Northeast Catholic High School Wrestling Alumni will hold their annual NC Wrestling Hall of Fame reunion on Saturday, February 11 at the Harmonia Club (2404 Orthodox St.) at 3PM. The cost is $30 and includes food and drinks. The event will benefit a scholarship fund for current high-school wrestlers at the two Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) high schools that are currently coached by North alumni: Archbishop Ryan and Father Judge.

  Established in 1926, North was located at 1842 Torresdale Ave. and at one time had the largest student body of any Catholic boys’ high school in the world with over 6,000 students. In 2010, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia closed the school due to declining enrollment.

  The wrestling team began in 1975 in earnest under Coach Pat Manzi and assistants Walt McIvain and John “Cutty” Cutsavage. The program grew organically under coaches who were former team members: Eddie Miranda ’77,  Jerry Garzone ’78,  Bill Hunter ’79, Jim Savage ’92 and Chris Cancelliere ’92.

  The team had  much to be proud of throughout the years.  North was the most successful wrestling program in the history of Philadelphia and still holds many league records: most team championships, most playoff appearances and league final appearances, and most Coach of the Year awards.

  The team was a PCL powerhouse that dominated the league from 1991 until the school’s closing in 2010. They won a record 13 team championships and more than 100 individual championships. They made the playoffs for 22 consecutive seasons (1989 – 2010.) Many began wrestling at the Rizzo PAL Junior Falcons team at 2524 East Clearfield Street. The North wrestlers were particularly known for their toughness and fearlessness in a league that was earlier dominated by suburban schools such as LaSalle, Archbishop Wood and Bishop Egan. Many attribute this toughness to the neighborhoods from which they came: Kensington, Frankford, Port Richmond, Bridesburg, Wissinoming and Fishtown

  “I learned everything at North Catholic,” said former UFC champion Eddie Alvarez ‘01.

  “The North Catholic wrestling room is still one of the most arduous tasks I’ve done. They worked us so hard, it definitely was a big factor in helping my fight career. I’d say the sports I played, especially at North Catholic, taught me what I needed to become champion.”

  North’s gymnasium, affectionately known as the Pit, was never a welcoming environment for opposing teams.  Many opponents still talk about the cross faces they were on the receiving end of, in the Pit.

  “Eddie Torres was a tough, tough kid – both mentally and physically,” said Franny Scull, a Southwest Philly native and current Olde Richmond resident who wrestled at Saint Joe’s Prep, the University of Scranton and Team Foxcatcher in Delaware.

  “He was strong and fast – lightning on his feet, added Scull.”You knew if you drew Eddie’s name in a tournament, you had your hands full.”

  North wrestlers have gone on to become Navy Seals, FBI agents, Secret Service agents and scores of Philadelphia firemen and police officers. They have coached at six other area schools and produced an NCAA Division I football coach and the aforementioned UFC champion, along with many business professionals.   

  This year’s inductees are: Coach John Cutsavage (1975-1986); Pat Healey ‘77; Eddie Torres ‘92; Juan Ruiz ‘99; Eric French ‘08.

  Follow Tim McCloskey @timmmccloskey on Twitter. •