JACKSON TWP — Dedication in high school sports can come from many directions.

That was proved last Wednesday night at Seneca Valley High.

Before the SV wrestling team's match against Blackhawk, seven people were honored for their consistent support of the program.

The group included former elementary coaches Tom Barron and Bob Hornick, longtime fans Norman and Gloria McMurray, Pete Brueckman and former varsity coach Ken Lockey and his wife Mary.

Barron, Hornick and Norman McMurray all died within the last few years.

The ceremony was in the works since last January.

The McMurrays found out they would both be honored before Norman's death in fall.

"He thought it was wonderful what they were planning to do," Gloria McMurray said.

There are many fans of high school sports, but the McMurrays and Brueckman have set themselves apart.

Norman and Gloria began attending Seneca Valley wrestling matches in 1969 and Brueckman started soon after that.

"You could probably count on both hands the number of matches they have missed over the years, home and away," said Lockey. "You're not going to find fans like that anymore, supporting a high school sport like that for over 35 years."

Brueckman's support of the team began when his niece was dating one of the wrestlers.

"I started coming to the matches and got to know Ken and Mary, Norman and Gloria," said Brueckman, who is a lifelong resident of Evans City. "I just enjoy watching the kids."

SV's wrestlers have returned the support they have received.

"When my husband died, I received a sympathy card from the team," said Gloria, who lives in Cranberry Township. "All the kids signed it and put their wrestling weight next to their names. I really appreciated that.

The McMurray's started supporting the program when their sons, Thomas and Ronald, became friends with SV wrestling great Tim Kearns.

"We've just kept in contact with the team all these years," Gloria said.

Barron, the father of SV's lone state wrestling champion Rich Barron (1982), began the elementary wrestling program in 1970 and coached within it until 1992. Hornick assisted him for 15 years.

Hornick's wife, daughter and two sons accepted the plaque in his honor.

"They were two volunteers," said Lockey of the former coaches. "When somebody volunteers for that long, that really is something."

The Lockeys didn't know that they also would be honored. The plaque presented to them read, "The Father and Mother of Seneca Valley Wrestling.

"When they called our names to come down to the court, I thought, 'Oh my gosh,'" said Mary Lockey. "I knew the others were being honored, but not us."

But it is fitting that they were.

Ken Lockey founded the SV wrestling program in 1966. His lone losing season was his first and he went on to post a coaching record of 392-163-13.

His wife supported him and his team every step of the way.

"I began going to wrestling matches when I was in the seventh grade," said Mary, who, like her husband, graduated from Philipsburg-Osceola High School in central Pennsylvania. "I can't imagine our lives without wrestling."