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Angelo Morascyzk ’77 has been instrumental to the success of the wrestling program as a student-athlete and coach for nearly four decades. Morascyzk began his W&J career in 1973 and he started every match for the Presidents during his four-year career. Morascyzk wrestled three years in the 134-pound weight class and spent his junior year at 126 pounds. He was a four-time national qualifier and his 62-14 career record remains as the fifth-best winning percentage in school history (.813).
The 62 victories were a school record at the time of his graduation and currently rank 15th on the all-time list. As a freshman, Morascyzk earned the wrestling program’s first-ever team point at the 1974 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. He dropped a 3-2 decision in the All-America round. Morascyzk was a four-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference wrestler (two runner-ups, two third-place showings). He was undefeated as a senior heading into the conference championship match before dropping his first decision of the year.
He wrestled on the 1974-75 team which became the first nationally-ranked team in W&J history. An 18-2 dual-meet record helped the Presidents reach No. 18 in the national rankings. Morascyzk, who graduated with honors with degrees in secondary education and political science, returned to his alma mater as a co-head coach with James White from 1993 to 1998 and helped the 1995 Presidents win the school’s first PAC title in 29 years. He took over the head coaching role on his own in 1998 until the 2005-06 season.
During his coaching career, W&J wrestlers captured 44 conference individual titles, including nine who were selected as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Most Outstanding Wrestler. He also coached five Academic All-Americans and guided the 2001-02 Presidents to the first undefeated dual-meet record (7-0) in school history. The Presidents also claimed the 1999 PAC Championship under his direction. Morascyzk played an integral role in the success of Kevin DeJuliis ’03, Matt Smith ’05 and Wesley Koteski ’02, who finished their careers with the top three win totals in W&J history.
DeJuliis totaled 117 victories and was an NCAA Division III All-American in 2002 where he was one of three W&J wrestlers to earn an invitation to the 2002 national championships. Morascyzk and his wife of 33 years, Karen, reside in Washington. The couple has two sons, 2001 W&J graduate Joe and Mike who also attended Washington & Jefferson. Joe helped start the Presidents’ club ice hockey team.
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