Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Long Beach State

The 1971 BIG WEST conference champions, the 49er's of Long Beach State at one time provided a home for the vast California high school talent to wrestle at.  Today we take a look at some of their best wrestlers.

115 lbs
Dale Deffner

A graduate of Morningside High school, one of the 49er's best was Dale Deffner who placed fourth at the 1963 NCAA Division II championships.

137 lbs
John Geyer 

We've came across swimming, diving, horse-racing, boxing, baseball, football & even basketball when looking at wrestlers who were multi-sport athletes.  How about surfing?  1968 NCAA Division II All American John Geyer went on to be a professional championship surfer.   A graduate of Carona del Mar high, post his collegiate career at Long Beach State, Geyer coached wrestling and taught P.E. at Seabury Hall Maui high school in Hawaii. He worked as a journalist for Windsurf Magazine.

150 lbs
Guy Morrison 

Guy Morrison began his career at Orange Coast (another program we've lost) where he took 6th place at the 1971 CCCAA championships. Competing for the 49ers he qualified for the NCAA championships in 1973 & 1974.

158 lbs
Wally Clark 

Wally Clark was a two time NCAA qualifier for the 49ers in 1975 and 1976.

Frank Addleman 

Finishes of runner-up & third at the Pacific Coast Conference tournament, Frank Addleman never knew defeat in dual competition.  He would make the Olympic team in 1960 & come back to qualify for the NCAA championships in 1961.

Post his career as a 49er, he started the wrestling program at Carona del Mar high school and later started the program at Santa Ana College.  He lead Santa Ana to the 1974 CCCAA team championship. While there he coached thirty five CCCAA place-winners and seven CCCAA champions.

Richard Keelor 

Growing up did you ever participate in the Presidential Physical Fitness test during gym class?  If so, all the pullups, 40 yard dashes & mile runs you did were the brain child of this former 49er.  Richard Keelor was a starter on the football team and a Pacific Coast Conference champion in 1960. 

Post his career at Long Beach State, Keelor became the Keynote Speaker at the White House on sports medicine.