Hall of Fame
In making the most of his opportunity Dennis enjoyed a successful wrestling career at Towson that followed a grueling amateur period he used to prepare for the competition he would face on the collegiate mats.
After graduating from Dundalk High School Dennis wrestled for the YMCA, appearing in almost 60 tournaments in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Virginia. He reached the semifinals many times but a loss put you into the wrestle backs where you had the chance to claw your way to a third place finish. That’s where Dennis piled up the victories.
In the fall of 1970 Dennis entered Towson, transferring from Essex Community College. He was forced to sit out his first year as a redshirt but he competed as a sophomore and junior, winning 88 per cent of his matches by compiling a 44-7 record. He was a two-time Mason-Dixon Conference champion (190 lb. in 1972 and heavyweight in 1973). He also won the 190 lb. class title at the 1972 Maryland Federation Open Wrestling Tournament.
He competed in the 1972 and 1973 NCAA Division II nationals. In 1972 he lost in the semifinals to an All-American and eventual National Champion. In 1973 he advanced all the way to the semifinals once again where he bowed to a two-time national champion and US Olympic alternate, finishing 9th in the college division. During the wrestle back he just missed All-American honors. His collegiate eligibility expired after that season. In one of his final appearances on the mats he captured the heavyweight title at the Colonies Championship Wrestling Tournament in 1974, competing as an independent.
Over the years Dennis kept his hand in the sport. He coached at the recreation and club levels. He served as an assistant at Fallston High School. He was on the board of directors for the Maryland State Wrestling Association for 13 years including a stint as its vice-chairman. He served as a board member (selection committee) of the Maryland Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Later after graduating from Towson Dennis and his wife, Sharon, also a Towson grad who taught elementary school for over 40 years in Baltimore County, served two years in the Peace Corps in the South Pacific in the late 1970’s. The father of a special needs son, Dennis devoted much time and effort to Maryland’s special needs and disability community by serving on the Governor’s Quality Advisory Council of Development Disability Administration (DDA). He was as a member of the board of directors and treasurer for SDAN (Self-Directed Advocacy Network, Inc. of Maryland), a non-profit organization advocating for Maryland’s special needs/disability community.
