SOURCE: armdrag.com

December 13, 2017

The Section 5 Friends of Wrestling is proud to announce the Wrestling Hall of Fame 2018 inductees. They will be honored at our twelfth annual banquet at Red Fedele's Brook House on February 13, 2018 and their names will be added to the Hall of Fame Plaque located in the lobby of the Brook House. Since the Section 5 Wrestling Hall of Fame was started in 1994, 144 people have been inducted.

Here are some brief comments about the inductees for 2018:

Charles Caleo wrestled at Edison Tech in the late 1950's and early 1960's where he was City Interscholastic League Champion and Athlete of the Year. He went on to have a successful wrestling career at RIT.

John Laboy wrestled at Edison Tech under Hall of Fame Coach Frank Mielnicki. He was City Catholic League Champion in 1970 and 1971. He was a Class A Sectional Champion and Super Sectional Champion in 1971 and was 4th in the NY State Tournament in 1971.

Gregor Gillespie wrestled at Webster Schroeder where he won 5 Sectional Championships. He was a NY State Champion in 2003 and 2005 and a NY State place winner in 2001, 2002, and 2003. He then had a successful career at Edinboro University where he was NCAA Division I National Champion in 2007 and a 4-time Division I All-American.

Bill Payne wrestled at Geneva High School and is a member of Geneva High Hall of Fame. He was a 3 time Sectional Champion and the 1996 NY State Champion at 155 lb. He was also a 3 time Empire State Games Gold Medalist.

Russ Tronolone has been a wrestling official for 41 years. Over that period of time he has officiated numerous Sectional and State Qualifiers and officiated at the NY State Tournament 9 times. He is a past president of the WOA and currently serves as the Assignment Coordinator.

Frank Vito coached at Greece Athena for 25 years where he had over 200 dual meet victories, two Monroe County Championships, many Monroe County and Sectional Champions as well as NY State Tournament place winners. A number of his wrestlers went on to win collegiate honors and several of his former wrestlers have become successful coaches.

The Induction Banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at Red Fedele's Brook House Restaurant, Elmridge Center Plaza (near 3590 Ridge Road West and across from Ridgemont Country Club), Rochester, N.Y. 14626. There will be a social hour at 6 P.M. and a dinner buffet at 7 P.M. followed by the induction program. Tickets are $30 per person and must be purchased by January 30. For information and tickets contact Friends of Wrestling at 585-225-2021 or fmarotta@rochester.rr.com. Information is also available on www.armdrag.com.

RESERVATION FORM (PDF)