-
From Left: Jim Tkach, Larry Rehrig, and Athletic Director Bryan Geist.
Photography compliments of Joe Seremula
Larry Rehrig
Class of 1986
Larry Rehrig graduated from Northern Lehigh High School in 1986 where he earned seven varsity letters in wrestling and cross-country. He was a varsity starter from 1982-1986 in wrestling and served as team captain his junior and senior years. During that tenure, Larry was a four times Bethlehem Christmas City champion, four time District XI finalist and three time champion (1983, 1985, and 1986), two time regional champion (1985 and 1986), three time Pennsylvania State qualifier, 4th place 1984, runner up 1985, and state champion in1986. He was team captain and member of the 1985 Northern Lehigh PIAA State Team Champions and District XI Most Outstanding Wrestler 1986. Larry was a 2-time Northern Lehigh Outstanding Wrestler Award winner in 1985 and 1986. He finished his high school career with a 123-6 record. He holds three school records. 77 Career Falls, 17 Falls in his Freshman year, and 22 Falls in his Sophomore year. Larry graduated from Millersville State University in 1994 with a BS Degree in Journalism and recently got his Associate Degree in Nursing at Forsyth Technical Community College and currently works at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC where he resides with his wife of 25 years, Tina (NL Class of ’87), and his two sons, Logan and Devon. Larry’s heart has never left the sport and over the past 24 years he has been a wrestling official in North Carolina.
Jim Tkach
Jim Tkach was the Northern Lehigh Football Coach from 1992 through 2005. Over his tenure the football team had a record of 106 wins and 57 losses taking over a program without a winning season since 1981. The team had numerous league and district championships, was in the Eastern PA finals twice, and the State Finals in 2003. He led the team to four Colonial League and two District XI Championships. He was named Colonial League Coach of the Year four times, District 11 Coach of the Year in 2003 and Associated Press Small School Coach of the Year in 2004. Jim's dream was to not only form a successful football team, but to also have young people make a positive impact in the classroom and community. During Jim’s tenure Shawn Mantz was named the school’s first Lehigh Valley Scholar Athlete. Bo Tkach was awarded the distinction of the United States Navy ESPN Academic All American which appeared in ESPN Magazine. Ty Tkach was a finalist for the prestigious Maxwell Football Club’s, John Henry award for academic and athletic excellence. In addition 14 Northern Lehigh Football players achieved All –State Recognition during his time as coach. The Northern Lehigh Bulldogs set a standard in Lehigh Valley Football appearing in the playoffs for 8 straight seasons, 2 10-0 undefeated seasons, Morning Call team of the Year twice and 2 Lehigh Valley Sportsmanship awards . Jim has been inducted into the Lehigh Valley McDonald's Hall of Fame, Lycoming College Hall of Fame, and named Football Ambassador of the Year in 2004. Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Hall of Fame, National Football Foundation Lehigh Valley Hall of Fame, and Carbon County Sports Hall of Fame. He has coached in the Pennsylvania East West All Star game and the Big 33 All Star game and served as President of the Pennsylvania Coaches Association. Jim and his wife Sandi along with friends started the Bo Tkach Foundation and serve as speakers for the University of Michigan Depression Center and the Bo Tkach Foundation. In 2015 Jim received the Lycoming College Angela R Kyte Award given to an alumnus who has demonstrated a lifetime of service to humanity and whose life exemplifies those qualities.
