Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Dartmouth

A former Chico State (another program we've lost) wrestler asked me the other day if Dartmouth ever fielded a varsity wrestling team. The question alone reminded me of why I do this and why this is important.  The Big Green did indeed have a wrestling program and today we look at their best.

Gustave Sonneberg

Former professional football player and NWA professional wrestling champion, Gustave Sonneberg wrestled for a short amount of time at Dartmouth.

128 lbs
Robert Bach 

A state champion for Forty Fort high school in 1941, Bach had an interesting life before coming to Dartmouth.  He originally enrolled at the University of Chicago but his education was put on hold as he was drafted into the Navy during World War II. He spent time in the Pacific, Guam, Okinawa and Wake Island.  Using the G.I. Bill he finished up his education at Dartmouth where he took runner-up honors at the EIWA tournament in 1947.   He then coached high school wrestling at Wardlaw-Hartridge in New Jersey.

175 lbs
Peter Fuller 

Seeing that many wrestlers are multi-sport athletes we've came across a variety of different sports.  Football, lacrosse, baseball, boxing....horse racing?  Add Peter Fuller to the list.  A graduate of Milton Academy in high school Fuller was a boxer before he became a wrestler.  He took interest in wrestling because he thought it would make him a better boxer. For what it's worth he went on to win a Golden Gloves title.

Taking up boxing and wrestling at Dartmouth, Fuller took third at the 1944 EIWA championships.  He later got into horse racing and his horse Dancer's Image won the 1968 Kentucky Derby but was later stripped of the title due to a performance enhancing drug. To pour salt on an open wound, the drug was later sanctioned legal in 1974.  Post his career in horse racing Fuller owned an auto dealership.

177/167 lbs
Fred Pitzner

A 1954 state runner-up for New Trier high school, Pitzner won NEIWA (New England Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) titles for the Big Green in 1957 & 1958.

177
Woodworth 

I couldn't find his first name or much else about him but he won a NEIWA title in 1966

167 lbs
Kevin Young 

The only two time NCAA qualifier for the Big Green, Young qualified in 1975 & 1976.  He was also a member of both the football team where he played linebacker and the Lacrosse team.  His son Gus Young, played hockey for Yale & was on a NCAA championship team.  He later played in the NHL for the Colorado Avalanche.  His brother Wayne did commentary for Dartmouth Football and baseball for a number of years.