Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Lebanon Valley

Located in the small southeastern Pennsylvania community of Annville, Lebanon Valley makes up about half of the town's population. A Division III school, the Flying Dutchmen have had success in various athletics throughout the years.  Competing in the ECAC (Eastern Collegiate Athletic conference), the Commonwealth Conference & the MAC (Middle Atlantic conference) Lebanon Valley has won team titles in Men's basketball, football, Men's Tennis, Women's basketball, Women's Field hockey, softball, Women's Tennis, Women's Track & Field and Women's Volleyball.  Men's basketball even won the the NCAA Division III title in 1994.  So as you can see, the Flying Dutchmen have a great history in athletics. 

One of the teams that was quite successful in it's own right & brought home a lot of honors was the men's wrestling team that was discontinued after the 1999-2000 season.  Today we take a look at some of the best wrestlers in Flying Dutchmen history. 

Steve Sanko
190 lbs 

Sanko was a NCAA Division III All American in 1975 earning a fifth place finish.  Post college he became a gynecologist. 

Rich Kichman
177 lbs 

A three time MAC runner up for the Flying Dutchmen, Kichman took fourth place honors at the 1986 NCAA Division III championships. 

John Truscello
190 lbs 

Truscello earned NCAA Division III All American honors with a sixth place finish in 1977. 

Gary Reesor
126 lbs 

Gary Reesor was a three time MAC champion for the Flying Dutchmen earning 117 victories, 62 of which came via fall.  He placed eighth at the 1983 NCAA Division III championships. 

Dave Mahler

Mahler was the first NCAA qualifier for the Dutchmen in 1965.  He was also very competitive on the Flying Dutchmen's track & field team, throwing the Pole Vault. 

Joe Howe
190 lbs 

Joe Howe won a MAC title for the Blue & White in 1996.  He later became head financial advisor at Ephrata National Bank. 

Paul Pritcher
190 lbs 

A 1979 MAC finalist, Pritcher later became a Fire Commissioner. 

Mike LaPorta
142 lbs 

After earning MAC runner-up honors in 1982,  Mike LaPorta later became head coach at Muhlenberg College.  His son wrestled for King's College.  

Ted Kemmerling
150, 157 lbs 

A two time MAC champion, Kemmerling twice earned NCAA Division III All American honors for the Flying Dutchmen.  In 1998 he lost a pigtail match & worked his way through the consolations to a fourth place finish.  In 1999 he made the NCAA Division III finals.