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District IV Wrestling Coaches Association To Induct 7 New Members Into Hall Of Fame
By: Frank Dimon | PIAA District IV | February 17, 2025
The District 4 Wrestling Coaches Association will induct seven new members into its Hall of Fame before the finals of the district's Class 2A and 3A finals at Williamsport High School on Saturday night.
The Class of 2025 will include Dana Balum (Muncy), David White (Athens), Donnie Cimino (Shikellamy), John Fogarty (Central Columbia), Marc Longenhagen (Southern Columbia), Mark Permattei (Line Mountain and Middleburg), and Tim Ritter (Selinsgrove).
Balum, a 1967 graduate of Muncy, forged a 65-10-5 record for the Indians. He was a two-time East-Central sectional champion, a two-time District 4 champion, a Northeast Regional runner-up his junior season and was a Northeast Regional champion his senior year. As a co-captain for the Indians he helped lead Muncy to a perfect 14-0 record and the West Branch League championship. He finished his senior season as the PIAA runner-up, losing a 5-1 decision to BallEagle Nittany's Barry Daniels in the final.
Balum won three letters at Penn State while compiling a 39-18-5 record for the Nittany Lions. He capped his final two seasons by qualifying for the NCAA tournament.
He later coached at Wilkes-Barre Coughlin for 35 years where his teams compiled a 461-185-1 record while winning 8 Wyoming Valley League championships and ten District 2 titles.
White, a 2010 graduate of Athens, was a 4-year starter and became the school's all-time win leader with 163 victories. He was a 4-time North Sectional champion, a 3-time District 4 champion, a Northeast Regional champion and a 3-time state qualifier, finishing 7th and 5th before capping his senior season with a 5-3 win over Randy Cruz of Bethlehem Catholic in the 112-pound final.
Wrestling at Binghamton University, White was a 2-time EIWA placewinner and qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2014.
Cimino was a member of Shikellamy's 1984 state championship team, competing for coaches Phil Lockhuff and Rob Johnson. After attending Bloomsburg University, Cimino returned and coached in the Braves junior high program for more than 30 years. Those teams forged a 344-172 record, winning a pair of Big 7 League tournaments while finishing as the runner-up 5 times.
Cimino helped coach wrestlers who won 98 District 4 championships, 8 regional championships, and had ten PIAA placewinners plus 10 members of the Braves' 100-win club.
Fogarty, a 1995 graduate of Central Columbia, had a 116-14 career mark, was a 4-time finalist and 3-time champion at the East Sectional tournament, a 2-time District 4 champion, a 2-time Northeast Regional champion. At the PIAA tournament Fogarty finished 3rd as a junior and as the runner-up his senior season.
At Cornell University Fogarty was a 4-year starter, a 3-time Ivy League champion, was a Collegiate New York State champion, and placed 3rd in the EIWA tournament and was an NCAA tournament qualifier.
Longenhagen, a 1979 graduate of Catasauqua, was a 2-time District 11 East Sectional champion and a 2-time Colonial League runner-up. After wrestling at Kutztown University, Longehhagen coached more than 30 years at Southern Columbia, primarily at the junior high level. From 2013 through 2019 his teams went 71-1 including a streak of 59 consecutive wins.
Longenhagen guided 7 PJW champions and 17 placewinners, 8 PIAA champions and 43 PIAA placewinners. He was named the District 4 junior high coach of the year 3 times and named the PIAA junior high coach of the year 2 times.
Piermattei amassed a 127-32 career record during his high school career. He was a 3-time South Sectional champion, a District 4 champion, and a Northeast Regional champion. At the PIAA tournament he was 3-time PIAA medalist, finishing 6th and 5th for LIne Mountain and 4th for Middleburg.
At Bloomsburg University, Piermattei was a 4-year starter. He began his coaching career in 2006 and is currently an assistant coach for Selinsgrove.
Ritter, a 1977 graduate of Selinsgrove, has been involved in District 4 wrestling primarily as an official for more than 50 years. He competed for the Seals under the guidance of Hall of Fame coaches Bill Bechtel and Richard Smoker in the 1970's.
Ritter became a PIAA wrestling official in District 4 in 1979 and served as Rules Interpreter for 15 years. He has officiated over 25 Sectional, District and Regional tournaments in addition to 4 PIAA individual tournaments and one team duals in Hershey.
The induction ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. before the Class 2A and 3A finals Saturday night.
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