Coach Wiser Inducted Into The Centre County Sports Hall Of Fame

on 23 October, 2023 at 19:06

Above photo courtesy of Tom Elling (Tom’s Wrestling Page, Pennsylvania Wrestling News) – Coach Wiser with Centre County Sports Hall of Fame president Keith Bierly

Former Clarion Area Bobcat and Central Clarion Wildcat football coach, and Clarion Area wrestling coach Larry Wiser received has received a very outstanding honor, as he was inducted into the Centre County Sports Hall of Fame along with ten others, in an Induction Ceremony, at the 6th Annual Honors Banquet on Sunday afternoon, October 22nd at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, in State College. Coach Wiser was selected in both Football and Wrestling.

Along with Coach Wiser, the Class of 2023 includes: Gawen Stoker (deceased) – Football, Coach Wiser’s Bald Eagle Area Coach, Founder of the Lezzer Lumber Classic, and his good friend; Anne Lambert Infield (deceased) – Legend, who taught and coached at State College High School for years, was originally from St. Marys; Jon Condo – Football, Wrestling and Baseball (NFL player); Dave Breon – Softball; Eric Brugel – Wrestling; Josh Hall – Football and Baseball (NFL player); Kelly Kephart Rees – Golf and Volleyball; Doug Taylor – Wrestling; Kenny Walker – Wrestling and Football and Ron Pavlechko (deceased) – Football.

**Above photos courtesy Centre County Sports Hall of Fame.**

With forty-eight members so far, the eleven members of the Class of 2023 brings the Hall of Fame’s total membership to fifty-nine, including Coach Wiser’s brother Steve, who was inducted in 2019.

This year’s Class will join the other members on Centre County Hall of Fame board which is displayed on the first base side at Medlar Field (home of the State College Spikes and host to the PIAA Baseball Championships).

**Courtesy of Centre County Sports Hall of Fame – Display at Medlar Field which will include the 2023 inductees.**

Some of Coach Wiser’s career highlights:

Coach Wiser, a member of both the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) and the Central Pennsylvania Football Coaches (CPFCA) Halls of Fame, had 233 wins with the Bobcats and another five with the Wildcats.

He began teaching history and coaching at Clarion Area in 1973. Some of his other positions during his tenure include, assistant and then head wrestling coach, Athletic Director and drivers’ ed instructor. He was a major thrust in bringing about the Central Clarion Wildcats and coached them in their inaugural season, in 2020.

Coach Wiser had 217 wins as a head coach with the Bobcats, while they were in the Little 7-12/KSAC, most of any coach in that conference’s history, which began in 1951. His 233 wins with the Bobcats program, which dates back to 1927, are the most in school history. Coach Wiser’s 238 total career wins are number two all-time in District Nine.

**Centre County Sports Hall of Fame** **– Special Congratulation ad in the program from Coach Wiser’s Bald Eagle Area Teammates.**

He also spent a number of years as an assistant coach, as well as teaching, coaching as an assistant and head wrestling coach, being an athletic director and more. Coach Wiser is currently North Clarion’s Athletic Director, and also does some teaching there. He is currently color commentator, working along play-by-play announcer Chris Rossetti, on the YDL Sports Network broadcasts.

The former Clarion Area Football Field was named “Wiser Field” in Coach Wiser’s honor, in a pregame ceremony, before the Wildcats’ 2023 home opener with Port Allegany on Friday, September 1st.

Coach Wiser played football and wrestled at Bald Eagle High School, graduating in 1968, and wrestled at Clarion State College.

**Photo Courtesy of Annie Wiser –** Centre County Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2023 – Front Row (L-R): Jack Infield (representing his late wife Ann Infield), Eric Brugel, Kelly Kephart-Rees, Doug Taylor, Dave Breon. Back: Tim Pavlechko (for his late father Ron Pavlechko), Pat Stoker (for her late husband Gawen Stoker), Josh Hull, Kenny Walker, Jon Condo, Larry Wiser.

The Honors Ceremony was proceeded by a Social Time at Noon, where the inductees and family and friends could gather around memorabilia tables, with special artifacts from the inductees’ stellar careers on display.

The contingent at Coach Wiser’s Memorabilia Display: Mark Wiser (former player), Rich Martin (former Booster President), Mark Whisner former player and assistant coach, Norm Anderson (Brother-in-Law), Keith Chernicky (former player), Ryan Wiser (Son), Larry Wiser, Annie Wiser (Wife) Rich Wiser cousin, Dave McClaine (Clarion Sports Zone), Steve Wiser (Brother), Bob Wiser (Cousin), Pam Wiser (Sister-in-Law) Missing: Ron Bracken (former Centre Valley Daily Times sports editor, Bald Eagle Area wrestler and football player, CCSHOF member, National Wrestling HOF [Lifetime Service to Wrestling]).

The program began with introductions of the Class of 2023, by Jeff Byers, as they were escorted in to the banquet room. Coach Wiser was escorted by Steve Wiser.

**Photo courtesy of Tom Elling (Tom’s Wrestling Page) – Jeff Byers at the podium**

Next the gathering, of approximately 350 attendees, was welcomed by Keith Byerly CCSHOF President Keith Byerly.

**A portion of the attendees at the 2023 CCSHOF Ceremony.**

Then the crowd rose for the singing of the National Anthem. And, in what has become a tradition, Special Needs individual, Brooke Fisher, as she has done since the Hall’s inception, sang the “Star Spangled Banner.” Very patriotic and very touching in more ways than one; hard to keep a dry eye.

**Photo courtesy Tom Elling (Tom’s Wrestling Page and Pennsylvania Wrestling News) Brooke Fisher singing the National Anthem.**

The Invocation and Blessing for the meal was given by Connie Lucas.

Before the tables were released for Lunch, Tina Powers, Treasurer of the Centre County Sports Hall of Fame, introduced this years’ scholarship recipients.

One male and one female athlete from each of Centre County’s six high schools, Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte, Penns Valley, Philipsburg-Osceola, State College and St. Joseph’s, are chosen to receive the scholarship. The award includes a check in the amount of $1,000 each, which is presented to each recipient at the end of the school year.

The 2023 recipients include: Ethan Chicko and Sara Thompson – Bald Eagle Area; Logan Williams and Madison Melius – Bellefonte; Cedar Kimler and Margaret Delaney – Penns Valley; Jacob DiSimone and Paige Rishel – Philipsburg-Osceola; Steven Courtis and Marlee Kwasnica – State College; and Timothy and Brandi Carmack – St. Joseph’s.

Then it was time for a scrumptious buffet.

**Wonderful spread at the buffet table.**

After the meal, it was time for the inductions. Byers introduced each member of the Class of 2023 and a video for each, where they shared about their careers and the honor of being inducted. Various photos, news clippings, etc. were also include on the videos. Family members of deceased inductees shared on their videos.

After the video was shown, the inductee was presented with their plaque by

**Photo courtesy of Joe Wolfe – Family Affair: (With Larry and Annie) Norm Anderson and Vera Anderson (brother in law, sister in law), Pam Wiser, Steve Wiser (sister-in-law and brother).**

The presentations were followed by Centre County Sports Hall of Fame Vice President sharing words about the hall, and asking folks to join the organization and nominate individuals for future induction.

The 1973 State College Team was then recognized, with a highlight video being shown. That team was recognized as the State Champion. There were a number of members of that team in attendance. They were asked to stand as they received a nice round of applause.

Mason shared some closing thoughts and then dismissed the gathering.

Coach Wiser shared this after the ceremony, “Wow! I don’t know how to describe it. You sit there and see all these people who are being inducted around you, and you’re like Geez. You look at what they’ve done and ‘Do I deserve to be here?’

**Photo courtesy of Joe Wolf – Ryan checking out his Dad’s memorabilia display.**

“I’d like to think that a lot of people have got me to where I’ve gotten here today. Starting with my dad, I’ve got to say his love of sports… my brother and I grew up around the excitement of watching football games with him and then obviously watching (my dad) coach. Later on he became an administrator, but also stayed on as kind of our summer baseball Teener League and Legion baseball coach.

“To be in this with several of my friends, coaches and so forth, it’s just something else.

**Photo courtesy of Joe Wolf – Larry and Annie.**

“To best describe the journey, this honor… a lot of people I’ve worked with, a lot of my fraternity brothers (they did an ad). It was so neat to be remembered by people who have given of their life. The people coming here today… I appreciate the people who came down here from Clarion and supported me here today.”

Congratulations to Coach Wiser and the other inductees, the scholarship recipients, and to all of those involved in bringing this wonderful event about!!!!

(Thank you to Tom Elling [Tom’s Wrestling Page and Pennsylvania Wrestling News], Joe Wolf,

Annie Wiser and the Centre County Sports Hall of Fame for photos used in this article!!)

Also, special thanks to Chris Rossetti from YDL Sports Network/D9and10Sports.com as we have shared and fact checked each other for information on this and other articles we have done.

Link to Chris’ article on Coach Wiser’s induction

https://d9and10sports.com/larry-wise-inducted-into-centre-county-sports-hall-of-fame/