Class of 2006
Cicero-North Syracuse Northstars, North Syracuse
Ron Roch graduated from Carthage High School in 1948, lettering in football and baseball. At that time, Carthage did not have a wrestling program. After serving in the Air Force, Ron enrolled in college wher ehis wrestling career began.
It was 1955, as a freshman on the Ithaca College wrestling team when Ron realized wrestling was going to play a big part in his life. In 1959, Ron graduated from Ithaca with a degree in Physical Education. He lettered in wrestling, soccer, and track.
Ron has spent 40 years coaching, officiating, organizing, and promoting the sport of wrestling. He coached four different high school wrestling teams (Watertown, North Syracuse, Carthage, and South Lewis). He was a huge promoter of Pee Wee Wrestling, starting the Pee Wee wrestling program and summer wrestling tournaments in the North Syracuse school district. He was involved with state and local officals organizations, holding several offices throughout his career. He was names the first Secretary for the New York State Wrestling Officials Association and worked as an Eastern NCAA Wrestling offical for fifteen years.
Ron officiated high school and college wrestling, as well as soccer and baseball. He coached high school baseball, softball, and soccer. However, he wil be best remembered for his dedication and involvement in the sport of wrestling. He was determined throughout his career to give his all to his students, wrestlers, and fellow officials.
His career coaching highlights include an impressive 338 dual meet coaching victories. He coached 26 Section III Individual Class Champions, nine Individual Setcion III Champions, and eight New York State place-winners. He guided North Syracuse to a league championship in 1987, earning Coach of the Year honors the same year. His 1991 Carthage squad captured the Section III Class B Championship. Ron started the Bill Andersen Memorial Tournament in 1970, a year after senior wrestler Bill Andersen won the sectional championship and died in a car accident 2 weeks after the state tournament. He was inducted into the New York State Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1997, and in 2006 he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, OK.
