The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LATE JAMES MICHAEL DESIDERIO ON HIS INDUCTION
INTO THE LUZERNE COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
______
HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor former athlete, coach, official, and Northeastern Pennsylvania native, the late James Michael Desiderio. James will be inducted into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame for his distinct athletic and coaching achievements in the sport of wrestling. He and his fellow inductees will be honored at a reception on August 8, 2021.
Each year, the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame honors those who have brought fame and recognition to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through their outstanding achievements and contributions in athletic endeavors.
James graduated from E.L. Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania where he spent four years as a key member of the wrestling team. For his athletic-prowess and leadership, he was named captain his senior year, and his efforts on the mat earned him induction into the Meyers High School Sports Hall of Fame.
James continued his academic career at Luzerne County Community College, graduating with a degree in science. He started coaching wrestling at Pittston Area High School before transferring to Meyers where he was the head coach of the junior high team and known for his care and attention to his athletes. James left the area to attend Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida where he received a degree in Mortuary Science. While in Miami, he coached wrestling for a local YMCA. James returned to Pennsylvania and opened Piszczek-Desiderio Funeral Home. His passion for the sport of wrestling endured as he worked as a PIAA wrestling referee, officiating the sport with fairness and expertise. He continued to work for the good of his community by serving on the Wilkes-Barre YMCA Board of Directors for more than ten years.
It is an honor to recognize James on his induction into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame. May his story and his athletic and coaching careers serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Pennsylvania athletes striving for excellence.
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 133
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