About US
Our
Mission
The purpose of our Alumni Association is to support and educate through the sport of wrestling for life.
Goals
Our
Goals
- Create a self-sustaining alumni association, free from the direct care of the head varsity coach.
- Create a Wrestling Alumni database a network, connecting through social events and social media
- Encourage alumni to connect with today’s wrestlers.
- Establish through savings and corporate sponsorship updates to the Jeff Pickens Wrestling Facility.
- Create an educational program that allows current LakeVille wrestlers and opportunity to job shadow and connect with Alumni in their field or profession.
Our Board
Dan
Erwin
PRESIDENT
Casey
Bentoski
treasurer
Jewell
Colley
secretary
Zach
Young
events coordinator
Dakota
Mathews
media coordinator
Orrin
Woodward
Trustee
Jim
Bailey
Trustee
Dan
Huggler
Ex Officio
Team
History
LakeVille Falcon Wrestling had its start in 1961 under Coach Jerry Wager. Jerry Wager was a member of the 1956 U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestling Team. Coach Wager attended the University of Toledo from 1956 through 1959 and participated in football, boxing, and wrestling. He is an inductee of the University of Toledo Hall of Fame
Wager began his teaching and coaching career at Monroe Catholic Central High School. There he started the school’s first wrestling team and led them to the school’s first state championship. In 1960, LakeVille Community Schools hired him as a high school teacher and wrestling coach. He started the Falcons’ first wrestling team and coached them for one season in 1961. LakeVille graduate and varsity wrestler Larry Peariso ’64 remembers Coach Wager as being a talented wrestler and an outstanding coach. Later, Coach Wager went on to coach the USA World Wrestling Team, where his team won seven consecutive World Championships. In 1977, Jerry and Sheila Wager became the executive director and secretary of the FILA Junior World Wrestling Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 1987, Wager coached the US Greco-Roman team to our nation’s first world championship in this style. Wager was not only an outstanding coach, but is also recognized as a distinguished and highly decorated official. In 1985, he became the first US official to be selected as a Mat Chairman in the Junior World Greco-Roman Championships in Kristiansund, Norway. He has officiated in over 50 major international meets, including the World Championships, Junior World Championships, Pan American Championships, and European Championships.
In 1962 after Coach Wager left, LakeVille’s Don Green took on the role as head wrestling coach for one season. The wrestling program was cancelled thereafter until 1966 when LakeVille alumni, teacher, and coach Darrel Morton reestablished it. Head coaches over the years have been Jerry Wager, Don Green, Darrel Morton, Bernard Keppel, Tony Shunot, Jim Squier, Jim Schabel, Gary Martin, Jeff Pickens, and current head coach Dan Huggler who has been a part of our program for over 20 years.
Wager began his teaching and coaching career at Monroe Catholic Central High School. There he started the school’s first wrestling team and led them to the school’s first state championship. In 1960, LakeVille Community Schools hired him as a high school teacher and wrestling coach. He started the Falcons’ first wrestling team and coached them for one season in 1961. LakeVille graduate and varsity wrestler Larry Peariso ’64 remembers Coach Wager as being a talented wrestler and an outstanding coach. Later, Coach Wager went on to coach the USA World Wrestling Team, where his team won seven consecutive World Championships. In 1977, Jerry and Sheila Wager became the executive director and secretary of the FILA Junior World Wrestling Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
You can view LakeVille’s historic wrestling records by visiting the High School. The record board is located in the hallway near the cafeteria. If you have more information about Falcons wrestling please feel free to contact Coach Huggler at dhuggler@lakevilleschools.org or (810)591-3909
​Distinguished Alumni
Award
This annual award honors wrestling alumni who have achieved a career of noteworthy accomplishment. Those chosen for this prestigious award will be distinguished in his or her chosen business, profession or life’s work and be a person of such integrity, stature, demonstrated ability and commitment to LakeVille wrestling that the faculty, staff, students and alumni of the school and wrestling program will take pride in, and be inspired by, his or her recognition
Award Recipients
