SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Mark Payne '67

Scrap-booking is a current trend, where (usually) women gather and make decorative keepsakes with fancy labels, accents and colorful themes of their lives. And then, there is the traditional scrapbook made simply by cutting out newspaper articles - in black & white - in hopes that the memories and the newsprint do not fade.

Such a scrapbook exists in the Payne family. The wealth of memories and little-known facts, albeit in random order, are exactly that. A gold mine of accomplishments sealed for all time. They speak volumes, too. Which helps us tell the story of Mark Payne, who is the LAST person to tell you all he accomplished.

Memories go as far back as Little League baseball, when Mark's team won the league championship under his dad's (Donald "Red" Payne) coaching and later his team photo of the Moose All-Star Team.

We also learn how the wrestling bug first bit the oldest Payne offspring New coach Tom Robertson found Mark as a bright 6th grade student. Tom offered him a chance to be the team manager, which allowed him to work out with the team in addition to his other duties. He was a quick study.

There were other sports he liked, namely football and track. While records here are scarce, the gridiron exploits were enough that Mark led the area in rushing yardage as a senior halfback before an injury sidelined him after just a handful of games. It should be noted, in his senior season of 1966, Mark scored 7 touchdowns in the first three games. It should also be noted that two longs scoring runs came against Delhi in the coaching debut of one Dave Kelly. Mark was also a trackster, running the sprints, hurdles and some middle distance races.

However, as everyone knows, wrestling was the sport and Mark was "the man". Building on that early success Coach Robertson established, Mark progressed rapidly. His modest 17-7 freshman debut foreshadowed greater results. In winning 82 of his next 84 matches, Mark won three Section IV titles. Therefore his only two losses came in state competition. Specifically, those losses were a 9-1 decision in the 1965 finals at 133 lbs. and the following year in the quarterfinals.

The senior year of unbeaten dominance culminated with Mark on the victory stand by virtue of his 8-4 decision over a Long Island wrestler in the 138lb. division. There was a little tarnish on the medal that day, though. As Mark became the fourth Warrior wrestler to win a NYS crown, and second after classmate Rick Cole won earlier in the evening, brother Randy suffered his only scholastic loss ever, falling in the semifinals. With a 99-9 career in a maroon and white

With a 99-9 career in a maroon and white uniform now complete, Mark set his sights on finding the right college, keeping in mind he also won a National Merit Scholarship. Former Navy coach Dave Adams could not lure him to Annapolis, but upon his hiring at Pittsburgh, secured Mark's commitment for a full-ride scholarship. The decision came around the same time Mark qualified and trained as a Junior Olympics wrestler. That status earned him an international tour and highcaliber matches versus Europe's best wrestlers. Mark responded well to the opportunity, winning all of his matches.

Freshmen could not wrestle varsity in the 1967-68 season, but this Pitt frosh made the most of his limited schedule, as his 16-0 record can attest. It was highlighted by his Most Outstanding Wrestler Award at the Navy Plebe Tournament. As a sophomore, Mark was named an Honorable Mention All-American and was 10-0-1 in league matches. The following season, of course, Randy joined Mark as a Pitt Panther. They shared one complete season together, helping to build what became a solid program.

Since those days, Mark has been what used to be known as a free spirit. He's been an entrepreneur, host of musical concerts and other events at his "Rock Dude Ranch" and a very devoted father of three daughters. He's far removed from the activities that defined his athletic accomplishments and that's okay, because this member of the 2018 Class of HOF inductees will always have his scrapbook. And we are grateful for that!"