This past Sunday was the 21st Annual Linda Yalem Safety Run. There are over 1,500 runners that enter the race every year. The race honors the memory of UB student Linda Yalem that was raped and killed. As the race honors her memory it also promotes personal safety and has become one of UB’s most enduring traditions. All race proceeds support safety awareness and rape prevention programming at UB.
Every year for the past 15 years that Coach Beichner has been the head coach at UB, our team has either volunteered or participated in the race to lend our support to his great cause. This year was no different as our entire team came out to provide support for the runners.
There were many important people on hand at this great event, but a couple stood out as UB Wrestling Family (there may be more that I did not see and if so, I am sorry that I did not mention you). UB Wrestling Alumni John Kopalek and his son, UB Graduate, Paul Kopalek both ran in the race. John is a very well know referee and has always been very supportive of our program. He has refereed many UB matches, several UB Opens, NYS Collegiate Tournmants, etc. He always does a great job and calls it right down the middle (even though I always try to get him to give us some calls!!). It’s always great to see the Kopalek family at UB! Both John and Paul were in the top 15 in their respective groups at the race. Also, the legendary Coach Ed Michael ran in the race. He is the all-time winningest coach in UB history. Coach Michael is a living legend as he won 213 dual meet matches as the head coach at UB, won the NCAA Division III National Team Title, and crown countless All-Americans over his illustrious coaching career. Coach Michael’s career is what young coaches like myself dream of achieving. Coach Michael was greeted at the finish-line with cheers from the entire team. I’m sure there are other people that are connected to the UB Wrestling Family that I missed at the race, but those are the guys I saw. Thank you current UB Wrestlers, Coach Michael, John Kopalek, and Paul Kopalek for your support of this great event!
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