Len Zanowicz
After graduation in 1952 from Mansfield State Len got his first taste of coaching wrestling at Vineland HS under Tony DiTomo before starting the program as Head Coach at Scotch Plains HS. After one year of Club Wrestling Scotch Plains fielded its first Varsity team in 1957 under Len who would retire shortly after to spend more time as Head Coach of both the Football and Baseball teams. Zanowicz returned to wrestling in 1973 to guide Scotch Plains-Fanwood to a 201-77-4 record including four Watchung Conference titles and a District team Championship. Individually his wrestlers would win 21 Union County, 43 District and 10 Regional Championships and 20 qualified for the State Tournament with 4 medal winners. In addition to coaching Len was a region level official and State Sec/Treasurer for the NJWOA, he has been named District Coach of the Year on three occasions and was awarded the Pug Williams Union County Award and is a member of the NJ Coaches Hall of Fame.
Commander George T. Coker USN
The Medal of Courage winner was born in Texas and moved to New Jersey at eight years old where he would star as a wrestler at St. Benedicts Prep School in Newark. As a senior co-captain he would win the State Prep Championship at 142lbs. From 1961-63 he would wrestle at Rutgers where he would enter the Aviation Officers Cadet Program and was commissioned a Navy Ensign in 1963. The Navy would be his career from 1963-1986 and in 1966 the A-6 Intruder he was serving on was shot down over North Vietnam and would spend the next six and a half years in various POW camps including the infamous Hanoi Hilton where he was for nearly three years. Released and returning home in 1973 Coker was promoted to the rank of full Lieutenant and was awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Navy Commendation, two Bronze Stars and the Navy Cross; the highest award given in the Navy. In 1974 he was given the Key to his hometown, Linden and as Director of the Atlantic Fleet Command Center he received the Meritorious Service Award. Retiring from active service with a rank of Commander, George Coker returned to University of San Diego to complete his degree and has spent numerous hours in support groups with ex-POW's.
