Chat Archives
Coach Neal Lineman  2/12/2000

The most courageous wrestler that comes to mind is Steve Langiotti.  Steve wore braces on both legs through elementry school and into junior high.  His parents wanted him to be involved in sports so Steve chose wrestling and became a sectional champion at Reynolds High School in the early 1970's.  Wrestling helped to strengthened his leg muscles and he did not need the braces through his high school career.

Congrads on your Hall of fame induction!!! Well done!!
In your opinion, why do schools have trouble getting the numbers of kids out for wrestling compared with teams of old?
How many kids did you used to get out for wrestling?? What was your biggest team?

In my opinion the students of today seem to have many more activities to participate in  other than sports.  Wrestling is a very difficult sport to participate in in that it takes much dedication and extremely hard physical work.   In the 1960 era we had between 35 and 60 wrestlers on our teams and in the 1970's through 1978 we had anywhere from 70 to 95 wrestlers in the program.  Two years we had over 100 wrestlers on the squad...1975 and '76.

Thanks and best of lI was able to attend the 500th victory and it was special to see the former coaches and wrestlers in attendance and being recognized for the part they played in the history of the program. The standing ovation that you received should have shown you how important you are to the program. Thank you for your dedication and the continued support you show to the wrestling program.
uck!

Thanks for the comment.  I hope I am around for the next 500 wins!

Hi Coach. I remember the hot, smelly practice room that was always filled to the max. How many wrestlers filled that room at one time? It felt like close to 100 ! Those sure were great times and the eliminations brought as many fans to watch as a regular match. Thanks for some great memories.

The reason it was so hot and smelly in the workout room was because I turned up the heat and most guys gave 100% during practice.  Hope you were one of them.

Dad, Congratulations on being selected for the PA Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Your family is very proud of you and we look forward to sharing this special event with you. Robyn

Your mother and I cannot wait until April 28 - the night of the induction.

If you could put together a "Dream Team" who would you chose.

The dream squad will be opening on this site in the near future and everyone can pick their own. Coach Hills and myself co-coaches.

Glad to see you are back Coach. I went to the 500th match, it was great to see you and all the coaches.

It was great to be there and to see a lot of the former wrestlers and dedicated fans.

Hello Coach Lineman. Greetings from sunny Arizona. Another wrestling season has come to an end out here in the Grand Canyon state. Wish I could have been there when they horored you and the Reynolds Raiders for the 500th. victory. Without a doubt , you are the greatest wrestling coach of all time; but what is really important is that all of your wrestlers remember and respect you for being a great man, with character, integrity and high morals. I once again wish to thank you for having such a positive influence on my life and my chosen profession. It is hard to realize that I have been a head wrestling coach for 20 years now. I only can hope that I have had an impact on some young men as you did with so many. My best to you and all of your wonderful family and I shall always remember you in my prayers. Again..THANK YOU. Bob Loveless

Thank you Bear for your moral boost.  The years certainly have gone by quickly.  I did not realize you have coached for 20 years.  I hope you have as much self satisfaction that I did over the years.   Thanks again for your comments.

Coach, Can you comment on your most memorable:
1. match (or duel meet) as a coach,
2. match as a high school wrestler,
3. match as a college wrestler,
4. match as a referee

Way to go on the hall of fame induction.

1.  The most memorable match as a coach was when Reynolds High School defeated Greenville High School for the first time in 1966.

2.  The most memorable match as a high school wrestler was in 1949 when I won the District 10 Championship at the 95 pound class.   That qualified me to go directly to the state tournament to compete (The state tournament was held at Lancaster High School, Lancaster, PA).

3.  The most memorable match as a college wrestler at Purdue was against Michigan State in 1958 which qualified me to go on to the AAU championships.

4.  The most memorable match as a referee was when I was officiating at Thiel College.  Thiel's heavyweight gained a fall in the last seconds of the match to defeat Hiram College, breaking their long win streak.

Coach Lineman,
Congratulations on your selection to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame...you are very deserving of such and by far you were the fairest coach I ever had in my athletic career.
I read a comment in the Pittsburgh Tribune Online edition from Connesville's Coach after his team got clobbered by Easton, in AAA Duals, that the teams from the East were physically stronger than teams from Western PA and that he was going to give his future teams a heavy dose of weight training. Was this situation existant in our match against Wilson at the State Duals?
I recall from my football and wrestling days at Reynolds in the mid 60's, there wasn't a weight to be found. I'm curious whether a weight room has ever been established at RHS for our athletes to use during season and off season conditioning ?
If not, it might be an appropriate time to convince the school board and adminstration to establish a weight room. In serious athletics, from my own personal experience,
" Only the strong survive ".

Regards,

Joe Spicko
Class of '67

Unfortunately I wasn't present at the State Duals when Reynolds wrestled Wilson so I reallly can't answer that question as to who was physically stronger.   Apparently they just out wrestled the Raiders according to the score.

Yes Reynods has had a weight room for a number of years.  It is supervised by the coaches and an athletic trainer throughtout the school year and Summer.  Thanks for checking in, Joe.

Hello Coach Lineman,
You used to tell all of your wrestlers how important the first take-down in a match was. Do you think the same is still true today? Are wrestlers more defensive today?
Thanks for the memories! The pain was well worth it.
A former RHS grappler

Yes I still believe that the take-down is the most important part of the match.  You have to be able to gain a take-down to gain a fall.  Season stats that are posted on the site periodically throughout the season including first take downs.  Some schools wrestle quite defensively, however, Reynolds wrestlers usually are more aggressive.

Was that past comment from Bob Loveless the same man who had to wrestle his cousin in a Reynolds vs. Greenville match ? What Pressure !

Great chat.

Yes and he pinned his cousin in the first period to win the match for the Raiders but he apologized to his cousin when it was over.

Did many of your "old" wrestlers become coaches? You must have made it look fun.

Have a good night.

Yes a number of them went on to become head coaches, some in high school and some on the college level.  A few are:  Bob (Bear) Loveless, is presently coaching in the State of Arizona;  Dave Anthony is coaching at Indian Valley High School in Ohio; Brian Hills at Reynolds; Dave Mischick, former coach at Brookfield, Ohio; Bob Miller, former coach at Pymatuning Valley, Ohio; Doug Groover, former coach Oil City, PA; Jim Woods, former coach at Seneca High School, Erie County; Mark Reichard and Ed McClimans former coaches at Reynolds High School.........

Rule changes have occurred throughout the years. Is there a particular rule that is no longer in existance that you feel should still be used? Thanks

Yes, riding time should be reinstated.  It is still a rule in college.

Hi Pop ! Can I go out for wrestling since you taught me how to wrestle? My Mom said "no".

I love you,
Gracie

Grammy says "no".

Hey Coach,
Would you believe your future star wrestling grandson just got a bloody lip and nose at the hands of his rival big sis! Your son will probably receive the same when wife gets home from work and finds out. Care to trade places? It sounds a bit more civil where you are. Enjoying the chat room, but I've got to run (time to find the Childrens Tylenol and popsicles). Have fun!

Remember your first aide?  Thanks for checking in .

I know you used to referee, do you still or will you again? We all know you are still in great shape.

Great to hear from you Coach.

My refereeing days are over.   It was enjoyable but I leave it to the younger generation.

Do you feel Summer Wrestling camps are beneficial?

Thank you for your comments.

Yes.  The young wrestlers have the opportunity to gain many different skills from other outstanding coaches, both on the high school level and college level. 

coach , 1 reason we never skipped practice in the "60's" was that it was so interesting, just to see who might beat who for the Varsity and there was some fun especially when you made fun of Gollner or when the King of the mat got to take on the coach , and really , what is a dipsy doodle? Great to hear about your award ,we are all a proud bunch to experience a true tradition that has kept on to this day and into the future Lon Dawes

Ask Delbert Gearhart.  Thanks for checking in.

Coach,
Your chats are great, I so glad someone thought of this. You have put Reynolds High on the map and you deserve all the awards and standing ovations that you get.

A former wrestler you helped a long time ago.

Thank you for your comments.  You can thank Art Williams for the chat room.

Thanks for all of those who checked in tonight and thanks for the congratulations on the up and coming National Hall of Fame Induction.