LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – A rich tradition was celebrated last night.

More specifically, Lock Haven University’s rich wrestling tradition. That couldn’t have been more evident on Friday night when LHU recognized its past successes on the mats with the “70th Anniversary Wrestling Dinner” in the Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center.

Each and every speaker referred to or presented statistics that supported the legendary Haven program. Those speakers included University President Keith Miller, LHU Alumni Association President Reed Mellinger, LHU alumnus and wrestling historian Tom Elling, current Bald Eagle head coach Rocky Bonomo and the keynote speaker, the father of Lock Haven University wrestling, Henry “Hank” Blake.

On hand were past NCAA champions Elliot “Gray” Simons, Fred Powell, Ken Melchior and Cary Kolat. The Bald Eagles’ other living national champion, Rev. Bill Blacksmith, was unable to attend because of a scheduling conflict. Also on hand was Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann, as well as many of the LHU Wrestling Hall of Fame members, wrestling alumni, boosters, friends and members of the current men’s and women’s teams.

Blake gave a history of how the Haven program began in 1938. It began when he was recruited out of DuBois High School to play football. He asked athletic director J. Wynn Fredericks if he could begin a wrestling program and it started with eight students and after several weeks of practice they began what has become a fabulous 70-year journey for Bald Eagle wrestling with the first-ever match against East Stroudsburg.

He went on to tell of how he went into the Navy and while stationed at Columbia University, he asked the coach if he could train with the wrestling team. While working out with the Columbia squad, he caught the coach’s eye and was hired as an assistant coach. He later was piloting PT boats in the Navy and was the pilot who took the Japanese emperor to the U.S. vessel for the signing of the surrender in World War II. He said that only in this country is it possible for a “welfare kid” to pilot the emperor of Japan to sign the surrender.

A handsome framed painting of Blake and the six national champions was presented to Mr. Blake. The painting was done by current LHU student Ryan Scaife. Each member of the Hall of Fame in attendance received a poster of the painting.

Check back for a full photo gallery of the event.