Two Chenago County coaches inducted into the Hall of Fame
The Section IV Athletic Hall of Fame has recently announced it’s latest induction class. Among the names on the list were two Chenango County coaching standouts, Don Kovalchik (Norwich) and Steven Burghardt (Whitney Point and Greene). Both were officially inducted this past Saturday, Feb 27, at the Floyd L. Maines Arena in Binghamton.
•Don Kovalchik was born in New York City, and raised, educated in first employed in New Jersey before joining Section IV and Norwich.
At the time of his retirement Kovalchik was Norwich High Schools all time winningest coach.
After he was hired as an English teacher in 1969, he became an assistant coach for two seasons, before taking over the Tornado’s reins for the next 30-years from 1971-to 2001.
During the course of those 30 campaigns, Kovalchik led Norwich to the pinnacle of the wrestling worlds successes. His teams compiled an impressive 271-124-5 (.686) dual meet record.
Along the way, the Tornado laid claim to six class championships and six more STAC division titles, breaking Johnson City’s stronghold on the overall STAC Crown in the 1990-91 season when Norwich claimed that honor.
Some other accomplishments were his Norwich wrestlers were New York State Winners 10 times, won 13 section IV titles, 37 class crowns, 29 individual STAC first, and 89 runners-up for the Tornado Matman.
Kovalchik was twice chosen as the Section IV coach of the year in 1990-91 for Class A&B and in 1992-93 season for Class B.
Kovalchik was inducted into the upstate New York chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005, and remains a member of the Board of Directors.
He is also a member of the Somerville (NJ) High School Hall of Fame- from where he graduated in 1954 – as both an athlete and a coach, and is being inducted into the Norwich high school sports Hall of Fame this summer.
Although retired from teaching in 1991 and still coaching 10 years later, the Rutgers University graduate, who turns a 80 on July 31 of this year, remains an active participant in Norwich’s wrestling program as a volunteer assistant.
When not on the mats, Kovalchik still tends to the duties of maintaining his 264-acre dairy farm in Mount Upton.
•Steven Burghardt totaled an outstanding coaching record of over 40 years at Whitney Point and Greene Central Schools. During his career he coached at all levels- Modified, Junior Varsity, and Varsity for various boys and girls teams.
Burghardt's early years from 1976-80, were spent at Whitney Point and included the girls first basketball Sectional Championship, as well as taking his girls softball teams to an amazing record of 61-14.
However, despite the successes at Whitney Point, most of Burghardt’s years were spent at Greene Central School.
During his time with the Trojans, his overall varsity record was 474-284 (a 63% winning record).
While coaching varsity basketball, his accomplishments totaled five-Sus. League, three- Section IV, and two-Regional Championship titles. Burghardt brought much success to the Greene Central School baseball and basketball programs.
In 2003, Steve and his wife, Linda, received the National Junior Coaches Award. After 26 years, Steven Burghardt is still active as the director of the Whitney point field hockey program.
•Don Kovalchik was born in New York City, and raised, educated in first employed in New Jersey before joining Section IV and Norwich.
At the time of his retirement Kovalchik was Norwich High Schools all time winningest coach.
After he was hired as an English teacher in 1969, he became an assistant coach for two seasons, before taking over the Tornado’s reins for the next 30-years from 1971-to 2001.
During the course of those 30 campaigns, Kovalchik led Norwich to the pinnacle of the wrestling worlds successes. His teams compiled an impressive 271-124-5 (.686) dual meet record.
Along the way, the Tornado laid claim to six class championships and six more STAC division titles, breaking Johnson City’s stronghold on the overall STAC Crown in the 1990-91 season when Norwich claimed that honor.
Some other accomplishments were his Norwich wrestlers were New York State Winners 10 times, won 13 section IV titles, 37 class crowns, 29 individual STAC first, and 89 runners-up for the Tornado Matman.
Kovalchik was twice chosen as the Section IV coach of the year in 1990-91 for Class A&B and in 1992-93 season for Class B.
Kovalchik was inducted into the upstate New York chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005, and remains a member of the Board of Directors.
He is also a member of the Somerville (NJ) High School Hall of Fame- from where he graduated in 1954 – as both an athlete and a coach, and is being inducted into the Norwich high school sports Hall of Fame this summer.
Although retired from teaching in 1991 and still coaching 10 years later, the Rutgers University graduate, who turns a 80 on July 31 of this year, remains an active participant in Norwich’s wrestling program as a volunteer assistant.
When not on the mats, Kovalchik still tends to the duties of maintaining his 264-acre dairy farm in Mount Upton.
•Steven Burghardt totaled an outstanding coaching record of over 40 years at Whitney Point and Greene Central Schools. During his career he coached at all levels- Modified, Junior Varsity, and Varsity for various boys and girls teams.
Burghardt's early years from 1976-80, were spent at Whitney Point and included the girls first basketball Sectional Championship, as well as taking his girls softball teams to an amazing record of 61-14.
However, despite the successes at Whitney Point, most of Burghardt’s years were spent at Greene Central School.
During his time with the Trojans, his overall varsity record was 474-284 (a 63% winning record).
While coaching varsity basketball, his accomplishments totaled five-Sus. League, three- Section IV, and two-Regional Championship titles. Burghardt brought much success to the Greene Central School baseball and basketball programs.
In 2003, Steve and his wife, Linda, received the National Junior Coaches Award. After 26 years, Steven Burghardt is still active as the director of the Whitney point field hockey program.
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