Anyone who has ever had John Armato as a wrestling coach over the last 50 years knows his favorite saying: “Every second counts.”
“It means never giving up, whether its on the wrestling mat, or at work. It means make the most of the time you have,” he explained to this non-wrestler.
It would be hard to find anyone who has made better use of his seconds.
Since 1969, Armato has been guiding Pottstown wrestlers both to victory and teaching them how to hold their heads up high even in defeat, knowing they have tried their best and never backed down from a challenge.
Armato’s service to the Pottstown school district, where he was hired almost right out of college, has been extraordinary.
In addition to his coaching, he has been a public speaking teacher, a teachers union leader, an athletic director, a director of co-curricular activities, a director of community relations (a post he currently holds despite not being paid) and, most recently, as a school board member.
His presence is ubiquitous.
John Armato embraces former head coach Brad Bechtel after a ceremony dedicating the Pottstown wrestling room in Armato’s honor Saturday at the Disrtict 1-3A North tournament. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
Rare is the community event in Pottstown that does not include a visit from Armato, who feels strongly that the school district should be represented in all aspects of life in Pottstown. And when he cannot be there, his absence is noticed.
So when he reached the 50-year milestone, Pottstown noticed and few were absent.
Eight of Pottstown’s nine head wrestling coaches showed up to recognize Armato’s decades of service as assistant coach.
There was even an appearance, via video, by legendary wrestler Dan Gable.
As Armato will eagerly tell you (and Wikipedia confirmed), Gable’s college career record was 117-1, with his only loss being in the final match of his final season.
And at the 1972 Olympic Games Gable won all six of his matches without giving up a point.
There was Gable, on the wall of the Earl Strom Gymnasium, which is named after 1945 Pottstown High School alum Earl “Yogi” Strom, who went on to be known as one of the greatest referees in the history of the NBA, thanking Armato for his years of coaching.
“I’ve read his stuff and admired him for years. I say his name and think about him just about every day. For Dan Gable to know my name … wow, that’s really something,” Armato said later.
Which is not to say that Armato has not had some success himself as a coach.
John Armato poses with past PIAA champion Paul Green following a ceremony honoring Armato for 50 years as Pottstown wrestling coach. (Emily Overdorf – For MediaNews Group)
One of the many, many, many former wrestlers to return for the festivities was Paul Green, a 1984 PIAA champion for the Trojans.
Other former wrestlers formed a parade of well-wishers both during and after the ceremony.
I overheard one tell Armato “Congratulations coach. You deserve it. You made my life.”
That says as much about the kind of mentor Armato has been over the years to so many people, as it does about his coaching ability.
That was a point made evident by Pottstown High School Principal Danielle McCoy, an alum of the school and its first female principal.
But she didn’t start out wanting to be an educator, that came later, thanks in part, to Armato.
“John Armato was my teacher. He was also the person who paved the way for me to become a substitute teacher, which set me on the path not just for my career, for my calling,” McCoy told the crowd.
“He didn’t do this when I was in high school. He did it when I was 35 years old. You see, that’s what makes him so special. Once you’re his student, you’re always his student. He is always there for you, and I am not the only person in the room for whom this is true,” she said.
McCoy knows what Armato does for his students from personal experience, and not just her own. Armato also coached her sons.
One of those sons, Seth Ecker, went on to become a wrestling coach himself, first at his alma mater, Ithaca College, and then a little closer to home, when he became Alvernia College’s first-ever wrestling coach.
Ecker was on hand Saturday to say thank you and congratulations.
He was one of a very large crowd.
“For a few minutes tonight, we’re going to give John exactly what he hates – attention,” McCoy joked to that crowd.
And when McCoy asked anyone whose life Armato had touched over the last 50 years to come forward for a photo, it was like a stampede.
That was more than attention. It was love.
It was hard not to get choked up, seeing generations of an entire community express their appreciation, their admiration and their thanks for years of unwavering dedication.
And neither John, nor I, quite managed it.
I doubt we were the only ones.
And while he may not love being put in the spotlight, I suspect when John got back home Saturday night, “curled up on the floor” of his den after, snacking on some chocolate-covered raisins, he may have reflected on these being some of his favorite seconds out of those 50 years.
He might even say to himself: “not bad for the little Sicilian kid from Brooklyn.”
John Armato, center, is surrounded by well-wishers during a ceremony honoring him for 50 years as a Pottstown wrestling coach. (Emily Overdorf – For Medianews Group)
