CLARION – Former Curwensville Area High School standout Nate Sipes was one of eight individuals inducted into the District 9 Wrestling Hall of Fame prior to the finals of the 2012 Class AAA and Class AA tournaments in Clarion University’s Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium Saturday evening.
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A 2005 CAHS graduate, Sipes was a three-time District 9 Class AA champion, two-time Northwest Region titlist and a two-time PIAA gold medalist, reigning at 189 pounds in 2004 and 215 as a senior.
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He ended his scholastic career with a 110-18 record and is tied for third on the Golden Tide’s all-time win list.
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Sipes also starred at a running back and linebacker in football at Curwensville, playing at Slippery Rock University in 2007 and 2008 after overcoming a knee injury and returning to the gridiron for Clarion University at linebacker last fall, leading the Golden Eagles in tackles.
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He is the fifth CAHS grad among the 86 inductees who have been selected by the District 9 Chapter of the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association since 1999.
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The others are Randy Cathcart, wrestler and coach; Terry Hoover, wrestler, coach and referee; Dave Irwin, wrestler, and Fred Kavelak, contributor.
Former Golden Tide coaches Ron Smith and Frank Eisenhower also have been inducted.
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The other 2012 inductees:
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Terry Dietrick (posthumously), contributor, Ridgway Area High School (1972). Longtime broadcaster of dual meets involving Elk County teams as well as district, region and state tournaments.
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Curt Olson, wrestler/contributor, Ridgway Area High School (1979). A three-time district champion, two-time region champion and two-time PIAA Class AA runner-up with overall record of 90-21 with 71 falls. Played football as well as wrestling for Clarion, where he was a three-time NCAA Division I qualifier with a 77-20 record at heavyweight. Has dedicated more than two decades as an assistant coach to the youth in Ridgway area.
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Bruce Morgan, wrestler, Cameron County Area High School (1980). Was district, region and state champion at 189 in 1990 after placing sixth in state as a junior. Wrestled heavyweight all four years at Cornell University with a 93-37-1 record. Two-time All-Ivy League first teamer and a 1993 NCAA Division I qualifier.
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Ben Keebler, wrestler, St. Marys Area High School (1992). Two-time district champ, region champ, Class AAA state champion at 145 in 1991 and fifth placer in 1992 with career record of 101-20. Had 30-18 record at Lock Haven University.
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Jeremy Reitz, wrestler, Brookville Area High School (1999). Three-time district champ, region champ and Class AA state champion at 152 as senior after losing in finals previous year, posting 114-19 record. Wrestled at Penn State University in 2000-2001 with 21-7 record and transferred to Clarion, where he was 90-57 and qualified for nationals two times.
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Francis Iorfido, wrestler, Johnsonburg Area High School (2002). Three-time district champ and OW in 2001, three-time region champ, and three-time placewinner at states, including winning Class AA gold medal at 145 in 2001, with overall record of 131-15. Wrestled at University of Pittsburgh with 49-23 record. Named to Eastern Wrestling League All-Academic Team three times and was on 2004 NCAA Academic All-American Team.
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Scott Rendos, wrestler, Brockway Area High School (2004). Three time district champ, three-time region champ and three-time PIAA Class AA finalist, winning state titles in 2003 and 2004. Amassed record of 140-9. Wrestled at the University of Buffalo for four years.
