50 Years of Binghamton Wrestling

Binghamton University Athletics

STEVE ERBER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
An award founded in former head coach Steve Erber's name, this award will be handed out to Binghamton wrestling alumni recognizing them for lifetime achievements. In its' inaugural year, it was awarded to Erber. A native of Huntington, N.Y., Steve Erber served as a wrestling coach at Binghamton from 1967-1988. As a faculty member, he founded the wrestling program as a club team in 1967, and was its very first varsity coach two years later. He also served eight years as assistant athletic director, five years as associate director and was promoted to full professor in 1989. In 22 years at the helm of the wrestling program, Erber lifted Binghamton into the national spotlight with a dozen top-20 teams, four individual NCAA Champions and 152 career dual meet victories. Honors have been widespread for Erber, who has been inducted into the Binghamton University Athletic Hall of Fame, and the New York State College Wrestling Hall of Fame. This award goes way beyond the accomplishments in the wrestling world though, as he has made a lasting impact on alumni, family and friends over the past 5 decades.

B.O.L.D. (Bearcat of Last Decade) AWARD
The Young Alumni Award recognizes wrestling alumni who graduated within the last 10 years or are 35 years of age or under, and who are established or demonstrate potential to become future leaders. This year's recipient was '04 graduate Justin Hoch, who was been an avid supporter of Binghamton wrestling since his graduation. He was most recently recognized as the 2016-17 National Wrestling Media Association Photographer of the Year. With a number of clients and publications, Hoch has shot many prominent wrestling events, including both the Junior and Senior 2018 World Wrestling Championships.

WRESTLERS' APPRECIATION AWARD
Pat Wrobel and Jim Sullivan have been Binghamton wrestling fans most of the 50 years that the program has existed. In 1974, they attended the first NCAA Division III National Championships and have been fixtures at home matches ever since. Sullivan attends the NCAA Championships every year. With Wrobel and Sullivan’s work as Resident Directors at the dorms in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, Seneca Hall became known as the home of Binghamton wrestling and helped establish a lasting alumni fan base.

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50 Years of Binghamton Wrestling

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