W. Brooke Yeager III

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Brooke attended E. L Meyers High School where he wrestled four years. He was a three-time Wilkes Barre City Champ and a District 2 champion in 1958. He placed second in the North East Regional Tournament. As a senior, he started the Junior High School wrestling team at Meyers. He furthered his education at Wyoming Seminary and was the 1959 National Prep School Champion. Brooke continued his education and wrestling at Wilkes College earning a BS in Secondary Education. While wrestling at Wilkes, he won the MAC Tournament and Outstanding Wrestler award in 1961 and placed second in the Small College Nations in 1964. After graduating from Wilkes, he earned a Master of Arts Degree from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. He furthered his education by attending Syracuse University, Millersville State and Penn State. Brooke continued his wrestling after college from 1964-1978 as a member of the NYAC Wrestling Team. During this time, he won many Freestyle and Greco-Roman titles in New York and New England. In 1968 he pinned a Japanese National Champion to win the NYAC Freestyle Christmas Tournament. From 1968-1972, Brooke was the first wrestling coach at Luzerne County Community College producing a National Junior College Heavy Weight champion in Joel Kislin (a member of this Hall of Fame). From 1972-1978, he was an assistant coach to John Reese at Wilkes College. During this time Wilkes won the Small College National Championship in 1974. From 1978-1980, he was the wrestling coach at Greater Nanticoke Area High School. Brooke introduced Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling to the Wyoming Valley and held many clinics and international competitions for local wrestlers. Brooke has been a PIAA High School wrestling official for 37 years and an EIWOA college official for 28+ years. He and his wife Libby volunteered for 25+ years running the wrestling events of the Keystone State Games. Brooke began his teaching career at Valley Stream Memorial Junior High School in New York where he taught general science. He has taught General Biology at Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke, PA, since 1968. From 1980-2002, Brooke was an adjunct faculty member at Penn State University Wilkes-Barre Campus. His community service memberships included the National Science Teachers Association, past president of the Luzerne County Science Teachers Association, Luzerne County Conservation District Board, Advisor to the LCCC Science Club, board member of the Penn State Extension Advisory Board and active membership to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wilkes-Barre. Brooke passed away at the age of 83, May 5, 2024. He is survived by his wife Libby and his children Carli, Maisy, Maggie, Marti and William.