WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University wrestling team unveiled a new mat honoring legendary Colonel coach John Reese on Monday morning in the wrestling room.
 
A group of Wilkes wrestling alumni, family and friends of the program were in attendance to witness the unveiling of the mat which features the 1974 Division III National Championship team carrying the Hall of Fame coach on their shoulders.
 
Coach Reese is one of the winningest coaches in NCAA wrestling history with 515 wins. Under his leadership, the wrestling program gained national attention with 40 winning seasons, 14 MAC titles, the 1974 Division III National Championship and a nationally ranked Division I program. 
 
During his tenure, Reese coached 10 individual national champions, 61 MAC champions, and 46 All-Americans. In 1976, he moved Wilkes wrestling from Division III and the MAC into Division I and the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. Although it was the smallest Division I program in the country, under Reese's leadership Wilkes produced 87 EIWA place-winners, including eight champions, and five Division I All-Americans.