Erie Cathedral Preparatory High School boasts a storied wrestling program, marked by exceptional coaching and the achievements of its athletes at both the high school and collegiate levels. This article delves into the program's history, highlighting key figures and their contributions to the sport.
Ed Onorato: A Coaching Legend
A pivotal figure in Erie Cathedral Prep's wrestling history is Ed Onorato. His wrestling journey began at Tech, where he secured the 1958 Erie City and District X Championships. He continued his wrestling career at Slippery Rock State College (now University), earning multiple PSAC championships.
After graduating from Slippery Rock in 1964, Onorato wrestled for the Lancaster (PA) YMCA team, a prominent amateur team in the 60s. He also participated in the 1964 Olympic trials and coached at Lancaster Catholic High School for a season. Following a graduate assistant position at the University of Arizona in 1965, Onorato returned to Pennsylvania as the head coach at Behrend College.
In 1978, Onorato transitioned to Erie Cathedral Preparatory High School, where he dedicated 24 years to coaching. During his tenure, he guided the Ramblers to significant accomplishments, including:
- One undefeated season
- One Miami Valley team championship
- 5 Metro team championships
- 3 Section team championships
- 2 District X team championships
- 3 Central Northwest/Northwest Regional team championships
Individually, Onorato coached numerous champions:
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- 4 Manheim Holiday Tournament champions
- 38 Sectional champions
- 29 District X champions
- 20 Regional champions
- 5 PIAA state finalists, including 3 State champions
Beyond high school coaching, Onorato remained active in youth wrestling, coaching at the Erie YMCA, the DeAnna Wrestling Club, and the Greater Erie Wrestling Club. He also served as an assistant coach for the Pa. Jr. National Freestyle team from 1974-78 and assisted the Jr. National Freestyle and Greco teams from 1986 to 1992.
Collegiate Success: Cathedral Prep Alumni in NCAA Championships
Carter Starocci ON 5th NCAA Title, His Growth At Penn State And What Is Next
The success of Erie Cathedral Prep wrestlers extends to the collegiate level. Three Cathedral Prep graduates, Carter Starocci, Paniro Johnson, and Jake Van Dee, competed in the NCAA Division I wrestling championships.
Carter Starocci, a four-time NCAA champion, aimed for a historic fifth title at 184 pounds. Paniro Johnson competed at 149 pounds, and Jake Van Dee wrestled at 133 pounds, both seeking their first All-American honors.
Notably, Starocci, Van Dee, and Bucknell’s Dorian Crosby (a 2020 Prep alum) each won their first match at last year’s national championships, giving the former Ramblers a 3-0 start. Crosby transferred to Gannon University for a graduate season which saw him capture D-II All-American honors at heavyweight.
Johnson, a 2021 Prep graduate and redshirt sophomore at Iowa State University, replaced him after missing the 2023-24 collegiate season. The Big 12 conference champion, was seeded fourth at 149 pounds with a 21-5 season record.
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Van Dee, a 14-9 sophomore at the University of Nebraska and 2022 Prep alum, aimed to improve upon his NCAA performance. He was the 17th seed at 133 pounds.
Penn State graduate student Carter Starocci was a significant story. Starocci's only losses since 2021 were his two medical forfeits at the 2024 Big 10 championships. As one of seven four-time D-I champions in wrestling history and the defending champ, the 2019 Prep grad began for No. 5 as the top seed at 184 with a record of 21-0.
A Tradition of Excellence
The Erie Cathedral Preparatory High School wrestling program has cultivated a tradition of excellence, producing accomplished wrestlers and contributing significantly to the sport. The dedication of coaches like Ed Onorato and the achievements of alumni like Carter Starocci, Paniro Johnson, and Jake Van Dee exemplify the program's commitment to success.
Table of Achievements
| Achievement | Number |
|---|---|
| Manheim Holiday Tournament champions | 4 |
| Sectional champions | 38 |
| District X champions | 29 |
| Regional champions | 20 |
| PIAA state finalists | 5 |
| State champions | 3 |
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