaugh
2015 photo courtesy of Chad Luckenbaugh


Bill Luckenbaugh '69

Billy Luckenbaugh - 1969
West York High School Wrestling

(Overall High School Career Record of 69-5-0)



www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com
 


               WILLIAM LUCKENBAUGH
          "LUCKY'S" High School Career!
    ▪ 3-time YCIAA Sectional Wrestling Champion.
      (1967, 1968, 1969).
    ▪ 2-time District III Wrestling Champion.
      (1968, 1969).
    ▪ 2-time Southeast Regional Wrestling Champion.
      (1968, 1969).
    ▪ 1968 PIAA State Wrestling 2nd Place @
120lbs.
    ▪ 1969
PIAA State Wrestling Champion @ 127lbs.
    ▪ 1967 Clearfield Holiday Tourney Champion.
    ▪ 1968 Carlisle Holiday Tourney Champion & ow.
    ▪ Member of '64 WY Junior High Championship Team.

 


1968 PIAA State Wrestling 2nd Place @ 120lbs.
1968 PIAA Finals 120lbs. - Norm Palovcsik (Clearfield)
decisioned Bill Luckenbaugh (West York Area HS) 11-8.


1968 YCIAA Sectional II Champions


1968 York County Section II
Wrestling Champions

Front (L-R) Charles Vaughn (York), John Rabenstein (York Suburban),
Larry Haas (West York), Bill Luckenbaugh (West York).
Middle
(L-R) Bob Gardner (York Suburban), Joe Knoch (York Suburban),
Donald May (Eastern HS).
Back Row (L-R) William Thomas (York High),
Glen Eby (West York HS),
Hank Claiborne (York High), Keith Wilkins (York Suburban),
John W. Sprenkle (West York).
@ West York High School
▪1968 YCIAA Sectional Team Champion
- West York High School 68pts.
West York Head Coach - John T. Toggas.


1968 PIAA District III
Wrestling Champions

▪ Front (L-R) Bill Thomas (York High), Dennis Ibach (Manheim Central),
Bruce Jones (Newport), Mike Loercher (Manheim Central),
 Karl Ginder (Manheim Central).
▪ Back (L-R)
Phil Conlin (Warwick), Steve Thompson (Manheim Central),
Bill Pascarella (Cumberland Valley), Bill Luckenbaugh (West York),
Lee Dobyns (Newport), Dan Sanders (Lower Dauphin),
Rick Swanger (Cumberland Valley).


                                  

                                1968 PIAA Southeast Regional
                                                 Wrestling Champions

                    ▪ Front Row (L-R) Bill Thomas (York High), Andy Matter (Upper Darby),
                    Bruce Jones (Newport), Mike Loercher (Manheim Central HS),
                    Karl Ginder (Manheim Central HS).
                    ▪ Back (L-R) Phil Conlin (Warwick), Steve Thompson (Manheim Central),
                    Bill Pascarella (Cumberland Valley), Bill Luckenbaugh (West York),
                    Ivan Bell (Haverford), Dan Sanders (Lower Dauphin),
                    Rick Swanger (Cumberland Valley).

                       1968 Southeastern Regional Wrestling
                                   Championship Mat Finals
                                                 3/1/68 @ Harrisburg Farm Show Arena
        95lbs. Rick Swanger (Cumberland Valley) dec. Ben Weinstein Cheltenham) 4-3
      103lbs. Dan Sanders (Lower Dauphin) dec. Jim Adams (Harriton) 5-2
      112lbs. Ivan Bell (Haverford) pinned Lee Dobyns (Newport) 3:27
      120lbs. Bill Luckenbaugh (West York) dec. Fred Zinck (Ridley) 8-2
      127lbs. Bill Pascarella (Cumberland Valley) dec. Randy Erickson (Penncrest) 7-2
      133lbs. Steve Thompson (Manheim Central) dec. Keith Nyman (OJ Roberts) 8-6
      138lbs. Phil Conlin (Warwick) pinned Lou Pizzi (Conestoga) 5:31
      145lbs. Bill Thomas (York High) dec. Bob Valentine (Lansdowne) 12-5
      154lbs. Andy Matter (Upper Darby) dec. Dennis Ibach (Manheim Central) 6-3
      165lbs. Bruce Jones (Newport) dec. Len Pellulo (Cheltenham) 16-9
      180lbs. Mike Loercher (Manheim Central) dec. Ted Madden (OJ Roberts) 11-8
      Hwt.      Karl Ginder (Manheim Central) pinned Charles Fillman (Downingtown) 4:33

                                      ▪ Dallastown's George Myers finished 3rd at 145lbs.

                      1968 PIAA Southeastern Regionals
                                     
                               ** Bill Luckenbaugh, left, and Bill Thomas, are York County's
                               hopes tonight for Regional Titles, and spots in the PIAA State
                               Wrestling tournament... at the Harrisburg Farm Show Arena.
                               B. Luckenbaugh, representing West York, took the District 3
                               title @ 120-pounds last week while Thomas, York High School,
                               grabbed the 145-pound diadem.
 

www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com



                          1968 WEST YORK WRESTLING HISTORY
            Looking Back @ West York Wrestling History...

                                                                                                

                        
1968 PIAA State Finals... Local Wrestlers Lose in Finals!
         Both Bill Thomas, York High, and Bill Luckenbaugh, West York, reached the final round of the
     annual PIAA State Wrestling tournament before losing Saturday night in the Penn State
    
Recreation Hall at University Park.
         Thomas extended his all-winning streak in the 145-pound class to 19 in the semi-finals by
     defeating Terry Rissmiller, Nazareth, 4-2.  Then, in the finals he faced 15-year-old John Chatman,
     Trinity, and was beaten by the sophomore, 13-3.  In completing an unbeaten season, Chatman
    
was one of the standouts in the tournament, particularly after he opened the day with an 11-3
     verdict over his semi-final opponent.
         Luckenbaugh was within ten seconds of duplicating the feat of his brother, Dana, in winning a
     state crown, but succumbed to a furious last-ditch effort by Norm Palovcsik, Clearfield, in the
     120-pound class.  Leading by 8-6 with ten seconds to go, Luckenbaugh fell victim to a quick
     takedown and, when Palovcsik added a predicament, it was all over.  Another point for riding
     
time made the final score 11-8 for Palovcsik.  It was Palovcsik who handed Luckenbaugh his only
     other setback of the season, during the Clearfield Christmas Holiday tournament.
         Luckenbaugh had entered the finals with a semi-final triumph over Rick Bechtel, Selinsgrove,
     11-0, and appeared well on his way to the state crown when disaster struck.  His year's record
     is 22-2.
  (both losses to Clearfield's Palovcsik)
       
 Both Thomas, a senior, and Luckenbaugh, a junior, received beautiful trophies for their finishes.
     The crowd of 8,390 was the largest ever to witness an athletic event in the Penn State Rec. Hall.


                                          More 60's at Charlie's 60's Page
 

1968 PIAA State Wrestling Champions

Kneeling
(L-R) Joe Bordell, Ken Hess, Dave Clark, Norm Palovcsik,
George Dugan & Craig Fox.
Back (L-R) Lynn Houser, John Chatman, Andy Matter, Lew Craig,
Dan Newhard & Karl Ginder.
∙ Norm Palovcsik, Clearfield, scored a crowd pleasing come-from-behind
victory over West York junior Bill Luckenbaugh in the 120lb. finals 11-8.
Palovcsik earned a clutch takedown and near fall with eight seconds on
the clock and a riding time point - to secure the title over Luckenbaugh.




1969 YCIAA
Sectional II Wrestling
Champions

Front (L-R) Merv Keeney (DA), Bill Luckenbaugh (WY), Jim Keesee (DA),
Larry Haas (WY), Mike Anstadt (DA), Frank Vega (WY).
Back Row  (L-R) Don Adams (DA), George Myers (DA), Terry Myers (DA),
Frank Rice (DA), Richard Hartman (DA), John Sprenkle (WY).
There are 4 PIAA State Wrestling Champions in above photo!
(Luckenbaugh '69, G. Myers '69, Hartman '70 & Sprenkle '69)


         1969 York County Section II Championship Finals
      95lbs. - Frank Vega (WY) dec. John Duke (C) 4-0.
  
103lbs. -
Mike Anstadt (DA) dec. Brian Kuntz (WY) 8-7.
  
112lbs. -
Larry Haas (WY) dec. Joe Waltemyer (DA) 17-4.
  
120lbs. - Jim Keesee (DA) dec. Jeff Hoch (JB) 7-0.
   127lbs. - Bill Luckenbaugh (WY) pinned Ken Baker (DA) 1:27.
  
133lbs. -
Mervin Keeney (DA) dec. Dave Frey (DO) 11-2.
   
138lbs. -
Don Adams (DA) dec. Jack McGeehee (H) 6-1.
   145lbs. - George Myers (DA) dec. Ron Ankney (NO) 11-1.
  
154lbs. - Terry Myers (DA) pinned Gary Bates (WY) 4:30.
  
165lbs. - Frank Rice (DA) dec. Brian Damon
(C) 12-9.
  
180lbs. - Richard Hartman (DA) dec. Keith Clark (WY) 13-4.
     Unlim. - John Sprenkle (WY) pinned Robert Costa (DO) 1:47.
                                        @ West York High School
 

1969 PIAA District III
Wrestling Champions
@ Harrisburg Farm Show Arena
            


      1969 Pennsylvania District III Wrestling Champions
    ∙ Front (L-R) George Myers (Dallastown), Francis Coleman (Reading),
    Bruce Jones (Newport), Ken Kauffman (Manheim Township),
    John Sprenkle (West York).
    ∙ Back (L-R) Steve Thompson (Manheim Central), Robert Stock (Reading),
    Bill Luckenbaugh (West York), Dan Sanders (Lower Dauphin),
    Dave Yohn (Manheim Central), Dan Blakinger (Manheim Township),
    Mark Spangenberg (Camp Hill).

 

1969 PIAA Southeastern
Regional
Wrestling Champions
@ Upper Darby High School


1969 Pennsylvania SE Regional Wrestling Champions
Front Row (L-R) Benjie Weinstein (Cheltenham), Daniel Blakinger (Manheim Twp.),
Gary Billy (Pottstown), Dan Sanders (Lower Dauphin), Bill Luckenbaugh (West York),
Dan Marano (Springfield).

∙ Back Row (L-R) Steve Thompson (Manheim Central), George Myers (Dallastown),
Bernie Staub (Lower Moreland), Bruce Jones (Newport), Ken Kauffman (Manheim Twp.),
John Sprenkle (West York).

 


1969 PIAA State Mat Tourney

1969 PIAA State Wrestling Finals @ 127lbs.
(L-R) West York's Bill Luckenbaugh
with WY coaches...
   John T. Toggas and Bob Bowers @ Penn State's Rec Hall.




1969 - West York's 127lb. Bill Luckenbaugh (top) applies a bar
& decisions Andy Kolhepp (New Castle) 18-7

in the 1969 PIAA State Mat semi-final round.




1969 PIAA State Wrestling Champion @ 127lbs.
1969 PIAA Finals 127lbs. - Bill Luckenbaugh (West York)
decisioned Bob Pratt (Easton Area HS)... 8-2.



1969 - Bob Pratt of Easton (left) lifts Bill Luckenbaugh of West York
in the PIAA State Wrestling Championship Finals @ 127lbs.
▪ Luckenbaugh decisioned Pratt, 8-2 and
claimed the 1969 Pennsylvania State Wrestling Championship!




Looking Back... 53 Years!

1969 PIAA State Wrestling Champions
▪ Front (L-R) Tom Teagarden, McGuffey; Rich Panella, New Castle;
 Carl "Chico" Lutes, Easton; Leslie Peterson, Canon-McMillan;
Bill Luckenbaugh, West York; Dan Howard, Allentown Dieruff.
▪ Back
Row (L-R) Kevin Love, Carnegie; George Myers, Dallastown;
 Wade Schalles, Hollidaysburg; Robert Sacavage, Mt. Carmel;
Rodney Smith, Mt. Lebanon; John W. Sprenkle, West York.
@ Penn State University's Rec Hall


                                                                          
                                          32nd Annual

            1969 PIAA State Wrestling Championship Finals
                                                          3/15/69
                                          @ Penn State's Recreation Hall
    95lbs.  Tom Teagarden (McGuffey) dec. Ed Matsko (Jenner Boswell) 6-2
  103lbs.  Rich Panella (New Castle) dec. Dan Gallaher (Phillipsburg Osceola) 1-0 ot
  112lbs.  Carl "Chico" Lutes (Easton) pinned Allen Andrews (Johnstown) 1:20
  120lbs.  Leslie Peterson (Canon McMillan) dec. Dave Clark (Clearfield) 10-9
  127lbs.  Bill Luckenbaugh (West York) dec. Robert Pratt (Easton) 8-2
  133lbs.  Dan Howard (Dieruff) dec. Rob Stover (Penns Valley) 6-0
  138lbs.  Kevin Love (Carnegie) dec. Barry Snyder (Easton) 4-3
  145lbs.  George Myers (Dallastown) dec. Rick Lepley (Jenner Boswell) 10-4
  154lbs.  Wade Schalles (Hollidaysburg) pinned John Chatman (Trinity) 4:58
  165lbs.  Robert Sacavage (Mt. Carmel) dec. Bruce Jones (Newport) 7-4
  180lbs.  Rodney Smith (Mt. Lebanon) dec. Scott Moyer (Mifflinburg) 9-6
  Hwt.  
    John Sprenkle (West York) pinned Joel Kislin (Wilkes-Barre GAR) 5:12

      ▪ PIAA Officials: Charles Kunes, Dr. George Brett, George Custer, Manuel Pihakis.

                                                                          
             1969 PIAA State Wrestling Semi-Final Matches
                                                                        127lbs.
             Robert Pratt (Easton) dec. R. Musser (Bellefonte) 11-6.
             Bill Luckenbaugh (West York) dec. Andy Kolhepp (New Castle) 9-7.

                                                                          Hwt.
             Joel Kislin (Wilkes Barre GAR) dec. James Carmanna (Mt. Lebanon) 6-1.
             John Sprenkle (West York) pinned Jeff Knarr (Lock Haven)
3:41.
           ▪ 1969 PIAA State Wrestling Scoring Book w/results (PDF)   CLICK HERE!
 


1969 PIAA STATE
Wrestling
Championships


1969 - West York HS's 127lb. Bill Luckenbaugh
is congratulated by WY's Coach
John T. Toggas...
after
Bill's PIAA 127lb. State Championship!
"Lucky" decisioned Bob Pratt of Easton, 8-2
to win the 1969 PIAA State Wrestling Title!!


USA 1ST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
BILL LUCKENBAUGH
WEST YORK HS
1969 1st Team High School All-American

                
                "Additional" Bill Luckenbaugh Photos...

   ▪ 1964 West York Junior High Wrestling Championship Team - CLICK HERE!
   ▪ 1965 West York Junior High Wrestling Team Photo -
CLICK HERE!
   ▪ 1968 Bill Luckenbaugh Carlisle Wrestling Tourney "OW" -
CLICK HERE!
   ▪ 1968 Bill Luckenbaugh Individual Photo - CLICK HERE!
   ▪ 1969 PIAA Semi-Finals Photo of Bill Luckenbaugh - CLICK HERE!
   ▪ 1969 PIAA Semi-Finals Photo of Bill Luckenbaugh - CLICK HERE!
   ▪ 1969 PIAA Finals Photo of Bill Luckenbaugh w/WY Coaches - CLICK HERE!
   ▪ 1969 PIAA Finals Photo of Bill Luckenbaugh - CLICK HERE!
   ▪ 1969 PIAA Finals Photo of Bill Luckenbaugh - CLICK HERE!

   ▪ 1969 PIAA Photo of the Luckenbaugh's - CLICK HERE!
   ▪ 1983 Photo of Bill Luckenbaugh DIII Hall of Fame Induction - CLICK HERE!
 

1968 CARLISLE BUFFALO TOURNEY

1968 Carlisle Holiday Tournament
∙ '68 Carlisle Outstanding Wrestler - Bill Luckenbaugh, West York HS.


1969 YCIAA SECTIONALS @ WY

1969 YCIAA Sectional Wrestling Champions

Front (L-R) Mervin Keeney (DA), Bill Luckenbaugh (WY), Jim Keesee (DA),
Larry Haas (WY), Mike Anstadt (DA), Frank Vega (WY).
Back Row  (L-R) Don Adams (DA), George Myers (DA), Terry Myers (DA),
Frank Rice (DA), Richard Hartman (DA), John Sprenkle (WY).

@ West York (PA) Area High School Gym

There are 4 PIAA State Wrestling Champions...
in the above photo!
!
Along with Bill Luckenbaugh '69 & John Sprenkle '69 from West York...
Dallastown High School's George Myers '69 (
*2nd from left back row)
and
Dick Hartman '70 (*5th from left back row) won PIAA State titles.




1963-64 West York Junior High Wrestling
Bill Luckenbaugh - (front left)






EAST STROUDSBURG STATE COLLEGE WRESTLING
BILL LUCKENBAUGH @ ESSC... 77-7-1



WRESTLING


ESSC/ESU Wrestling Letterwinners (1970-2019)








East Stroudsburg State Wrestling
NCAA WRESTLING ARCHIVES
"Please click on Don's"...

ESSC/ESU Wrestling Archive!
w/10 "former" West York Area HS Grapplers ...
Glen Eby, William Luckenbaugh, Michael Stambaugh,
Keith Lichty, Don Lehman, Barry Gay, Mark Buelow,
Jeff Wolfe, Bruce Stambaugh & Matt Sprenkle.


               "And there was Bill Luckenbaugh...
   who had more pins than any wrestler in ESSC/ESU history.
   One night in Wilkes-Barre, PA - Lucky took the mat against
   Wilkes' College top wrestler - NCAA DIII Champ Mike Lee.
   The match started, and the PA announcer was saying...
   "This is the match you have been waiting for - it's Bill Lucken.....!"
   Suddenly, he sputtered and stopped, Lucky had already sunk in
   an arm-bar and had his opponent headed for a fall."  
ESSC SID.
                                                   

         ∙ Pete Nevins' Final Column for the Pocono Record...1/8/07

 


EAST STROUDSBURG STATE COLLEGE WRESTLING


   
▪ 1970-71... WRESTLING UPDATE
    EAST STROUDSBURG STATE COLLEGE WRESTLING 1970-71

   
Led by All-American Ted Pease, The 1970-71 ESSC wrestlers won their second Pennsylvania
    Conference title in four years.  Several team members placed at the conference meet with
    Pease (118) winning an individual title and Kemble Matter (134), Bill Luckenbaugh (150),
    Allen Brown (158) and Fred Epler (167) all runners-up.  Dave Yohn (126) took a third and
    Glen Eby (177) a fourth.

    The Warriors also achieved their best finish ever in the NCAA College Division event, tying
    for fifth.  They posted their ninth straight winning season with a 14-6 mark which included
    matches against the East's leading teams.  Highlight was a 22-14 victory over arch-rival
    West Chester State College.

    Pease placed third in the NCAA College Division tourney and reached the quarter-finals of
    of the University Division event before losing on a controversial last second takedown.
    His regular season record was 18-1.  Epler and Matter placed fourth in the College Division
    tourney.       
source:  East Stroudsburg State Wrestling... The Stroud Courier

 


EAST STROUDSBURG STATE COLLEGE
WRESTLING



Bill Luckenbaugh's ESU Wrestling Career Stats/Results

East Stroudsburg State College
NCAA WRESTLING ARCHIVE

1973-74 East Stroudsburg State College Team
▪ Front (L-R) Bill Cuff, Keith Lichty, Bill Luckenbaugh, Gary Kessel, Mel Riddick.
▪ Back (L-R) Don Lehman, Bob Stetler, Mike Stambaugh, Carl Seitz, Phil Conlin,
Fred Swanson.

note: 3 high school state champions in above photo...
(Billy Cuff - NJ, Bill Luckenbaugh - PA, Fred Swanson - NJ
.)



ARCHIVES
Looking Back... at an ESSC
Lock Haven State Meet in 1973!
(4 WY'ers in ESSC Lineup!)



vs.


 The York Daily Record
 

 
ARCHIVES
 December 15, 1973 Dual Meet @ LHSC Thomas Fieldhouse
 Ex-West York Bulldog Wrestlers Star
 Against... Lock Haven State College!
        YORK DAILY RECORD 12/17/73:  A quartet of former West York High School wrestlers
 led
East Stroudsburg to a 29-20 victory over Lock Haven State College in a Pennsylvania
 State Conference dual meet Saturday at Lock Haven.  It was the first victory for ESSC over
 Lock Haven in seven years as the Warriors pushed their dual meet record for the year to 5-3.
 Stealing the spotlight from his upper class teammates was freshman Keith Lichty.  The youngster
 was credited with the key victory in the match when he pinned defending PA State Conference
 champion,
Rob Johnson, in 3:14 of their 126 pound match.  It was only the second victory of the
 season for Lichty
who is now 2-5-1.  Bill Luckenbaugh, the former PIAA State Champion who
 earned All-American honors
last year, gained his 8th victory of the season with a pin over
 Don Eichenlaub in 4:27 of their 158 pound class. 
Eichenlaub, like Johnson, is the defending
 PA Conference wrestling
champion.  The victory boosted Luckenbaugh's brilliant college record to
 44 victories, including 39 pins, four losses, and one tie. 
Luckenbaugh, highly regarded as a
 candidate for NCAA honors, was injured in a first round match of last year's
PA Conference
 championship tournament and was forced to retire the rest of the season.  Also winning
 Saturday for East Stroudsburg was Mike Stambaugh, a former West Yorker and now a
 sophomore, who scored
with a 9-8 triumph over Ron McMurray in the 177 pound class.
 
Freshman Don Lehman, the fourth Bulldog member of the Warriors squad, gained a tie with
 Lock Haven's Jim Schuster... at 6-6 in the heavyweight class to close out the ESSC win.

 ▪ @ Lock Haven State College -12/15/73 - Thomas Fieldhouse, Lock Haven, PA 17745
 ▪ Lock Haven State Coach - Dr. Ken Cox.    ESSC Coach - Clyde H. "Red" Witman.
 
York Daily Record Sports 12/17/73

 
 
 LHSC's HWT. Jim Schuster

 ▪ Bill Luckenbaugh is now 8-0 on the ESSC 1973-74 season.
 ▪ Mike Stambaugh is now 6-2 on the season and Don Lehman is 5-2-1 @ ESSC.
 ▪ Keith Lichty is 2-5-1 on the 1973-74 season @ ESSC.
 ▪
12/17/73 ESSC/LHSC match @ Lock Haven State College.

 ▪ West York, PA HS Alumni (above) - Keith Lichty '73, Bill Luckenbaugh '69,
 Mike Stambaugh '72 & Don Lehman '73.

 MORE... of Lucky's  ESSC Wrestling Articles @ ESSC Wrestling Archives
 



SPORTS

PSAC WRESTLING
PSAC "All-Time" Wrestling Champions '40 - '13
PSAC WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 1974

1974 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Photo
Front Row (L-R) Jack Spates (Slippery Rock), Craig Turnbull (Clarion),
Randy Watts (Bloomsburg), Don Rohn (Clarion), Bill Luckenbaugh (ESSC).
▪ Back Row  (L-R) Tom Herr (Edinboro), Bill Shuffstall (Slippery Rock),
Wade Schalles (Clarion), William Simpson (Clarion), Bob Stetler (ESSC).

(West York's Bill Luckenbaugh - PSAC Champion '74)


Looking Back... 47 Years Ago!!

The York Daily Record
 ARCHIVES
February 25, 1974
 
LUCKENBAUGH TRIUMPHS! 
1974 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
College Wrestling Championships

February 23, 1974


                                                                                     
           
West York's Bill Luckenbaugh, the top-seeded entry from East
 
Stroudsburg State College, captured the 150lb. crown of the Pennsylvania
  State College Wrestling Conference Championships held Saturday on the
  Slippery Rock State wrestling mats.  Luckenbaugh is a senior and the ESSC
  captain.  Luckenbaugh, who upped his season's record to 22-0, nipped Mike
  Waller of Slippery Rock with a 5-4 decision in the finals.  He had pinned Bill
  Davis of Clarion in 1:42 in the semi-finals Saturday, and he also had a 3:16
  fall at the expense of Rich Schumacher of Indiana, Pa. 
Bob Stetler of ESSC
  also won the PSAC 158lb title.  East Stroudsburg finished fourth in the meet
  with 68 points. Clarion won the team laurels for the fourth straight season
  with 156 1/2 points, followed by Slippery Rock, 129 1/2, and Bloomsburg,
  80 points.  Lock Haven was fifth in the 13-team field with 60 1/2 points.
        ▪ Another West Yorker, Don Lehman, was third in the 190lb. division,
  defeating Tom Schweinburg of Indiana (IUP), 12-2 in the consolation finals.
  Lehman (4-1) had bowed to Bill Shuffstall of Slippery Rock, 6-1, in the
  championship 190lb. semi-final round.  SR's Shuffstall won the PSAC
  championship at 190lbs defeating Jim Zoschg of Millersville State, 7-1.
        ▪ Two other former West York Bulldogs who competed for East
  Stroudsburg State College were
Mike Stambaugh, (0-2) at 177lbs.,
  and 126-pounder
Keith Lichty, who finished with a (2-2) PSAC mark.
  Both did not place in the tournament.  1974 PSAC Results Page

      
▪ Bill Luckenbaugh, Bob Stetler and Don Lehman are slated to travel
  and compete in the 1974 NCAA Division II National Mat Tourney
  Friday and Saturday at the Cal-State University Fullerton Gym,
  Orange County, California.  
   2/23/74
 


A
"Lucky" ESSC Wrestling Fact!!

▪ While at East Stroudsburg State College ... Bill Luckenbaugh
pinned
59 of his 85 opponents for a .694 pinning percentage !!!

Click - ESU's "All-Time" Wrestling Letterwinners!


                                                                      
                    Bill Luckenbaugh
   @ East Stroudsburg State College... 77-7-1

   • 1974 NCAA DII National Wrestling Champion @ 150lbs.
 
 •  1974 NCAA DII Championship Wrestling Results
   • 1974 PSAC Wrestling Champion - 150lbs.
   • 1972-73 East Stroudsburg Open Wrestling Champion/ow.
   • 1973 Coast Guard Invt. Wrestling Champion/ow.
                                  
   • East Stroudsburg State Wrestling 73' - 77' Archives
 
 • NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame - CLICK HERE!

                                                                      
                       Division II Wrestling
   • "Lucky's" ESSC Career... Match-By-Match!!

   • NCAA DII Wrestling Champion Bill Luckenbaugh
   • 1974 NCAA DII's - "Lucky" & Lehman.
   • 1974 NCAA DII Championship Wrestling Results

                                                                                                  

 


WRESTLING
1974
NCAA DII Nationals


1974 NCAA DII Tourney Participants (ESSC)
(Back Row) ESSC Head Wrestling Coach... Clyde H. "Red" Witman.
(Front) ESSC's Bill Luckenbaugh (150lbs.), Don Lehman (190lbs.),
Bob Stetler (158lbs.)
.

1974 - NCAA DII Wrestling Championships
East Stroudsburg State College - 7th Place
(39 1/2pts)

▪ Cal-State Fullerton University ▪

THE POCONO RECORD
March - 1974

SPORTS


1974 Division I Wrestling Bracket

Bill Luckenbaugh of East Stroudsburg State College
was the..."2nd seed" @ the 1974 NCAA Division I Wrestling
Championships in Iowa City. IA @ 150lbs.

Bill won his first 2 matches by fall, but, a severe knee injury suffered at practice the
prior week hindered his progress in what would have been a sure All-American medal.
Look at the complete NCAA Division I 1974 150lb. Bracket
w/ESSC's Bill Luckenbaugh - 150lbs. by clicking -
HERE!


 
 March 1974 York Dispatch...Sooners Win NCAA Mat Crown

Luckenbaugh Ousted!
        Bill Luckenbaugh of East Stroudsburg failed to place in the top five after being
 seeded second in the 150-pound class on the basis of a 27-0 regular season mark.
 The former PIAA champ from West York, ironically lost to two men he had previously
 beaten, Mike Waller of Slippery Rock and Roger Warner of California Poly, San Luis Obispo.
 Luckenbaugh, who sustained a slight knee injury during a pre-tournament workout, started
 off in fine fashion by pinning Dennis Trainor of Washington State in 2:52 and coming
 right back to nail Navy's John Althans in 3:44.  He then ran into Waller and was whipped 11-0.
 Luckenbaugh decisioned Waller 5-4 for the Pennsylvania Conference Championship.
 Following a 5-0 overtime decision over Larry Johnson of Northern Illinois, the East
 Stroudsburg senior was dumped 14-2 by Warner, a man he pinned for the NCAA Division
 II title a week earlier.  (NCAA Division I Tourney - Ames Iowa)   NCAA 1974 Brackets

 


Induction into the '83 District III Mat Hall of Fame
1969 PIAA State Wrestling Champion...
William Luckenbaugh of West York High School - (left)
with West York Wrestling Head Coach John T. Toggas.
(Bill's brother Dana - 1965 PIAA State Champ, is in back of photo)



West York Area HS Assistant Wrestling Coach Bill Luckenbaugh
w/WY's 103lb. Dave Maday @ the 1989 YCIAA AAA Sectionals.



1991 West York Wrestling Coaching Staff
1991 - West York Wrestling head coach John T. Toggas (right)
w/assistant coach (69' PIAA Champ) Bill Luckenbaugh (left).


                              1995-96 West York Wrestling Team
                              
                      1995-96 West York Varsity Wrestling Team (10-4)
                  1st Row (L-R) Ryan Wagaman, Jake Kotzman, Casey Brenner, Kevin Scheivert.
                  2nd Row
(L-R) Rob Ludwig, Josh Klinedinst, Chad Luckenbaugh, Todd Platts.
                  3rd Row
(L-R) Brandon Luckenbaugh, Justin Wilkins, Matt Sheridan, Eric Lehman,
                        
                    Jon Knotwell, Jason Chamberlain.
                  4th Row
(L-R) Coach Jerry Mathison, Coach Bill Luckenbaugh, Coach Kim Wilkins.


                                                                                              
                                    '96 PIAA State Tournament Qualifiers (3):
                                      *Brandon Luckenbaugh, Chad Luckenbaugh & Eric Lehman.
 


2011 Elizabethtown HS Hall of Fame Induction
∙ Bill Luckenbaugh - former E-Town Head Mat Coach (76-23-1) @ E-Town.

Son... Chad Luckenbaugh
was a 3-time PIAA State Medalist for West York HS.

Son... Brandon Luckenbaugh
*Brandon Luckenbaugh was
1998 Florida State AAAA Champion @ 152lbs.
for Lake Gibson High School.  Finals
- Brandon Luckenbaugh (Lake Gibson)
decisioned Todd Rametta (Tampa Jesuit) 13-9.


Late brother... Dana Luckenbaugh captured the 112lb. PIAA State title in 1965!


1994 District III Wrestling Coach of the Year
(76-23-0... @ WY '91-'97 Coaching Record)

2016 PWCA HALL OF FAME

WY's/ESSC's Bill Luckenbaugh,
is inducted into the
2016 class!
PWCA PA WRESTLING HALL OF FAME



10/27/15 "Lucky" article by Steve Heiser 

 

www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com


                             GAMETIMEPA.com  Throwback Thursday
                               West York Wrestling's success can be traced back to a 1965 state championship
                                                                            
by Steve Navaroli  8/27/14

                   In 1969, West York had a pair of PIAA wrestling champions in John Sprenkle (Hwt.)
         and
Bill Luckenbaugh (127).  In fact, that championship closed Sprenkle's stellar career with a 55-6
         record and Luckenbaugh went on to star on the mat at East Stroudsburg, where he won both PSAC

         and NCAA Division II titles in 1974.

                   But the example of what was possible was set when Luckenbaugh's brother, Dana Luckenbaugh,
         earned the first-ever PIAA championship won by a then-YCIAA (now YAIAA) wrestler.  Dana
         Luckenbaugh topped former state champ Bill Welker of Shamokin High School, 4-3, in the 112-pound
         final.  Sprenkle said that, and the entire 1965 West York squad, showed his team how to be successful.


                   "I was blessed and fortunate to be on some great teams at West York," said Sprenkle, who was
         also a football star for the Bulldogs.  "That '65 team was an awesome one.  (John) Toggas was a
         phenomenal coach."  It capped an amazing three-year run for West York which won the YCIAA team
         championship from 1963 to 1965, amazingly with three head coaches: Bob Brown, Ken Ober and Toggas.

                   Dana Luckenbaugh was a three-time YCIAA sectional champ.  Teammate Darryl "Smokey"
         Dennis (120 pounds), won two sectional titles.  Several years later, his brother, Bill, followed by Neil
         Bupp, Kevin McCleary and Donald Lehman would go on to become the school's other three-time

         section title winners.

                   Sprenkle recalled seeing Dana Luckenbaugh when kids would go to the former A. H. Martin
         Elementary School and "roll out the horsehair" wrestling mats under the watchful eye of coach
         Don Strausbaugh.  "(Strausbaugh) could never keep Dana in the wrestling room.   He always wanted to
         be up in the gym shooting baskets," Sprenkle laughed.  "Everything to him came natural.  He didn't have
         to work as hard as Bill and I did."

                   But Dana Luckenbaugh, who posted a 56-6-1 record as a high school grappler, was one of a kind.
         Just ask Charlie Jacobs, who wrestled at rival Dover during the same time period.  "He was very strong,
        
he never panicked," Jacobs said.  "He used to read the comics before the matches.  Nothing excited Dana.
         He had extremely long arms and thick hands. When he put a tight waist on you, you knew it.
        
He was very tough."                      Steve Navaroli YDR Article 8/27/14


  STEVE NAVAROLI
Reach Steve Navaroli at 717-817-3432 or
navarolienterprises@gmail.com


P.O. Box 365
Dallastown, PA 17313

877-657-2539 or navarolienterprises.com

 

www.westyorkwrestlingalumni.com
 




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