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August 14, 2021

The Upstate New York Chapter is sadden to announce that Hall of Fame coach, Walt Teike, has passed away. Below is the article that appeared at his induction praising the accomplishments of Walt. The wrestling community has lost a great man and coach.

Walter Teike

Ever wonder why Section 5 enjoys such wrestling success? Well, here's one reason: Walter Teike.

Walt began his coaching career in 1957 at Brockport High School. Over the next decade, he spread his coaching talents around building good programs in the Rochester area at Pittsford High School, Bishop Kearney High School, and Edison Tech High School before settling in to direct the program at Spencerport High School in 1966. He remained there until 1981 and compiled an outstanding record.

His Spencerport wrestlers were NYSPHSAA tournament co-champions in 1975. He produced nine consecutive Monroe County championship teams and seven Section 5 championship teams. He retired from coaching for a while after 1981, assuming the duties of Athletic Director at Spencerport, but he eventually returned to the mat as the coach of Monroe Community College's team from 1989 to 1991 and at East Rochester High School in 1992 and 1993.

In 1993 Walt resettled in Tucson, Arizona, and has continued coaching at Amphi High School and Catalina Foothills High School there. Walt has coached six Amateur Wrestling News All-Americans, two NCAA Division I All-Americans, and two Junior College All-Americans. His overall record, so far, is 312-68-5. He was the Junior World Team Leader in 1975 and in 1977

Walt is also an accomplished wrestling official at the high school and college levels, and he has continued to officiate matches in Arizona. It bears mentioning that Walt served as Equipment Manager for the 1997 NCAA National Championship University of Arizona basketball team

Walter Telke was inducted into the New York State High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1991. New York wrestling is the poorer for Walter Telke's relocating to the Southwest, but he greatly enriched it for years and thoroughly deserves the recognition of the National Hall of Fame bestowed upon him today.