Great Division I Wrestlers From States Without Division I College Wrestling - Part One: Alaska, Alabama, Delaware and Florida

NOTE: I do not include every state that does not have Division I college wrestling in this list.   I only include states that could have Division I wrestling but do not.   Mississippi and Arkansas are not on the list simply because Mississippi does not currently have varsity sanctioned high school wrestling and I do not know of any Division I collegiate wrestlers from the state of Arkansas.  

I would like to give a big thank you to Earl SMITH of D1collegewrestling.net who was a huge help with this project.

IF YOU USE ANY OF THIS INFORMATION FOR PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATION, YOU MUST CREDIT ME and EARL SMITH or be subject to plagiarism. 

Alaska
I'm not sure what all would classify as Division I wrestling if Alaska were to have wrestling.   I'm not sure if UA-Anchorage, UA-Fairbanks and UA-Southeast would be considered Division I or Division II.   That I cannot tell you.  What I can tell you, is that Alaska has six four year institutions and none of them have wrestling.   Matter of fact  there is no college wrestling in Alaska. Now I'm not going to be as harsh on Alaska as I am some other places because of it's geographical location.   It'd be hard to recruit, and scheduling/travel would be difficult as well.    However, the state has produced some talent.  Let's take a look.....

Gabe McMahon

McMahon wrestled at both Glenallen and Palmer High School where he was a four time state finalist and three time state champion.   Collegiately he wrestled for the University of Iowa, where he earn All American honors in 2001 with a 6th place finish at the NCAA tournament.

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Scott Norton

Norton wrestled for Kodiak High School where he third in the state as a junior and  state champion as a senior.  He then went on to wrestle for the University of Oregon where he was a three time PAC 10 Champion and an All American in 1997 with a 4th place finish at the NCAA tournament. 



Cayle Byers

After finishing 2nd, 4th, 1st, 1st at the Alaskan State tournament for Chugiak High School, Byers went on to wrestle his first couple of years for George Mason University before transferring to Oklahoma State.  He finished out his career with a 3rd place finish at the NCAA tournament.

Alan Bartelli

Boise State's Alan Bartelli wrestled for Wasilla High School.


Jesse Brock

MMA superstar Jesse Brock, who won two PAC-10 titles for the Boise State Broncos wrestled for Apollo Ridge High School where he won two state championships.


Jon Bush

NCAA qualifier Jon Bush of Purdue, wrestled for Palmer High school.

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Tony D'Amico

Another Boise State Bronco NCAA qualifier that wrestled for Palmer High School.


Nathan Hoffer

Arizona State grappler Nathan Hoffer as a four time State champion for East Anchorage High.


Alabama
History was made this past season when the state of Alabama picked up their first wrestling program in Huntingdon College, a Division III institution.    Up until that point,  Alabama has had no collegiate wrestling opportunities for their high school wrestlers for approximately 30 years.    Alabama has nine Division I schools: Alabama A&M, Alabama State,  Alabama Birmingham, Alabama Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Samford and Troy.    Here is some of the talent Alabama has produced.
Seth Garvin

Southern Conference Champion Seth Garvin had a 128-1 career record winning four state championships for Hoover High School.


Blake Herrin

American NCAA qualifier Blake Herrin wrestled for Huntsville High.


T.J. Sayers

Sayers who wrestled varsity for UT-Chattanooga took 3rd place at state his junior year and 2nd place at state his senior year for Hueyville High.


Delaware

Delaware has produced a multitude of talented wrestlers over the years.  Today neither The University of Delaware or Delaware State have wrestling programs, although it wasn't all that long ago that Delaware State did have a team.   Today there is no college wrestling in the state of Delaware.


Sheldon Thomas

Thomas a standout at St. Mark's High school where he won three state titles, was a three time All American and NCAA national champion at Clarion.

Tommy Davis

Davis a multiple time ACC conference champion, wrestled for Newark High School. 


Chris Diaz

Diaz was a standout wrestle for the Virginia Tech Hokies, finishing out his career 2nd-2nd-4th at the ACC championships and making All American status with an 8th place finish his junior season.   Diaz won two state championships for Cesar Rodney High School.

Jarrod Garnett

Garnett was a four time State finalist for Newark High school who went on to be a standout wrestler for the Hokies finishing 2nd-1st-1st-1st in the ACC and capping off his career with a 6th place finish at the NCAA tournament his senior season.

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Bruce Kelly

Kelly's career looked poised for greatness after he finished 4th at the EIWA tournament as a true freshman and won the EIWA title as a sophomore.  Unfortunately severe knee injuries kept him for ever wrestling again.  Kelly wrestled for Newark High School.

Matt Cathell

Cathell has the distinguished honor of being Delaware State's last standout wrestler before the school dropped the program in 2009.   The two time East Regional champion won three state titles for Caesar Rodney High School.

Alex Meade

Unfortunate circumstances and some poor choices kept Meade from having the greatness in college that he was capable of.   While wrestling for Oklahoma State, his freshman year he picked up victories over Minnesota's Dustin Schlatter and Iowa's Ryan Morningstar, including four victories over Oklahoma's Tyler Caldwell.    Meade won three state titles for Caesar Rodney.


Mike Miller

Miller who wrestled for Wilmington High, was an NCAA qualifier for Rider.

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Ian Moser

Moser an NCAA qualifier for Bloomsburg, wrestled for Caesar Rodney.

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Stan Spoor

A state champion for St. Mark's High School, Spoor was an NCAA qualifier for Clarion University.


Bobby Telford

A two time State champion for St. Mark's High School, Telford had an outstanding career at the University of Iowa.   In what many consider to be the toughest conference in the nation, Telford finished 2nd-3rd-3rd-3rd in the BIG 10's.   He also finished as a three time All American placing 5th-DNP-4th-5th at the NCAA tournament.   Not placing his sophomore season was due to an injury.


John Testa

Another standout for St. Mark's High School, Testa won three EWL conference titles and took 8th place at the 2003 NCAA tournament his senior season to capture All American honors.


Patrick Walker

One of the Liberty Flames (which also no longer has varsity wrestling) standout wrestlers, NCAA qualifier Patrick Walker wrestled at Newark High School where he won a state title as a junior and finished in 2nd place as a senior.


Daniel Waters

If you want a feel good story of motivation and inspiration to tell wrestlers on your team, look no further than Daniel Waters.   Waters a graduate of Laurel High School, had one reason after another to give up and never step on the mat again.  First he went into the military, with plans of never wrestling again.  Then after coming back he enrolled at Penn State where he had a career plagued by injuries.   Deciding to give it one more shot, he enrolled at American University where at the age of 28, he took an 8th place finish at the NCAA tournament and was named an All American.


Ryan Wolfe

Wolfe, who is still continuing his collegiate career at Rider University was a two time state champion for Caravel Academy High School.

 

FLORIDA

Believe it or not Florida has 13 NCAA Division I schools (Bethune-Cookman, Central Florida, Florida, Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida International, Florida State, Jacksonville, Miami, Northern Florida, Southern Florida and Stetson) and not one of the has a wrestling program.  Matter of fact up until this upcoming year, 2015-2016, with the addition of NAIA Southeastern, the state of Florida has not had a wrestling program in over 30 years.    When you look at the talent that Florida has produced over the past years, it is really sad that these young men do not have an opportunity to compete in their own home state.



Chris Bono

Bono was destined for greatness from day one.   Wrestling for Bolles High School, he placed 4th at the state tournament as an eighth grader and freshman, before winning three Florida state titles.   Bono went on to wrestle for Iowa State University where he won three All American honors finishing 5th, 1st, 2nd in his last three years of competition.


Abe Ayala

Although he transferred to Blair Academy in New Jersey, Ayala was first making a name for himself in the State of Florida where he finished in 6th place at the state tournament.   Currently going into his senior season, Ayala hopes to become the first All American for Princeton since Greg Parker back in 2002 and 2003.

Chris Bencivenga

Bencivenga an NCAA qualifier for UNC-Greensboro (Which no longer has a wrestling program) wrestled in high school for Archbishop-McCarthy.


Obe Blanc

Blanc was a standout wrestler for both Lock Haven and Oklahoma State where he finished in 6th place at the NCAA tournament his junior season.   He won a state title for Naples High School.  Another interesting fact about Blanc, is that he is originally from Hati.   When he first came to the United States, he did not know how to speak English.


Niko Brown

An NCAA qualifier for UT-Chattanooga Brown was a state champion for Osceola High School.


Rossi Bruno

The three time NCAA qualifier for the University of Michigan has one more year left for the Wolverines as he hopes to cap his career off with All American honors.   Before coming to Michigan, Bruno was a five time (first ever) Florida State champion.


Frank Celorrio

The Southern Conference champion for the Appalachian State Mountaineers, wrestled at Hialeah High School.


George Cintron

Cintron was yet another Florida native swept up and taken north to eventually compete for Blair Academy in New Jersey.   Cintron finished as a three time NCAA qualifier, placing 1st-1st-2nd at the ACC conference tournament in his last three years.


Levi Clemons

Clemons wrestled for Osceola where he was a two time state champion.  He collegiately wrestled for Chattanooga where he was an NCAA qualifier.


Jeremie Cook

Cook wrestled for Venice High School and collegiately for Lock Haven.


Frank Cousins

Wisconsin Badger NCAA qualifier Frank Cousins wrestled for St. Cloud High School where he was a two time state champion.


David Craig

A four time NCAA qualifier for Lehigh University, Craig wrestled for Brandon High School where he was an undefeated four time state champion. 


John Davis

Davis a native of Gainsville High School where he was 3rd-1st-1st in his last three years was an NCAA qualifier for UT-Chattanooga.  His father Jeff, wrestled for the University of Florida before they dropped their program.


Odie Delaney

Delaney a Southern Conference champion and an NCAA All American (7th his senior season) wrestled for South Walton High School where he was a two time state champion.

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Peter Derstein

Derstein an NCAA qualifier for Clarion University wrestled at Douglas High School.

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Levi Duyn

Duyn began wrestling for Heritage Christian before transferring to Venice High school.  He was known as the "throw machine" during his days in high school.  He went on to win a Southern Conference title for The Citadel. 


Ralph Everett

Multiple time CAA conference champion Ralph Everett, who wrestled for Miami Southridge, was a three time state champion.   Greg Jones, who won three NCAA titles, only lost three times during his collegiate career. One of those losses was to Everett.

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Mark Fee

Fee was a standout wrestler for George Smith High School where he finished 2nd his junior year and as a state champion his senior year.  He wrestled collegiately for Appalachian State where he finished in 5th and 7th place during his last two years as a mountaineer.


Justin Fraga

The Purdue Boilermaker NCAA qualifier placed 3rd-2nd-1st-1st for Oviedo High school.


Jared Frayer

One of the best wrestlers to ever come out of the state of Florida, Frayer won three state titles for Countryside High School.   He went on to the University of Oklahoma where he finished out his career as a two time All American with a  4th and 2nd place finish at the NCAA tournament.   He also led the nation in pins his senior year as well. 

Clint Frease

Another Countryside High graduate, Frease wrestled for Brown University where he was a multiple time NCAA qualifier.


Clark Glass

Glass, who currently has two years of eligibility remaining for the Oklahoma  Sooners, wrestled at Brandon High School, where he was a four time State champion.


Rashard Goff

The two time state champion for Brandon High School, was a four time NCAA qualifier for Cleveland State.

Franklin Gomez

Gomez wrestled for Brandon High School where he not only a state champion, but also a freestyle and Greco-Roman national champion.  He went on to wrestle for the Michigan State Spartans where he won an NCAA title as a junior, finishing his sophomore and senior campaigns in 3rd place.


Cesar Grajales

Four time state champion for Brandon High School, Grajales was a multiple time NCAA qualifier for the University of Pennsylvania.


Eric Grajales

Grajales was a four time state champion for Brandon in high school, who went on to wrestle for The University of Michigan where he made All American status his senior season with a 3rd place finish at the NCAA tournament.


Earl Hall

Hall who has two years of eligibility left at Iowa State, looks to capture two more All American honors after placing 7th as a freshman.   He wrestled at Robert Morgan High School where he was a four time state champion.


Brandon Hatchett

Hatchett wrestled for Oviedo High School where he was a three time state champion. He went on to wrestle collegiate for Lehigh, where he took 7th and 2nd in his last years as a Mountain Hawk.


Sam Hazewinkle

U.S. Olympian Sam Hazewinkle was a three time state champion for Pensacola Christian Academy.  He went on to wrestle for the University of Oklahoma, where he finished his career as arguably one of the greatest wrestlers to never win an NCAA title.  Hazewinkle finished out his career with All American finishes of 3rd-3rd-3rd-2nd.


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Joe Hennis

Hennis wrestled for Astronaut High School, was a three time state champion.  He wrestled at Edinboro where he was a multiple time NCAA qualifier.


Alex Hernandez

Hernandez was a two time state champion for South Dade High School. He wrestled at North Carolina State where he was a two time NCAA qualifier.

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A.J. Johnson

Johnson who I believe also wrestled for South Dad High School was a two time EWL conference champion for Edinboro.


Josh Lambrecht

Lambrecht who finished 3rd and 1st in the state for Brandon High School, began his career at UT-Chattanooga where he won the Southern Conference title.  He then transferred to Oklahoma where he became a three time All American placing 7th-2nd-3rd at the NCAA championships.

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Billy Linane

Linane won a state title for Gateway High before taking his talents to The Citadel where he earned two Southern Conference Titles.

Ivan Loupanchanski

Loupanchanski wrestled at South Broward High School where he placed 4th at the state tournament three years in a row.  He began his career at UNC-Greensboro and then transferred to Purdue after Greensboro dropped its wrestling program.   While at Purdue, Loupanchanski earned All American honors with a 7th place finish his senior season as the NCAA tournament.

Joe Lowe

Lowe, who won a state title for Lakeland High School was a three time NCAA qualifier for UNC-Greensboro.

Javier Maldonado

Maldonado wrestled at Osceola High School where he was a two time state champion.  He then took his talents onto UT-Chattanooga where he won three Southern Conference Titles for the Mocs.


Santiago Martinez

Martinez placed 5th and 3rd at the state tournament for Coral Glades High School when he then took his talents to wrestle in the NCWA (National Collegiate Wrestling Association - An organization made up of NON-Varsity teams and clubs) for Central Florida.   After winning NCWA titles, he decided to take a stab at NCAA Division I wrestling where he qualified for the NCAA tournament earning a seed for Lehigh University.


Basil Minto

Minto an NCAA qualifier for Northern Iowa, wrestled at Mariner High School where he placed 4th at the state tournament.

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Jeremy Mosley

Mosley won a state title for Unity Christian before taking his talents to Edinboro where he was an NCAA qualifier.

Matt Nereim

Nereim a state champion for Winter Springs High School took his talents to North Carolina State where he was an NCAA qualifier


Kevin Norstrem

Norstrem was a five time state champion for Brandon High School.  He currently wrestles for the Virginia Tech Hokies, where he has three years of eligibility remaining.

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Perry Parks

Parks a three time state champion for Fort Pierce Central High School was a multiple time NCAA qualifier for the Iowa State Cyclones.


Jake Patacsil

Patacsil won a state title for St. Thomas Aquinas before continuing his career at Purdue, where he captured a 5th place finish at the NCAA tournament to earn All American honors his senior season.

Carlos Ponce

Ponce was a state champion for Hialeah and an NCAA qualifier for Lock Haven.

Jeff Ragan

Ragan was a three time state champion for Lemon Bay High school, who qualified for the NCAA championships for Oklahoma State.


Evan Robinson

Purdue Boilermaker NCAA qualifier Evan Robinson wrestled for Charlotte High School where he was a three time state champion.


Lloyd Rogers

Rogers placed 4th at the state tournament his junior and senior years for Martin County High School.  Wrestling for UT-Chattanooga in college, Rogers qualified for the NCAA tournament.






Scotti Sentes

A four time State champion for Riverside High School, Sentes placed 7th at the NCAA tournament as a freshman and 4th as a junior to become a two time All American for Central Michigan.


Nick Soto

Soto was two time state champion for Springstead High school and then a four time Southern Conference champion for UT-Chattanooga.


Peter Sturgeon

Yet another Florida native that took his talents to the now defunct UNC-Greensboro wrestling program.  Sturgeon wrestled at Winter Park high school before going to UNC-Greensboro.  After Greensboro dropped its program, Sturgeon transferred to Central Michigan.

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Adrian Thompson

After placing 2nd at the Florida State championships for Edgewater High School,  Thompson took his talents to Howard University where he was a two time NCAA qualifier.  Howard dropped wrestling after his sophomore season, and I don't believe Thompson continued wrestling.

Adrian Tramutola

Tramutola wrestled for Columbus High school where he was a state champion. He then went on to wrestle collegiately for UT-Chattanooga where he was an NCAA qualifier.


Caylor Williams

After winning a state title for Palm Bay High School, Williams took his talents to UNC-Greensboro where he won a Southern Conference title.   After Greensboro dropped its program, Williams decided to concentrate fully on an international career.  

 

Patrick Williams

UFC competitor Patrick Williams wrestled for South Dade High school where he was a two time state champion.  After starting his career at Neosho Community College, Williams wrestled for Arizona State where he was a two time NCAA qualifier.

Mike Rogers

Rogers wrestled at Fort Myers High School where he won a state championship.  Collegiately Rogers wrestled for Lock Haven, where he was a two time All American and the winner of the Gorrarian award.  



Brenden Buckley

Buckley wrestled for Lake Howell High School where he won a state championship.   After graduating, he took his talents to Clemson where he wrestled as a freshman and sophomore.  Clemson dropped wrestling while he was there and he transferred to Fresno State.  He won a Western Regional Conference title and took a 7th place finish at the NCAA tournament to earn All American honors.