DiChiara to Retire from Coaching

Long time coach George DiChiara will be hanging up his whistle this spring as he steps down from his position as Head Coach of Edgemont Wrestling. With the completion of sophomore Trey Aslanian?s finals match at the State Championships, DiChiara had coached his last Panther grappler.

DiChiara began his career at Edgemont in the 1988-1989 season while he was still an undergraduate at Pace University. His career spanned 23 years, only two of which ? 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 ? where he was not at the helm.

Over the course of his lengthy career, DiChiara saw many highs and lows in the wrestling program. Some of the highlights included a tremendous team sectional performance in 1991 where Edgemont finished in the Top 6 of a single-class Sectional Tournament; and Edgemont first-ever Section Champ and All-State wrestler, Anthony DeMaio, who DiChiara coached to a 4^th place finish in New York State in 1992. Perhaps the lowest point was when DiChiara returned from his hiatus in 2002 to find a decimated program with 9 athletes and a winless season.

From there, DiChiara and assistant coach Pete Jacobson worked tirelessly to bring the program back to where it is today. DiChiara leaves a strong Edgemont program that is continuing its resurgence and should be on the upswing for many years to come.

DiChiara leaves his coaching position to pursue other interests and spend more time with his family. He will retain his teaching position in the mathematics department at Edgemont High School. Jacobson, DiChiara’s assistant coach for 9 years, is his most likely successor.

DiChiara?s contributions to the program and to the many athletes whose lives he has touched will be sorely missed.