3 former UPJ wrestlers to be inducted into Division II Hall of Fame
Three Pitt-Johnstown national champions are part of the 2019 class that will be inducted into the Division II National Wrestling Hall of Fame on March 7 in Cleveland.
Penn-Trafford graduate Lee Schickel, Shad Benton and Shane Valko are part of the six-member class. The others being inducted are Antonio Guerra and Andy Uhl of the University of Findlay, along with Findlay coach Shawn Nelson.
Schickel was a four-time Division II national qualifier and a three-time All-American, winning a national title in 1996.
He had a 108-25 record and suffered just one career dual meet loss at 126 pounds. Schickel earned a 7-6 sudden death overtime decision over Adams State (Colo.) Michael Barreras. He placed seventh in 1993 and fifth in 1995.
Benton was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American, and a 2002 national champion. He ended his three-year Pitt-Johnstown career with a 101-9 overall record and a 45-1 dual meet record at 157.
Valko, a three-time All-American, closed out his Pitt-Johnstown career as the 2010 NCAA Division II national champion at 133 pounds and was the 2009-10 National Wrestling Coaches Association Wrestler of the Year. He was 115-30.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
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