Chuck Amato ’64
Career Record: 50-7, D11 Champ, Regional Champ, State Champ
Tournament Championships: Boiling Springs Champ
1964 – 165 lbs: District Champ, Regional Champ, State Champ (24-2)
1963 – 165 lbs.: District Runner-Up (19-2)
1962 – 138 lbs.: District First Round (7-3)
College: North Carolina State (NCAA Qualifier)
Chuck Amato made a name for himself as a longtime successful college football coach, first as the defensive coordinator and associate head coach for Bobby Bowden’s juggernaut Florida State teams in the 1990s then as the head coach at his alma mater, North Carolina State. But at least he was a ferocious linebacker and state champion wrestler who later went on to excel at both sports at NC State.
As a sophomore, Amato broke into the lineup for the season opening tournament at Boiling Springs, but had to injury default out of his first career bout. He picked up his first varsity win against Northampton, beating Dean Berg 6-1 as part of a 35-8 win for the Rovers. He was squeezed out of the lineup when D11 champ and state semifinalist Willie Falwell dropped to 145, but made the cut down to 138 for the end of the season, where he pinned Dave Frederick (Hellertown) in his first match back in the lineup. At his first D11 tournament, Amato won his preliminary match before falling to eventual state runner-up Dave Clery (Bethlehem).
As a junior, Amato opened the season by winning the Boiling Springs Holiday Tournament at 165 pounds, Easton’s only champion in the event, downing Lindley Black (Bedford) 7-0 in the finals and winning his three matches by a combined 19-2 score. He used that momentum to roll to a 16-1 regular season, with highlight wins over National Preps runner-up and future Michigan NCAA qualifier Wayne Wentz (Hill School), future Lafayette head coach John Piper (Dieruff), 5-2, and All State linebacker and future Syracuse football standout Charles Stecker (Phillipsburg). Amato posted five falls and outscored his opponents 105-32. The lone blemish on his record came via a 12-4 loss to future two-time NCAA All American Dave Mucka (Bethlehem) in their dual meet. At the D11 tournament, Amato cruised to the finals with a pin in the opening round, a 3-0 win over Jim Stradling (Hellertown) in quarters and a 7-2 win over Dave Hunter (William Allen) in semis. That set up a rematch with Dave Mucka, and while Amato closed the margin, he fell 5-2, ending his season. Mucka went onto win the Regional title before falling in state semifinals.
As a senior, Amato opened the season with back-to-back first period falls, but fell in the Boiling Spring Invitational finals to Bill Peresta (Pennsbury), 8-5 to fall short of a second title. Amato would go on a dominant run from there, winning 11 of his final 12 regular season matches, with just an out-of-area loss to Wally Clark (Kingston), 6-3 in their regular season finale dual. At Districts, Amato decked his first two opponents in the second period before getting a scare in quarterfinals from Ron Decker (Dieruff), surviving a 3-1 overtime match. He had an easier time on the tournament’s final day, beating Curt Baehler (William Allen), 6-0 in his semi before winning the D11 title over Paul Glenn (Pottsville), 3-1. The following week at Northeast Regionals, Amato dispatched of Peterman (Hughesville), 3-0 before winning the regional title with a 7-2 decision over Tom Karpovich (Dallas): At the state tournament, Amato drew 1962 state finalist Randy Kahler (Lower Dauphin) in his semifinal. The match was a low scoring, physical war, with Amato coming out the winner via referee’s decision in a 1-1 match. The following afternoon, Amato faced Harold Short (Clearfield), whom he took down right off the bat and rode out for the rest of the first period. Amato looked to be in trouble in the second when Short reversed him to his back to take a 4-2 lead, but Amato escaped, then reversed Short to start the third period and rode nearly the rest of the match, to win a state championship 6-5 thanks to a riding time point.
Amato followed his older brother Rosie to NC State, where he played linebacker for the Wolfpack and wrestled at 190 pounds, winning the ACC twice and qualifying for the NCAA tournament. Amato came back to coach football at Easton before returning to NC State as a grad assistant where he began his incredibly successful coaching career.
History of Easton Wrestling 