The Syracuse Wrestling Officials Association (SWOA) was established in 1955-56 by a group of coaches (Larry Rector, Lou Pettinelli & John Arcaro) who wished to grow and organize officials in the area to support the expanding popularity of the sport. SWOA quickly became one of the forerunners of excellence in New York State.
This claim is substantiated not only by the abundance of member inductions into various local, state, and national halls of fame (see list below), but also through a consistent body of work at the NYSPHSAA State Championships unmatched by any other chapter in the state. SWOA is able to proudly claim more #1 rated officials at the NYSPHSAA State Championships than any other.
In the 47 years since the New York State Wrestling Officials Association (NYSWOA) began evaluating officials at the state championships, SWOA has had 11 number one rated officials. As of 2025, this equates to 23.4% of the possible #1’s, nearly one quarter. To put this in perspective, there are 18 local chapters in the state.
SWOA has not only set an elite standard in the scholastic mens high school and collegiate styles, they’ve noted the growth of womens wrestling in the international style and fully embraced it. This association has both volume and quality in this discipline, boasting 10 of the 24 assigned officials at the inaugural NSYPHSAA Girls State Championship in 2025. Our girls freestyle state rules interpreter is also a member of SWOA, Kevin Maxwell.
Below are quick links to various segments of SWOA success.
| #1 & #2 Rated State Officials |
| Hall of Fame Members |
| Mens NCAA & NAIA Championship Assignments |
| Womens NCAA & NAIA Championship Assignments |
| Senior World and Olympic Team Trials Assignments |
#1 & #2 Rated State Officials
Below is a list of SWOA officials who have claimed either the #1 or #2 spot in the state ratings.
🏆1979 – Gene Meyle #1
🏆1986 – Gene Meyle #1
🏆1987 – Fred Brown #1
1988 – Gene Meyle #2
🏆1990 – Fred Brown #1
1998 – Gene Tracy #2
🏆1999- Bill Doran #1
🏆2001 – Gene Tracy #1
🏆2004 – Fred Brown #1
🏆2006 – T.J. Fraher #1
2007 – Joe DeBarbieri #2
2009 – T.J. Fraher #2
2010 – Joe DeBarbieri #2
2011 – Gene Tracy #2
🏆2011 – T.J. Fraher #1
2012 – T.J. Fraher #2
2015 – T.J. Fraher #2
2020 – Gary Cook #2
🏆2022 – T.J. Fraher #1
🏆2023 – T.J. Fraher #1
Hall of Fame Members
Upstate Chapter of National H.O.F.
Leo Johnson – 1997
Jim Howard – 1997
Elmer Akley – 2001
Larry Rector – 2001
Jack Williams – 2001
Ron Roch – 2006
Reed Hawke – 2006
Lou Pettinelli – 2006
Fred Brown – 2010
Brad Hamer – 2016
Tom Green – 2017
Gene Tracy – 2018
Bill Doran – 2024
Mike Frood – 2024
Dick Meldrim – 2025
New York State Wrestling Coaches H.O.F.
Jack Williams – 1979
Larry Rector – 1982
Leo Johnson – 1993
Reed Hawke – 1995
Lou Pettinelli – 1996
Ron Roch – 1998
Elmer Akley – 2011
Fred Brown – 2018
Section III Hall of Fame
Jack Williams – 1984
Lou Prttinelli – 1987
Al Emmi – 1990
Leo Johnson – 1990
Larry Rector – 1990
Reed Hawke – 1992
Elmer Akley – 1995
John Arcaro – 2003
Gene Meyle – 2004
Rich Morse – 2006
Ron Roch – 2006
Dick Campbell – 2010
Bob Medina – 2010
Fred Brown – 2011
Mike Frood – 2011
Rick Spicer – 2015
Brad Hamer – 2016
Gene Tracy – 2018
Dick Meldrim – 2019
Dereck Bigford – 2019
Bill Doran – 2022
Mike Letcher – 2024
Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association H.O.F.
Fred Brown – 2008
Bill Doran – 2022
Mens College Championship Assignments
To say that NCAA and NAIA national championship assignments are an accomplishment is an understatement. To have members of this high school association work higher level events like these has elevated the level of officiating success of SWOA at the high school level.
| NCAA Division I Championships |
|---|
| Bill Doran – 2013 |
| NCAA Division II Championships |
|---|
| Bill Doran – unspecified Bill Doran – 2011 Mike Letcher – 2017 Mike Letcher – 2018 Bill Doran – 2019 Mike Letcher – 2019 Mike Letcher – 2021 Mike Letcher – 2022 Mike Letcher – 2023 Mike Letcher – 2024 |
| NCAA Division III Championships |
|---|
| Bill Doran – 1996 Tom Green – 1996 Fred Brown – 2000 Fred Brown – 2001 Fred Brown – 2002 T.J. Fraher – 2019 Joe DeBarberi – 2019 Mike Letcher – 2024 |
| NAIA Championships |
|---|
| Mike Letcher – 2025 |
Womens College Championship Assignments
With the approval of girls high school wrestling in freestyle, it is paramount that officials know the international style well. Fortunately, womens collegiate wrestling is also freestyle and several members of SWOA are already at the forefront, working the highest possible collegiate levels. To say that NCAA and NAIA national championship assignments are an accomplishment is an understatement.
| NCAA Championships |
|---|
| Derrick Smith – 2023 Kevin Maxwell – 2026 (HEAD OFFICIAL) |
| NAIA Championships |
|---|
| Kevin Maxwell – 2025 Derrick Smith – 2026 |
| NWCA National Dual Championships (NCAA & NAIA) |
|---|
| Gary Cook – 2025 Derrick Smith – 2025 (HEAD OFFICIAL) |
Senior World and Olympic Team Trials Assignments
With the approval of girls high school wrestling in freestyle, it is paramount that officials know the international style well. There are no higher domestic assignments in the U.S. in freestyle than the Olympic or World Team Trials. There are currently two SWOA officials who have been assigned to work at this level.
| Senior U.S. Olympic Team Trials | Senior U.S. World Team Trials |
|---|---|
| Kevin Maxwell – 2024 | Kevin Maxwell – 2001 Kevin Maxwell – 2005 Kevin Maxwell – 2025 Derrick Smith – 2025 Kevin Maxwell – 2026 (HEAD OFFICIAL) Derrick Smith – 2026 |
Syracuse Wrestling Officials Association 