Undefeated 1978 Seneca Valley wrestling team makes Hall of Fame after setting program standard
It has been nearly five decades since Seneca Valley's wrestling team went a perfect 15-0 in 1978, but Wayne Bloom can easily recall the talent, effort and determination the Raiders brought with them to the mat that season.
"Something that really sticks out for me about that team was how balanced we were," said Bloom, who wrestled at 185 pounds and won a WPIAL title as a senior that year. "From the bottom weight to the top, we had good wrestlers, and it didn't matter if you were a starter or not, we all worked our butt off."
Tom Elling, a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and longtime expert on high school wrestling in Pennsylvania, had the Raiders ranked as high as No. 3 in the state that season.
The entire team was honored with induction into the SV Sports Hall of Fame earlier this school year.
Twelve team members made it back to be recognized.
"I wasn't one of them," Bloom said. "My wife and I had a trip to Europe planned for over a year, but I know the team was delighted to be honored after nearly 50 years. We felt that we set the standard for Seneca Valley wrestling that continues to this day."
Ken Lockey was the only head coach for Seneca Valley wrestling for the first 33 years of the program (1966-99). When he retired, his 392 victories were the most in WPIAL history.
Bloom said Lockey had several rules everybody on the team was expected to follow, ones that undoubtedly contributed to the '78 team's success and reputation.
"One was nobody is more important than the team," he said. "There was no showboating, we were all respectful of our opponents. Another was technique. Mr. Lockey taught techniques that are still used in college to this day.
"The last thing was conditioning. We used to run up and down five sets of stairs 25 times, before and after practice. I know there was no team out there better conditioned than us."
In 1978, Seneca Valley had been in existence for just 14 years; the wrestling program for 12.
"At that time, it was still a pretty rural school district," Bloom said. "Most of the kids came from blue-collar or farming families. We knew how to work, and the support from the community was great. The wrestling boosters used to rent buses, and we'd show up at away matches with more fans than the home team."
The Raiders sent 10 wrestlers to the WPIAL tournament that season and two — Bloom and John Schirra — to states. But SV didn't get the chance to move on as a team.
"That was before the WPIAL and state had team tournaments," Bloom said. "I know this: we would've been very competitive."
Bloom lives with his wife in western North Carolina.
"I still follow Seneca Valley wrestling very closely online. ... I follow all wrestling, college with the rankings," Bloom said. "Wrestling reveals character. It's a 1-on-1 sport, and I like to see the look in a wrestler's eyes before a match as they try to get their head in the right place."
Bloom credited Tom Barron, who began SV's elementary program in the 1970s, with helping the Raiders produce wrestlers who have earned 19 district titles over the years ... and that undefeated season in '78.
"He coached so many wrestlers who went on to compete for the varsity team and is such a big reason for any wrestling success at Seneca Valley," Bloom said.
Team members of the 1978 Seneca Valley wrestling team were: Roger Murray, Wayne Bloom, Albert Barnett, Shawn O’Donnell, Dave Barron, Joe O’Riley, Bob Bartos, Kent Penland, Norm Cook, John Reubi, Greg Dorsch, John Schirra, Phil Foreman, Mike Shanahan, Greg Frobe, Andy Soltesz, Dave Gantzer, Paul Spilsbury, Will Herb, Rich Stewart, Larry Holifield, Jim Thompson, Bill Hufnagel, Mike Thompson, Jack Kludo, Fred Williams, Ron Mahan, Jack Wolford, John McGahan, Jeff Wylie, Jim Mignanelli, Terry Moore and Tommy Moore; coaches Ken Lockey, Barry Hardwick and Gil Troutman.
