Their are eleven colleges/universities in Utah today that provide athletic programs for their students. Only one of them, Utah Valley, a Division I school has wrestling. Had none of the programs in Utah ever dropped, there would be six. One of those six was Utah State. A program we lost after the 1988-1989 season.
During their time on the mat, the Aggies won two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference West Division titles and two Pacfic Coast Athletic Association titles. A solid program that provided the high school wrestlers of Utah a place at home to wrestle.
Now you may not think much when someone mentions Utah high school wrestling but lets keep something in mind. Two time NCAA runner-up Ryan Lewis of Minnesota is from Utah. Three time NCAA All American/National Champion Aaron Holker of Iowa State (also wrestled for BYU before they dropped their program) is from Utah. Then a guy you may have heard of by the name of Cael Sanderson, who went 159-0 in four years of varsity wrestling, winning four NCAA titles for Iowa State is also from Utah. You'd think a state that produces the greatest collegiate wrestler of all time would want to provide more opportunities in the case that maybe there's another Cael Sanderson out there and he's from Utah too. Guess not.
Let's look at the best wrestlers the Aggies produced.
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118 lbs
Alfred Castro |
Had it not been for an unfortunate shoulder injury that kept him from competing his senior season, Alfred Castro would've likely ended his career as the Aggies first (and only) three time All American. After qualifying for the NCAA championships as a freshman in 1984, Castro would win two Pacific Conference Athletic Association (PCAA) titles, being named the PCAA wrestler of the year as a junior in 1986. During his sophomore and junior seasons he placed seventh and eighth at the NCAA championships. He was also selected for team West in the East Vs West All Star classic.
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126 lbs
Cordell Anderson |
A four time Utah high school state champion, Anderson captured All American honors twice for the Aggies placing sixth in both 1985 and 1986.
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134 lbs
Dave Zuniga |
Forced to find a new home after Utah State dropped their program, Zuniga was a two time NCAA qualifier for the Aggies before transferring to the University of Minnesota. Wrestling for the golden gophers, Zuniga made the NCAA finals in 1990 taking runner-up honors and then finished his career with a seventh place finish in 1991.
The three time Wyoming high school state champion of Worland High would go on to international success taking a bronze medal at the 1995 Pan-American championships and then a silver medal at the 1999 Pan-American championships.
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145 lbs
Wayne Carlson |
A native of Wasatch High school, Carlson captured All American honors for the Aggies in 1968 with a sixth place finish at the NCAA's. He would later coach football & wrestling while teaching science at Park City high school.
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150 lbs
Scott Cook |
Cook was an All American for the Aggies placing seventh at the 1987 NCAA championships.
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150, 158 & 167 lbs
Greg Williams |
And speaking of Utah Valley whom I mentioned at the begging of the article guess who wrestled for the Aggies? That's right the Wolverines head coach Greg Williams. Williams a native of San Diego, California won a state title for University High in 1979. Wrestling for the Aggies he was a three time NCAA qualifier, capping off his senior year with a seventh place finish at the NCAA championships.
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177 & 191 lbs
Tom Foster |
A standout for the Aggies who was also on the football team, Tom Foster participated twice in the NCAA championships, placing third as a senior in 1966.
Utah State also had Lenard Hansen at 191 & Bob Broughton at HWT who placed sixth and fourth respectively at the 1965 NCAA tournament.
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