Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Northern Michigan

I've always found Northern Michigan to be one of the strangest cases in the sport of wrestling.  Even moreso now than I ever did.  Since 1999 it has been a home for our World/Olympic stars such as Andy Bisek to concentrate solely on Greco-Roman, while still getting a quality education from a top University.  Some of the United States' best international wrestlers have gone to Northern Michigan for the past 21 years and trained in the Wildcats Superior gym.  Yet the school doesn't field a varsity wrestling program.  It hasn't since the late 80's.

Even more bizarre is that Northern Michigan announced that women's varsity wrestling will be making its way to campus next season. Yet there has been no mention of reinstating the men's wrestling program.  Very happy and excited to see another women's program in the NCAA, but confused and disappointed that there is no mention of reinstating a program that was rather dominant throughout the late 70's into the mid 80's.

At the NCAA Division II level, the Wildcats finished sixth at the national tournament in 1978, 1979 and 1982.  They finished fifth in 1980 and 1984.

126, 118 lbs
Neal Seagren

A three time Conference champion with 118 career wins, Neal Seagren earned All American status for the wildcats on three occasions.  He made the NCAA Division II finals in 1977 as a sophomore taking fourth in 1978 and third in 1979.

118 lbs
The Ingold Brothers 

The Ingold brothers Willie and Pat were two of the Wildcats finest at 118 lbs.  Willie was a three time All American placing fifth-third-third between 1982 and 1984.  Younger brother Pat was a two time All American placing eighth in 1985 and sixth in 1986.

150, 142 lbs
Steve Spangenberg

A state champion out of Wisconsin wrestling for Peshtigo high school, Spangenberg had an outstanding career for the wildcats.  Making the NCAA Division II finals in 1978, he would go on to cap off his career in 1980 as the champion.

142, 150 lbs
Randy Meier 

Also placing fifth at the 1979 NCAA Division II tournament, Randy Meier had a standout senior season accumulating 43 victories in route to a fourth place finish.

Ed Egan 

A Great Lakes Conference champion as a true freshman in 1976, Egan would win a Mid-Continent Conference title as a senior in 1980.  Along with these accomplishments he was also a three time NCAA Division II All American placing third in 1978, fourth in 1979 and fifth in 1980.

167 lbs
Tim Jones 

A two time All American for the wildcats, Jones made the NCAA Division II finals in 1984 and placed sixth in 1985.   Post college, Jones went on to teach industrial arts & coach at both South Haven and Leroy Pine high schools.

167 lbs
Brad Bitterman 

As a freshman in 1979 Bitterman took seventh place at the NCAA Division II tournament.  As a sophomore he placed third.  Wanting to try his hand at Division I wrestling, Bitterman transferred to New Mexico for his final two seasons of wrestling.  Failing to place in 1981, he took fourth for the Lobos in 1982.

HWT
Ron Fandrick 

A 1967 Wisconsin state champion for Lincoln high school, Ron Fandrick was also a standout on the football team.  Wrestling for the wildcats he had standout junior and senior seasons, making the NCAA Division II finals in 1970 & placing third in 1971.  He also placed fourth at the prestigious Midlands Invitational beating many Division I wrestlers along the way.

For his credentials on the gridiron, Fandrick made the NFL draft and played for the Chicago Bears.

During his life Fandrick was seriously injured during a house fire when he tried to save the life of friend Bill Walden.

HWT
Gil Domiani 

Another standout on both the gridiron and the mat, Gil Domiani won an NCAA Division II title for the wildcats in 1973.

HWT
Mike Howe 

And yet another wildcat who excelled in both wrestling and football was Mike Howe.  After placing fourth at the NCAA Division II tournament as a sophomore and junior, Howe would cap off his career with a championship as as senior in 1981.  116 career victories, 52 of them were by fall.  38 wins as a senior, 22 of them were by fall.