Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Brigham Young

The Brigham Young wrestling program at one time ruled the Western Athletic Conference winning over twelve team titles during the time the conference sponsored wrestling.  The Cougars had a series of standout wrestlers during the course of their time on the mat, many of which came from famous wrestling families.  The program finished fourth at the 1973 NCAA Division I championships and in sixth place in 1978.

Former Wrestler Rondo Fehlberg was the athletic director of BYU up through the 1998-1999 athletic season.  He was very supportive of the wrestling program, helping to get recruits like Aaron Holker who earned All American honors for the Cougars in 1999 as well as Scott Coleman and Rocky Smart.  Fehlberg soon there after announced the discontinuation of wrestling at BYU. 

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126 lbs
Brad Gustafson

It's not often that a wrestler does better in college than he did in high school but that is the case with former Cougar Brad Gustafson.  From Saratoga High School in California, the best Gustafson ever did in high school was a fifth place finish at the state tournament.  While wrestling for the Cougars, Gustafson placed fourth at the 1986 NCAA championships.

126 lbs
John Kelly 

Another great at 126 lbs for the Cougars was John Kelly  a graduate of Alta High School in nearby Sandy, Utah, where he was a state champion.  A WAC champion for the Cougars, Kelly qualified for the NCAA's on three occasions.

133/141 lbs
Aaron Holker 

The last All American for the Cougars, Holker came to Brigham Young from Orem High school where he won Utah high school state titles in 1996, 1997 & 1998.  As a true freshman Holker captured a seventh place finish at the 1999 NCAA tournament. He held a 25-10 record on the season.  Moving up a weight class, Holker once again qualified for the NCAA championships in 2000, but failed to place.   His junior year of competition, the Cougar program was dropped.  Teammate Rocky Smart would end up at Arizona State where he made the NCAA round of twelve on three occasions as Holker along with teammate Scott Coleman ended up at Iowa State.

In 2002, as a redshirt junior Holker won the NCAA title wrestling for Cyclones.  He came back as a senior in 2003 capping off his career with another seventh place finish.

137 lbs
Russ McAdams 

Of the famous McAdams wrestling family of Westfield High School in New Jersey, Russ McAdams was on the BYU wrestling team with his two brothers Mick and Ross. Russ, a two time WAC champion became the cougars first All American with a fourth place finish at the 1967 NCAA wrestling championships.  Brothers Mick & Ross would follow in suit as BYU's next two All Americans finishing in third and fifth place respectively in 1968.  Also a member of BYU's Ruby team, Russ was named MVP of the team his senior year.

Russ's son, Josh McAdams later became a standout on both the BYU cross country and men's track & field teams.  He was an All American in the 1500 and a national champion in the 3,000. He later made the Olympic team.

177 lbs & 167 lbs
John Sorochinsky 

A New York state champion from Union-Endicott high school, Sorochinsky was a two time NCAA qualifier for the Cougars, taking fifth place as a junior at the 1969 NCAA championships.

HWT
Ken Tams 

A two time Idaho state champion of Payetto High School, Ken Tams would win a WAC title his senior season for the Cougars in 1970.  Returning back to his home state as a three time NCAA qualifier, Tams coached wrestling, football and girl's softball at St. Mary's High School.  He was instrumental in introducing wrestling programs to middle schools all throughout the state.

130/134 lbs
Laron Hansen 

Another famous wrestling family in the history of BYU wrestling were the Hansen brothers who competed for Teton high school in Idaho.  Laron, a two time WAC champion, captured All American honors for the Cougars in 1971 with a fifth place finish and in 1973 with a third place finish.  He went on to be an extremely successful high school coach in Idaho, leading Snake River high school to five team state titles.

177 lbs
Mike Hansen 

Right there with brother Laron, Mike Hansen was a two time Idaho State champion for Teton High school.  He would win two WAC titles and finish in fourth place at the 1974 NCAA championships.  A successful high school coach in his own right, Hansen led Layton High school to three Utah high school state titles.

167 lbs
Brad Hansen

Now we have little brother Brad who decided to outdo older brothers Laron and Mike in two ways.  He qualified for the NCAA championships on four occasions compared to Laron and Mike going twice.  He was also able to win three WAC titles compared to his brothers only winning two.  If that isn't enough to impress you with Brad's accomplishments the two time All American who finished in fifth place as a junior in 1978 and in sixth place in 1979 as a senior was also a four time Mountain Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champion. 

If you still aren't convinced, Brad Hansen is not only the winningest wrestler in the history of BYU wrestling, he is the winningest wrestler in the history of the WAC period.  His 125 wins is more than anyone who ever wrestled in the conference.

Post his collegiate career he followed in his brothers footsteps in coaching high school wrestling. Heading Spanish Fork high school, he lead twelve of his wrestlers to Utah state titles.  Nine of them went on to wrestle in college and graduate with degrees.

The Felhbergs 

Another famous family in the history of BYU wrestling were the Fehlbergs.  Eldest brother Rondo was a three time WAC champion who finished out his career with a 74-17 record. A story of absolute intestinal fortitude, Rondo had a senior NCAA tournament in 1972 worth making into a film.  Wrestling against Jay Arneson of Oklahoma State in the quarter-finals, he suffered an injury that would not allow him to finish the match.  His athletic trainers & doctors advised him to medical forfeit out the rest of the tournament.  Rondo refused and went as far as to find another athletic trainer on another team that helped him get taped up for his his next match.  He came into the tournament to earn All American honors and he wasn't leaving without a medal. More or less wrestling with the use of only one leg, Rondo won his next two matches to secure All American status.  He would lose in the consolation semi-finals but come back to win his final match to finish in fifth place.  Rondo was BYU's athletic director from the 1994-1995 season through the 1998-1999 season.

Brother Reed only made the NCAA tournament once but he made the most of it but making the NCAA finals in 1973.  He went on to coach high school wrestling in Utah, being named coach of the Year in 1980.

Then finally there was brother Paul who was never an All American, but did qualify for the NCAA championships on three occasions.

190 lbs
Ben Ohai

If you want to narrow it down to the very best wrestler in BYU history, Ben Ohai would be an excellent choice.  A two time WAC champion with a 116-8 record, Ohai finished third at the 1973 NCAA championships and then finished off his career with a second place finish in 1974.   His skills on the mat earned him a spot on team west in the East Vs West All Star dual. He went on to coach wrestling along with teammate Brad Hansen at Spanish Fork high school.

Ohai's daughters Megan and Kealia turned out to be phenomenal athletes themselves.  Megan played varsity soccer for Southern California and Kealia played soccer for North Carolina and later turned pro.

HWT
Gary Peterson 

Whether he had a helmet on his head or a pair of headgear,  Gary Peterson represented both BYU football and wrestling with tremendous class.  On the football field he had twenty-eight tackles and seven sacks the the Cougars.   He qualified for the NCAA championships in all four years of wrestling, capturing a fourth place finish his senior year of 1978. 

Post college Peterson coached both football and wrestling at Lehi High School in Cedar Fort.

134/142 lbs
John Mecham 

A native of Montana, Mecham won three state titles for Seeley Lake high school before coming to BYU.  Competing for the Cougars he placed fourth at the NCAA championships as a sophomore. As a junior in 1977, he had an outstanding season winning titles at both the MIWA & WAC championships, as well as once again taking fourth place honors at the NCAA tournament.  Unfortunately as a senior he missed nearly all of the season due to an injury.  Never the less he still managed to win another WAC title.

134 lbs
Ed Maisey 

A two time North Dakota high school state champion out of Williston, Maisey captured all American honors for the Cougars in 1979 with a sixth place finish at the NCAA tournament.

HWT
Jim Nielsen

HWT Jim Nielsen, also a football player for the Cougars was an All American who finished in seventh place.

The Sandersons
(Pictured Steve Sanderson) 

Yes, THOSE Sandersons. The Sandersons of Penn State.  The Sandersons of Iowa State.  The Sandersons of Utah Valley (surely I can't be the only one who remembers Cody and Cole coaching the Wolverines for a short spell).  The Sandersons of Brigham Young.

It started with Grandpa Norman who many credit for being the force that introduced the "spring" freestyle season in the state of Utah.  Son Mark was a two time NCAA qualifier for the Cougars as other son Steve was a three time NCAA qualifier, winning the WAC title in 1976 as a senior.  Steve went on to become what many claim to be the greatest high school wrestling coach the state of Utah has ever seen.

Then there is also Gary Sanderson, who would be Cody, Cole, Cael and Cyler's first cousin. He was never the caliber of wrestler that his cousins were but  he was an NCAA qualifier for the Cougars in 1996 and an Academic All American with a 3.26 GPA.