Alan Hershberger
Class of 2016
Alan Hershberger graduated from Bedford High School in 1949. Alan was a three-year starting fullback and linebacker in football and four-year starter in wrestling.
Alan won three District 5 Championships and advanced to the state tournament each year. As a sophomore, he lost his first match at states to the state runner-up 3-0 in overtime. He made the state semifinals as a junior where he lost to the state champion. He became Bedford’s third state runner-up as a senior. His career record was 34-7-2 with three of the losses coming at states and two as a freshman.
Alan became the first person in his family to go to college, as he received a wrestling scholarship from Gettysburg College. At Gettysburg College he had a very successful career in wrestling as he lost only two matches. In 2004 Alan was inducted into the Gettysburg College Athletics - Hall of Athletic Honor.
Rarely defeated in his wrestling career from 1950-53, Hershberger was an integral part of Gettysburg College's mat dynasty. A two-sport standout, he won a pair of Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championships in the 167-pound weight class and helped capture three of Gettysburg College’s seven consecutive MAC titles during that era. He also lettered twice as a member of the football team.
It was on the mat where he excelled. After going 4-0 on the freshman squad, he went undefeated as a sophomore through his first 10 matches before falling in the MAC Championship bout. This ended his season, as Gettysburg College did not compete in the NCAA Championships at that time.
In 1951-52 as a junior, he swept through the regular season undefeated before going 3-0 in the MAC Tournament, winning the 167-pound championship.
In his senior year, he was named captain of the team and he lost a match in the regular season. He avenged this loss by beating him in the MAC Championship bout. As a team Gettysburg College won its fifth straight MAC Championship. In his career, Alan Hershberger lost only two matches at Gettysburg College. Hershberger earned the 1953 Charles Bechem Award as the College top senior athlete.
Alan was enshrined in District 5 Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016/
Shortly after graduating from Gettysburg College, Alan married his high school classmate Barbara Ann Nevitt and had a son Andrew. Alan worked as a Director of Tax Planning for DuPont Company and Bethlehem Steel Corporation until he retired and moved to Florida. Alan died in 2012 with the funeral and burial held in Bedford.
Andrew, his wife Tara, and their twin boys live in New Hampshire.
Alan won three District 5 Championships and advanced to the state tournament each year. As a sophomore, he lost his first match at states to the state runner-up 3-0 in overtime. He made the state semifinals as a junior where he lost to the state champion. He became Bedford’s third state runner-up as a senior. His career record was 34-7-2 with three of the losses coming at states and two as a freshman.
Alan became the first person in his family to go to college, as he received a wrestling scholarship from Gettysburg College. At Gettysburg College he had a very successful career in wrestling as he lost only two matches. In 2004 Alan was inducted into the Gettysburg College Athletics - Hall of Athletic Honor.
Rarely defeated in his wrestling career from 1950-53, Hershberger was an integral part of Gettysburg College's mat dynasty. A two-sport standout, he won a pair of Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championships in the 167-pound weight class and helped capture three of Gettysburg College’s seven consecutive MAC titles during that era. He also lettered twice as a member of the football team.
It was on the mat where he excelled. After going 4-0 on the freshman squad, he went undefeated as a sophomore through his first 10 matches before falling in the MAC Championship bout. This ended his season, as Gettysburg College did not compete in the NCAA Championships at that time.
In 1951-52 as a junior, he swept through the regular season undefeated before going 3-0 in the MAC Tournament, winning the 167-pound championship.
In his senior year, he was named captain of the team and he lost a match in the regular season. He avenged this loss by beating him in the MAC Championship bout. As a team Gettysburg College won its fifth straight MAC Championship. In his career, Alan Hershberger lost only two matches at Gettysburg College. Hershberger earned the 1953 Charles Bechem Award as the College top senior athlete.
Alan was enshrined in District 5 Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016/
Shortly after graduating from Gettysburg College, Alan married his high school classmate Barbara Ann Nevitt and had a son Andrew. Alan worked as a Director of Tax Planning for DuPont Company and Bethlehem Steel Corporation until he retired and moved to Florida. Alan died in 2012 with the funeral and burial held in Bedford.
Andrew, his wife Tara, and their twin boys live in New Hampshire.
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame
Class of 2016