Frank Bennett - Washington,Fairlawn & NJWOA
Frank Bennett graduated from West Chester State College in 1936 and earned advanced degrees from Columbia University. He was a successful three sport coach at Fairlawn High School where his Football teams earned a record of 113-80-6 and won State Championships on four occasions 1948,1951,1952 & 1955. He was instrumental in starting wrestling programs at Liberty HS in Pennsylvania in 1928,Washington(Warren Hills)HS in 1936 and Fairlawn HS in 1946. During the period of 1953-58 his Fairlawn teams posted a 52-5 record including a 26 match undefeated streak.He also is credited in developing Washington and Fairlawn's first State Champions. He was also a moving force in the formation of numerous wrestling programs in Bergen County and formed the first wrestling league in that area. After coaching,Frank entered the world of officiating and soon became one of the state's top officials working the state finals for 7 consecutive years as well as numerous college matches. In 1986 he was awarded the Mirshak Award for Officiating and had the Fairlawn gym renamed in his honor.
Dick Matarante - NJWOA
Dick Matarante began his career in wrestling under Hall of Famer,Walter Shalcross at Union High School. Dick had a teaching and coaching career that spanned four schools: St.Aloysisus, Seton Hall Prep, Governor Livingston and Walkill Valley, where he served as Supervisor of Health and Physical Education. Dick coached football,wrestling and baseball on the High School level and was an accomplished official in football. But it was as an official in wrestling that Dick would excel working ten straight NJSIAA State tournament finals as well as the most competitive dual meets throughout the state. Developing and overseeing an outstanding Cadet Officials program Dick helped develop some of New Jersey's finest officials. Dick was honored in 1991 by the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials recieving their National Distinguished Service Award. In 2000 he that same association named him the Official of the Year. Dick was honored by the NJ Wrestling Officials Association by being the first official to ever recieve the Richard C. Mirshak Award for Excellence in Officiating.
