[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 133 (Thursday, July 29, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E852-E853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE LATE JAMES MICHAEL DESIDERIO ON HIS INDUCTION 
              INTO THE LUZERNE COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2021

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor former athlete, 
coach, official, and Northeastern Pennsylvania native, the late James 
Michael Desiderio. James will be inducted into the Luzerne County 
Sports Hall of Fame for his distinct athletic and coaching achievements 
in the sport of wrestling. He and his fellow inductees will be honored 
at a reception on August 8, 2021.
  Each year, the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame honors those who 
have brought fame and recognition to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
through their outstanding achievements and contributions in athletic 
endeavors.
  James graduated from E.L. Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre, 
Pennsylvania where he spent four years as a key member of the wrestling 
team. For his athletic-prowess and leadership, he was named captain his 
senior year, and his efforts on the mat earned him induction into the 
Meyers High School Sports Hall of Fame.
  James continued his academic career at Luzerne County Community 
College, graduating with a degree in science. He started coaching 
wrestling at Pittston Area High School before transferring to Meyers 
where he was the head coach of the junior high team and known for his 
care and attention to his athletes. James left the area to attend Miami 
Dade College in Miami, Florida where he received a degree in Mortuary 
Science. While in Miami, he coached wrestling for a local YMCA. James 
returned to Pennsylvania and opened Piszczek-Desiderio Funeral Home. 
His passion for the sport of wrestling endured as he worked as a PIAA 
wrestling referee, officiating the sport with fairness and expertise. 
He continued to work for the good of his community by serving on the 
Wilkes-Barre YMCA Board of Directors for more than ten years.
  It is an honor to recognize James on his induction into the Luzerne 
County Sports Hall of

[[Page E853]]

Fame. May his story and his athletic and coaching careers serve as an 
inspiration to the next generation of Pennsylvania athletes striving 
for excellence.