Local

Local

The Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame will be held on Sunday, May 20 at the Ramada Inn, State College.

Local wrestling figure Francis "Yogi" Michael will be one of 13 members being inducted on the afternoon.

Michael, who is being inducted for contributions as a wrestler, coach and official, graduated from GAR in 1965 and the University of North Carolina-Pembroke in 1971. For the Grenadiers, he was a four-time District 2 placewinner, a two-time district and Northeast Regional champion. He won a PIAA championship in 1965.

As a wrestling official for nearly 40 years, he refereed 30 NCAA qualifying tournaments, 20 Pennsylvania Conference Tournaments, six PIAA regional events, five PIAA Championships and two NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships and one PIAA Team Duals Championships.

A teacher in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District for 30 years, Michael was wrestling coach at Bishop Hoban, GAR and was athletic director at Plains Solomon Junior High School.

Michael is currently a member of the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame, the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Officials Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Pennsylvania Chapter.

Michael resides in Wilkes-Barre with his wife of 41 years, Marie. They are the parents of five children and have six grandchildren.

The banquet is open to the public. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by contacting Norm Palovcsik at 295-3795.