Click here to subscribe today or Login.
WILKES-BARRE – Dave Ellis won’t forget the moment.
He received a phone call that he, along with Jim Geiger, would make up the Class of 2016 entering the Meyers High School Wrestling Hall of Fame.
A few simple words, and the memories they conjured up.
“You go through a lot of emotions,” Ellis said earlier this week. “All the memories are re-lived, even the scores of the elimination bouts. Mostly, you remember the kindness of family, classmates, teammates and fans.”
Ellis and Geiger will both be inducted into the Hall of Fame tonight prior to the Mohawks’ match against Scranton. They will be the 34th and 35th members of the hall.
“I am so thankful for the opportunity to be selected, and to be part of the great history in Meyers wrestling,” Geiger said. “I was surprised, but I am also thankful that people thought that highly of myself to be included in the hall with some outstanding people.”
Ellis, a two-time district champ who graduated in the early 70’s from Meyers, also won the Hooper Award in 1972. At the time, he was only the third Mohawk to receive the honor.
Ellis attended Wilkes after his days as a Mohawk to wrestle for legendary coach John Reese and had a highly-successful freshman season. It was the only year Ellis wrestled, as a facial injury cut short his collegiate career.
“I can’t help but think of all the events and all the caring people I’ve come across,” Ellis said. “The common denominator is love. I think of my mom with all the special meals she made and her worry when I stepped on the mat. I also think of my coaches and the advice they have given me. Those words had such an impact. I don’t know if coaches realize the life-long impact they have.”
Geiger wasn’t too bad himself. He was a four-time district place-winner, three-time regional place-winner and two-time state qualifier. After graduating from Meyers in the late 90’s, Geiger went on to continue his career at King’s.
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget the advice I’ve received from my coaches. They always encouraged me and pushed me to succeed in life,” Geiger said. “(Former Meyers coach) Dave Kuhl was a great person. He was a big part of my life, and someone that I looked up to. He was a great role model.”
Yes, there are specific memories.
Geiger won’t forget participating in the state’s first-ever team championships in 1999 where the Mohawks faced off with Wyalusing.
“We had a nice team,” Geiger said. “We had four district champs on the roster. It was an honor that our team was able to wrestle in the first team championship. We beat Lehman twice that year, which was a big accomplishment for our program.”
For Ellis, he’ll never forget the momentum he built at Meyers that transferred over to his lone season at Wilkes.
“I had a streak of 30 wins at one point,” Ellis said. “I’ll never forget that January night in 1973 where we faced Navy. The announcer didn’t even know who we were. He announced us as Wilkes-Barre College. As a freshman, I was able to break the lineup at 134 pounds. I was able to beat my opponent, 8-1, that night and Wilkes defeated Navy. That season, Wilkes won 16 matches and only lost two.”
Tonight’s ceremony is slated to start to 6:30 p.m. with the match to follow at 7 p.m.