Two to join Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame

James Johnson, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Bill Hadsell and Red Fedele, two individuals with ties to Section V wrestling, are next in line for recognition from the Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Hadsell, Section V wrestling coordinator the last 10 years, is an inductee. A teacher and coach at Geneva, Hadsell is one of seven Upstate New York State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Lifetime Service Award winners.

The owner of Red Fedele's Brook House restaurant is the organization's Outstanding American Award winner. Fedele wrestled at Madison High, where he won two Section V and three Rochester City League championships during the mid-1950s. His restaurant in Greece is the home of the Section V Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Red Fedele at his Brook House restaurant in Greece, the location of the Section V Wrestling Hall of Fame plaques.
Red Fedele at his Brook House restaurant in Greece, the location of the Section V Wrestling Hall of Fame plaques.

Hadsell's family includes six brothers, all wrestlers, some top-eight finishers at the state championships. During his days at Canandaigua, Hadsell was a captain during a time when the team strung together Section V team titles. He finished fourth at states and was named Canandaigua's most valuable wrestler his senior year.

Hadsell began to wrestle in college at University at Buffalo and later went to Ithaca, where he earned All-America status in 1991. He was the Bombers' most outstanding wrestler and a team captain that season.

Success as a coach at Geneva and Palmyra-Macedon also led to Hadsell's induction into the Canandaigua Athletic, Geneva Sports and Section V Wrestling Halls of Fame.

Section V wrestling coordinator Bill Hadsell
Section V wrestling coordinator Bill Hadsell

"His positive rapport with all - athletes, coaches, officials, assignors, committee members and administrators - is exceptional," Section V executive director Kathy Hoyt told Carl Koenig of the Upstate New York Chapter of National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame induction and award ceremony is Sept. 29 at the Double Tree Hotel in East Syracuse. Contact Koenig at carlkoenig@stny.rr.com or 607-244-8432 for more information.

Other 2024 inductees and award winners

  • James Beichner - University at Buffalo coach

  • William Doran - high school and college official

  • Mike Frood - Jordan-Elbridge coach, Section III or Syracuse region

  • Len Gadway - Beekmantown coach, Section VII or Lake Champlain region

  • Michael Howard - SUNY Oswego coach

  • Carl Koenig - former coach, college and high school official, President of Upstate New York Chapter)

  • Swimelar Volunteer Award: Gail, Judy and Laurie Tracy, who live in the Syracuse area.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall 2024 nominees

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