Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Alabama

Last night's Gone, Lost & Forgotten featured Louisiana State, which brought to attention an interesting fact that I'm often asked about southern wrestling.  Were the teams in the south made up of local talent or were they made up of wrestlers from other states.  In the case of LSU wrestling, most of the talent was brought in from other states.  Matter of fact, every standout wrestler on the Tiger wrestling team that I have been able to find, was NOT from Louisiana.

To your surprise (or maybe not) you may find it of interest that many of the Crimson Tide's best wrestlers were indeed from Alabama.   Why this is an important fact is because it is often believed that many of the southern teams were dropped because their lineups couldn't be filled with local talent.  In the case of LSU that is true. However, as you'll see as you read, that was not the case with Alabama.

Steve Dildine
158 lbs

Dildine won SEC titles for the Crimson tide in 1970 & 1971.  Post his collegiate career he coached at both Vestavia high school in Alabama & Southport High School in Indiana.

George Landis
158, 167 lbs

A graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School, Landis was heavier sought as a football player, than he was as a wrestler.  He never qualified for the state tournament winning sectional & district titles before being eliminated in the qualifier to go to state.  That year he finished 22-1, with multiple offers to play linebacker at various colleges.  Landis however had his heart sat on wrestling. 

Competing for the Crimson Tide, Landis put together a very impressive record of 106-20, winning SEC titles in 1973 & 1974.

Billy King
190 lbs

Not only was Billy King an Alabama state champion his senior year of high school, but he did so in fashion securing the most pins of any wrestler at the tournament.  Wrestling for the Crimson Tide, he won SEC titles in 1976, 1977 & 1978.

Leif Erickson
HWT

Erickson won SEC titles for the Crimson Tide in 1977 & 1978.

Larry Tusick
150 lbs 

A successful businessman in the world of pharmaceuticals, Tusick was most famous for starting & heading NCAA Volunteers for Youth while a student at Alabama.  A group similar to Big Brothers/Big Sisters that mentors teenagers.

As a wrestler Tusick won SEC titles in 1976 & 1977.

Jimmy Carr
126 lbs 

The youngest Olympian in the history of American westling, Carr spent his first three seasons at Kentucky under the guidance of older brother Fletcher, who was the coach at the time.  After leaving Kentucky, Carr transferred to Alabama for his final season of eligibility.

While competing for the Crimson Tide, Carr won a SEC title, defeating Kentucky's Ricky Dellagatta along the way.  Unfortunately for Carr, after receiving the number eight seed at Nationals, he was upset in the second round & failed to place.

Bob Walker
HWT

Coming all the way from Fountain Valley High School in California, Walker was another wrestler that never qualified for his state tournament that went on to have great success post high school.  (He was still very good despite not qualifying for state.  He won Three League titles & two sectional titles. His senior season he finished with a record of 37-1, falling one match shy of qualification).

While at Alabama he had a standout career, winning three SEC titles in 1973, 74' & 75'.    Post college he entered the world of Greco-Roman capturing a silver medal at the PAN-AMERICAN championships.  In 1979, shortly after Bear Bryant announced that Crimson Tide wrestling would be discontinued, Walker won a Bronze Medal at the World Championships.