Hi, my name is John Tobin.  I wrestled for Mike Fitzgerald from 1976 to 1981.  In addition, he was my neighbor on Riverdale Drive during my formative years.  I am very happy for this dedication to Mike Fitzgerald.  I would first like to thank the Hampton Bays Booster Club for financing the refurbishing of the wrestling room, Superintendent Lars Clemensen and the Board of Education for their support.  Drew Walker despite his busy schedule as Athletic Director, did an outstanding job organizing every aspect of this dedication, thank you.  I’d like to thank the Hampton Bays Wrestling Alumni for their continuous support.  I want to thank Jerry Seckler the President of the Downstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and his wife Pat, for attending.  Finally, I want to thank all of you for coming.

Morality, Passion, Intensity and Toughness with Compassion best describe Mike Fitzgerald.  His strong morality commanded our utmost respect.  There was only one way to do things, the right way, by the book both, in wrestling, in school and outside of school.  If you screwed up you learned very quickly there were consequences for your actions, you had the privilege of wrestling with Fitz before practice! 

He expected sportsmanship at all times, win with class and don’t feel sorry for yourself when you lost. He did many things during his career that helped those less fortunate including taking a wrestler into his home.  His house was always open to all of us and for that I must thank you, Fitz and your wife Toby. 

His passion for wrestling was infectious, his coaching style INTENSE!  Plain and simple, there is no other coach you would rather have on your side of the mat.  Many times during a match, when the chips seemed to be down, Fitz would find the right thing to say in the right way that would challenge you and your only choice was DO, “how bad do you want it!” 

Though he could get ornery at times, his enthusiasm was endless!  Fitz was always coaching; teaching the physical as well as the mental aspects of wrestling.  His message though was so much broader relating to how to succeed in life. Our day started at 6 am with an “optional” morning workout before school and ended after dinner meeting at his house for a run.  How many coaches have ever given that kind of time and effort?  In return, he expected 100% effort and dedication in the wrestling room.  He taught us to be goal oriented.  Winning a league championship was a good goal, but every year he wanted us to visualize winning a state championship. That was the goal to reach for! Fitz got the most out of his talent. “You must wrestle the best to become the best” was his motto.  He matched us up against the toughest teams in the county.  Tiny Hampton Bays wrestling finished in the top 10 in Suffolk County five times which included a 4^th place finish in 1983. That was when there was only 1 division no matter the size of the school.

Ara Parasheghian, the former great Notre Dame Football coach once said “A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are”.  Mike Fitzgerald did that and much more.  All the individual champions and team championships he coached were not what Fitz was all about. He was first a mentor, father figure, and friend touching the lives of all he coached so very deeply. The wins and the championships were a by-product. His influence helped build a strong foundation for boys to grow into young men and to succeed in life. It is only proper, the name Mike Fitzgerald will stand in this school, his true home, in perpetuity.  Fitz, you are simply the best!