Kiski Area wrestlers visit ill program legend

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 5:42 PM

Bob Banks became one of Kiski Area’s most significant wrestlers during his high school days in the 1970s, and the current Cavaliers showed their appreciation earlier this week.

Nearly a dozen Kiski Area wrestlers, coach Chris Heater and assistants Chuck Tursky and Don Toy visited Banks, who is dealing with an illness, at his home Tuesday. The Cavaliers gave him a medal from their runner-up finish at this season’s PIAA Class AAA team championships, along with one of their “TEAM” T-shirts.

Banks, a 1973 Kiski Area graduate, won WPIAL individual championships in 1972 and 1973 and became the Cavaliers’ first PIAA tournament qualifier in 1972. He had a combined 45-2 record in those two seasons.

Since Banks broke through, more than 50 other Kiski Area wrestlers competed at the state tournament — including his son, Bobby Banks, who took second in the state in 1994.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Tags: Kiski School