Clinton Burke, Larry Gocella, Webb Rayner, Lou Sneed to be inducted in Delaware Hall of Fame

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(Delaware Editor)
05/03/2001


The Delaware State Wrestling Hall of Fame will induct its third class on May 19th 2001 at St. Andrews School located in Middletown, Delaware off Route 13.  Coach turned referee Larry Gocella, coaches Webb Reyner, the late Lou Sneed and 2 time NCAA All American Clinton Burke.    Clinton Burke:   A former William Penn High School graduate was a 2 time NCAA All American at the University of Oklahoma in 1983 where he finished as a runnerup at Oklahoma City losing to current Duke head wrestling coach Clar Anderson of Oklahoma State by a 5-3 score at the Myriad Convention Center located in Oklahoma City and as a senior in 1984 finished in 3rd place at the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, NJ.  His career college record was 102-20.  In high school at William Penn, he was a 2 time Blue Hen Conference champion and a two time state runnerup where his record was 52-6-1.  Was an alternate for the US Olympic freestyle wrestling team in 1984 at the Summer games in Los Angeles, California, an alternate on the US judo team for 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics and a six time national champion in the sambo form of wrestling.  Currently, he lives in Virginia.     Larry Gocella:  Guided Milford High School to a 30-5-1 record from 1959 to 1962, when he started the annual Milford tournament that is still being held.  Coached  three state  and six Diamond State Conference Champions.  Later he assisted at William Penn from 1965-1967.  Coached junior varsity for three unbeaten seasons.  Refereed high school and college wrestling wrestling for 27 years and was president of the Delaware Wrestling Officials Association for 12 years.  Also served on state wrestling committee for 15 years.  Currently lives in New Castle, DE.     Webb Rayner:  Coached at St. Andrews School wrestling teams to a record of 105-29 in dual meets from 1957 to 1971.  St. Andrews won state team titles in 1958, 1959 and 1960 and finished fifth in the national prep tournament in the 1968 and 1969 seasons.  His wrestlers won 35 state individual titles and a national prep championship (Mike Chapman).  Jim Terry became the first four time state champion under Reyner.  Currently living in Alabama.     Lou Sneed:  The late Lou Sneed, who passed away in February reached across school boundaries and was involved in many aspects of Delaware wrestling.  Coached numerous state and conference champions at Claymont High from 1970 to the closing in 1990.  From 1984 to 1999 he ran the offseason Delaware Wrestling Club, which attracted wrestlers from throughout the state.  Took DWC teams to summer freestyle tournaments.  Was president of the Northern Delaware Wrestling Boosters Club and the Delaware Wrestling Alliance.  The Greater Wilmington Youth Athletic Association presented him with a Lifetime Service Award in 1999.      Tickets are available by calling Vic Leonard at 1-302-995-1366.