Anyone familiar with the history of Rockland County sports knows the name of Mike Longuil. Mike has been associated with Nyack High School and Rockland County since the late 1940’s, first as an athlete, then a coach, and finally as a track and wrestling official. His career spans over 50 years.

As an athlete at Nyack High School, Mike participated in three sports and earned 11 varsity letters. While a member of the track team in his senior year, Mike’s 880 yd. relay team broke the RCPSAL and Section 9 record. Mike played two years of varsity football, starting for Nyack as a 135 lb. running back and linebacker. But it was on the wrestling mat where Mike really shined. Mike was a three time RCPSAL champion and, in his senior year, he was undefeated and had only one point scored against him all year After High School Mike enrolled at Bowling Green State University in Ohio to continue his education. In his freshman year Mike was a member of the freshman football, track, and wrestling teams. In his sophomore year Mike decided to concentrate on wrestling alone.

During his three year varsity career at Bowling Green, Mike was elected co-captain of the team, most valuable wrestler on the team, and finished third in the Mid- American tournament. After college, and a stint in the Army where he participated and coached the base track team to the Southern France championship, Mike returned to Nyack to teach and coach. From 1956 to 1970, Mike was the varsity assistant track coach, specializing in the jumping events, hurdles and sprint relays.

During his tenure, Nyack won many team and individual RCPSAL championships in those events. As Joe McDowell stated in his acceptance speech to the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame, “I would not be here today without Rudy Rejholec and Mike Longuil.” At the same time Mike was an integral part of the famed Nyack High football program. While a varsity assistant from 1961-70, Nyack won 7 championships. He was responsible for -11- numerous All-County players and one All- American. In 1957 Mike became the Nyack High Head Wrestling Coach, a position he held for 14 years. During that time Mike coached many RCPSAL and Section 9 champions, one New York State Champion and many state place winners. He was the RCPSAL wrestling chairman for two years and the Section 9 wrestling chairman for two years. Giving of his time in the off season, Mike started and ran novice tournaments in the area and coached at many summer wrestling camps. When it was all said and done, Mike coached three sports over 52 different seasons for his alma mater, Nyack. Long after he was done coaching, Mike continued to be a strong presence on the Rockland County sports scene as a track and wrestling official. Mike worked as a track official from 1957 to 1973. During that time he served as the vice-president and rules interpreter for the Rockland County Track Officials Association.

Mike was a qualified starter and officiated the pole vault and long jump events at most county and sectional meets. Mike is a charter member of the Rockland County Wrestling Officials Association which began in 1956, and was an active member until 1990. From 1990 to 2005 Mike served as a supervisor for the active officials. On the administrative side, Mike served as the president, vice president, and rules interpreter for Rockland County and Section 1. Mike officiated at all of the Rockland County and sectional tournaments from 1972 to 1990. In 1985 Mike was selected as the Section 1 official to work the New York State High School Tournament. In 2005 Mike made a “one time only” comeback. He donned the official’s gear and worked at the George Fuge Kids Wrestling Tournament in Suffern. At the conclusion of the event, Mike received a standing ovation of appreciation from the crowd, after which he removed his official’s shirt, neatly folded it, and left it in the center of the mat, never to be worn again. As a 2009 ROCKLAND COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME track and wrestling official Mike logged 67 different seasons.

Mike Longuil’s entire professional life has been spent helping the youth of our area become good athletes, ladies and gentlemen, and good citizens. He is retired now and lives in Pearl River with his wife, Charlotte. He spends most of his time fixing and restoring fishing rods, and occasionally gets to try them out on the water. Mike feels that he has been privileged to be in a profession which brought him association with some of the finest people to be found anywhere.