Martin Luther School Principal, Jim Regan, will be inducted into the Friends of L.I. Wrestling Hall of Fame on Friday, April 28th at the Melville Marriott Hotel.

Born and raised in Flushing, NY, Jim Regan graduated from Martin Luther School (MLS) in 1976, but not before setting many records with the Varsity Wrestling team.

Finishing his high school career with a third place finish at the States, he was named Most Valuable Wrestler by the Maspeth school. During his high school years, Jim had the privilege of wrestling with and then coaching his younger brothers John and Steven while attending college.

He continued his education at St. John’s University, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 1980; he also earned his Master’s degree in physical education from Adelphi University and his Masters of Education degree in Supervision and Administration from Teachers College – Columbia University. Jim and his wife, Annemarie, live on Long Island with their son, Matthew. Jim also has two daughters Dr. Kristin Lynn, her husband, Dr. Charles Sticco and their daughter, Amelia also live on Long Island. And his second daughter, Melissa , a certified athletic trainer and registered nurse and her husband, Jason Flores live in Connecticut.

The Friends of Long Island Wrestling, Inc. is an organization with over 2,000 members and is dedicated to one purpose. That purpose is to assist the sport of amateur wrestling on Long Island, New York State, and indeed throughout the entire USA.

Jim began his coaching career in 1978 as an assistant at Martin Luther then in 1979 at Lexington School for the Deaf for the next two years. Jim then returned to Martin Luther School as a teacher and head wrestling coach in 1981.

Under his watchful eye, the MLS Athletic Program has garnered countless titles and awards. During his tenure as Head Coach from 1981-2013, the Varsity Wrestling team amassed a 365-132-7 overall dual record and produced 35 New York State Private Schools Champions, 212  New York State place-winners and 8 National Prep School place-winners. Most recently, his team won the Private Schools Athletic Association Championship and the Independent Private & Parochial Schools Championship in 2011 and in 2012 received the NYS Private Schools Most Improved Team award. During the summer months from 1985- 1994, he served as coach of the NYC Empire State Games scholastic wrestling team.

He has been the Director of Athletics at Martin Luther since 1985; in 2012, he was appointed Principal of MLS. His vision of leadership and his love of athletics has led to founding the Private Schools Athletic Association in 1986. As President of the PSAA, Jim is responsible for developing and coordinating 18 different interscholastic athletic conferences for boys and girls, serving 32 schools in the metropolitan area.

Since 1989, Jim has served as President of the New York State Private Schools Wrestling Coaches Association. He oversees the annual New York State Independent schools post season tournament, handling all logistics as to operation of the tournament. In 1994, Jim was instrumental in creating the Mayor’s Cup Wrestling Tournament, held each year in New York City. Since 2010 he has served as the New York State Zone board member for the National Prep Tournament. He organized the end-of-year New York tournament and the New York- New Jersey regional qualifier, which produces qualifiers for the prestigious National Prep Wrestling Tournament held at Lehigh University. Jim has coordinated and supervised numerous New York City wrestling tournaments along with USA Wrestling, PSAL, NYSPSWCA, MWA in conjunction with the NYC Wrestling Officials Association.

In 2007, he was elected to the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Wrestling Association and in 2012 was named Board president. The MWA provides resources, both human and financial; to the metropolitan area wrestling community with volunteers to support Beat the Streets, USA wrestling tournaments, Grapple in the Garden, the NYC Mayor’s Cup and the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden.

Jim was named Lutheran Schools Association High School Teacher of the Year in 1994, has been honored a two-time New York State Private Schools Wrestling Coach of the Year, a five-time Private Schools Athletic Association Wrestling Coach of the Year and Independent Parochial and Private Schools Athletic League Wrestling Coach of the Year. In 2008, he was honored by the NYC Mayor’s Cup Committee, designating the “Jim Regan Award” to be presented to the top independent school at the Mayor’s Cup Tournament as the Mayor’s Cup Independent Schools Wrestling Champion. In 2012, Jim received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Beat the Streets Wrestling and was inducted into the Martin Luther School Wall of Achievers. In 2016, he was inducted into the St. Stanislaus Kostka School Hall of Fame, recognizing his dedication and commitment to creating cooperative athletic programs between St. Stan’s and MLS.

Near and dear to his heart are the opportunities to volunteer and raise much needed funds for Martin Luther School and the wrestling community. Since 1989 Jim has spear headed the Martin Luther Annual Walk-a-thon in which over $250,000 has been raised to support school and community programs. Recently he has lent his support to the Friends of Long Island Wrestling Golf Outing and as well as a member of the Honor Roll of Supporters

With all of these accomplishments on the athletic fields, in the arena, and in the classroom, Jim’s two best memories of Martin Luther School are the days he presented his daughters, Kristin (ML ’00),Melissa (ML ’05) with their diplomas and the day he welcomed his son, Matthew, into this world in 2008.