Members of the Class of 2020 include Cory Cooperman of Lehigh University, Josh Glenn of American University, Ed Hamer of Lehigh University and Jack Light of Penn State University. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, immediately preceding the finals of the annual EIWA championships.
Chairman Jamie Moffatt comments on the new inductees: "The EIWA Hall of Fame Committee has selected four outstanding wrestlers as the latest inductees into the EIWA Hall of Fame. The individuals' athletic careers extend across several generations - from the 1930s to the 1950s to the 2000s. Cooperman, Glenn and Light were three-time EIWA champions; Glenn and Hamer won individual NCAA championships as undergraduates. Both Cooperman and Hamer continued their involvement with the sport of wrestling as coaches after earning their college degrees. We are honored to include these gentlemen in our Hall of Fame."
Cory Cooperman, Lehigh, Class of 2006
Cory Cooperman's successful track record in wrestling goes well beyond his three EIWA championship titles and his three All-American honors.
Cory Cooperman (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)After spending a red-shirt year at the University of Minnesota, Cooperman transferred to Lehigh University. During his first season (2002-03) of wrestling for Coach Greg Strobel he went 15-2 meets and won his first EIWA championship. As a sophomore, Cooperman finished as the runner-up at the EIWA championships and in seventh place at 141 pounds at the NCAAs. During both his junior and senior year, Cooperman won the 141-pound title at the EIWA Tournament and the third place trophy at the NCAAs.
He graduated from Lehigh in 2006 with a degree in Psychology and an overall college career wrestling record of 99-12.
After graduation, Cooperman turned to coaching wrestling as his career choice. He spent three years as an Assistant Coach at Cornell University, the EIWA championship team all three seasons. He also spent time on the coaching staff at Rutgers University and the University of Illinois prior to assuming the head post at the New York Regional Training Center, where he took the team to the US Open title.
Recently, Cooperman has coached two wrestlers to World Titles - Kurt McHenry, a two-time Cadet World Champion - and Kyle Dake to his first Senior World Championship.
In 2019 Cooperman opened his own wrestling club in Mahwah, NJ. He resides in Ridge Park, NJ with his wife LeAnne and their two young sons, Caden and Cameron.
Josh Glenn, American, Class of 2008
Josh Glenn began his storied wrestling career in his hometown of Johnson City, NY. As a high school wrestler, Glenn was a 2003 New York State Champion, a three-time Section Four Champion, a NHSCA All-American, a USA Wrestling All-American, and helped earn his team two New York State Team Championships in 1999 and 2003.
From 2004 - 2008, he competed for American University under the tutelage of Coach Mark Cody. During his freshman year, he placed second at the EIWA tournament and was recognized as the EIWA Freshman of the Year. The following year, Glenn won his first EIWA title and took home a 4th place trophy from the NCAA tournament.
Glenn won his second EIWA championship with a decisive victory in the 197-pound class. At the NCAAs he battled his way into the finals where he scored a 6-4 decision in overtime, earning his place as American University's first and only NCAA Division 1 National Wrestling Champion.
Glenn earned his third EIWA Championship and third consecutive All-American honors during his senior year. In addition to his EIWA and National Championship heroics, Glenn is the recipient of multiple awards to include EIWA Wrestler of the Year, EIWA Fletcher Award Recipient, American University Athlete of the Year, NWCA All-Academic Team member, and the Jonathan Kaloust Award Recipient.
Glenn graduated from American University with bachelor's degrees in Pre-law and International Studies. He is currently an Officer in the United States Navy and resides in Virginia with his wife, Jessica, and four children.
Ed Hamer, Lehigh, Class of 1959
Ed Hamer became a two-time EIWA champion and an NCAA wrestling champion for Lehigh University in the late 1950s. No one would have guessed it when he entered Lehigh in the fall of 1955.
At Philipsburg (PA) high school, Hamer wrestled JV for two years before making the varsity squad as a senior. He recalls, "I had a mediocre record my senior year and did not excel in the post-season tournaments." After a PG year at Manlius (NY) Military Prep School -- which did not have a wrestling team - Hamer's grappling career took off under the guidance of famed Lehigh coach, Gerald Leeman.
In his first season of varsity competition as a sophomore, Hamer went 7-3 in dual meets. He won all his EIWA tournament bouts, defeating Cornell's Dick Vincent 7-0 in the finals to become the EIWA 157-pound champion. He only wrestled the first semester of his junior year, winning all four of his matches.
Hamer excelled during his senior season at 177 pounds. After losing his season opening bout, he reeled off 18 straight victories to win both the 1959 EIWA and NCAA wrestling championships. At the NCAA tournament in Iowa, Hamer knocked off two defending champions, Duane Murty (5-2) and Tom Alberts (4-0) en route to the victory stand. Hamer finished his career with a record of 38-5.
After graduating from Lehigh with a BS in Business, Hamer served his alma mater as an assistant wrestling coach, varsity cross country coach, and head golf coach. He went on to coordinate Junior Olympic Wrestling tournaments and coach youth wrestling. In 1989 Hamer was inducted into the Pennsylvania State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame and in 1990 he became a member of the Clearfield County Regional Chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame.
From 1965-71 Hamer was the owner of Hamer Building Supplies, prior to becoming a sales representative for the Pennsylvania House of Furniture and Harden Furniture.
Hamer and his wife Judy are the parents of five children: Christopher, Michael, Wendi, Timothy and Jill. They now reside in Lakewood Ranch, FL.
Jack Light, Penn State, Class of 1937
Jack Light never lost a dual meet bout during his three years of wrestling for Penn State University, nor did he ever lose an EIWA tournament bout.
Light grew up in the shadows of the Penn State campus, graduating from State College high school in 1932. The school did not have a wrestling program, yet he tried out for the PSU wrestling team anyway. Under coach Charlie Speidel, Light made tremendous strides as a wrestler.
As a sophomore during the 1934-35 season Light won every dual match but one, which ended in a tie. He dominated all of his opponents in the 135-pound weight class at the EIWA tournament. At the NCAAs Light suffered the only defeat of his career, losing by fall in the opening round. In his junior year Light captained the Nittany Lion squad and won every bout that he wrestled. He breezed through the EIWA tournament, winning all three of his matches at 135 pounds by Technical Advantage. Light led Penn State to their first EIWA team title in 11 years.
Light moved up to the 145-pound weight class for his senior year where he repeated his heroics of the prior year. At the EIWA tournament Light was never threatened, pinning one opponent and defeating the other two by Technical Advantage. He became Penn State's first three-time EIWA Champion finishing with a college career record of 25-1-1.
Upon graduation from Penn State, Light attended Jefferson Medical School and became a beloved physician in his hometown of State College for his entire professional career. He could be seen at most Penn State home wrestling matches and even at their practices from time to time. Twice in his career Dr. Light was honored as State College's 'Renaissance Man of the Year'. He was the father of two sons and a daughter.
Dr. Light passed away in 2000.
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