Youngsville wrestling will host an alumni night for their home dual meet against Eisenhower on Jan. 24. All former Youngsville wrestlers and coaches are invited to attend.

“Our goal is to further connect our past with our present and future,” said junior high coach Tim Suydan. “Coach Myers and myself have made it a point to remind the junior high and varsity kids of the men and women who’ve come before them.”

Since the program’s formative years back in the late 1960’s, the Eagles have seen many talented wrestlers come through the wrestling room doors. From their first state qualifier in Ray Witzel in 1979, to Warren County’s first state champion in Dave Fehlman in 1988, to their second state champion in Jim Hoffner in 1993, to their most recent state qualifier in Jaykup Durlin in 2013, and up through their most recent region qualifiers in Ian Mancuso and Logan McDonald, the Eagles have seen their fair share of wrestlers achieve success.

They’ve also seen many coaches who’ve guided the Eagles to success over the years. None more successful than Tony Fera who became synonymous with Youngsville wrestling throughout the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s. Among his many accomplishments, Fera led the Eagles to a 5th Place finish in the 1993 PIAA Individual State Championships, coached both Fehlman and Hoffner to their state titles, and was inducted into the Warren County Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

With the explosion of girls wrestling only coming in recent years, it’s easy to forget that Youngsville has had several female wrestlers come through their ranks as well. Amanda Reynolds was a district qualifier for the Eagles in 2009 before helping to head up the Warren County Girls United wrestling program in recent years. Judy Lewis was a mainstay in the Eagles lineup before choosing to serve her country in the United States Marine Corps, and, in 2023, McKenzie and Maci Hodak became the first ever female PJW state qualifiers for the Little Eagles program.

Speaking of the Little Eagles, they are currently led by a group of Youngsville Alumni. The Little Eagles are coached by former Eagle wrestlers Dan Sullivan, Mike Darling, Brad Renwick and Rusty Hodak. All four coaches have their own children in the program which further ingrains their passion to guide the youth wrestlers to success both on and off the mat.

“Collectively, we feel that the program is heading in the right direction. Everyone is pulling the same way. The groundwork Coach Myers and Coach Sullivan put in back in the mid 2010’s when they started with 12 kids is starting to bear fruit,” said Suydan. “Our youth program now has over 50 kids and we have a consistent junior high team for the first time in many years. Our nine state qualifiers last year are the most we’ve had in one year since 2000. Hopefully, we’re able to keep that trend going and further re-establish the program as one to be reckoned with.”