Barry Burtnett

Barry Burtnett, the founder of varsity wrestling at Rider University, was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, New Jersey Chapter, on Sunday, September 24. “I am very grateful and deeply honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Burtnett.

“This is a terrific honor for Barry on a personal level,” said Don Harnum, Rider Director of Athletics, “but also an honor for Rider Wrestling, the Athletics Department, and the entire University.”

A member of the Rider Athletics Hall of Fame since 2002, Burtnett was presented with the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award. “My 20 years of employment at Rider provided the opportunity to gain valuable experiences in the academic and athletic areas,” said Burtnett. “What I gained through these experiences will always be remembered and appreciated by my family and me.”

Burtnett joins fellow Rider Hall of Famer Francis Dunn '97 in the New Jersey Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Burtnett came to Rider in 1968 as the first wrestling coach and assistant director of intramurals. His first squad competed in Maurer Gym as a club team, and the following year was granted varsity status.

“Barry is very deserving of this honor,” said Rider wrestling coach Gary Taylor, Burtnett’s successor at Rider who has gone on to win 319 dual meets and 13 conference championships. “He has been working with young people in the sport of wrestling his entire life. I am very happy to see him inducted.”

Burtnett’s teams compiled a record of 94-39 in nine years at Rider. The 1972-73 team won the MAC championship and the 1973-74 squad compiled a 15-0-1 undefeated season. He had 14 individual conference champions in his nine seasons.

“One of my fondest memories is the finals of the 1973 MAC Wrestling Championships at Hofstra University when Mario Ianni '75 and Joe Vento '73 won their final matches for Rider to clinch our first conference championship,” Burtnett said. “Joe was able to score a takedown in the closing seconds for us to claim the title, and Mario was voted the conference's most outstanding wrestler. Nine of our wrestlers placed in the top four of their weight class that year.”

In 1978 Burtnett stepped down as head coach to be Rider's first full-time athletic trainer, a position he held for 10 years. He left Rider to return to the public school system, as a head athletic trainer and health and physical education instructor at Nottingham High in 1991. He then transferred to Steinert High in 1992 as a teacher, and assisted the wrestling team and the athletic trainers.

“During my career I had the opportunity to teach and coach many students and student-athletes,” Burtnett said. “It is very rewarding to know that I had some influence towards their success and eventual maturity into adulthood.”

Burtnett grew up in Bedford, PA, and competed on the undefeated Bedford High School wrestling team. He went on to Lock Haven State College and graduated in 1961. At Lock Haven he wrestled for four seasons at 157 pounds, finishing third in the Pennsylvania State Teacher's College Conference.

Upon graduation he taught health and physical education at Dormont High School in Pittsburgh, and coached the wrestling team. In 1962-63 he led the team to a 10-2 record and coached the school's first Regional champion wrestler.

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