Upstate New York Chapter Class of 2022
SOURCE: nwhof.org
February 08, 2022

 

The Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is honored to announce and introduce the 2022 Lifetime of Service Awards as well as our Outstanding American Award and Medal of Courage Award winners. The following will be enshrined in the State Chapters' Hall of Fame Room at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Chris Bourne - Chris has had a very successful career as a wrestler, coach and athletic administrator in Section V. He graduated from Cortland State in 1979 and enjoyed a stellar career as a wrestler at Cortland State. Subsequently, Chris had an outstanding coaching career at Wayne and Canandaigua High School. Chris would later work as an Athletic Director in his career and serve as the Section V Chairperson for wrestling. He has been named Coach of the Year in Class B and Class A in Section V wrestling.

Dana Charpentier - Dana is a retired elementary school teacher and coached for several years in Section II. However, Dana is best known for the outstanding career that he experienced as a wrestling official. He has officiated at many sectional championships as well as at the NYSPHSAA State Wrestling Championships. He has also been his association's rules interpreter as well as its President and Vice President. Furthermore, he has been a member of "The Friends of Section II Wrestling" and still works at promoting wrestling at all levels.

John Grillo - John has had a long and outstanding career as a wrestling coach at Holley Central School in Section V. His teams finished in the top 5 in New York state nineteen times and he has garnered many awards at all levels. Grillo has been selected as Section V Class Coach of the Year 7 times. Coach Grillo has coached 5 NYSPHSAA champions and one of those champions was his son, Andrew in 2004. Additionally, he was actively involved in serving on several wrestling committees in the section and state.

Roy Guarino - Roy wrestled at Buffalo University for Hall of Fame Coach Ed Michael and qualified for the Division I wrestling tournament twice. Following the University of Buffalo, Roy worked as a very effective coach in Section VI at Williamsville High School where he would become a member of their Hall of Fame. He has earned Coach of the Year Awards twice and had many of his wrestlers achieved state placements. Roy is a retired New York State Trooper.

Randy Morrison - The former New York State wrestling champion started his illustrious coaching career in 1989 and coached 21 years at Gouverneur Central School. In 2003, 2004 and 2006 his teams were NYSPHSAA Division II tournament team champions. During his tenure in Section 10 wrestling, Coach Morrison has had 5 individual NYSPHSAA champions and 13 Section !0 team championships. In 2004, he was selected to be NYSPHSAA Section 10 wrestling chairperson and still serves in that position for Section 10.

Robert "Rob" Weeks - Rob was a standout wrestler in Section II while wrestling at Queensbury Central School for Hall of Fame Coach Jack LaBombard. He started as head coach at Shenendehowa High School in 1998 and is still coaching and winning at Shen. Between 2004 to 2013 his team complied a 64 match win streak. Weeks was selected as New York State Coach of the Year in 2011 and his 2011 team was ranked first in the state. While at Shenendehowa, Rob has produced 11 NYSPHSAA champions with many of his wrestlers going off to college and having successful careers at Division I institutions.

Pastor Arthur Jones Jr. - Outstanding American Award - Pastor Jones started his wrestling career at East High School in Rochester while wrestling for Hall of Fame coach John Spencer and finished his wrestling career at Madison High School in Rochester under the tutelage of Hall of Famer, Frank Marotta. Arthur stated in his application that the sport of wrestling has had a huge impact on his life. He indicated, "no other sport in the world requires as much discipline as the sport of wrestling." Two of his sons Arthur and Jon were NYSPHSAA wrestling champions. Sons, Arthur and Chandler, played in the NFL and Jon was a 10 time UFC Light Heavyweight champion. Arthur is presently the Senior Pastor of Mt. Sinai Church of God in Christ in Binghamton, NY.

Scott Key - Medal of Courage Award - Scott was born with several birth defects which included no lower legs, one arm down to his wrist, and an arm with only two fingers on it. But these challenges did not stop him from participating in the sport of wrestling. As a wrestler he enjoyed a four-year varsity career. He placed in his league and sectional tournaments several times and had an excellent dual meet record. His Hall of Fame coach, Fred Marcello, stated this about Scott, "Scott was an inspiration to his team and the wrestling fans of Section IV." We salute his courage and dedication to the sport.





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