Class of 2008
Jim Calhoun

I
n the winter of 1952 when Jim was in eighth grade, his brother took him to his first wrestling match to see if he would be interested in coming out for wrestling the following year.

The next year Jim came out for the wrestling team. The Everett wrestling program was beginning its third season and still practicing in a classroom. The team spent much of the practice time preparing the room for practice. Jim,s goal was to help the team have their first winning season.

Jim wrestled in the 95 lb weight class and he had a winning dual meet season. In the District 5 Tournament, he became Everett's first district champion by winning his weight class. He lost at the regional tournament to the eventual state champ, Phil Bock from Philipsburg.

In the 1953-54 season, Coach James Burk left in midseason. Bob Clark agreed to finish out the season. Calhoun lost only one dual meet. In the District 5 Tournament he lost in the finals by a 10-8 score.

The 1954-55 season was Bob Clark's first full year as the head coach and Jim was named the captain of the team. He went through the regular season undefeated and won the District 5 Title at 120 pounds. Jim was the only Everett wrestler to win a district title. He practiced with the Bedford team to prepare for regionals. Jim contributes much of his success to Bedford wrestler Pete Howsare for practicing with him.

Jim became Bedford County's first regional champion and qualified for the state tournament. At states Calhoun lost in the semifinals to Trinity's Ralph Littleberry 4-0.

In the 1955-56 season, one of Jim's goals was reached; Everett had its first winning season. This was also the first year in the new Everett High School which had better practice facilities. Jim was again the captain of the team and was undefeated in the regular season. Jim had wrestled in every Everett dual meet during his four years on the varsity.

He won the District 5 Championship at 127 pound with all first period falls. Jim became the first District 5 wrestler to win two PIAA Regional Championships by defeating DuBois' Don Ord 3-0 in the finals. Calhoun was the only wrestlers not to give up any points in their matches at Regional.

Jim lost in the state semifinals to Ralph Littleberry on a disputed referee decision. He needed two more seconds of riding time to win. The bout was best described by Bill Jordan, Bedford Gazette sport writer, "…the official who conducted Jim's bout was rated by near unanimous agreement of all coaches at the meet, as the poorest ever to officiate a state tournament." Littleberry won the state championship.

Jim was awarded a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, one of the top wrestling schools in the nation that was coached by the legendary Rex Perry. After one year, Jim was drafted into the Army.

After his discharge from the military Jim attended and graduated from Williamsport Technical Institute. He worked for Bethlehem Steel at Sparrows Point, Md. for 36 years. After he retired Jim and his wife Janet moved back to Everett. They have three sons and a daughter.
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Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Class of 2008

Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame