MILLERSVILLE'S FLOYD "SHORTY" HITCHCOCK TO RECEIVE NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME "LIFETIME TO SERVICE" AWARD OCTOBER 20    Floyd "Shorty" Hitchcock, the most victorious head coach in Millersville University wrestling annals, will be honored this Saturday (October 20) with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame "Lifetime to Service" Award at ceremonies in the Bolger Conference Center at Gordinier Hall.    The presentation, which will take place at approximately 7 p.m., will be at a reception and dinner reunion for the 1951 Millersville PSAC championship mat squad as part of Millersville's Homecoming festivities. Michael Clair, executive director of the NWHOF's state chapter program, will make the presentation.    The "Lifetime to Service" Award recognizes coaches, officials or contributors for outstanding service to the sport, to their communities, and to the student-athletes they have coached, taught, motivated and inspired. Myron Broderick, president of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, announced that its Board of Governors selected Hitchcock for this prestigious honor.    The founder of Millersville wrestling, Hall of Fame mentor and professor emeritus Dr. Theodore H. Rupp, nominated Hitchcock for the award. Dr. Rupp said, "He is firm, but fair with his athletes. What you see is what you get. He commands their respect and, with many, their love."    A three-time PSAC champion (177 lb.) at Bloomsburg University, Hitchcock won both the NCAA Division I and II national titles in his senior year (1974), and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the '74 D-I tourney.    His first post-collegiate coaching position was at Lake-Lehman High School, where he coached twin brothers Rick and Rocky Bonomo to PIAA state titles in 1981 and also earned state Coach of the Year honors. The Bonomo brothers went on to achieve NCAA-I All-American status at Bloomsburg. Rick Bonomo was a three-time national champion at 118 lb. (1985-87).    During his 17-year career at Millersville (1984-present), Hitchcock has tallied 171 victories against 109 defeats and four ties for a .609 win percentage--third-highest in MU mat annals for coaches who have tallied a minimum of 50 victories.    Hitchcock has coached 18 NCAA-I East Regional individual champions and 28 NCAA-I national qualifiers. His 1991-92, 1992-93 and 2000-01 Marauder mat squads captured East Regional championship honors. In Hitchcock's second season (1985-86), the Marauders set a win standard (18) that hasn't been equaled or surpassed since.    He also guided Millersville's only NCAA-I All-American, Tom Barley (149 lb.), to that distinction in 1991.    A third grade teacher for the School District of Lancaster, Hitchcock received praise from Gloria Campbell, retired principal of Hamilton Elementary School. "The children absolutely adore him," she said. "The parents love him and his colleagues love and respect him."    Said Rocky Bonomo, "(Hitchcock) always has positive and encouraging motivation to share. His zest for life and upbeat personality is contagious."    Coach Hitchcock's name will be displayed permanently in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Okla., in recognition of his years of dedication to wrestling.