Horpel’s induction stirs the memories
Franklin Horpel Jr., a former Newport Harbor High wrestling coach
and the father of longtime Stanford wrestling coach Chris Horpel, was
inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame recently, according
to Stanford’s Web site.
Frank Horpel’s son, Chris, a former CIF Southern Section champion
from Newport Harbor and the school’s Athlete of the Year, accepted
the honor in his father’s place, and the news certainly rekindled a
light-hearted moment.
It was during those days as a coach at Newport Harbor in the late
‘60s that Frank Horpel was at the Pilot’s door, seeking publicity for
a Greco-Roman tournament, I believe, when I met up with him first
hand.
We’d known one another via the telephone on several counts, but
this time he was at the door and as the interview went along, I made
the mistake of asking just exactly what was this “super-duper” move
he was talking about.
“I’ll show you,” he said. “Just step outside the door.”
We were but a few feet from the entrance on the west side of the
building. My desk was just inside the door, a few feet from Bea
Anderson and her “Society Department.”
We walked out and he said, “Turn around for a second,” and before
I knew it he had lifted me into the air and started walking around
with me in the parking lot.
I was thanking God nobody seemed to be in view and after a few
seconds he put me down and we went on with the interview.
Needless to say, his story was done up pronto and his story was
published the next day. I didn’t really need him returning for a
follow-up!
Frank Horpel died in 1992 after a life which included four years
as a wrestler at Penn State, as a captain the Marine Corps, as a
paratrooper and as a veteran of the Pacific Theatre during World War
II.
He was a wrestling coach at Mater Dei in 1959 and was a wrestling
official for over 20 years, especially with local AAU freestyle and
Greco-Roman tournaments.
He started a wrestling club at the Orange Coast YMCA in Newport
Beach in 1965, and soon after he was at Newport Harbor, where Chris,
excelled.
He was inducted into the Orange County Wrestling Coaches’
Association Hall of Fame prior to his death, and now, with the
National entry.
Parkinson’s finally ended his coaching days in the late ‘70s.
* It’s August 20 and the blood is finally starting to stir.
Wednesday Costa Mesa and Corona del Mar high school football teams
begin fall practices, and on Monday, Newport Harbor, Estancia and
Sage Hill begin.
It’s the return of the school cycle when sports on the true level
blossom.
All of which brings in the other end of the spectrum.
Millionaires to strike on August 30?
I could care less. My Aug. 30 calendar shows two college women’s
volleyball matches and three college soccer games, just the tip of
the iceberg of a nine-month schedule which also includes the great
game of baseball in the spring, featuring the strikes of Sea Kings
and Sailors, Mustangs and Eagles, Anteaters, Pirates, Lions and some
Lightning.
As for the millionaires and their troubles ... has anyone given
thought to President Ronald Reagan’s solution to the air controllers’
strike some years ago?
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