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Dear Sports Editor:
The Southern Tier lost a pillar of the wrestling community with the recent passing of Marty Rowe.
With the 1970s, came the beginning of the career of a young Mary Rowe on the Ripley wrestling team. By the end of his career, he had won many matches, had competed in the state tournament and, along the way, earned the respect of fellow wrestlers and coaches. By the time the 1980s had come around, the small school in southwestern Chautauqua County was competing and winning in Division 2 league competition, always against larger schools.
By the end of the 1980s, with the help of Coach John Carlton, the Ripley team was not only winning matches, but also claiming Division 2 titles and placing wrestlers during tournament competition, as well as the Section VI qualifier.
Soon, with the coaching aid of brother Darwin and nephews Brad and Ken, the team's winning ways continued with more dual-match victories, as well as tournament sectional titles. The team also saw more place finishes at the Section VI qualifier and the state tournament as well. It was during this period of time that the team was rewarded with its first individual state champion.
Soon thereafter, the team would merge with Chautauqua Lake, Clymer, Panama and Westfield to become known as the Eagles. They now compete with larger Division 1 schools, have continued their winning ways and have, to their credit, won multiple Division 1 titles and are now the class of their division.
Marty's influence on the wrestling community has indeed impacted many wrestlers through the years.
Todd Shields
Randolph