Longtime Westchester County wrestling coach fighting to return to his post

For the first time in decades, longtime coach and founder of John Jay-Cross River's wrestling program, Bill Swertfager, may not be in the Wolves' corner this winter, but he doesn't plan on going away quietly, and neither will his supporters.

Swertfager was informed last week that he would not be included on the slate of varsity coaches to be approved by the Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education for this winter season.

Less than 24 hours after receiving the news, Swertfager came to last Thursday's Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education meeting. Hundreds of supporters packed the cafeteria at John Jay High School, leaving no vacant parking spots at the school and a standing room-only crowd.

Dozens of attendees spoke in support of Swertfager over the course of the five-hour meeting that ran well past midnight. Many others have written letters and e-mails to the board of education since then.

"It's just from every corner of the tri-state area, people are writing letters and voicing support. It's very humbling," Swertfager said. "You don't think about the impact you have on kids and families. No matter how this ends up turning out, it's been an incredible outpouring of love."

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What happened?

Superintendent Andrew Selesnick, speaking on behalf of the Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education, noted that the board is not allowed to discuss personnel matters regarding specific individuals or the coaching position.

However, at the end of Thursday's five-hour meeting, the board voted to table the agenda item regarding the appointment of winter sports coaches. The next board of education meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17.

"When a resolution is tabled, as was the case of winter coaches at the last meeting, this results in the board laying aside the business at hand so that it can be considered later in the meeting or at another time (i.e. at a future meeting)," Selesnick wrote in response to an e-mail inquiry. "At this moment, this is where things stand with respect to the appointment of coaches for our winter sports."

Swertfager is unsure of the official reason regarding his removal from the slate of varsity coaches to be approved for the winter season. He notes that he had not been formally interviewed by the board of education and his multiple requests to meet with them have been denied.

While best known for his contributions to wrestling in John Jay-Cross River and Section 1, Swertfager has coached numerous sports throughout his career, including football, baseball, basketball and softball.

He believes the incident in question may have stemmed from his time as a junior varsity softball coach at John Jay-Cross River, when he assisted his daughter, Theresa, who was the head coach in the spring of 2021.

During a game, while coaching at first base, he congratulated a well-executed sacrifice bunt done by a player by high-fiving, then followed up with a pat on the backside, a common celebratory sports gesture.

"I have now learned that I need to be more sensitive to a person's personal space, and it won't happen again," Swertfager said. "There were over 100 parents, players, coaches, umpires at the game. Whatever I may have done was completely unintentional and I was acknowledging a job well done. I would never, ever want to make a person uncomfortable based on my behavior and it troubles me deeply that I seem to have done so in this case. That is 180 degrees polar opposite of who I am and what I'm all about. That is absolutely not what occurred. My body of work with children over the past 40 years is without a blemish."

Swertfager has not coached softball since, but he was the director of wrestling at John Jay-Cross River last season and active in Section 1 wrestling.

"There have been no other incidents in my past or present," Swertfager said to the board. "Quite frankly, this one should not have gone this far. Have I earned or do I deserve a second chance? Is this a teachable moment for me? Are we allowed to learn and grow? Isn't that what teachers, coaches and administrators preach about in education every day? I'm very proud of what I've been able to accomplish and give back to the students of this district."

What they said

From parents of former and current athletes coached by Swertfager, opposing coaches, current wrestlers and John Jay-Cross River alumni, there were many testimonials given at Thursday's Board of Education meeting.

Some came from out-of-state to make their pleas to the board.

"This news comes with overwhelming sadness, confusion and anger as our community explores the tremendous dedication of this man that has inspired and changed the lives of every young man and woman he's coached," said 2013 graduate Billy Gossett, who said he drove from Cambridge, Massachusetts to speak at the meeting. "He's given 25 years of his life building one of the most dominant Section 1 wrestling teams, all built on the core fundamentals of hard work, leadership, integrity and always making sure that those under his guidance, and their families, felt as though they're a part of his family."

While most had ties to the wrestling program, not all knew Swertfager in that context.

"I didn't connect with teachers or anything like that. I connected with my coaches; that was my favorite part of the day," said 2016 graduate Nikki Hammond, who first played softball for Swertfager her junior season and felt compelled to sign up to be a wrestling manager the following year. "Going to softball my junior year was the best time I ever had. It's not easy, and he makes it look easy when he puts so much passion into it. ... Not once have I felt uncomfortable as an athlete, as a female or as a manager for him. He's absolutely one of the best, and I feel sad for the students and athletes that won't have a chance to have him as a coach if you don't reconsider this."

While the dozens of speakers unanimously gave their support for Swertfager at the board of education meeting, some chose to highlight his service and how he welcomed all into the program.

There were tearful testimonials.

"While the kids called (my son) twinkle toes, Bill took him under his wing," said Jennifer Cipriano, whose son, Peter, wrestled for Swertfager despite suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome, a neurological disorder that affects the use of feet and legs. "He did not turn his back on him. He said we're going to figure it out, and they did. He helped him find a unique style to help him become a successful wrestler and motivated him to know he can do it, and he was named one of the co-captains his senior year and won third place at divisionals his senior year. He knew the emotion we felt as parents watching our kid struggle this whole time and finally succeed."

Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: John Jay wrestling coach Bill Swertfager fighting to return