Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = New Mexico

The athletic director first tried to cut Lobo wrestling after the 1986-1987 season, but was unsuccessful as the local community & alumni gathered to keep the program afloat.  Upon the second try to eliminate wrestling, this time it was successful.  The final season of wrestling at New Mexico was also the final season of men's gymnastics and men's swimming & diving.  1998-1999.

New Mexico won the WAC (Western Athletic Conference) title in 1972.

126/134 lbs
Chris Luttrell

Also an expert in Judo as well as other martial arts, Chris Luttrell was a three time New Mexico high school state champion for Manzo High school before coming to New Mexico.  While wrestling for the Lobos he qualified for the NCAA championships four times, 1983, 85', 86' & 87'.

Post college Luttrell opened up his own MMA training facility Luttrell-Yee MMA & he works as a member of the Albuquerque police department.

126 lbs
Gary Roberts

A state champion for East Central high school, Roberts won WAC titles for the Lobos in 1988 & 1990.  He was also an NCAA Division I All American in 1990, finishing in seventh place.

118 lbs
Greg Gascon 

A graduate of Western High School in California, Gascon first began his collegiate career at Cypress where he was a CCCAA champion in 1984.  Wrestling for the Lobos he took All American honors in 1988 placing eighth.  Post college he went on to coach at Cerritos.

I'm also not 100% positive but I think in some way or another Gascon is related to Gerry & Stephen Abas who were both standouts at Fresno State.

126, 134, 150 lbs
Ralph Harrison 

A three time state champion for Sandia high school in 1979, 80' & 81, Harrison had a successful career at New Mexico.  He qualified for the NCAA championships all four years of competition in 1982, 83', 84' & 85'.   Post graduation he returned to Sandia to coach.

142, 150 lbs
Todd Fleischman 

The only two time All American in Lobo wrestling history, Fleischman took eighth place honors in both  his junior season of 1989 & his senior season of 1990.   He later coached and taught P.E. at East Central high school.

167 lbs
Brad Bitterman 

Brad Bitterman came to New Mexico for his final two seasons of collegiate wrestling after wrestling at Northern Michigan (another program we've lost) for his first two seasons. While competing for the wildcats he was a two time All American at the NCAA Division II level, placing 7th in 1979 & third in 1980.  Wrestling for the Lobos he took fourth place at the 1982 NCAA Division I tournament.

HWT
Milt Seals 

Seals was a four time NCAA qualifier for the Lobos in 1972, 73', 74' & 75'.