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West York Wrestling Alumnus
'74 - Skip Martin Q & A.
The
Stanley
"Skip"
Martin
Q & A
A Foreword by
Skip Martin's Coach - John T. Toggas:
"When I first saw
Skip Martin as a West York Junior High wrestler, he impressed me with
his talent, strength and "never quit" attitude. When
Skip came to West York Senior High School, he continued to impress me
with the same attributes - a dedication to the sport of wrestling,
continually putting in the hard work to attain his goals and...
tenacious determination!
Skip always gave me, as a coach,
six full minutes on the mat. I always taught my kids in
wrestling to go for the pin, and that's just what Skip Martin did.
He loved to stick his opponent on his back and then he'd look over at me
as if to say... "I can do this" - and I knew he could.
Skip was talented, very strong,
scrappy... and one of the best! Skip Martin was one heck of
a wrestler and a great kid to coach."
*submitted by former West York
Head Wrestling Coach -
John T. Toggas
The Skip Martin
Bio
∙ West York's Skip Martin -
1973 Photo.
▪
West York Wrestling's Skip Martin
- graduated from West York
in
1974... and was a
three-year varsity wrestler. Skip was a member of the
1971-72...
14-0 West York Wrestling YCIAA Championship Team. Skip had an
outstanding Junior High career at West York, going undefeated (17-0)
and garnering a '69
WYJH Invitational title. Skip's Junior High coaches at West
York were the late Whedon Myers and assistant Herbert Yost. Skip earned three varsity
wrestling letters at West York High School and a 2nd place finish at the
very tough and prestigious
Easton High
School "Pat Reilly" Holiday Tournament in
1972, losing in the finals
to the very talented Rich Rodriguez of Saucon Valley, 9-5.
Skip's Senior High coaches at West York were National Hall of Fame's
John T. Toggas...
with assistants Robert Bowers (two years) and John Sprenkle (one year).
∙ West York's Skip Martin
-
'74 Alumnus.
∙ Mission of the Navy:
to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of
winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.
Skip Martin
was enlisted in the US Navy from 1974-1979. After starting as a
Navy Seabee, Skip was fortunate enough to train at the Basic Underwater
Demolition Diving School (BUDDS). Skip was present in Vietnam for the closing of the US Embassy
in 1975. Skip was then assigned to work at the US Naval Academy
for
approximately two years and finished serving out in Gulfport Mississippi
- where he did a tour of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean...
including stops in Guam, the Philippines and Diego Garcia.
Skip returned to the West
York Wrestling program as a volunteer - helping out
Kevin McCleary and
Jeff Meckley with the Elementary/Youth program. Skip then took a
break due to some health issues... then returned as a volunteer with
Jim
Haas - until finally taking over the West York Elementary program
until 1999.
Both of Skip's sons -
Jason (1995) and Cody (2007)
were wrestlers at West York... and Skip's brother,
*Jack,
wrestled at West York and
York College. Jason Martin works in
Washington, DC for Family Services Agency with Shephard Pratt Hospital
as a Resident Service Manager. Jason is married to Mary Sue with
one daughter (Hannah) and another child on the way! Cody Martin is
a senior at Penn State with a major in Security Risk Analysis Cyber
Terrorism with a minor in IST. Cody is involved with the Penn
State Powerlifting Team and a co-chairman on the Thon Dance committee.
*note: Jack Martin @ West York
Junior Varsity -
1967 &
1968.
Skip Martin and wife
Judy... have lived in the Shiloh area since 1987 and Skip was employed
with the United States Postal Service.
∙ West York's Skip Martin -
tees off at Lebanon's Iron Valley Golf Club in 2010.
WEST YORK WRESTLING
ALUMNI GOLF
The 2008 John S.
"Moc" Toggas Golf Event @ York PA's Honey Run Golf Club.
∙ (L-R) Skip Martin, Steve Toggas, Matt Toggas & Coach John T. Toggas.
I asked 1974 West
York Wrestling Alumnus, Skip Martin... to complete an
interview for the West York Wrestling Alumni website and fans.
Don
Don Lehman
Don Lehman
Webmaster, Archivist & Owner of westyorkwrestlingalumni.com
The Skip Martin Interview
by WYWA's Don Lehman
DL
- Skip, first, thanks for taking the time to do an interview with me.
I know your passion these days is GOLF - how is your game and when did
you get involved in this great sport?
(I'm still waiting for an invite to play with you guys!)
SM
-
Well Don, first of all let me
thank you for the great job you do on this website. I know it takes a
lot of time and I am thrilled that you help keep the West York
Wrestling spirit alive. As far as my golf game goes - you're right.
I do love to play golf!
I get to play about twice a week through golfing season (I am a fair
weather golfer). Once a week I play in a regular Sunday group that
includes Tom Savidge
(the old math teacher and basketball coach). Then on Monday nights I
play with Steve Toggas in a 2-man Honey Run League. I guess my handicap
is about a 14 or so, but I'm always trying to get it lower. And, by the
way, anytime you want to join us on a Sunday, I'm just a phone call
away.
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DL
- When did you get started in the sport of wrestling and who were your
early mentors?
SM
-
I guess you could say I started
wrestling when I was in second grade.
My brother Jack (WY Class of
'69) went out for the West York Junior High team and he would regularly
practice the moves he was learning on me.
There were many nights when he kicked the crap out of me on our living
room floor under the guise of wrestling. So I would also have to say
that he was my earliest mentor.
He always was, and still is,
there for me in times of need.
Jack Martin -
1968
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DL
- You had an outstanding Junior High Wrestling career - going undefeated
(17-0) and capturing the
1969 West York
Junior High Invitational @ 72lbs. Tell us a little more about that
time and what was it like to be coached by the infamous West York Junior
High head coach Whedon Myers (pick-pick-pick...chop-chop-chop!) and
assistant coach, Herbert Yost?
SM
-
To be honest, I feel sorry for
all the crap I put these guys through!
In 7th grade, I only made weight twice... one match against South
Western and our Christmas Tournament. In 8th grade I started out by
making weight for our first 3 matches and then I just couldn't keep my
weight down and the coaches lost patience with me and I was kicked off
the team. In 9th grade, Coach Toggas talked me into coming back out
again with the promise that I would practice with the Senior High team
until eliminations.
*Coach Myers didn't warm back up to me until half
way through the season when I had a pin at Dallastown.
Sometimes when I think about
those Junior High days I still hear him calling us a bunch of "Jingles"
or hearing him say "Way to go Skippy Baby" and Coach Yost getting on my
case after I'd throw a rough cross-face on one of my teammates in
practice. Overall,
those guys (Coach Whedon Myers & Herb Yost) were good disciplinarians for me and I
truly grew to like and respect both of them.
*West
York Junior High Coach, Whedon Myers (right)
w/Jeff Linebaugh (kneeling) & Ron Emenheiser.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
DL
- Skip, you then went on to wrestle with some very good West York
teams with some very good teammates at the high school varsity
level. Who did you work out with in the practice room and who was
your toughest workout partner that helped you better your career?
SM
-
I was lucky to have tough
practice partners all through my wrestling career.
In Junior High... it started with Greg Henry and Scott Hursh. Then, I
moved onto Jeff Meckley ('75 PIAA 2nd). In Senior High (early on), I
was regularly beat on by Paul Mulay as a sophomore and Keith Lichty as a
junior. As a senior, my toughest practices were against Mark Einsig and
John Chiappy. If I had to pick just one it would be those 9th grade
practices against Jeff Meckley. That year I went undefeated 10-0 and I
think Jeff improved as well.
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DL
- You were a member of the 14-0
1971-72
West York High School team that captured the 1971-72 YCIAA league title
and the 1971 Easton Holiday tourney team title. Tell us a little
about that experience. Do you still have your '72 YCIAA
Championship Josten's ring?
SM
-
Being a member of the '72
Championship team is a memory that I think of often and will always
cherish. Just being in
the gym the night West York
stopped the Dallastown winning streak was truly indescribable (I
wrestled a JV match that night). I was on the mat the night we
finished the season at Dover with a convincing win. Unfortunately I
lost my individual match that night but the team won 9 out of 12 bouts.
In the YCIAA Sectionals, I lost in the semi's, but it was amazing to see
6 of my
teammates win championships.
To answer
the last part of your
question - yes, I do still have my '72 championship ring... box and all!
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DL
- Take us back to some of your most competitive matches while in high
school. And, who was the toughest opponent you ever
competed against... and what was the outcome?
SM
-
Don, I had lots of tough
matches back then! I
wrestled Brad Warner from Dallastown three times - once in sectionals
and in two dual meets... and lost every time!
It seemed that when Brad and I wrestled, the same photographer from the
paper was there and the next day there was my picture in the paper
getting beat again by Brad.
I also had some tough matches at
the Easton Holiday Tourney where I went against Don Severn and Rich
Rodriguez of Saucon Valley and Dexter Derr from Neshaminy.
If I had to choose one, it would be my last match at Districts my senior
year against
*Andy
Zook, a senior from Newport High School. The score was 17-13 in Zook's
favor at the end of the second period. Then, in the third period, I
pulled a muscle in my back and the match was over.
I still don't know which hurt
worse - my back or the fact that my High School wrestling career was
over. Andy Zook went on
to become a 3-time PA District III Wrestling Champion ('72-'73-'74) &
3rd @ PIAA's.
note: *Andy Zook went on to have a great collegiate
wrestling career at
Millersville State
 .
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DL
- Skip, you wrestled for National Hall of Fame member -
John T. Toggas.
What comes to your mind when you think of the time you spent with the
West York Wrestling legend?
SM
-
The three years that I wrestled
for Coach John T. Toggas hold some of the best memories ever.
This man instilled in all of us, the desire to want to do better... no
matter what the cost to ourselves - for the success of the team.
Even though I did learn slowly, he showed me the true values and
benefits from self discipline. This is a lesson that has served me well
through most phases of my life and I thank him for it. In the last
several years, I've been lucky enough to play some golf with this
"legend" only to find out that he is, like most of us, only human! But
no matter what our score was we always had fun, lots of
laughs, and shared a few new jokes. After all, I know that he believes
in the number one rule - "In life, whoever has the most fun, wins."
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
DL
- How did you prepare for each wrestling season? And, if you had
the chance to do it all over again... what would you do differently to
prepare for this grueling sport?
SM
-
I never did much training
specifically to get ready for wrestling season. I did some light
running and started some basic dieting, but not much else until about
one week before the season started. Then, I would run a few miles a day
and do push-ups and sit-ups but that was it.
If I had the chance to do it all
over - there would be a lot of things that I would do
differently. I
definitely would have wrestled more in the off season!
I also would have developed a
better dietary regimen since poor weight loss habits were my true
Achilles Heal.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
DL
- During your days at West York - you have to remember some funny
stories about a practice or a meet that you still talk about.
Share one or two of those great memorable stories with us.
SM
-
I have two good stories
to share off the top of my head.
The first would have to be about
Keith Lichty and Carl Stambaugh.
As you remember, we all had our own designated rubber sweat gear. One
night, Stambaugh took Lichty's stuff for practice and Keith was really
pissed. The next night, Lichty was there early and made sure he got
his own sweat gear. Then, he rubbed Atomic Balm all over the inside
of Stambaugh's rubber gear. About 1/2 hour into practice, Carl's body
must have seemed like it was on fire and he was excused to go wash it
off... but unfortunately he found out that when you wore this stuff into
a hot shower, it only gets hotter! And now, it was all over and I
mean ALL OVER if you know what I mean! From that day on, we were sure
to only wear our "own" rubber sweats.
My second favorite story is one
that I'm sure you'll remember Don.
I'm not sure if we were on our way to or on our way home from Easton
High School when the wrestling van pulled up to a grocery store. We
were in the store for about 10 minutes when we heard them page Coach
Toggas over the intercom. We were all wondering what was going on -
when we saw him marching one of our light-weights out of the store and
into the van. We couldn't tell what he was saying... but the "Golden
Greek" was truly upset! We later found out that our teammate got
caught shoplifting oranges. From that point on his nickname was changed
from "Steve-O" to "The Thief."
The funniest part was what
happened next.
A few years ago I ran into my former teammate that I hadn't seen in
about 30 years. We shared some small talk and then I asked him what he
was doing for a living. The whole place stared at us, because I was
laughing so hard when he told me he was working in the Produce
Section of a local York, PA grocery store!
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DL
- Do you still keep in contact with any of the West York Wrestling
Alumni... and, in your mind, how important is it to have a remembrance
of its storied history that dates back to 1934 and coach Chuck Richards?
SM
-
Yes I do. As I said earlier,
Steve Toggas and I are partners in a Monday Night golf league. Another
member of our league is Brian "The Pack Rat" Kuntz.
I think that remembering our
wrestling history is an absolute must!
That's why the West York Wrestling Alumni website is so important.
When I visit the website
and I see the many pictures and read the interviews (of all of us) it
just has a way of making me feel so proud of what we accomplished
being West York Wrestlers.
It kind of reminds me of a sign that was posted in the wrestling room...
"Be Proud to Wrestle for West York for West York is Proud of its
Wrestling!"
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DL
- You entered service with the United States Navy after high school.
Did you ever think about going to college and wrestling at the next
level?
SM
-
Well Don, I did think about it a
little... but, at that time in my life - going to school for another
four years didn't seem too appealing.
If I would have gone to college,
it would only have been to wrestle and I'm sure that I would have
struggled with all the classroom work.
As it ended up... I did okay with my Navy stuff - but after 4 1/2 years,
I was ready to come home! Sometimes I do wonder "what if" but that's
all water over the bridge and I don't regret taking the course I did.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
DL
- After your service in the US Navy - you helped out with the West York
Wrestling program for years... and, were an integral part of the
Elementary program (head coach). How important is the youth mat
program in your mind? Who was the one wrestler... that you
knew after coaching them at the West York youth level - would become a
star competitor at the next level?
SM
-
In my opinion the Youth
Wrestling Program is the most important piece of the whole
puzzle. Not only do
these young wrestlers learn the basic moves of our sport, but at an
early age - they have to learn one of life's hardest lessons...how to
lose. It's easy to
get carried away with wins and pins when you are successful, but when
you finally learn how to deal with the disappointment and losses that
come along with our sport... then and only then is it time to
move onto the next level.
As far as picking one particular wrestler, I don't think I can do that.
I've had so many quality individuals that I could never
narrow it down to just one. I don't even think that I could narrow it
down to ten! One thing that I can say is that they seemed to come in
families. I've had several groups of brothers that have done extremely
well. I've had some father and son wrestlers that excelled. I think
that's because we as wrestlers come from a different mold.
This sport has its own specific
difficulties that only another wrestler can understand.
So dad's and brother's need to keep these young ones coming out
or the lifestyle we know as wrestlers will come to a slow and
uncomfortable end.
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DL
- You had two sons (Jason
'95 & Cody '07)
that competed for West York Area High School. Was that a difficult
time for you... as most parents experience high levels of nervousness
when watching their kids compete on the mat or in any sport?!
SM
-
It was a difficult time for me
but luckily I think I was prepared and ready for it. As the elementary
coach, I felt like all of our youth wrestlers were my kids. When
it was time for my sons to wrestle, I knew there would be highs and lows
on the mat. But
there still isn't any prouder moment for a former wrestler... then to
see your sons in that West York Wrestling singlet on the mat - win or
lose.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
DL
- I know you get to see some West York matches these days... what
differences do you see versus the days when you wrestled in the West
York gym? What would you like to see enhanced or changed per the
sport to get more fan support and... more alumni support?
SM
-
No doubt - there is
a difference. The crowds are definitely smaller but I don't think that
is just at West York - it's everywhere.
I like the idea of having the
youth programs wrestle before the high school matches.
I also think that elementary wrestlers should never have to pay
to see a match. Let them in for free and the parents will follow.
As far as getting the alumni involved, I think that this website is a
great motivator.
I think more "team reunions" at
the home matches would be a lot of fun, also.
1972
- Skip Martin
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DL
- What are the major changes between a wrestler of today... and a
wrestler of the seventies?
SM
-
First of all, let me say that
the above average wrestler of yesterday and today would all be
willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to accomplish their
goals... but, I think that the average wrestler of yesterday was
more willing to make more sacrifices than the average wrestler
of today. Today's kids quit if they aren't first string. They feel
that if they have to put that much effort into something... they want to
get paid for it and they get a job. Whereas in the 70's, the guys were
happy to be part of "the team" even if they couldn't start.
I know that the times and
attitudes have changed and there is nothing we can do about that... and
that's what makes me happy that I wrestled where and when I did.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
DL
- I know your wife Judy has been very involved with the West York
Wrestling Booster Club over the years. How important is that
Booster Club support to the team and what would you like to see in the
future that would help the program?
SM
-
I think this is the way for her
(Judy) to "give back a little" to the program that has meant so much to
our family. With our youngest son Cody getting ready to graduate from
Penn State University this year, I know that she won't be as involved as
in the past... but we
will always support the Booster Club when we can.
What I would like to see is a Booster Club with unlimited funds and they
would be able to purchase a big new practice facility! That way, the
school administration wouldn't have the chance to yank it out from under
our feet whenever they feel like it. I know this probably won't happen,
but if I ever win the lottery it would! It is sad to know that if we
don't take care (financially)
of our wrestling program that one day, and it could be soon... they
could just drop the program and not give it a second thought. That's
why we all need to support the West York Wrestling Booster Club.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
DL
- Skip, I want to thank you for sharing some great memories with the westyorkwrestlingalumni.com website readers!
SM
-
Don, let me thank you for the privilege and opportunity to do this
interview. Its stirred up some
fond memories for me and maybe it will stir up some for other
West York Wrestling Alumni. Keep up the great work on this
website... because I know a lot of people turn to it when they want
today's updates - or just to feel good about some past accomplishments.
Thanks again,
Don! Skip
∙ You can
e-mail Skip Martin
HERE!
& Don Lehman
HERE!
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WEST YORK JUNIOR
HIGH
WRESTLING
1969 West York
Junior High Inv. Tourney
Front Row (L-R)
*Skip Martin, Paul Mulay, Mark Jenkins, Kevin McCleary.
Back Row (L-R) Bob Murphy, Dave Heist, Don Lehman, Mike Stambaugh.
* Skip
Martin wins 1969 WYJH tourney title!
__________________________________________________
WEST YORK AREA VARSITY
WRESTLING
1972
- West York's 112lb.
Skip Martin
(white headgear)
attempts an escape against Dover's Steve Julius.
Julius decisioned Martin ... 8-2 in the
'72 WY/DO dual meet.
▪
Referee George Billets is in background.
__________________________________________________
WEST YORK AREA VARSITY
WRESTLING
West York Varsity Wrestling
1971-72...(14-0)
▪
Warm-up Photo
The 1971-72 Undefeated YCIAA Wrestling Team
▪ Front Row (L-R) -
Steve Thomas, Paul Mulay,
Skip Martin,
Keith Lichty,
Barry Botterbusch,
Mark
Jenkins, Kevin McCleary
&
Neil Bupp.
▪
Back Row (L-R) -
Jim Haas, Barry Albright,
Scott Callahan, Mike
Root,
Barry King,
Mike Stambaugh
&
Don Lehman.
__________________________________________________
1971-72 West York Junior
Varsity Wrestling Team
▪ Skip Martin... 3rd from left in front row.
__________________________________________________
▪ The 1972
Easton Holiday Tourney Finals - WY's Skip Martin (2nd)
__________________________________________________
WEST YORK AREA VARSITY
WRESTLING
2006-07 West
York Wrestling's - Cody Martin (Skip's son).
'06 WY/ST Dual Meet
Recap (above photo dual meet)
▪ Photo by Kevin Drawbaugh of
JK Images
__________________________________________________
1994-95
West York Wrestling's - Jason Martin (Skip's son).
__________________________________________________
WEST YORK AREA
ELEMENTARY
WRESTLING
1997 West York
Elementary Wrestling Team
∙ WY Youth Head Coach -
Skip Martin
(4th from left in back row).
__________________________________________________
Skip Martin
is listed on both all-time HOF teams...
▪
Coach John T. Toggas "Top 60"
Wrestling Team
▪
West York Wrestling
Alumni.com All-Time Wrestling Team
7/16/13 - Lunch @... Skip Martin's House!
(hosted by Judy Martin)
(L-R)...
Mark Bowersox,
Skip Martin & WYWA's Don
Lehman.
__________________________________________________
Other Archived Q & A
Interviews by Don Lehman:
Billy Randt,
Rod Stough,
Jeff Wolfe,
Keith "KRW" Warehime,
Randy Blasdell,
David Maday & Jason Abel
Turnbull, Mary Jane &
John T. Toggas,
Jon Trenge,
Wilmer Pressel,
Dr. Bill Welker,
Mike Stambaugh,
Todd Reynolds,
Gary Narber,
Fred & Matt Callahan,
K.C. McCleary,
Brian Kuntz,
Dr. Perry Tallman,
Charlie Jacobs,
Coach Brian Gross,
Justin Wilkins,
John Reiber,
Bruce Stambaugh,
Eric & Todd Lehman,
Steve Elicker,
Gross-Pressel,
Mark Bowersox.
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