Dick DiBatista, 99 Greatest Lower Merion And Penn Wrestler Ever
Kobe Bryant isn’t the only Lower Merion High School athlete who there will never be another “one of.” There will also never be another Dick DiBatista.
Not to take anything away from Kobe, who was “pretty good”; But Mamba lost a few games with the Aces. DiBatista never lost once; not at Lower Merion, not at F&M Academy and not at Penn.
Lower Merion and Penn Wrestling legend Richard “Dick” Dibatista died on February 29 at the age of 99. According to PennAthletics.com, “DiBatista posted an incredible 137-0 career record on the mat that included high school, prep school, college and amateur competition.
He won a Pennsylvania state championship in 1938 while at Lower Merion High School, then a National Prep School title in 1939 while at Franklin & Marshall Academy. DiBatista also was named to the 1940 and 1944 Olympic Teams, although the Games were not held because of WWII. During the War, DiBatista served as 2nd Lieutenant in the Marines and was stationed in the South Pacific.”
He Won His First of Two NCAA Titles In 1941
The Inquirer reported on March 23, 1941, that “Dick DiBattista [earlier references spell his name with two Ts, and more recent ones spell it with one] star sophomore, brought the University of Pennsylvania its first National College A. A. wrestling championship tonight when he won a thrill-packed final bout before 1,500 fans at Lehigh’s Taylor gymnasium.
To gain his great triumph, the former Lower Merion High School strong boy had to achieve what most observers had maintained was impossible – defeat Al Crawford, Appalachian State College, who had won the National A.A.U. title three times, and was international champion at Stockholm, Sweden in 1938. But Dick turned the trick, by 5-4.
In 2005, Batista attended a ceremony where the wrestling facility at Lower Merion High School was renamed in his honor.
I enjoyed visiting Dick here at Riddle Village several months prior to his passing. He refereed many of my bouts in the 40’s at Upper Darby and while he didn’t know who I was his eye’s lit up when I mentioned people he knew like Lloyd Black and Pete Bernardino. He was a role model for all of us back then and I will remember him as a great wrestler and fine person..
Mr. DB was one of the kindest teachers I ever had.
I had no idea he went to my alma mater – Penn – and was a wrestling champion!
My gym teacher at the long-gone Bala Elementary School in the 1950’s. No idea that he was as accomplished as described.
Mr. DB left an enormous imprint on my heart. So much so I wrote about him in my book SPEAK. Page 52! He taught me the importance of staying physically fit and having good form and how to compete: My sisters and I learned so much from him and we will be forever grateful for his lessons. God Bless Mr. DiBatista. ♥️
I remember him! He had the largest hands I’ve ever seen!!
It has been a pleasure to read about Dick Di Battista. Penn State’s coach Cael Sanderson has an undefeated record, too.
My dad was friends with Dick DiBattista who came into our grocery store many yimes at Spring and Greenfield Avenues. I met him in the store when I was very young. Pretty amazing guy.
Correction: My last name is Pucci, not Puccu.
He was the gym teacher at Gladwyne Elementary School when I was there in 1961-1962 while in 5th and 6th grade. At that time I had no idea of his stature as a wrestler. Certainly there will never be another with that kind of record.
Larry, Did you live on Sweetbriar Rd?
No. We moved from Bala-Cynwyd in Feb. 1961, where I had attended Cynwyd Elementary, to Monticello Drive. I finished 5th grade at Gladwyne then, and then 6th. I think there was another Nagle family you are thinking of.