Mike Frood, a pillar of the Jordan-Elbridge wrestling community, has been inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, recognizing his incredible contributions to the sport over his decades-long career.
Frood, who worked at Jordan-Elbridge for 32 years, first began his journey in 1975 as a physical education teacher and was soon asked by Coach Lonnie Warner to assist with the modified wrestling team.
By 1976, Frood had taken over as head coach of the varsity wrestling team, a position he held for 12 remarkable seasons.
With an impressive overall coaching record of 144 wins and only 22 losses, Frood led the Eagles to unprecedented success.
His teams secured nine league championships, 10 league tournament championships, six Section III Class C championships, and finished as Section III runners-up twice, in 1986 and 1988.
During this time, 58 wrestlers won league championships, 41 Section III Class C championships, 12 Section III Champions and 8 state place winners. Many consider the 1980s to be a golden era for JE wrestling, with Frood at the helm, later bringing Warner back on board as an assistant from 1984 to 1988.
“I was honored to have both Lonnie Warner and John Howes, my athletic director and mentor, at the banquet,” Frood reflected on the Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame ceremony. “It felt like everything came full circle. They were both integral to the success we had.”
Frood’s impact on the sport extended beyond coaching.
He served as a wrestling referee for 28 years and was twice vice president of the Syracuse Wrestling Officials Association. Nominated in 2020, Frood expressed his surprise and gratitude when he received a letter earlier this year confirming his induction into the Hall of Fame.
“Very seldom does someone get in right away,” he said.
While officially retired from coaching, Frood remains deeply involved with the JE wrestling program.
He volunteers alongside current head coach Mike Nguyen, helping to run the weight room and developing injury recovery programs for wrestlers.
His dedication to the sport is exemplified by his continued presence at practices, often accompanied by his black lab Jeter, a certified therapy dog beloved by the team.
The JE wrestling program, now combined with Port Byron, Cato-Meridian, and Union Springs, continues to thrive.
Last season, the team achieved a remarkable victory, claiming the Section III Division II Championship.
“The future is in good hands,” said Frood. “We lost three great seniors, but we are going to be really solid in the middle. We’ve got a couple of younger wrestlers who made huge strides last year, and we’re excited about their growth.”
For Frood, the hall of fame induction, and to be forever enshrined in Stillwater, Oklahoma, is a shared achievement.
“This award is so much bigger than me,” he said. “It took a lot of people – students, coaches, and administration – to build this program. I gladly represented them all. This award belongs to Jordan-Elbridge.”
