It could be said that without
Lyman Weaver, the Millersville wrestling program would not have gained the success that it has. Weaver was a charter member of the first varsity wrestling teams in 1946-47 and 1947-48 and served as captains both years.
Wrestling at 136 pounds, “Beans” was a PSAC runner-up in 1948 and compiled an 11-2 dual meet record during his career. He also took second place at the 1947 Middle Atlantic AAU Championships. He remains one of only five wrestlers in the history of the program to be a two-time recipient of the Theodore H. Rupp Award.
While his wrestling career was cut short because of injuries, he stayed on as an assistant coach. In just the program’s third year of existence, Weaver and head coach Theodore Rupp guided the Marauders to a PSAC Championship and a runner-up finish the following season.
All of his achievements on the mat came after completing 50 missions as a B-24 radio gunner over Italy as a member of the United States Air Force during World War II.
After graduating from Millersville in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Weaver earned a master’s degree from Bucknell. He went on to coach wrestling for 20 years in the Shamokin Area School District and serve as a principal and teacher for 35 years. He was selected to the Greater Shamokin Area Hall of Fame in 1985, the Pennsylvania District 4 Hall of Fame in 1992 and to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003.
Weaver passed away on May 19, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn.
