Joe Solomon, a Pitt wrestler who won an NCAA championship in 1954, has been named to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Solomon, a Canonsburg native, won his title at 167 pounds, but that was only one achievement in a long wrestling career.
In four years at Pitt, he was named team MVP as a freshman and sophomore and captain as a senior. He was a four-time Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champion before graduating in 1955.
After graduation, Solomon joined the Navy and was the U.S. Navy All Navy Champion. He also coached the Great Lakes Naval Station Wrestling Team, winning a team title in 1956.
At Canonsburg High School, Solomon won a PIAA championship, was a PIAA runner-up and three-time WPIAL champion from 1947-1951.
Upon induction into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, he will claim membership in a total of nine, including Washington-Greene County, Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling, EIWA Officials, WPIAL, National Wrestling, Pitt Golden Panthers, National Wrestling Officials and Canon-McMillan.
Solomon died in 2017.
