| Downingtown East Cougar Wrestling |
| Coach Horvath wrestled for West Chester East High School where he graduated in 1990. While there, he was a 2 time Section IV champion, District 1 South champion, and District 1 Regional champion, amassing over 90 wins. He also served as a team captain his senior year. Coach then travelled to Bucknell University where he graduated in 1994 with a B.A. in English and Education. While there, Coach Horvath competed for the varsity Bison at 158 lbs. for his first two years, but then left the team after nagging injuries and falling short of personal expectations. To this day, leaving the wrestling team in college is one of his greatest REGRETS! After college, Coach started teaching and coaching in the Downingtown Area School District where he's taught English for 7 years and Alternative Education for 4 years. He's been the head coach of Downingtown and Downingtown East wrestling for 10 years winning multiple Ches-Mont, Section IV, and District 1South crowns with his teams. He has also coached numerous state qualifiers and medalists, some now wrestling in college. This year Coach Horvath picked up his 100th team win with a victory over Perkiomen Valley 35-22 at the Octorara Duals. Currently, Coach Horvath has his Master's degree in Secondary Education from West Chester University and is now pursuing his Master's in Athletic Administration at the same institution. Coach lives in Chester Springs with his wife Susan, son Bo and daughter Bailey. Coach's Words of Wisdom- "The sport of wrestling builds tremendous discipline, confidence and comradery. There is no substitute, nor equal. You will remember your days as a wrestler and teammate because they will be the basis for all of your future endeavors." |
Coach May grew up in Western, PA and wrestled for the Sharon Tigers in Section 6 in the W.P.I.A.L.. He started wrestling in 9th grade and was Conference, Sectional, and Regional Champion his Senior year, and lost in the quarter finals of the State Championships in State College, PA. As team captain that year, he received the "Don Thomas Award" for Leadership and Work ethic. Jim went on to Wrestle in the NCAA / Division 1 at Franklin & Marshall College at the 142 and 150lbs. weight class. He broke into the line up his Freshman year and competed in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships for F&M. Coach May currently resides in the Downingtown area with his wife, Lynne and children Ali and CJ. "Teamwork makes the Dreamwork" GO COUGARS! ROCK ON!! |
| Coach - Jim May |
| Coach DeLuca wrestled for a legendary program at Upper Darby High School where he graduated in 1997. There, he was known for is dedication and tenacity at the 103 and 112lb. categories. Coach DeLuca is a graduate of West Chester University with a degree in Physical Education. He is continuing his graduate studies. Coach DeLuca lives in Downingtown with wife, Nicole and their daughters Julia and Adreana. In his spare time, he enjoys playing Halo2. This will be Coach DeLuca's 5th year with the team. His love for physical education and wellness inspires him to continue wrestling as a coach and mentor. He is Coach Horvath's "light weight" specialist and one of the toughest conditioning experts around. His ability to inspire and bond with the team is one of his finest assets. |
| Assistant Coach - Tony DeLuca |
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| 2006-2007 |
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| PIAA Section IV District 1 Central Southeast Region Ches-Mont League National Division |
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| Wrestling Equipment Links Wrestling Direct Wrestling Central World Wide Sport Supply Brute Cliff Keen Wrestler's World |
| 2004-2005 |
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| 2005-2006 |
| Assistant Coach - Ben Young |
Ben Young is a graduate of the class of 2002 from
Downingtown. He wrestled for Coach Horvath before the
split and is one of Downingtown's all time best.....3X state
qualifier, Section, District, and Regional Champion, and
placed 7th at the PIAA State Tournament in Hershey, PA.
While attending college at Slippery Rock University, he was
a conference champion and NCAA qualifier. He just
received his teaching degree from Bloomsburg University
and will be substitute teaching in our district. He is just as
excited and ready to help our program improve as we are
to have him on board.
Downingtown. He wrestled for Coach Horvath before the
split and is one of Downingtown's all time best.....3X state
qualifier, Section, District, and Regional Champion, and
placed 7th at the PIAA State Tournament in Hershey, PA.
While attending college at Slippery Rock University, he was
a conference champion and NCAA qualifier. He just
received his teaching degree from Bloomsburg University
and will be substitute teaching in our district. He is just as
excited and ready to help our program improve as we are
to have him on board.
| 2007-2008 |
D'town East's Horvath picks up 100th career win
by Nate Heckenberger, Special to the Daily Local
Posted on January 7, 2008
Downingtown East coach Joe Horvath will tell you that wrestling is the toughest sport in which to preach the idea of "team."
He may also tell you that wrestling, as sports go, is the toughest to compete in. And while both statements may be up for
debate, one thing about Horvath that is not questioned is his passion for the sport he coaches and the results he gets.
Saturday, at the Octorara duals, the Cougars won the title, and Horvath notched his 100th career victory as head coach.
In his 10th season at the helm, starting with Downingtown High and continuing with Downingtown East after the district
split, Horvath has guided his team to an 8-4 record this season.
"To be honest, it feels really good," Horvath said of the milestone. "I'm not over concerned with wins, I'm more concerned
with the progress we're making and the progress we made at Downingtown and now Downingtown East."
Horvath took over the helm as head coach when he was 24 and fresh out of Bucknell University, where he earned an
English and education degree following his high school career at West Chester East.
Since then, his belief in the idea that some of life's greatest lessons can be learned on the mat has helped motivate high
schoolers to compete as a team in a sport dominated by the individual.
"I tell kids, 'You'll reap the greatest rewards in the sport of wrestling when they learn to be a part of a team and step above
and beyond an individual.' So much character is built doing something extremely difficult."
by Nate Heckenberger, Special to the Daily Local
Posted on January 7, 2008
Downingtown East coach Joe Horvath will tell you that wrestling is the toughest sport in which to preach the idea of "team."
He may also tell you that wrestling, as sports go, is the toughest to compete in. And while both statements may be up for
debate, one thing about Horvath that is not questioned is his passion for the sport he coaches and the results he gets.
Saturday, at the Octorara duals, the Cougars won the title, and Horvath notched his 100th career victory as head coach.
In his 10th season at the helm, starting with Downingtown High and continuing with Downingtown East after the district
split, Horvath has guided his team to an 8-4 record this season.
"To be honest, it feels really good," Horvath said of the milestone. "I'm not over concerned with wins, I'm more concerned
with the progress we're making and the progress we made at Downingtown and now Downingtown East."
Horvath took over the helm as head coach when he was 24 and fresh out of Bucknell University, where he earned an
English and education degree following his high school career at West Chester East.
Since then, his belief in the idea that some of life's greatest lessons can be learned on the mat has helped motivate high
schoolers to compete as a team in a sport dominated by the individual.
"I tell kids, 'You'll reap the greatest rewards in the sport of wrestling when they learn to be a part of a team and step above
and beyond an individual.' So much character is built doing something extremely difficult."
| Head Coach - Joe Horvath |