Football, football, football...The University of Colorado is one of those schools that when it comes to their athletics program, football is what you think about. While the Buffaloes have always had great football, at one time they were quite good at another sport. Wrestling.
The Buffaloes finished in the top 10 at the NCAA wrestling tournament on five occasions with their highest finish being fourth in 1964. In their final year of wrestling 1979-1980 they had six NCAA qualifiers & an All American. They were ranked in the top twenty-five.
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115 lbs
James Garcia |
When James Garcia was a small boy, he contracted Polio and doctors were convinced that he would never walk again. Not only did he walk again, literally becoming the poster child for March of dimes, he accumulated a 95-5 career record on the high school wrestling team. Continuing his career at Colorado, Garcia would place third at the 1965 BIG 12 wrestling championships and take sixth place All American honors at the NCAA wrestling championships.
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115 lbs
Dell Rhodes |
A local standout from Boulder high school where he won two state titles, Dell Rhodes won a BIG 12 title in 1967, placing fifth at the NCAA tournament.
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118 lbs
Chuckie Davis |
A native of Grove City, Chuckie Davis made the Colorado state finals twice before coming to Colorado to wrestle for the Buffaloes. He placed fourth at the NCAA tournament in 1976 and made the BIG 12 finals in 1978.
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126 lbs
Marvin Gasner |
From Denver, Colorado, Marvin Gasner won a state title for Lincoln high school in 1975. A three time NCAA qualifier, Gasner won one of the last BIG 12 titles for the Buffaloes in 1980.
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130 lbs
Linn Long |
The legendary Linn Long fell in love with wrestling the day he was introduced to the sport in the fifth grade. He attended every home dual of the Colorado Buffalo and made up his mind that one day he was going to wrestle for them. Upon arrival he made immediate impact making the BIG 12 finals three years in a row. He finished in third place at the NCAA tournament his senior year of 1954. Upon graduation he coached the Buffaloes to a record of 85-59-3, which included the 1964 fourth place finish at the BIG 12's. He also coached at Southern Illinois-Carbondale (another program we have lost).
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130 lbs
Jim Hanson |
From Adam City, Jim Hanson finished as a Colorado state runner-up before coming to Colorado. While competing for the Buffaloes Hanson had a standout sophomore season which saw him make the BIG 12 finals and finish as the NCAA runner-up. He'd finish in third place at the BIG 12's as a junior but fail to place at the NCAA's. He'd take a redshirt in 1966, coming back strong in 1967 as a senior winning the BIG 12's and placing fourth at the NCAA's.
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130 lbs
Pete Nord |
The friendly "every knew him" owner of Chimney's restaurant it was hard to believe that the late Pete Nord was at one time a fierce competitor on the mat who served our country during Vietnam, but he was. Competing for the Buffaloes, Nord finished as the BIG 12 runner up in 1966 before placing third in 1967 and 1968. He had a great showing at the 1968 NCAA tournament earning All American honors with a fifth place finish.
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126 & 134 lbs
Derek Glenn |
The final All American for Colorado, Olympic gold medalist Randy Lewis, a two time NCAA champion for Iowa would be more than happy to tell you how tough Derek Glenn was. Wrestling for Smokey High school, Glenn finished as a Colorado state finalist his sophomore year before winning two state titles. He'd win a BIG 12 title his sophomore season but it was after finishing in third place as a junior he really came alive.
Entering the tournament unseeded, he tore through everyone pinning the #12, #9 & #5 seeds all in the first period. In the semi-finals he gave Lewis one Hell of a scare taking him to an 8-7 decision. He then majored his final two opponents to finish in third place.
Forced to find a new home for his final season of competition Glenn had an outstanding regular season competing for the Oklahoma Sooners. He entered the NCAA tournament as the #1 seed, but unfortunately failed to place after being upset early on.
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152 & 145 lbs
Conrad Metcalf |
I'm not sure where it's written down at but it must be an official rule that if you're last name is Metcalf then you must be good at wrestling. Conrad Metcalf, another local of Boulder High School, won a state title before coming to Colorado. Selected as a wildcard entrant after finishing in fourth place at the BIG 12's, Metcalf took fifth at the 1969 NCAA tournament.
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167, 177
Royal Smith |
Another standout for the Buffaloes was Royal Smith who made the NCAA finals in 1954.
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167 & 177
Frank Rosenmayr |
After making the BIG 12 finals, Frank Rosenmayr placed third at the 1955 NCAA tournament.
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177 lbs
Maynard Skinner |
All these years later 1952 BIG 12 champion Maynard Skinner will still tell you that he won a NCAA title even though the official record stands that he finished as the runner-up losing to California's (another program we've lost) Bentley Lyon on a referee's decision. Skinner didn't agree with the referee then and 68 years later he still doesn't agree with him.
Nevertheless one to always make his opinion known, Skinner served our country as a member of the United States Marines & then made a life in local politics. A sport like wrestling, but with far more dirty players, who don't mind cheating to win....at least according to Skinner.
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177 lbs
Dean Lahr |
A state champion in wrestling, quarterback of the football team and a standout on the track team, Denver North's Dean Lahr could've been a superstar on any team at Colorado he chose. Luckily enough for us, he chose wrestling. Finishing as the BIG 12 runner up in 1962 as a sophomore, he'd also finish as the NCAA runner-up. Not much for losing Lahr would go on to win two BIG 12 titles and two NCAA titles for the Buffaloes in 1963 & 1964. He also made the 1964 Olympic team and if it wasn't for a nasty injury that kept him from competition it is thought that he would have earned a medal.
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177 lbs
Bob Justice |
Another graduate of Lincoln high where he won a state championship, Bob Justice adds his name to a list of individuals who won a National title without ever winning a conference title. After finishing in second place at the BIG 12 tournament, Justice won the 1968 NCAA title. He looked destined for greatness again in 1969 going into the BIG 12 tournament undefeated and thought to be poised to win a second NCAA title. Unfortunately he suffered an injury in the BIG 12 finals having to default to second place. He was unable to participate in the NCAA championships.
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190, 177
Bill Bragg |
A stand out from Fort Marsh where he finished in third and second at the Colorado state tournament, Bill Bragg was a four time BIG 12 place-winner finishing third, second, fourth, third in four tournaments. He finished in third place at the NCAA tournament as a sophomore. He would later go on to coach at Oregon (another team that we've lost).
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191 lbs
Jack Himmelwright |
Jack Himmelwright finished in fourth place at the NCAA tournament for the Buffaloes in 1957.
As you can see Colorado didn't have to recruit outside the state to field a solid team full of individuals who had success at both the BIG 12 and NCAA level. They were able to do so with local recruits, some even from Boulder.
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