1970-1979: All-Decade Team

Ed (l) and Lou (r) Banach were NYS Champions and went on to become NCAA and Olympic champions. Steve (c) was also a NYS place winner and a D1 college wrestler.

OK here we go with our 1970’s All-Decade Team! Just a few notes… As we all know, weight classes change occasionally so I will use the weight classes that were most common during the decade. For the 1970’s, the weight classes were basically the same from 1971 through 1979 however the 91 pound weight class was added in 1976 so I have included that as well. Also, I will not use the same wrestler in two different All-Decade Teams. For example, Paul Ciccone from Suffern took 2nd in NYS in 1970 and could have definitely been considered for the 1970’s Team; however he also won three S9 titles from ’67-’69 and was selected for the 1960’s Team. Enjoy!

1970’s All-Decade Team

91 – Bruce Chase (Port Jervis)
98 – Paul Margolies (Tappan Zee)
105 – Paul Pietropoalo (Nanuet)
112 – Joe Goldsmith (Ramapo)
119 – Ruben Solero (Middletown)
126 – Steve Silverberg (Ramapo)
132 – Paul Georgeades (Nanuet)
138 – Mike Harris (Newburgh)
145 – Kevin Troche (Port Jervis)
155 – Jim Horvath (Ramapo)
167 – Ed Banach (Port Jervis)
177 – Lou Banach (Port Jervis)
215 – Steve Bello (Tappan Zee)
250 – Scott Ketchum (Tappan Zee)

1970-1979 Year-By-Year Section 9 Champions

1970
98 Jim Tiso (Newburgh, 10)
107 Steve Saul (Port Jervis, 10)
115 Mike Zehier (Washingtonville, 12)
123 Pete Nekos (Rondout Valley, 12)
130 Bruce Barr (Newburgh, 12)
137 Lou Conway (Pearl River, 11) – 3rd NYS
145 Dodd Wester (Minisink Valley, 12)
155 Ted Lewis (Liberty, 12)
165 Paul Farsetta (Pearl River, 11) – 3rd NYS
175 Dickie Lusso (Pearl River, 12)
185 Dan Simmons (Port Jervis, 11)
215 Paul Ciccone (Suffern, 12) – 2nd NYS
250 Peter Wolters (Nanuet, 12)

1971
98 Don Brennan (Clarkstown, 12)
105 Joe Goldsmith (Ramapo, 11) – NYS Champion
112 Steve Saul (Port Jervis, 11)
119 Ruben Solero (Middletown, 11) – 2nd NYS
126 Bob Woods (Suffern, 12)
132 Todd Farrison (Suffern, 12)
138 Lou Conway (Pearl River, 12)
145 Dave Hauser (Ramapo, 11)
155 Jim Horvath (Ramapo, 11) – 3rd NYS
167 Paul Farsetta (Pearl River, 12)
177 Jim Hohman (Pearl River, 12) – 2nd NYS
215 Dan Simmons (Port Jervis, 12)
250 Larry O’Neill (Clarkstown, 12)

1972
98 Bob Scalfani (Valley Central, 12)
105 Frank Rodriguez (Nanuet, 10)
112 Joe Goldsmith (Ramapo, 12) – NYS Champion
119 Jim Tiso (Newburgh, 12) – 4th NYS

126 Ruben Solero (Middletown, 12)
132 Joe Raimondi (Valley Central, 12)
138 John Langling (Onteora, 12)
145 Dave Hauser (Ramapo, 12)
155 Willie Manning (Ramapo, 12) – 2nd NYS
167 Jim Horvath (Ramapo, 12) – NYS Champion
177 Vince Schmidt (Newburgh, 12)
215 Chuck Conway (Monticello, 12)
250 Paul Schwartz (Nyack, 12)

1973
98 Paul Pietropoalo (Nanuet, 9)
105 Bill Allison (Pearl River, 12)
112 Steve Silverberg (Ramapo, 10)
119 Tony Marciano (Ramapo, 12)
126 Steve Braun (Tappan Zee, 12)
132 Dave DeSimone (Suffern, 12)
138 Viggo Worum (Ramapo, 12) – 4th NYS
145 Bob Woods (Suffern, 12)
155 Dennis Edwards (Suffern, 12)
167 Chuck Maze (North Rockland, 12)
177 James Johnson (Monroe Woodbury, 12) – 3rd NYS
215 Steve Bello (Tappan Zee, 10)
250 Tom Donnelly (Suffern, 12)

1974
98 Paul Pietropoalo (Nanuet, 10)
105 Mark Scott (Cornwall, 12)
112 Joe Calantjis (Suffern, 12)
119 Frank Rodriguez (Ramapo, 12) – 3rd NYS
126 Paul Georgeades (Nanuet, 11)
132 Bob Besette (Pearl River, 12)
138 Mike Harris (Newburgh, 11) – 3rd NYS
145 Rick DePaolo (Minisink Valley, 11)
155 Jim Habel (Tappan Zee, 12)
167 Brian Gannon (North Rockland, 12)
177 Bill Cooper (Minisink Valley, 12) – 6th NYS
215 Steve Bello (Tappan Zee, 11) – 6th NYS
250 Jim Murray (Pearl River, 12) – 3rd NYS

1975 – The only Section 9 team to finish 1st at the NYS Tournament!
98 Kevin Keenan (Pearl River, 12)
105 Paul Pietropoalo (Nanuet, 11) – 2nd NYS
112 Rick Gruskin (Ramapo, 12) – 4th NYS

119 Tom Lynn (Pearl River, 12)
126 Steve Silverberg (Ramapo, 12) – NYS Champion
132 Paul Georgeades (Nanuet, 12) – NYS Champion
138 Mike Harris (Newburgh, 12) – 3rd NYS
145 Wayne Carroll (Goshen, 12) – 5th NYS
155 Rick DiPaolo (Minisink Valley, 12) – 6th NYS
167 Cliff Moore (Monticello, 12) – 6th NYS
177 Butch Fasano (North Rockland, 12) – 6th NYS
215 Steve Bello (Tappan Zee, 12) – 3rd NYS
250 Scott Ketchum (Clarkstown South, 12) – NYS Champion

1976
91 Dean Ferrogari (Nanuet, 12)
98 Paul Margolies (Tappan Zee, 11) – 4th NYS
105 Gene Andrews (Cornwall,11)
112 Paul Pietropoalo (Nanuet, 12) – 4th NYS
119 Paul Jacobellis (Tappan Zee, 12)
126 Bill Oliveto (Suffern, 12)
132 Jerry Klein (North Rockland, 12) – 3rd NYS
138 Todd Sumter (Monroe Woodbury, 11)
145 Steve Nevins (Tappan Zee, 12)
155 Bob Nolan (Liberty, 12)
167 Ed Banach (Port Jervis, 10) – 5th NYS
177 Ernie Jackson (Port Jervis, 12) – 6th NYS

215 Tom Losey (Goshen, 11)
250 Ed Hannon (Nanuet, 12)

1977 – Port Jervis Wins the Team Title at the State Tournament
91 Barry Chase (Port Jervis, 12) – 6th NYS
98 Paul Margolies (Tappan Zee, 12) – 5th NYS
105 Eugene Andrews (Cornwall, 12) – 6th NYS

112 Eric Savacool (Port Jervis, 10)
119 Bob Hirt (Tappan Zee, 12)
126 Jay Jacobellis (Tappan Zee, 12)
132 Matt Roth (Nanuet, 12) – 2nd NYS
138 Gary Avdoyan (Tappan Zee, 12) – 5th NYS

145 Todd Sumter (Monroe Woodbury, 12)
155 Ed Banach (Port Jervis, 11) – 2nd NYS
167 Steve Banach (Port Jervis, 12) – 5th NYS
177 Lou Banach (Port Jervis, 11) – NYS Champion
215 Tom Losey (Goshen, 12) – 6th NYS

250 Pete McNally (Suffern, 12)

1978 – Port Jervis Wins the Team Title at the State Tournament
91 Bruce Chase (Port Jervis, 12) – 5th NYS

98 Andy Silverberg (Ramapo, 12)
105 Bill White (Suffern, 10)
112 John Lynch (Clarkstown North, 12)
119 Hank Renella (Clarkstown North, 12)
126 Dan DeSimone (Suffern, 12)
132 Dennis Walsh (Suffern, 12) – 6th NYS
138 Kevin Troche (Port Jervis, 10) – 2nd NYS

145 Ron Simonson (Port Jervis, 12)
155 Dave Avdoyan (Tappan Zee, 11)
167 Ed Banach (Port Jervis, 12) – NYS Champion
177 Lou Banach (Port Jervis, 12) – 3rd NYS

215 Bob Masters (Port Jervis, 11)
250 Charles Valois (Clarkstown South, 12) – 6th NYS

1979
91 Bryan Keys (Port Jervis, 10)
98 John Halligan (Tappan Zee, 12) – 6th NYS
105 Mike Parietti (Suffern, 12) – 5th NYS
112 Rich Finnen (Suffern, 12) – 5th NYS

119 Tom Pirnie (Tappan Zee, 12)
126 Bill White (Suffern, 11) – 5th NYS
132 Eric Savacool (Port Jervis, 12) – 6th NYS

138 Phillipe Monrougie (Clarkstown South, 12)
145 Kevin Troche (Port Jervis, 11) – 5th NYS
155 Dave Avdoyan (Tappan Zee, 12) – 5th NYS
167 Bill Brundage (Pearl River, 12) – 5th NYS
177 Todd Giles (Ramapo, 11) – 6th NYS

215 Bob Masters (Port Jervis, 12)
250 Carmen Bloise (Nanuet, 12)

9 thoughts on “1970-1979: All-Decade Team”

    1. When I think about the conditions Ramapo had to practice under and how well they did, it still amazes me. Maning, Silverbergs, Horvath and Goldsmith to name a few . Nobody understood wrestling more than their coach, former Suffren and Auburn wrestler and friend. Hope all is well, Al

  1. Any chance you have records on the top 4 finishers for the section tournaments from the 60’s, 70’s, and eighties? I am a coach at Clarkstown North doing some research on place finishers and my records are incomplete for those years. I’d love to get any top 4 for Clarkstown and Clarkstown North.

    1. Clarkstown South. He lost to Bello in the dual meet and moved up to unlimited. Steve took third in a weight class won by Jeff Blatnik, Olympic gold medal winner Greco Roman 1984. It was Steve’s their trip to the states. O that TZ team was also Tom Braun, 1973 section nine champ at 126, he missed the 1974 season and in 75 lost to Paul Georgeades who won the 126 pound class in his absence, and was a NYS champ at 134.

  2. My dad Kevin keenan was on the ‘75 team! He passed away a few years ago so it’s always great to come by stuff like this, very cool!!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *