Truman High School Dedicates Wrestling Room To Former Ref, Coach

January 19, 2023

Dennis Siegmann, Debbie Siegmann, and Bob McCarney pose with the new plaque honoring former Truman referee and coach Richie Siegmann. The high school has named their wrestling room in Siegmann’s honor.
Credit: Maxwell Reil/LevittownNow.com

On a recent evening between the Harry S. Truman High School Junior Varsity and Varsity wrestling matches, the crowded gym went silent as former wrestling coach Steve Given spoke into the microphone to make an announcement.

The announcement was the official renaming of the high school’s wrestling room on behalf of the late Richard “Richie” Siegmann.

“The wrestling community at Harry S. Truman is just trying to reciprocate the dedication and loyalty Richie showed our program over the years,” said Given, who coached the wrestling team from 1993 to 2014.

Members of the Siegmann family were in attendance, along with former referees, coaches, and Harry S Truman alumni. A plaque was created in Siegmann’s honor and will be on display inside the wrestling room.

Siegmann, who passed away in 2021, was an alumnus of the Bristol Township School District, graduating Woodrow Wilson HS in 1970. He was a lifelong member of the Pennsylvania Wrestling Referees Association’s Delaware Chapter and was inducted into the Southeast Region Wrestling Officials Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Catholic League Wresting Hall of Fame.

Siegmann refereed Harry S Truman High School’s annual wrestling tournament for 20 years.

After retiring as a referee Richie was a volunteer coach for the Harry S. Truman High School team.

Richie was lovingly referred to as “Oldhead” by countless wrestlers that came thru the ranks of the team. He not only loved the sport, but the Tigers were his team. Richie was there for home and away events dedicated beyond any other. His only request was a well-done hotdog and orange slices for the kids.

The Harry S Truman Wrestling Booster Club formally requested the renaming of the room in February 2022, and the Bristol Township School District approved the naming within weeks.

Siegmann’s older brother Dennis Siegmann was in attendance Wednesday night. He smiled and looked on during the ceremony, sitting right next to Richie’s wife Debbie and Richie’s longtime friend Bob McCarney.

“He had plenty of wrestling opportunities after high school but he stayed in the area and dedicated his life to wrestling and to this school. Every conversation I ever had with him was about Lower Bucks County wrestling and Truman wrestling and what it meant to him,” Dennis Siegmann said. “I think this is a great honor for him tonight to have this room named after him for his dedication to Woodrow Wilson and Truman high school.”

“He wrestled in this gym, he refereed in this gym, and he coached in this gym,” said McCarney. “What better way to honor him?”

Dennis Siegmann and McCarney both said that a ceremony like the one on Wednesday would’ve humbled Richie if he were still around.

“He’d probably have a hot dog and say ‘hey thanks’,” McCarney joked.

“He didn’t like to be splashy or have the spotlight, but he would be humbled,” Dennis Siegmann said.

At least 15 referees who were friends with Richie were in attendance on Wednesday, according to McCarney.

McCarney said, above all else, Richie was dedicated to the game, and the rules.

“He had a love for the sport. Wrestling is infectious and Rich was the ultimate ref. He believed in rules and he followed the rules. There’s no in between in his mind,” McCarney said. “He would probably say ‘I’m not worthy of this’ but you know what? Yes he is.”