Hall of Fame
With a pair of NCAA Division II National Championships and 20 regional titles, the tradition of the Pitt-Johnstown wrestling program is pretty well known. However, that tradition had to begin somewhere, and that somewhere was with Bruce Haselrig, Sr., who, along with assistance of the Pitt-Johnstown Administration, started the program in 1973 and served as its first head coach.
As summer turned to fall in 1973, the Mountain Cat wrestling program was embarking on its first year of competition. Following a successful junior varsity season, the young program took its next step and became a varsity sport as a member of the NAIA, where Mr. Haselrig guided his team to an impressive 9-6-1 dual meet record. That same year, Steve Ragland became the Mountain Cats’ first All-American.
Following that historic season, Mr. Haselrig passed the torch to Curt Davis for one year, then to Pat Pecora, who continued to built the program into what it is today.
Although he gave up his coaching career, Mr. Haselrig remained active in the sport, becoming one of the most respected and highly-decorated referees in the country. Haselrig, who has been a referee for over four decades, was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Pennsylvania Chapter in 2007. He has officiated six NCAA Division II National Championships, three NAIA National Championships, and 20 PIAA High School Championships. Mr. Haselrig also serves as the President of the NCAA Eastern Wrestling League Officials Association.
Not only did Mr. Haselrig start the Mountain Cat wrestling program, he also spent 34 years as a member of Pitt-Johnstown staff, starting in 1972 when he was named Assistant Dean of Student Life. Mr. Haselrig received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, including Pitt-Johnstown’s President’s Award for Excellence in Service, the Chancellor’s Award for Staff Excellence in Service to Community, and the Regis A. Cox Award for outstanding service to diversity.
After his retirement from Pitt-Johnstown in 2006, he served as assistant manager of the City of Johnstown and briefly held the title of acting city manager. Mr. Haselrig, the founder and president of The Bruce Haselrig Group, is active in the Greater Johnstown community, having served on boards of numerous community and civic organizations.
Mr. Haselrig was a successful wrestler at Greater Johnstown High School and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences, Secondary Education in 1967. Four years later, he received his Master of Arts in History at IUP, before he getting into coaching and finally, officiating. His Mat Sense Officials Clinics have been devoted to the training of wrestling officials.
Mr Haselrig, a 2012 inductee into the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame, and his wife, Ednita, have three children, Bruce Jr. and wife Fely, Brett and wife Ashley, and Jamie and husband Brandon. The Haselrigs, who reside in Johnstown, also have four grandchildren, Jaelan, Shaela, Haven and Kobe.
“I am really honored and humbled to be inducted by the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and most importantly, by the people who cared and helped to mold my career,” Mr. Haselrig said. “I was fortunate to be in a position that had great institutional support and hard-working student-athletes. When we began the wrestling program, I received many gifts from a lot people. Gifts in the way of support, expertise, advice, know how, and patience. I thank them. I believe what we have gotten from wrestling is more than I have given, and I continue to be grateful to serve in any capacity to the university and the wrestling community.”
