(above) Cranford Wrestling Alumni completed a fundraiser for Flag of Cranford to help the community and support front line workers during COVID.
Cougars Wrestling Alumni Donate to Flag of Cranford
Submitted by Robert Bulger
The Cranford Cougars wrestling team, founded by Herb Farrell and established in the town of Cranford at Cranford High School during the 1955-56 season and currently coached by Patrick Gorman, has been part of the fabric of our athletic community for 64 years. Rich in history and tradition, the wrestling program in Cranford has produced some of the finest men the town has ever known. Our wrestlers have gone on to success in every level of business, military, police, and fire, to raising families of their own and have always presented tremendous leadership and teamwork in those roles. As good citizens they have always remained loyal to their Blue and Gold roots and still today display a love for the hometown they grew up in. Our slogan is truth, “Tradition Never Graduates”.
The Cranford Wrestling Alumni is comprised of all wrestlers who put on Cranford singlet or tights and wrestled for the Cougars of Cranford High School. Once one of our CHS wrestlers graduates, they automatically become part of our team. There are no dues or fees for this membership. It is earned on the mats and in the room at Cranford High School. As a team, we are here to support the current program in any way that we can to make a positive difference by giving back to the program that was there for us when we needed it.
Cranford wrestling is a team of action. When Covid19 hit, many citizens were left with a choice on what they could do to make a difference. Cranford Wrestling has always been built around the concept of hard work, discipline, teamwork, and community. We chose to raise donations as a “TEAM” for Flag of Cranford, who will utilize our donations to help our small business community in town while also showing support for our Front-Line workers of this pandemic.
It is on behalf of our entire roster of Cranford Wrestling Alumni, current wrestling family, our fans and our friends that we make this donation to Flag of Cranford to assist our small business community and show support for our Front-Line workers during this pandemic. We also make this donation in remembrance of our Cougars who are no longer living. They walk with us eternally.
We remember our coaches, mentors and brothers who are no longer with us. Their memory and spirit live on with the alumni and wrestlers today. No Cougar will ever be forgotten. We are family and will carry on with those lost in our hearts forever. Founder and Head Coach Herb Farrell, Asst Coach Stan Grayson, Asst Coach Merlyn Jones, Anthony “Nooch” Cerrato, Dennis Sullivan, Glenn Breuer, Jimmy Dwyer Sr., Phil Sandford, Sam Richardson, William “Willie the Kid” Carpenter, Peter Pender, Ralph Zobel, Michael Dillon, James Bulger, Frederick Faulkner, J.T. Vicci, John “Murph” Murphy, George Krip and Stat Elizabeth “Liz” Mattson, athletic trainer Bob “Cotto” Cottingham. If there is anyone who I have missed, please notify me and I will have their name remembered and honored. Until we meet again our Cougar brothers, Rest in peace.
