Friends and family honor Lock Haven alumnus with memorial wrestling scholarship

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (07/11/2025) — For those who knew Rodger Cook '67, his legacy lives not in loud declarations or headlines - but in the lives he shaped, the teams he led and the steady example he set as a teacher, coach and friend.

Now, through the Rodger Cook '67 Memorial Wrestling Scholarship, his legacy will continue to support the next generation of wrestlers at Commonwealth-University Lock Haven - ensuring that young men of character and commitment have the opportunity to pursue greatness both on and off the mat.

A proud member of the Lock Haven High School Class of 1960 and a standout student-athlete at Lock Haven State College, Cook was a two-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion and a three-time NAIA national qualifier. He served his country in the Army - earning an All-Army wrestling title in 1966 - and returned to dedicate his life to education and coaching.

Over more than a decade as the head wrestling coach at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Maryland, Cook led his team to county and regional championships, mentored multiple state champions and quietly built a reputation as a skilled technician, trusted mentor and loyal colleague.

"He didn't seek the limelight," said Ron Bowes '66, Cook's longtime friend, and teammate dating back to junior high school. "Rodger was quiet, dependable, a great teacher. He had excellent technique and could break down moves in a way that athletes really understood. He didn't just coach champions, he shaped young men with strong values."

Those values - leadership, sportsmanship and integrity - are central to the Rodger Cook '67 Memorial Wrestling Scholarship. Established by Bowes, along with Rodger's family, friends and former teammates, the scholarship provides renewable support to student-athletes who represent Lock Haven and the sport of wrestling with character and pride. Though the fund has already surpassed the $25,000 threshold to become permanently endowed, Bowes - a member of The Rise Campaign Steering Committee - has set an ambitious goal of growing the scholarship to $100,000.

"I want to honor Rodger because he was one of the most solid, loyal friends I've ever had," Bowes said. "He did so much for Lock Haven wrestling during his lifetime, as a student, as a donor, as the vice president of the Lock Haven Wrestling Club. He believed in what this program meant to the town, to the university and to the young men who wore that uniform."

Cook's belief in the program was matched by his impact. In 1994, he was inducted into the Lock Haven Wrestling Hall of Fame. He also received posthumous honors from the West Branch Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, joining the 2024 induction class. His contributions live on not just in accolades, but in the lives of students like Lucas Kapusta, a recent scholarship recipient who had the opportunity to meet Cook's family at the Lock Haven University Foundation's Scholarship Brunch last year.

"Rodger was a Hall of Famer in every sense - humble, skilled and passionate about the sport. His legacy now helps power the future of Lock Haven Wrestling, and we are deeply grateful," said Scott Moore, head men's wrestling coach at CU-Lock Haven. "The scholarship is being used exactly how Rodger would have wanted it - to support hardworking student-athletes who embody the spirit of Lock Haven Wrestling."

That spirit is alive today through The Rise Campaign. The multi-year effort aims to fully endow Lock Haven's wrestling program and build long-term sustainability through scholarships, program enhancements and strategic support. Bowes sees the Rodger Cook '67 Memorial Scholarship as an essential piece of that mission.

"We have a coach who's all in. We have administrative support backing the program. We have the tradition," Bowes said. "Now is the time to give."

"The establishment of the Rodger Cook Memorial Wrestling Scholarship is a fitting tribute to an individual who dedicated his life to service, excellence and leadership," said Bashar W. Hanna, Commonwealth University president. "We take great pride in honoring his memory and legacy through this scholarship, which will serve as an investment in future generations of Bald Eagles."

Through continued contributions to the Rodger Cook '67 Memorial Wrestling Scholarship, donors can help power The Haven's return to national prominence, while honoring a man whose life was defined not by ego, but by excellence.

"I hope others will join us," Bowes said. "Rodger gave so much to the sport and to the school. With our support, his impact doesn't have to stop."

Anyone interested in supporting the Rodger Cook '67 Memorial Wrestling Scholarship, or establishing their own named scholarship in support of The Rise Campaign, can do so by contacting Ashley Koser, LHUF executive director, at ashley.koser@lhufoundation.org or 570-484-2998.

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