Wrestling
As student enrollment and particularly those of male students across the SUNY system exploded in the mid-1960's, the offerings of intercollegiate athletics for men beyond the normal sports of cross country, soccer, basketball and baseball also began to expand. This was certainly true at SUNY New Paltz.
Joe Owens Era (1966-1971)
In spring of 1966 the College brought Joe Owens on board to teach physical education to the growing student population and to ostensibly coach baseball, but also coach cross country and establish a collegiate wrestling team. A young and highly successful coach from Western, NY --- Joe Olszewski -- a.k.a Joe "Owens" had established a powerhouse baseball program at Lancaster High School, leading his teams to a 72-46 record, an undefeated season and a Section VI Championship, along with coaching the school's wrestling team prior to his time with the Hawks. He was the author of numerous articles, published in
Scholastic Coach,
Athletic Journal and
Baseball Digest. Owens' own athletic credentials were outstanding, having been captain and MVP of the Ithaca College football team.
While at the helm of the Hawks wrestling program, he guided the program to four winning seasons and mentored several outstanding wrestlers including Hall of Famer Jim Longo, SUNYAC Champion Gerry Hubbard and NAIA District Champion Scott Hammond. At the end of the 1970-71 season, Owens turned the reigns of the wrestling program over to assistant coach Jim Valentine in order to focus his attention on his growing responsibilities as the College's Director of Athletics.
Jim Valentine Era (1972-74)
Valentine served as the varsity assistant coach for three seasons (1967-68, 1968-69 and 1969-70) before being named Owen's replacement for the 1971-72 season. His tenure as the SUNY New Paltz wrestling coach came at a time when the intercollegiate athletic program came under increasing financial stress due to a lack of support from the student government, which controlled athletic funding. This resulted in the cancellation of home and road matches and the inability to recruit, forcing the ultimate demise of hte program after the 1973-74 season.
Season-by-Season Honors & Records:
First Season: 1966-67
Head Coach: Joe Owens
Overall Record: 5-1 |
| Marist |
W 45-0 |
| Ulster CC |
W 31-8 |
| Southampton |
W 31-8 |
| Orange CC |
L 0-33 |
| Dutchess CC |
W 38-3 |
| Rockland CC |
W 22-16 |
| SUNYAC's |
7th/8th |
| Kevin Covas - 2nd HWT |
| Dan Gubitosa - 4th 167 lbs |
|
| Inaugural Roster: |
| A. Aeutershan |
| Larry Berman |
| B. Builder |
| N. Burns (manager) |
| S. Carfora |
| Craig Christenson |
| George Clark |
| Walt Cook |
| Kevin Covas |
| A. Frankel |
| J. Foret |
| Dan Gubitosa |
| James Longo |
| Allan Papini |
| W. Parment |
| D. Stam (manager) |
| W. Stanton |
| N. Stern |
Second Season:
1967-68
Head Coach: Joe Owens
Overall Record: 7-2 |
Co-Captains:
Walt Cook, Larry Berman |
| Rockland CC |
SCRIM |
| Orange CC |
L |
| Marist |
W 26-11 |
| Ulster CC |
W 33-6 |
| Southampton |
W 38-3 |
| Seton Hall |
W 22-11 |
| Dutchess CC |
W 38-3 |
| Adelphi |
W 38-3 |
| Potsdam |
L 16-22 |
| Brooklyn Polytech |
W 40-3 |
| SUNYAC's |
6th/8 |
| Larry Berman - 3rd 137 lbs |
| Dan Gubitosa - 3rd 167 lbs |
| Kevin Covas - HWT |
|
Season Highlights:
James Longo: 8-0 dual match record
James Longo: school record pin (.22 seconds) versus Jim Calabrese (Brooklyn Polytech)
Third Season: 1968-69
Head Coach: Joe Owens
Overall Record: 7-3 |
Tri-Captains:
Wat Cook, Craig Christenson, Ken Neslund |
| MVP: Gerry Hubbard |
| Marist |
W 35-0 |
| Postdam |
L 35-7 |
| Adelphi |
W 24-5 |
| Brooklyn Polytech |
W 38-0 |
| Union |
W ? |
| Albany |
L 25-20 |
| Southampton |
W 38-0 |
| Oneonta |
L 40-3 |
| Plattsburgh |
W 27-22 |
| Seton Hall |
W 21-0 |
| SUNYAC's |
6th/10 |
| Gerry Hubbard |
Champion 191 lbs. |
| Frosh Schedule: |
| Dutchess CC |
W 28-15 |
| Ulster CC |
L 18-16 |
| Orange CC |
L 35-5 |
Season Highlights:
James Longo: fastest pin (0.12 seconds vs. Union)
Fourth Season: 1969-70
Head Coach: Joe Owens
Overall Record: 7-4 |
| Oneonta |
L 24-11 |
| Lehman |
W 48-0 |
| Seton Hall |
L 20-16 |
| Potsdam |
L 25-9 |
| Southampton |
W 25-21 |
| Adelphi |
W 40-8 |
| Brooklyn Polytech |
W 50-0 |
| Marist |
W 29-11 |
| Plattsburgh |
W 25-18 |
| Albany |
L 19-16 |
| Union |
W 48-0 |
| NAIA District XXXI Championship |
5th/10 |
| Scott Hammond 118 lbs. |
Champion |
| Steve Loturco 134 lbs. |
4th |
| Steve Keene HW |
3rd |
| SUNYAC's |
9th/10 |
Season Highlights - Dual Match
James Longo: 9-1-0
Scott Hammond: 9-1-0
Gary Fesfeldt: 10-0-0
Steve Loturco: 5-0-0
Career Highlights
James Longo: 79-39-6 (four years)
Fifth Season: 1970-71
Head Coach: Jim Valentine
Overall Record: 5-6 |
| Lehman |
W 42-0 |
| Seton Hall |
L 28-10 |
| Potsdam |
L 38-0 |
| Oneonta |
L 28-8 |
| Plattsburgh |
W 29-11 |
| Southampton |
L 21-19 |
| Adelphi |
W 21-13 |
| Marist |
W 36-5 |
| Albany |
L 25-10 |
| Geneseo |
L 24-14 |
| King's (NY) |
W 28-8 |
| SUNYACs |
7th/9 |
| Ted Cook 158 lbs. |
3rd |
Sixth Season: 1971-72
Head Coach: Jim Valentine
Overall Record: Information Incomplete |
| Lehman |
W 42-10 |
| Hunter |
T 21-21 |
| Newark Engineering |
W 27-21 |
| Oneonta |
Canceled |
| Brooklyn Polytech |
W 49-6 |
| New England College |
Canceled |
| Lowell State |
Canceled |
| Williams |
T 21-21 |
| Adelphi |
W 21-15 |
| Marist |
L 30-21 |
| Plattsburgh |
Canceled |
| NAIA District XXXI Championship |
5th/10 |
| Mark Ellison 145 lbs |
2nd |
| Bruce Hartjen 150 lbs |
3rd |
| Paul Selzer 158 lbs |
3rd |
| Albany |
Canceled |
| SUNYACs |
Canceled |
Seventh Season: 1972-73
Head Coach: Jim Valentine
Overall Record: Information Incomplete |
| Hunter |
? |
| Newark Engineering |
? |
| John Jay |
? |
| Oneonta |
W 38-13 |
| SUNYACs |
10th/10 |
Eighth Season: 1973-74
Head Coach: Jim Valentine
Overall Record: Information Incomplete
Co-Captains: Neil Weiss, Floyd Hall
MVP: Stuart Levy |
| Hunter |
? |
| Newark Engineering |
? |
| Oneonta |
W 42-18 |
| Albany |
? |
| SUNYACs |
10th/10 |
Final Team Members
Fred Blumenauer
Jimmy Cathey
Steven Decker
Frank Ford
Floyd Hall
William P. Hopkins
Stuart Levy
Julio Petronio
Stan Slvszka
Neil Weiss
Steven White
*contact the Athletic Communications Office for any errors or omissions
