Coach, Mentor, Chairperson, FRIEND.....

Despite only having one head; Dave Ironman wore just about every proverbial hat possible as an advocate!

One of the forefathers of "Section 12" (PSAL/CHSAA); you can count on one hand the number of people who played as significant a role in the growth and development of the sport within the five boroughs area!! Cutting his teeth within the sport on Long Island (North Babylon) before wrestling collegiately in Florida... Ironman found "home" and "purpose" in Staten Island as a pillar of the program at Monsignor Farrell for over 40 yards (1983-present)!

Serving in an "Emeritus" status on the Lion bench during the Maroon & Gold's rise to prominence in the 2000s; his influence was the inspiration and/or motivation behind a streak of 23 years (2009-2022) that witnessed the school put at least one individual on the podium of the NYS State Championship Tournament!

Their five NYSPHSAA Champions (2x Rich Sisti, Terry Adams, Jimmy Ryan, and just last year, Brennan Sprague) the most crowned by any CHSAA member in history...

None of the success would have been possible had he not been the "match that created the initial spark"!

Expressing a need to both "give back to" and "pay forward" all that wrestling had provided him before a car accident ended his competitive career while he was attending FIU....

Ironman dedicated the majority of his life to doing whatever was necessary at a given moment to promote and/or expand the reach of the sport!

He has spent many a weekend in the role of tournament director...Answered the call to act as the Catholic High School Athletic Association State Chairperson....And even applied his legal background (practicing attorney) to help fine tune and implement policy/infrastructure that is still adhered to today by NY-USA/USA Wrestling!

Having had the privilege of sitting in his company; I [Matt] echo the sentiments of anyone/everyone whom he befriended in saying that you'd be hard pressed to find a more humble, welcoming, and genuine person!

His infinite passion recognized and celebrated in 2015; Ironman was enshrined in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame under the "Lifetime Service" banner!!!

He left the sport and the world better than he inherited it!