In the early 1970’s freshmen weren’t allowed to compete in the varsity athletic programs at Ramapo High School. That left Jim Horvath only three years to make his mark in Rockland County, and make his mark he did. Jim was a man for all seasons. From the beginning of his sophomore year in 1969 until graduation in 1972, Jim earned nine varsity letters at Ramapo High. On the football field Jim started for Coach Chuck Scarpulla’s Gryphon’s all three years. He was the team captain, and voted first team All-County as an end and linebacker in his senior year. Coach Scarpulla says of Jim, “He was one of the toughest players I ever coached; He played football and wrestled at 150 miles per hour.” Chuck Scarpulla went on to state, “As a coach, every time you saw a kid like Jimmy, you smiled, because you knew he could do it all.” In the spring Jim was a member of the varsity track team. His event was the 440 yard dash, one of the hardest events on the track. It was on the wrestling mat that Jim attained his greatest achievements. In his sophomore year, after an 8-3 record during the regular season, Jim entered the county tournament seeded fourth. In the semi-finals he beat the number one seed 8-0 and then went on to win in the finals by a pin. For his efforts at the county tournament, Jim was voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler in the tournament and received the Sol Gordon award. That year he finished second in Section Nine. That sophomore season was the start of a great career for Jim on the mat. In 1971, his junior year, Jim again won the Rockland County tournament, then the Section Nine tournament. At the New York State meet, Jim finished in third place, after losing in the semi-finals to the eventual champion by a score of 4-3. That would be the last loss for Jim in his high school career. In his senior year, Jim went on to win the Rockland County Tournament, the Section Nine Tournament, and Jim went to the New York State Tournament and won in the 167 lb. weight class. Upon graduation from Ramapo Jim accepted an athletic scholarship to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois to play football and wrestle. An injury kept him off the football field so Jim decided to concentrate on wrestling. Southern Illinois wrestled a top notch schedule which included both Iowas, both Oklahomas, Michigan State and Lehigh. Jim was a four year starter on the wrestling team. In his senior year, Jim won the Illinois Collegiate State Championship, and the Western U.S. Regionals, and was ranked as an Honorable Mention All-American.. His senior record was 31-1-1. The Western Regional tournament victory qualified Jim for the NCAA Division One Tournament, where he won his first two matches and lost 7-3 to the eventual NCAA champion, which concluded his college career. Jim currently lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife, Pamela. They have two children, a son, Ryan, and a daughter, Jordan. Ryan, a three sport athlete in high school, baseball, football, and wrestling, recently graduated from William and Mary College where he played football and obtained a degree in finance. He now works for Deutsche Bank in Jacksonville, Florida. Jordan, a state champion swimmer (200IM), is completing her junior year at East Carolina University with a focus on Public Relations. Jim served his com- munity as a pee wee wrestling and football coach and still enjoys going into the local high school wrestling room to work out with the team.