Wrestling: 'Retired' Shoemaker helps make sure Radnor's Holiday Tournament a success

RADNOR — Skip Shoemaker needs to work on this retirement thing.

Retirement, by definition, means not working, or taking it easy. Shoemaker, who stepped down in September after 40 years as the wrestling coach at Radnor High School, did neither during the 36th Radnor Holiday Wrestling Tournament Saturday.

He spent a good portion of the day in the physical education office at Radnor typing in the results of the tournament. When he wasn’t doing that, he walked around to make sure things were running smoothly.

“I’ve been tearing my hair out for a few days and by the time the night rolls around I’m sure I’ll crash,’ said Shoemaker, who retired as a teacher in 2008. “To be honest, I don’t know how I did it when I was working. I’ve been organizing and doing stuff for two weeks now.’

Judging by the attendance, all the hard work was appreciated.

Penn Wood’s Karon Lucas-Tillery took top honors as the Most Outstanding Wrestler. He blew through the 195-pound weight class with a 4-0 record. Three of his victories were by fall. Lucas-Tillery defeated Jamal Sample of Friends’ Central, 10-8, to win the title.

Lucas-Tillery wasn’t the only county wrestler to come away with a title. Teammate Abraham Charles won the 132-pound championship.

Radnor won the team crown and had four individual champions: Dan Redmond (126), Tom Meyers (160), Addison Hanson (182) and Kent Chace (220). Other county champions were Alex Elliott of Sun Valley (138), Episcopal Academy’s A.J. Curufello (170) and Chauncey Simmons of The Haverford School (285).

“It’s a lot of fun,’ Hanson said. “It’s a great meet and it’s an integral part of the Radnor wrestling program.’

That was the idea when Shoemaker and several other coaches broke off from a meet at Upper Merion High School nearly four decades ago.

“It got too big and too good,’ Shoemaker said. “It was us, Penn Charter, Episcopal, Haverford School, Lower Merion, I forget who the originals were, but we all said it was too big and too much so we did our own and it ended up being here.’

It’s still going strong after 36 years.

“It gives a lot of kids who aren’t as successful and are still learning an opportunity to be successful and get some wins under their belts,’ said 25-year-old Matt Torresani, who took over for Shoemaker in September. “It’s really important. It’s all about the kids. If you give them a chance to smile, to me, that means the world.’

Other than working as tournament director, Shoemaker has stayed away for the day-to-day operation of the wrestling program to give Torresani space to run things his way.

“I didn’t want Matt to look over his shoulder,’ Shoemaker said.

Torresani, though, is not afraid to pick up the phone and pick Shoemaker’s brain.

“I’m always calling him, asking him questions,’ Torresani said. “The kids love him and he’s been a great mentor to me.’

Torresani was glad that Shoemaker was around to make sure the Holiday Tournament ran smoothly.

“Oh yeah,’ Torresani said. “He’s doing all the things I really don’t want to do, but I’ll have to do in the future. He’s doing all the behind-the-scenes stuff and that allows me to coach. It’s a big help.’

Radnor wrestling coach Skip Shoemaker is technically retired, but that didn't stop him from working behind the scenes to make sure the Raiders' annual Holiday Tournament ran smoothly. (Julia Wilkinson)

Radnor's Tommy Meyers, right, attempts to overpower Penn Wood's Daniel Allen during the Radnor Holiday Tournament Saturday. Meyers won this match. (Julia Wilkinson)