Founded in 1920, Phoenix College is one of the oldest community colleges in the United States. The Bears throughout the years have been very successful in athletics winning NJCAA titles in seven different sports, five of which the school has since discontinued. Wrestling being one of those five sports, the others are Men's Track & Field (NJCAA champs in 1964, 1965 & 1966), Men's Golf (NJCAA champs in 1964), Women's Cross Country (NJCAA champs in 1985) & Women's Archery (NJCAA Champs in 1933, 1934, 1980).
Wrestling was started at Phoenix College by the late Ronald "Tune" Eastin during the the 1962-1963 season. Winning NJCAA titles in 1968 & 1969, the Bears finished in the top 10 at the NJCAA tournament in eighteen of what was twenty-four seasons on the mat. Phoenix College wrestling came to an end after the 1986-1987 season. Another interesting fact concerning Eastin is that he founded the Fiesta Bowl.
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| Gil Lilienthal HWT |
Lilienthal came to Phoenix College all the way from New York where in 1962 he was the Section IX runner-up for West Islip High School. Competing for the Bears, Lilienthal won a NJCAA title in 1965. While at Phoenix College, he was also a member of the football team.
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