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Barron brothers carry family name to HOF

This is the final article profiling the 2011 inductees into the Seneca Valley Sports Hall of FameThe name Barron and wrestling go hand-in-hand at Seneca Valley.Twin brothers Mark and Matt Barron both remain at or near the top in many categories in the program's history.Saturday night, they will both be inducted into the Seneca Valley Sports Hall of Fame in a ceremony held at the high school.Mark and Matt were two of six children born to Tom and Ann Barron. Their siblings included brothers Tom, Dave, Rich and sister Peggy.“Our older brothers all wrestled and our dad started the Seneca Valley Youth Wrestling program,” said Mark. “I just really enjoyed the sport.”Competition became part of Mark and Matt's relationship early on.“Matt and I hated losing to each other,” Mark said.But, as Matt explained, it was tough for one to get the upper hand for long.“No matter how good you are, the other one is always right there, like your shadow,” he said.In 1982, Rich Barron won the first, and to date the only state wrestling title in SV history. He was inducted into SV's Hall of Fame in 2008.Matt Barron admits his older brother left big shoes to fill.“Rich was such a great athlete,” Matt said. “There was pressure to live up to that standard.”Though a state title eluded both Mark and Matt Barron, success did not.Mark, a 1984 graduate, finished with a career record of 125-19-3. He still holds the Seneca Valley record for career wins and career points (415). While wrestling at 132 pounds his senior year, he won a section title, placed second in the WPIAL and fifth in the state. He ended that campaign with 38 victories, the second-most in the annals of Raider wrestling.Matt, who graduated a year later due to a month-long bout with pneumonia in elementary school, put up impressive career numbers of his own.He won three straight section titles, at 119 pounds his sophomore and junior years and at 132 as a senior in 1985.Matt also placed third in the WPIAL as a junior and senior, compiling a lifetime record of 119-22-4.But the moment that sticks out most for him was during his senior year when he reached 100 career wins.“That made Rich (118 wins), Mark and myself the first trio of brothers in Pennsylvania to win 100 matches,” Matt said. “That's what I remember most.”Former SV wrestling coach Ken Lockey coached all of the Barron brothers.“With them being twins, I had problems telling Mark and Matt apart,” Lockey said with a laugh. “They were both very coachable kids. I'm proud of what they were able to accomplish.”Though their last name is mostly associated with wrestling at SV, Mark and Matt Barron also competed for the boys track and cross-country teams.In 1983, they helped the latter win a state championship, the first team state title in school history.The squad's co-captains were Mark Barron and Gus Nicholl.“We had high expectations coming into that season,” said Mark. “Winning that title, it really sticks out for me.”Over the last decade, both Mark and Matt became involved in wrestling once again.Matt, who lives outside of Colorado Springs, Colo., was instrumental in the formation of a youth wrestling program that includes grapplers from age 4 through junior high.Mark lives in Huntingdon, Pa. He was recently a volunteer coach at DuBois Area High School for a two-year stint.“With wrestling,” Matt said, “you get out of it what you put in.”For details regarding Seneca Valley's Hall of Fame inductions, call 724-452-6040.

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