Sunday, May 17, 2020

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Boston College


Their may have been more, but out of the nine colleges/universities in the Boston, Massachusetts area that I know of that had wrestling programs, only one remains.  Harvard, in case you're wondering.   The other eight?  Tufts, Massachusetts Lowell, MIT, Boston, Northeastern, Bridgewater State, Brandeis & the one we'll be looking at today Boston College.

The Golden Eagles never had stand out performances as a team, but they did have some outstanding performances by individuals. 

John Hanlon
167 lbs
One of the best in Golden Eagle history was four time NCAA qualifier John Hanlon, a two time state champion out of New Jersey.  Hanlon won three New England Intercollegiate Wrestling Association titles, going 29-3 his senior season.

Dan Murner
177 lbs 
A two time NCAA qualifier in 1983 & 1985, Murner later went into the Marines before studying law & becoming a successful attorney in Kentucky.

John Merklinger
HWT
A defensive lineman on the Golden Eagle Football team, Merklinger was a two time NCAA qualifier for Boston College in 1987 & 1990.



Antonio Garay
HWT
The final superstar of the Golden Eagle wrestling team, was also a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron.  Antonio Garay a nose tackle went on to have a standout career in the NFL playing for the Cleveland Browns, The Chicago Bears, The New York Jets & the San Diego Chargers.  In wrestling he won a New Jersey State championship for Rahway High school, before winning three ECWA (Eastern Collegiate Wrestling Association) titles for the Golden Eagles.  He placed fourth at the 2000 NCAA championships, earning the Gorriaran award as a sophomore.  His junior season he was upset in the quarterfinals & then upset again in the blood round to All American.   His senior season, Boston College dropped their wrestling program & Garay put all of his focus and concentration into football.   I also think around this time the ECWA folded as a wrestling conference & teams went elsewhere. 




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