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    Hofstra University Sports Information •

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    Hofstra All-American Kislin passes away after battle with cancer

    HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The Hofstra University Department of Athletics and its wrestling program mourns the passing of Joel Kislin '73. Kislin, an All-American as a senior, passed away May 7 after a battle with cancer. He was 68.

    Joel Kislin
    A two-time Middle Atlantic Conference champion and NCAA qualifier at Hofstra after a stellar two-year career at Luzerne Community College that saw him win a Junior College National Championship in 1971, Kislin would place third in the heavyweight class at the 1973 NCAA Championships to take home All-America accolades. He was Hofstra's second All-American in program history.

    "Joel was a loyal Hofstra wrestling alumni, fan and friend. He took great pride in being one of our first All-Americans as well as all his accolades in our singlet. He loved checking in, was always positive, and looked to help anyway he could. He would bring his family to events, and clearly extended his family love to our program, that he was a big part of," said head coach Dennis Papadatos. "Myself, as well with the Hofstra wrestling program, send our deepest condolences to his entire family, and mourn with them as Joel was one of our own as well. His memory will be eternal and his legacy will always be cemented in our hearts. Rest in peace, my friend."

    Kislin compiled a 118-8 record over his collegiate career, and participated in the NCAA East/West Wrestling Classic and wrestled on the USA select team that took on the Russian team in 1973. He would later go on to wrestle for Team USA in freestyle and Greco Roman at the 1973 Maccabiah Games in Israel and was a gold medalist in both. In 1974, he was part of the USA team that took on the Polish National Greco Roman team.

    A longtime special education teacher, Kislin would also have a 35-year career as a wrestling coach at several Pennsylvania high schools. He was the Pennsylvania District 2 Coach of the Year and its Sportsmanship Award recipient in 1994. He also served as a wrestling official for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association from 1974 to 1984.

    Kislin, a 1985 inductee into the National Junior College Wrestling Hall of Fame, is survived by his wife, Lynnette, and daughters, Aimee and Rachel.

    In honor of Joel, the Kislin family kindly requests donations to the Hofstra wrestling program. Donations can be made on the Hofstra Wrestling Giving Page.
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