Robert M. Waller Jr. was inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999. His son Robert M. Waller III will follow in his footsteps Saturday as a member of the 47th class of inductees.
“It’s always been a family thing,” Waller III said. “I’ve been involved in the sport of wrestling since I was a young kid. My dad was inducted the year after I graduated from high school. It’s a great honor to be recognized with such an elite group of individuals. I’m truly honored.”
Waller is one of eight individuals who will be inducted into the PWCA Hall of Fame April 10 at the Ramada Inn and Convention Center in State College, Pa.
The other inductees are former wrestler/coach Tom Teagarden, former coach Doug Buckwalter, referee Bob Derr, former wrestler/coach Bill Luckenbaugh, former wrestler Gilbert Fink, former wrestler Col. Dave Warnick and writer Ken Wunderley.
Waller graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1998. He was a four-year starter for the Vikings and compiled a 128-3 record. He was a two-time Beast of the East Tournament champion, three-time Powerade Tournament champion, two-time WPIAL Class AAA champion, three-time PIAA Class AAA state finalist and one-time state champion.
“I could have been a four-time PIAA place-winner if it wasn’t for a case of mono,” Waller recalled. “I was 20-0 in my freshman year when mono ended my season.”
After graduating from Mount Pleasant, Waller wrestled at the University of Oklahoma and was a four-year starter for the Sooners. He was a two-time Big 12 champion and four-time NCAA Division I qualifier. In 2003, he won the NCAA title at 165 pounds and was selected to the NWCA Academic All-America first team. He was selected to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll four times and finished his collegiate career with a 103-30 record.
Waller graduated from Oklahoma in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in English. In 2007, he received his master’s of education degree in English education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
“I began coaching right after I graduated from college,” Waller said.
Waller served as an assistant coach at Missouri (2003-2005) and Oklahoma (2005-09). In 2009, he became the head coach at Lock Haven University and served four years.
After his stint at Lock Haven, Waller started working for Advantage Sports & Fitness and serves as its territory sales manager in Southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
“I’m still coaching two days a week at my dad’s club,” said Waller, referring to All-American Wrestling Club. “We have 80-100 kids in the club, some as young as 6 years old.”
Waller also brings his son, Robert M. Waller IV to practices.
“He’s only 1½ years old, but he loves to crawl around on the mat,” Waller said. “Maybe someday in the future he will join dad and me in the PWCA Hall of Fame.”
First Published: April 8, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
