Bob Panariello

Induction Year: 2024

Category: Wrestling and Athletic Administration

Location: Bay Shore and Islip

Bob Panariello has the rare privilege of being inducted as an athletic, coach and athletic administrator, adding to his impressive resume. 

At Bay Shore on the wrestling mat, his accomplishments include 2X league champion, 1981 League MOW and Most Pins in the least time, 2X Suffolk County-Section XI Champion, 2X All-New York State (4th, 2nd), Freestyle and Greco Roman New York State Champion and Most Outstanding Wrestler, National Freestyle 3rd Place as a junior, and National runner-up as his senior.

Bob continued wrestling at Ithaca College, where he was 130-13, 2X Team MOW, 3X Conference Champion, and 3X All-American. Upon graduation, Bob was the winningest wrestler in school history and was inducted into the Ithaca College Hall of Fame in 1994. 

Following his college career in Freestyle competition, Bob competed internationally, captured a Silver Medal in the 1992 Eastern Regional Olympic Trials, and qualified for the final US Olympic Trials.

In 1992, he became the head wrestling coach at Brentwood, where his teams accumulated a Dual Meet Record of 79-31-2, with a winning percentage of .714. The “Brentwood Boys” captured three League I Championships and three Class A County titles. He was voted League Coach of the Year three times and Suffolk County Wrestling Officials Coach of the Year.

Bob then became the Athletic Director at Islip High School. Bob became the Section XI-Suffolk County High School Wrestling Chairman during his tenure at Islip. From 2007-2015, under his guidance, Section XI began the official Section XI Dual Meet Championships.  Bob currently serves on the New York State Wrestling Committee and received the SCWCA “Man of the Year” Award in 2010 and the “Grand Master” Award in 2015, as well as being recognized as “Administrator of the Year” multiple times.

In 2017, Bob returned home to his Alma Mata, becoming the Athletic Director at Bay Shore High School.  In 2019, Bob became the first Administrator on Long Island to add Girls’ wrestling as a Varsity sport. 

He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020.