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May 10, 2009

Ross joins Wrestling 'Hall'

PLATTSBURGH — Wrestling certainly wasn't a part of Larry Ross' early life.

But, it later became a big part.

Ross attended Crown Point High School and then enrolled at Plattsburgh State where he played all the sports that were offered at the time — soccer, baseball and basketball.

It was only when Ross became a sixth-grade math teacher at Northern Adirondack when he began his highly-successful wrestling coaching career that landed him into the prestigious NYSPHSAA Wrestling Hall of Fame this past weekend.

"We didn't have wrestling at Crown Point," Ross said. "Dave Premore, a friend of mine, was the wrestling coach at Northern Adirondack at the time. I started out as an assistant the first two years.

"I just got in with the varsity to learn about the sport. I got a book that showed all the moves a high school wrestler should know. I still have it."

Ross coached wrestling for 27 years at NAC and won 307 dual meets during that time.

"I definitely miss coaching," he said. "I still go watch and help out with tournaments. I miss the kids."

He coached 19 place-winners at the states, including champions in Trent Curry and Chris Trombley. His Bobcats won nine Champlain Valley Athletic Conference titles and six Section VII championships.

"The townspeople were familiar with the program, but it took them a while to get used to me because I didn't have the wrestling background," Ross said.

"But, we began winning matches and there were a lot of high points, like winning the Mid-Hudson Tournament three years in a row. Also, having the sectional champions we did and two state champions in Trent Curry and Chris Trombley.

Ross, who won Coach of the Year honors six times, had his NAC teams ranked in the state 11 times, including first in the state five times.

"I would be lying if I said part of it wasn't about winning and losing," Ross said. "But, it was more about the memories through the community and the building years as a coach. It started out with just a few people who wanted to help and it kept blossoming."

"For someone who never wrestled, it's an amazing achievement," said Jared Peryea, who took over as head coach of NAC during the 2006-07 season. "He (Ross) is a student of the game, for sure. He read books, learned drills and went to camps.

"Absolutely, he did a great job picking up the sport and was a great leader and a lot of fun to wrestle for. He treated his wrestlers like they were his own kids and everyone saw that kind of treatment.

"And, he proved to be a heck of a mentor. Three of his former wrestlers — myself, Trent Curry and Heath Smith — are head coaches and Kevin Gregory is an assistant at Beekmantown. Several other of his former wrestlers are officials."

Ross' Bobcats had some memorable battles with Peru, among others.

"We had a great rivalry with them," said Peru co-head coach Mike Hogan. "I have a lot of respect for Larry and it's a great honor for him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

"There was a nice ceremony for him before the start of the state finals."

Ross becomes the third person from the area to be inducted into the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Hall of Fame. The others are former Peru coach Stan Riggs and former Franklin Academy coach Vince Ruggerio.

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