Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame

06/02/2026

🏆 Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame - May 2026 Newsletter

The National Wrestling Hall Of Fame

06/01/2026

The Upstate New York Chapter of the NWHOF cordially invite anyone to attend their yearly lunch and golf event - please see the flier below for details - all wrestling people are invited. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Carl Koenig - 607.244.8432.

Save the Date - Please Join Us

The Upstate New York Chapter of the NWHOF is planning to have a social event this summer at O’Hara Restaurant located at the Millstone Golf Course in Elbridge, NY.

The purpose is to offer past honorees and advocates/friends of wrestling an opportunity to enjoy each other’s fellowship. We are planning to have a lunch at 1:30 pm and anyone interested in golfing should arrive between 8:00 am and 9:00 am – there are no tee times at Millstone, first come, first served. If you go between these times you should be finished by the time of the luncheon.

This is NOT a fund-raising event. Just a chance to say hello, enjoy good friends, and reminisce about the past. Please feel free to come a little earlier to talk with your friends.

Where: Millstone Golf Course - 354 NY-5, Elbridge, NY 13060

Who: Past Honorees and friends of wrestling

What: Lunch & golfing – we will have three lunch options. Individuals will be responsible for the cost of their lunch and golf.

When: August 10, 2026 - 8:00 am golf - luncheon - 1:00 pm

Please let us know if you are planning to attend by August 3, 2026. We will need numbers for the catering at the restaurant.

Contact – Carl Koenig – 607.244.8432 – [email protected]
Bob Zifchock – 845.649.3752 – [email protected]

05/25/2026

The Upstate New York Chapter of the NWHOF is proud to honor Gene Nighman as a new Hall of Fame member for 2026. Below is a short bio on The Big Red legend.

Gene Nighman
Gene went to high school in Erie, Pennsylvania where he had a stellar high school career. Coach Andy Noel recruited him to Cornell and Gene did not disappoint any of the Cornell faithful. While at Cornell Nighman would finish 4th, 3rd and 1st three of the four years that he was wrestling for the Big Red. In 1981 Nighman would go on to the NCAA Championships and finish 7th. During his senior year Gene co-captained the Cornell wrestling team and become a three time All Ivy League first team selection. In 1983, Gene became the head coach at Cortland State University and finish his career as the winningest coach in Cortland history … he recorded 163 dual meet wins. Additionally, Gene coached two of his wrestlers to a Division III NCAA title – Troy Monks (1990) and Mike Yanosik (1992.) Presently, Gene is the Executive Director of the EIWA and the president of the Finger Lakes Regional Training Center.
Accomplishments:
• 1st, 3rd and 4th at the EIWA Championships
• 1981 Division I – All American – 7th place
• Co-captained the Big Red wrestling team in 1980-81
• Coached 2 Division III Champions at Cortland State
• Coach at Cortland from 1983 to 1999
• Inductee of the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame
• Executive Director of the EIWA – selected in 2021
• Coached wrestling at Lansing High School
• Cornell University Wrestling Camp Director – 2000 to 2015
• Director of the 1986 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship held at Cortland where he coached three All-American in the tournament
• 1992 – East Regional Olympic Greco-Roman trials champion
• President of the Finger Lakes Regional Training Center

What people said about Gene Nighman –
Betsy Veyman, Director of Operations at Cornell University and the Upstate New York Stanbro Award winner, “Gene has been a significant contributor to wrestling as a competitor, coach, administrator, and leader for many years and continues to do so. As the Executive Director of the EIWA, Gene brought strong leadership, organization, and is highly respected by the coaches, athletes, officials and other members of the EIWA wrestling community.”
Upstate New York Chapter President, Carl Koenig added this concerning Gene, “Gene Nighman was one of the best coaches in the highly respected Cortland State University wrestling team history. There he coached 2 Division III NCAA Champions – Troy Monks and Mike Yanosik. Furthermore, his 1986 his team finished 6th and he had three All-Americans including runner up Josh Roe, who would go on to be a Superintendent at Tioga Central School. Gene was also recognized by the Cornell athletic family by being selected into the Big Red Athletic Hall of Fame.”

05/20/2026

Congratulations to all of the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship award winners tonight in Buffalo

05/17/2026

Howard Weller

Howard Weller was a standout wrestler at South Glens Falls for coach Joseph Iuliano. After his graduation from South Glens Falls, Howard remained active in all phases of the sport. He speared headed the development of a youth wrestling program and has coach at South Glens Falls for over 50 years. New York State Wrestling Chairperson, Marty Sherman has affirmed that Howard has dedicated his whole life to the betterment of the sport of wrestling and wrestling has profited from it.

Accomplishments
• 1979 – Outstanding Wrestler for South Glens Falls High School
• Four Year Varsity Letter Winning at South Glens Falls High School (87 – 18 record)
• 2007 – Section II Coach’s Appreciation Award
• 2013 – Section II Lifetime Appreciation Award
• Honoree of the South Glens Falls’ Wrestling Hall of Fame
• Coach for the Youth Wrestling Club – 1979 to Present
• Member of the Friends of Section II Wrestling Association
• High School Assistant Coach at South Glens Falls
• 1992-93 – Head Varsity Coach at Schuylerville High School
• Mat Crew Chief for the 2002 Division I NCAA Wrestling Championships at Albany
• 2005 to Present - Mat Crew Chief for the NYSPHSAA Dual Meet Championships, Individual Championships and the Section II Championships

What People Have Said About Howard
Jason Spector shared the following about Howard, “Howard has coached the sport of wrestling for over a half century. He has influenced and impacted countless lives of young men and women of all ages. As a coach, Howard has demonstrated a timeless commitment and dedication to the sports and the participants big and small, gifted and challenged, young and old, girls and boys”
His former high school coach Joseph Iuliano shared this about Howard. “As his former coach and coaching partner, I have worked with Howard for the past 47 years. His dedication to the sport of wrestling has never wavered. Additionally, he is highly esteemed by his peers in the wrestling community.”
Lifetime Service honoree and the National Order of Merit recipient, Sonny Greenhalgh offered this on behalf of Howard. “Howard fulfills the definition of “Lifetime Service to New York State Wrestling” as much as any person who has entered the Hall of Fame. His work at the NYSPHAA Championships is praiseworthy and I can think of no one who deserves it more.”

05/06/2026

🏆 Upstate New York Chapter announces 2026 Hall of Fame inductees and high school award winners

National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum

The National Wrestling Hall Of Fame

05/05/2026

Save the Date - Please Join Us

The Upstate New York Chapter of the NWHOF is planning to have a social event this summer at O’Hara Restaurant located at the Millstone Golf Course in Elbridge, NY.

The purpose is to offer past honorees and advocates/friends of wrestling an opportunity to enjoy each other’s fellowship. We are planning to have a lunch at 1:30 pm and anyone interested in golfing should arrive between 8:00 am and 9:00 am – there are no tee times at Millstone, first come, first served. If you go between these times you should be finished by the time of the luncheon.

This is NOT a fund-raising event. Just a chance to say hello, enjoy good friends, and reminisce about the past. Please feel free to come a little earlier to talk with your friends.


Where: Millstone Golf Course - 354 NY-5, Elbridge, NY 13060

Who: Past Honorees and friends of wrestling

What: Lunch & golfing – we will have three lunch options. Individuals will be responsible for the cost of their lunch and golf.

When: August 10, 2026

Please let us know if you are planning to attend by August 3, 2026. We will need numbers for the catering at the restaurant.

Contact – Carl Koenig – 607.244.8432 – [email protected]

Bob Zifchock – 845.649.3752 – [email protected]

04/30/2026

Mark Gumble
Mark Gumble did his high school wrestling at Maine-Endwell High School where he was a STAC League Champion as well as a Section IV champion. Mark was coached by Hall of Fame coach Fred Marcello (2009) and would later wrestle at the University of Binghamton under the tutelage of Steve Erber (1998) another Hall of Fame coach. At Binghamton Mark was a Division III NCAA National Champion (1988) and voted the Outstanding Wrestler in the New York State Collegiate Championship in 1987. Mark is presently retired from his administrative position of academic support at the University of Central Florida.

• Three time SUNYAC Champion
• New York Collegiate Champion – Outstanding Wrestler – 1987
• Three time Division III All-American
• 1988 – Division III National Champion
• Head Coach at Binghamton University for nine years
• Tournament Director of Division III – National Dual Meet Championship
• Treasurer and Secretary for the NCAA Division III Wrestling Coach Association
• National Wrestling Coaches Association – Presenter & Academic Consultant to NWCA (2008 to 2012)
• Member of Greater Binghamton Athletic Hall of Fame, Maine-Endwell Sports Hall of Fame and Section IV Athletic Hall of Fame

Here is what others have said about Mark Gumble -
Coach Steve Erber had this to say about his former wrestler, “Mark is one of the finest people I have known. Mark is a giver as opposed to a taker. His whole career has been service to others.” It is my distinct pleasure to nominate him for this highest honor.”
Carl Koenig, President of the Upstate New York Chapter of the NWHOF, said this about Gumble, “Mark Gumble’s wrestling accomplishments are very impressive and his administrative skills are highly respected and eventually led him to have an outstanding career in college administration.” The Upstate New York Chapter is honored and privileged to welcome Mark into the Hall of Fame.

04/23/2026

Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame - April 2026 newsletter

https://nwhof.org/state-chapters/new-york-upstate/news/upstate-new-york-chapter-april-2026-newsletter

National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum

The National Wrestling Hall Of Fame

04/22/2026

Go NY!