Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Masem*, Harold
Harold Masem*
- Induction:
- 1997
- Class:
- 1940
“May our friends always be our friends. May God turn our enemies into friends. If he cannot turn their hearts, let him turn their ankles, so that we may know them by their limping.”
That is an old Irish proverb that one of Lehigh’s finest wrestlers Harold Masem wanted included in his Hall of Fame program write-up.
“The greatest memories of my life are from my wrestling experience,” he says. “It is a great honor, an unexpected honor. So I am very proud of the fact that I was elected.”
Quiet, polite and humble. Those are the characteristics you feel when talking to Harold Masem. But, during his wrestling career at Lehigh, on the mat, Harold was anything but quiet.
Lehigh's fifth national champion at 145 pounds, Masem compiled a 35-4 career record. Three of his four losses came in national competition. He had two undefeated dual meet seasons (1939 and 1940). Masem won his national championship in 1940 at 145 pounds by defeating defending runner-up Bill Combs of Michigan in overtime. In 1939, Masem finished fourth at nationals despite competing with a broken hand. He did not earn All-American status because the NCAA only recognized the top three finishers during that time period as All-Americans.
On the Eastern level, Masem was just as dominating, winning three EIWA titles. Massem was victorious in 1938 at 135 pounds, in 1939 at 145 pounds and in 1940 at 155 pounds. He was the first EIWA wrestler ever to win three straight league titles at three different weight classes.
Masem’s success as an individual also contributed greatly to the team's success. He was captain of the 1940 squad which placed fourth in the nation with Masem as a major contributor. The season before Lehigh finished second in the country.
During that 1940 season, Masem finished 14-0 with five falls. For his career, he ended with 15 falls. He sported a 20-1 record in dual meets (95.23 percent) for his career and sported an overall winning percentage of .897.
A member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Masem and his wife, Marjorie had three children Mathias, Laura and Melanie.
That is an old Irish proverb that one of Lehigh’s finest wrestlers Harold Masem wanted included in his Hall of Fame program write-up.
“The greatest memories of my life are from my wrestling experience,” he says. “It is a great honor, an unexpected honor. So I am very proud of the fact that I was elected.”
Quiet, polite and humble. Those are the characteristics you feel when talking to Harold Masem. But, during his wrestling career at Lehigh, on the mat, Harold was anything but quiet.
Lehigh's fifth national champion at 145 pounds, Masem compiled a 35-4 career record. Three of his four losses came in national competition. He had two undefeated dual meet seasons (1939 and 1940). Masem won his national championship in 1940 at 145 pounds by defeating defending runner-up Bill Combs of Michigan in overtime. In 1939, Masem finished fourth at nationals despite competing with a broken hand. He did not earn All-American status because the NCAA only recognized the top three finishers during that time period as All-Americans.
On the Eastern level, Masem was just as dominating, winning three EIWA titles. Massem was victorious in 1938 at 135 pounds, in 1939 at 145 pounds and in 1940 at 155 pounds. He was the first EIWA wrestler ever to win three straight league titles at three different weight classes.
Masem’s success as an individual also contributed greatly to the team's success. He was captain of the 1940 squad which placed fourth in the nation with Masem as a major contributor. The season before Lehigh finished second in the country.
During that 1940 season, Masem finished 14-0 with five falls. For his career, he ended with 15 falls. He sported a 20-1 record in dual meets (95.23 percent) for his career and sported an overall winning percentage of .897.
A member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Masem and his wife, Marjorie had three children Mathias, Laura and Melanie.
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