CVYWA Hall of Fame

Ross Romanzak

Inducted February 16, 2020

Ross has been involved with youth wrestling in Central Virginia for the past 17 years. Having wrestled in Minnesota during high school, Ross re-connected with the sport after a 20 year hiatus when he moved to Virginia in the early 2000’s. Ross began assisting the Forest Youth Wrestling Club in 2003 and took over as head coach for Forest’s elementary program in 2004. Ross led the Forest Youth program for almost 10 years and then continued on in an assistant role up until 2018. In 2012 Ross joined Willie Karnes on the first CVYWA board of directors. Ross was involved with the merger of Virginia Gold and CVYWA in 2012 and continues to serve as Treasurer of CVYWA. Ross enjoys organizing and running tournaments to provide opportunities for area youth to compete. Ross has run CVYWA sponsored tournaments, the Virginia Commonwealth Games tournaments, and VHSL and NCWA conference tournaments over the years.

Jesse Castro

Inducted February 16, 2020

Jesse has been coaching full time for 30 years. Coaching in the NCAA Division II level as an assistant at Liberty helping produce 16 NCAA All Americans with a 5th place nationally (1983 -88). He went on to take the head coaching position of a fledging program at NCAA III Norwich University (103-47) to an 11th place nationally and 9 All Americans, one national champ, two finalists during his tenure, and was a two time New England coach of the year (1988 – 1997). Coach Castro moved into the high school ranks in the state of New Jersey building a program to (124-29) a state power. 4 time district, 5 time conference champions and winning a state dual championship along the way. Ranked in the top 10 of the state 4 times during his tenure he produced 9 state placers including state champ Brandon Becker ( 2 time NCAA I All American for Indiana University). Conference and district coach of the year 3 times (1997 – 2005). In 2005 he moved back to his alma mater, Liberty University to start from scratch the newly reinstated NCAA Division I team. He quickly built a team that was 65-45 in Division I competition, 5 time East Regional Champions, producing 24 national qualifiers taking 2 of them to the round of 16. He was a 4 time East Region coach of the year, produced 8 Academic All Americans, his team was 3rd in the country earning Academic Team Award in 2008.

Wayne Lynn Johnson

Inducted April 18,2018

Wayne Lynn Johnson was born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. He was raised in the nearby small town of Beech Creek on the family farm. Wayne attended Bald Eagle-Nittany High School where he participated in many school activities. As a member of the band he played the Tuba. He also enjoyed singing in the choir, playing football and wrestling. After high school Wayne attended Lock Haven University where he continued to play football and wrestle. Wayne had a desire to teach and coach. In 1976 he took on a teaching position at Jefferson Forest high school and moved to Virginia. During his six year tenure at Jefferson Forest, he served as the school's first wrestling coach, an assistant football coach and Athletic Director. In 1984 Wayne took on a teaching position at Amherst County high school where he served as an assistant football coach and an assistant wrestling coach until 1999. Wayne left Amherst and moved to Heritage High school where he taught and coached until he retired in 2010.

Wayne was actively involved with Central Virginia sports. Beginning in the 1980's Wayne began to referee area High School Football games, Wrestling matches and umpiring area softball games and he continued to do so for over 30 years. As a member of the Colonial Officials Association he refereed for VHSL and VISSA wrestling events at the district, regional and state levels where he eventually became an evaluator at the single A state level. His dedication to the sport of wrestling was evident to his peers. Wayne's passion was wrestling. When he moved to Virginia he took great interest in youth wrestling. Wayne worked with several area coaches to establish youth wrestling programs and ran many youth tournaments early in his career. As a high school wrestling coach, Wayne directly influenced the minds and lives of many young men. He not only addressed their wrestling skills on the mat, but through encouragement, compassion, patience and tough love instilled life skills in these same young men off the mat. His impact can easily be seen today in the lives of the young wrestlers he helped shape. These former wrestlers are now adults. They embody the same passion and love for wrestling as Wayne did and they have given back to the wrestling community over the years through coaching, refereeing, activism and wrestling program support. His years of service to the wrestling community and the impact of his commitment influenced a generation and that generation is now helping to shape another. This was his gift to a sport that he loved.

Ron Reynolds

Inducted April 3,2015

Ron Reynolds has been involved with the sport of wrestling for over 60 years. In 1955, Ron went before city of Richmond School Board (At that time he was a sophomore in high school) and petitioned to make wrestling a varsity sport for the city schools. this petition was approved and implemented in 1955. Ron wrestled for John Marshall H.S. After high school Ron joined the Marines and wrestled on the Hawaiian Marine Corp. team from 1957-1961. In 1960, Ron participated in the Olympic trials in Annaplic, Maryland and took 3rd place. After leaving the Marines, Ron wrestled for the Richmond Professional Institute (RPI), now Virginia Commonwealth University from 1962-1964. Ron served as the Director of Recreation for Campbell County from 1971-2006, during this time he helped to establish both the Brookville Bees Wrestling Club and the Rustburg Wrestling Club. Ron served as a volunteer assistant coach at Rustburg High School from 1986-2011 and still serves as a coach for the Rustburg Wrestling Club.

Willie Karnes

Inducted April 18,2014

Willie Karnes is considered the father of Central Virginia Youth Wrestling Association. Willie saw a need for bridge between Elementary school age wrestling programs and High School programs. He organized wrestling meets for middle school age wrestler in 2004. As this program grew Willie developed a post season tournament for these wrestlers. The first post season tournament had 35 wrestlers. This tournament has grown to over 150 wrestler entering the tournament the past three years. Seeing the growth in local program Willie put a group of likeminded people to serve as a Board to work and direct these. In 2013 CVYWA acquired a 501(3)C status. Willie resigned from the Board in the fall of 2013 due to a career change but he stays available for advice whenever needed.

James Managhan

Inducted April 18,2014

James Monaghan has worked through civic organizations to establish and grow youth sports. James was instrumental in starting the Bees Club youth wrestling program in 1984. He assisted other county and city recreational programs being wrestling and assisted with youth wrestling tournaments for over two decades. James continue to assist with the Bees Club program though he is not involved in daily activities James does continue to lend guidance and advice when needed.

John Blair

Inducted April 26,2013

John Blair is no stranger to a life of service. John is an Eagle Scout, has served and continues to serve as Boy Scout Troop leader, volunteer coach, and holds multiple volunteer positions in his community and Church.

He was NJISAA State Champion at 134 pounds in 1967.

His work to advance wrestling in Central Virginia was evident In 1976 when he founded Bedford YMCA wrestling. His decades of work promoting wrestling continued as he spear-headed the organization and operation of Big Island Rec wrestling, lobbied Bedford county for Rec funds to purchase mats for 3 rec programs in Bedford County, served as Liberty High School’s head wrestling coach from 1996 to 2000, has mentored many men in the art of coaching, founded the Blue Ridge Mountain wrestling in 1996 and continues as a very active director.

One individual who nominated John stated, “He allowed me to begin coaching with him and have the utmost respect for him.”

Jerry Falwell Sr.

Inducted April 26,2013

Once Jerry Falwell re-introduced wrestling as a Division 1 sport at Liberty University, wrestling fans in Central Virginia once again had opportunities to see and be a part of college wrestling. His vision of outreach continued through wrestling by opening the LU facilities to the Central Virginia wrestling community. The talent of the LU staff has improved wrestlers throughout the area.

Virginia Gold has it beginnings because of Reverend Falwell’s vision and generosity. Virginia Gold continues to train wrestlers and develop young men throughout Central Virginia. Falwell’s support of wrestling as Division 1 sport was a positive for wrestling at the youth, middle school and high school level. Much of the advancement in the area’s wrestling quality and participation can be linked to Falwell’s progressive action of re-introducing wrestling when other colleges were cutting programs.

Mike Forster

Inducted April 26, 2013

From late November with a season preview until the end of February with the State Tournament results, there is an article on wrestling including photos and interviews with wrestlers and coaches. Prior to Mike Forster’s hire at the Bedford Bulletin, a few articles appeared throughout the season. And when there is an important match or tournament it can be found on the front page above the fold – not buried in the box scores. Few sports editors attend weekly matches, weekend meets and end of season tournaments. Realizing he can not attend every match he has relied on and embraced the wrestling community’s assistance printing pictures and results submitted to him. If he does not receive information when he is busy covering other sports YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT IT.

When Mike was asked about his induction in to the CVYWA Hall of Fame, he replied he was just doing his job. But Mike does his job unlike anyone else.

The wrestling community appreciates Mike’s work covering the sport of wrestling from youth events to High School State finals.

John T Scott

Inducted April 26,2013

John began the Lynchburg Area Officials Association. He began officiating in 1971 and he is still a very active member in the association and now acts as a mentor for officials. John acted as the area’s training official for all new officials and still helps in that capacity today. He received a commendation from the Virginia High School League for 35 years of service as a wrestling official and retired from Lynchburg City Schools as a teacher/coach in 1998.

John graduated from Virginia Tech where he played freshman football and was a member of Tech Wrestling Team. He started the wrestling program at E.C. Glass, the softball program at Heritage, and officiated wrestling for 37 years. John was inducted into Lynchburg Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.