Ivan Steele
Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame
Class of 2022
Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame
Ivan Steele got his start in Bedford wrestling in the ninth grade in 1956, under the coaching of Whitey Koontz, who started the Bedford wrestling program in 1937.
Steele wrestled most of his first two years on the junior varsity, but he had a 2-1 record in 1956 and 3-0
in 1957 in varsity. Koontz retired, and Ed Koontz took over as head coach 1958.
Steele went 9-4 as a junior and was 15-2 as a senior. He was the District 5 champion both seasons, but
he lost at regionals both years. Both of his losses his senior year were to State College’s Dick Tressler,
who went on to win states.
After high school, Steele attended Shippensburg, where he was a letterwinner for four years. He was the
captain both his junior and senior seasons, and he was named the team’s outstanding wrestler twice.
He placed in the NAIA and was second and fourth at PSAC.
After graduating from Shippensburg, he taught two years at Northern Bedford, where he started the
wrestling program. He coached Eric Martin, Northern Bedford first District 5 champion in 1965, and Don
Connelly, a District 5 champion in 1966. His coaching record for those two years was 14-5.
He moved to Solanco High School in Quarryville, which is in southern Lancaster County. He was the head
coach there for 16 years and had a record of 169-69-3. He retired from coaching in 1981, and he was
also a wrestling official for over 40 years.
He and his wife Dee have been married for 25 years and reside in Willow Street. Their two sons, Cameron and Braden, will present their father at the Hall of Fame ceremony..
Steele wrestled most of his first two years on the junior varsity, but he had a 2-1 record in 1956 and 3-0
in 1957 in varsity. Koontz retired, and Ed Koontz took over as head coach 1958.
Steele went 9-4 as a junior and was 15-2 as a senior. He was the District 5 champion both seasons, but
he lost at regionals both years. Both of his losses his senior year were to State College’s Dick Tressler,
who went on to win states.
After high school, Steele attended Shippensburg, where he was a letterwinner for four years. He was the
captain both his junior and senior seasons, and he was named the team’s outstanding wrestler twice.
He placed in the NAIA and was second and fourth at PSAC.
After graduating from Shippensburg, he taught two years at Northern Bedford, where he started the
wrestling program. He coached Eric Martin, Northern Bedford first District 5 champion in 1965, and Don
Connelly, a District 5 champion in 1966. His coaching record for those two years was 14-5.
He moved to Solanco High School in Quarryville, which is in southern Lancaster County. He was the head
coach there for 16 years and had a record of 169-69-3. He retired from coaching in 1981, and he was
also a wrestling official for over 40 years.
He and his wife Dee have been married for 25 years and reside in Willow Street. Their two sons, Cameron and Braden, will present their father at the Hall of Fame ceremony..
Class of 2022
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
