Last week, National Wrestling Hall of Famer Steve Powell announced his retirement after 32 seasons as the head coach Easton and 40 years on staff. Powell is on any shortlist of greatest high school coaches of all time, going 534-126 in dual meets, winning 8 state titles (4 dual/4 individual tournament), finishing in the top 5 at the state tournament 18 times in 32 seasons, finishing ranked in the top 10 nationally eight times and the #1 public school in the country in 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2002, coaching 19 state champions, 19 Division I All Americans, and two two-time NCAA champions.
I bring this up here because I always like to point out the crossover between football and other sports, and Easton football benefitted greatly from Powell. I'd say most Easton offensive and defensive linemen have some sort of wrestling background in any given year. He's also had a ton of standouts in both sports in his 32 years, led by
Kevin Benton (All State running back/5th in Pa at 185/Bloomsburg football)
Joey Jones (All EPC offensive tackle/NE Regional Champ at 275/Toledo football)
Eric Thompson (All State running back/3rd in Pa 160)
John Piergallini (All EPC linebacker/tight end/3rd in Pa at 275/Hofstra wrestling)
Ryan Kilpatrick (All EPC safety/3rd in Pa at 160/Virginia Tech wrestling)
Marcus Millen (All State linebacker/5th in Pa at 215/Army football)
Jason Groller (All State linebacker/2x NE Regional Champ at 275/DII All American Shippensburg wrestling)
Zack Pizarro (All State linebacker/NE Regional Champ at 189/NC State wrestling - transfer to Wilkes - DIII All American)
Tyler Greene (All State defensive lineman/3rd in Pa at 182/Bucknell wrestling)
The connection between the two programs has been beneficial to both and I hope it continues in the new regime, whomever gets the job.
I bring this up here because I always like to point out the crossover between football and other sports, and Easton football benefitted greatly from Powell. I'd say most Easton offensive and defensive linemen have some sort of wrestling background in any given year. He's also had a ton of standouts in both sports in his 32 years, led by
Kevin Benton (All State running back/5th in Pa at 185/Bloomsburg football)
Joey Jones (All EPC offensive tackle/NE Regional Champ at 275/Toledo football)
Eric Thompson (All State running back/3rd in Pa 160)
John Piergallini (All EPC linebacker/tight end/3rd in Pa at 275/Hofstra wrestling)
Ryan Kilpatrick (All EPC safety/3rd in Pa at 160/Virginia Tech wrestling)
Marcus Millen (All State linebacker/5th in Pa at 215/Army football)
Jason Groller (All State linebacker/2x NE Regional Champ at 275/DII All American Shippensburg wrestling)
Zack Pizarro (All State linebacker/NE Regional Champ at 189/NC State wrestling - transfer to Wilkes - DIII All American)
Tyler Greene (All State defensive lineman/3rd in Pa at 182/Bucknell wrestling)
The connection between the two programs has been beneficial to both and I hope it continues in the new regime, whomever gets the job.
