Scott to be inducted in PIAA hall
Coleman Scott has crested just about every mountain in wrestling.
He’s been a multi-gold medalist in the PIAA, a national champion in college, an Olympic medalist and a successful coach.
His latest achievement?
Scott is part of this year’s induction class for the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Scott will be inducted with seven others at ceremonies Sunday, April 8, at the Ramada Inn and Convention Center in State College beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Scott won three PIAA titles for Waynesburg High School and compiled a 156-12 varsity record. He was a four-time All-American at Oklahoma State University, and became an NCAA champion in 2008 by winning the 133-pound title with a dramatic pin of Iowa’s Joey Staton.
Scott made the U.S. team four times and won a bronze medal at 60 kg (132 pounds) in the 2012 London Olympics. To qualify for the Olympics, Scott had to participate in a wrestleoff for the last U.S. spot on the Olympic team at an event in New York City called “The Grapple in the Apple.” Scott defeated Reece Humphrey in Times Square.
After pulling back from competitive wrestling, Scott went into coaching and landed as an assistant at North Carolina in 2014. Two years later, he became the Tar Heels’ sixth head coach in the history of the program.
Joining Scott in the induction class are:
- Mark Banks, a District 3 wrestler who competed for two high schools – York Suburban and York Vo Tech – and won a title for the latter in 1986.
- Chris Como, who wrestled and coached at Burrell High School. Como is most known for his coaching success, 141-43 record, four WPIAL titles, a state team title in 2008 and four individual state gold medalists.
- Keith Gavin, a two-time PIAA champion at Lackawanna Trail High School and NCAA champion at Pitt.
- Jake Herbert, a state champion at North Allegheny High School, two-time NCAA champion at Northwestern University and a member of the U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team in 2012.
- Ken “Foxy” Moyer, a state champion from Bellefonte High School. He lost to Manuel Pihakis from Canonsburg in the 95-pound finals in 1950.
- Evan Sola, a two-time PIAA champion from Conrad Weiser High School and two-time NCAA All-American at North Carolina.
- Mike Shingara, a three-time PIAA champion from Line Mountain High School.
Three major rule changes
The National Federation of High Schools approved three significant rule changes.
A pin can now take place outside the out-of-bound lines on the mat. The move makes the pinning requirements similar to the college rules.
The NFHS also banned the straight-back salto and suplay moves that are used in sports such as mixed martial arts.
The straight-back salto and suplay occur when an offensive wrestler has his arms around the waist of the defensive wrestler, then takes him to the mat in a backward motion.
Finally, wrestlers can now wear a two-piece uniform under certain specifications.
Compression shorts or shorts designed for wrestling can be worn along with a form-fitted compression shirt. Wrestlers do not have to wear the same style but must have uniforms OK’d by the high school.
Incredibly, the NFHS still does not require numbers on the uniform.