The Dr. Michael Mould Award Gala: Honoring the life and legacy of Larry M. Fornicola, Sr.

The Dr. Michael Mould Award Gala
Honoring Larry M. Fornicola, Sr.

Larry Fornicola is being recognized for his distinguished, life-long career in wrestling as an athlete and coach.

As wrestling coach at Keystone Junior College from 1965 to 1990, Larry established the school as a respected program in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association. Over a 25-year period, his teams compiled a record of 216-151-5, including three Mid-Atlantic District Championships.

Larry was named the NJCAA Wrestling Coach of the Year 3 times during his tenure, and produced 3 national champions, 14 NJCAA All-Americans, 9 Pennsylvania junior college champions, and over 60 All-Region selections.

After compiling a record of 32-7-2 with 17 falls in high school, the native of Bellefonte, PA, took his wrestling prowess to nearby Penn State University, where he posted a record 90-3 and was named All-American in 1955 after winning the NCAA national championship at 137 pounds. He was only 1 of 4 men to win 4 consecutive titles, including Outstanding Wrestler in 1956, at the Wilkes College Open Tournament — at that time considered The Rose Bowl of Wrestling.

As a result of his remarkable accomplishments at Penn State, Larry was named to the first All-time Penn State Wrestling Team.

Following graduation, Larry enlisted in the Army and was a 2-time All-Army freestyle champion. He also placed fourth in the Olympic Greco-Roman trials in 1956 and had an amateur career of 60-3.

In 1959, Larry was named the first head wrestling coach at Allentown Dieruff High School, where his teams had a dual-meet record of 40-33-3 over 6 years, including the 1964 District 11 team title. While at Dieruff, he developed 9 District 11 champions, 5 Northeast Regional champions, and 2 PIAA state champions.

Larry’s wrestling knowledge was rewarded in 1968 when he was appointed head coach for Junior College Olympic tryouts, and in 1978 when he was named head coach of the U.S. Greco Roman team for the Pan Am Games.

Larry was inducted into the NJCAA National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980. He was also named to many other Halls of Fame, including the District 6 Wrestling Coaches Association; the Northeast Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame; the Keystone College Sports Hall of Fame; the Centre County Sports Hall of Fame; and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Pennsylvania Chapter.

He was also a Lifetime Service to Wrestling Honoree, which recognizes his years of dedication to the development of leadership and citizenship in youth through the sport of wrestling.

On May 2, 1992, Larry was given the Distinguished Service to Keystone Award by Keystone Junior College, and on the same day, the Larry Fornicola Wellness Center was dedicated.

Larry died on January 13, 1993, after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 59. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Bernadette; three sons, Larry Jr., Spring Branch, Tex, Matthew, Kingston, and Dominic, Nicholson; and two daughters, Erika Penizotto, Bethlehem, and Lisa, Intersession, Fla.