Frank Speziale Photo

OXFORD – The idea of an Oxford Holiday Tournament began to take shape and became a reality in December of 1963. Under the leadership of Coach Gary Hill, the Oxford Academy and Central School “Blackhawks” won the first annual Clyde Cole Tourney.

But long before the Clyde Cole Tournament came to life, Oxford Academy Wrestling program was the “cream-of-the-crop.”

The 1930’s and 1940’s wrestling teams from Oxford Academy were renown throughout New York State. Under the guidance of Rotarian Clyde Cole, the sport flourished. However in 1947, wrestling was dropped from the Oxford Athletic Program for a variety of reasons.

The 50’s brought up much discussion to reinstate the sport at Oxford. It took until the summer of 1962, when a new 36’ x 36’ Resolite Wrestling Mat was purchased and at the end of the fall sports season of that year, a call was put out for any boys interested in wrestling. When a total of 23 young men responded to the challenge, community members saw signs of the program’s return.