This year’s wrestling inductee could be honored as both a player and coach in both wrestling and football but it is for his coaching exploits in wrestling that he becomes just the second to be so honored – the other wrestling honoree was Greg Cooper in 2012 – in that category.
Born August 25, 1959, he is both an athlete and coach who was a standout gridder and grappler at both West Branch High School and Youngstown State University.
A 1978 graduate of WBHS, he was a three-year letterwinner in football – he played under the tutelage of head coach Dick Hartzell – and wrestling – his head coach was Bruce Roher – for the Warriors, also earning a letter in track and field for a total of nine total letters during a stellar scholastic career.
An all-Ohio selection in football his senior campaign, he placed sixth at state in wrestling in the heavyweight division, also during his senior season.
Now 36-Years-Old, Mike Mannozzi Qualifies For Fourth Olympic Trials(Opens in a new browser tab)
Upon graduation he earned a full scholarship for football to Youngstown State University, earning three letters while playing (1978-82) for their late great head coach, Bill Narduzzi, also earning two letters in wrestling (1978-79 and 1979-80) under former Penguin head coach, Norm Palovcik.
He helped the Penguins to a combined 36-21-1 overall mark and two play-off appearances, those coming when they were members of the Mid-Continent Conference in 1978-79. He helped YSU to an NCAA Division II national runner-up finish in the latter season, finishing second to the University of Delaware in the Zia Bowl title tilt in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He was part of the team that helped the program transition from Division II to the Division I-AA (now known as FCS) ranks, also transitioning from their membership in the Mid-Continent Conference to their new home in the highly competitive Ohio Valley Conference.
During his undergraduate days at YSU – he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1983 and MA from Kent State University in 1987 – he served as assistant wrestling coach at Ursuline High School (1981-83), later enjoying a well-documented 39-year teaching career with stops at Austintown Fitch (1984-2017), Liberty (2017) and Western Reserve High School (2018-23).
He served as an assistant football coach at WRHS from 2007-20 and at Youngstown Christian (2021-23) but it is for his time as a wrestling coach for which he is enshrined tonight.
After serving as an assistant coach for the Falcons’ freshman team, he served as AFHS head wrestling coach beginning in 1984 and lasting until the 2015 season.
His glowing record includes 261 dual meet wins, which ranks 30th all-time in the state of Ohio wrestling annals.
U.S. Air Force Gives Mannozzi Chance To Pursue Olympic Racewalking Dream(Opens in a new browser tab)
The author of four, OHSAA Division I state Top-10 finishes, his highest finish was fourth overall.
Under his tutelage, the Falcons produced a high school national champion in Steve Sletvold, four-time OHSAA state champion Tony Jameson and state titlist Greg Faunda.
In all, he was the architect of 11 EOWL (Eastern Ohio Wrestling League) team championships, had 27 winning seasons, produced 55 state qualifiers, 19 state placers and five state champions.
In addition to a national champion and two high school All-Americans, his program produced two state runners-up as well.
Among his many accomplishments, he is a National Wrestling Hall of Fame member (Stillwater, Oklahoma), Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame member (Columbus) and Eastern Ohio Wrestling League Hall of Fame member (2011).
Named Ohio wrestling ‘Coach of the Year’ in 1998, he is past president of the Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association (2012-16) and from 1996-2018, was state representative for the OHSWCA.
A member of the Alliance Top Gun Hall of Fame (2015), he served as director of Team Ohio versus the USA Cliff Kean Dream Team at the national dual meet in 2008.
He also served as Dapper Dan Team Ohio coach in 2008 as well.
He and his wife, Lisa, are the proud parents of two sons, Tyler and Hunter.
They reside in Canfield.
