Saturday, January 27, 2007
The ceremony will take place at the league tournament at Fitch High.
The Eastern Ohio Wrestling League will induct its hall of fame class at the league tournament Feb. 3.
The tournament will be hosted by Fitch High School. This year's inductees are Ken Christello of Brookfield, Mike Glass of Girard, John Hahn of Minerva, Carl Hoppel of Beaver Local, David Pleggi of Salem, David Preston of Warren Harding and Jim Stitle of West Branch.
Christello (1974-77) compiled a 77-19-1 record and was Brookfield's first state champion, winning the 1977 Class AA heavyweight championship. He attended Miami (Ohio) and graduated in 1982 with a teaching degree. He is employed as an industrial technology teacher at Milton Union Schools in Eaton, Ohio.
Stitle (1973-76) was a three-year letterwinner and compiled a career record of 80-14-1. He was a three-time sectional champ, two-time district champ, a three-time state qualifier and a two-time state place winner. He won the 155-pound state championship in 1976. Stitle attended Bowling Green and has served as an official for 12 years and headed the West Branch youth program.
Preston was a three-year letterwinner at Warren Harding and team captain on two undefeated teams (1978-79). He was a two-time state qualifier and placed fifth in the state in 1978 at 185. Preston later played football at West Virginia and resides in Howland.
Glass (1984-87), a four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain, was Girard's first district champion and first regional champion. He was the first wrestler at Girard to win 100 matches, compiling a 104-32 career record. Mike was a two-time EOWL champion, two-time Ursuline Invitational champion, a three-time Everett Hoppel tournament champion, and a three-time Jackson-Milton champion. He was ranked No. 1 in the state his senior year. He has coached the sport for 19 years and is a volunteer at Girard.
Pleggi was a member of Salem's first wrestling team and graduated in 1970. He then coached at the school for the next 32 years, most of those as an unpaid volunteer assistant. Pleggi coached many of Salem's top wrestlers, including state champion and EOWL Hall of Fame member Kirk Lowdermilk. He is the first assistant coach to be inducted into the EOWL Hall of Fame.
Biographies of Hoppel and Hahn were not provided.