Joel Melitski (2022) - Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Joel Melitski

Class

1964
Induction

2022
Sport(s)

Wrestling

Joel Melitski was a four-year varsity letter winner for the Bloomsburg wrestling program from 1960-64. Melitski was the NAIA national runner-up in 1964 and captured a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship that season.

Melitski went undefeated in duals during his freshman campaign and finished third at the Wilkes Open and second at the PSAC Tournament that season at 123 pounds. As a junior, he finished second at the PSAC Tournament, and as a senior, he became the first Bloomsburg wrestler ever to win the prestigious Wilkes Open Tournament.

Following his time at Bloomsburg and a highly successful coaching career, Melitski was elected President of the New Jersey State Wrestling Coaches Association from 1980-81 and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Stillwater, Okla.) in 2015 for his lifetime of service to the sport of wrestling. Melitski is a member of several other Halls of Fame, including the Region 5 Wrestling, New Jersey State Coaches Association, Somerville High School, and Bernards High School Halls of Fame.