The University of Kentucky's wrestling program is one of the most unique that I have ever ran across. Fran Curci a football coach at Tampa, who then went on to coach at Miami (Fl), had recently accepted a job at Kentucky. He wanted Fletcher Carr brought on as an assistant. Carr was more than happy to oblige under one condition. If he came to help coach the football program, Kentucky would agree to start a wrestling program & allow him to be the head coach. Along with UC-Santa Barbara's Bobby Douglas, Carr became the first black head coach in NCAA Division I wrestling.
Wildcat wrestling didn't last very long, but Carr made the most out of his time. In eight wrestling seasons, Carr sent wrestlers to the NCAA tournament in all but one. Joining the SEC during the 1975-1976 season, he led the Wildcats to conference titles in 1977 & 1978. They finished as the SEC runner-ups in 1976 & in 1981. Kentucky placed tenth at the NCAA championships in 1977 & in 1980.
All things considered, Kentucky put together a rather impressive resume taking into account they only had eight seasons on the mat.
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Jimmy Carr
126 lbs
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Mentioned in my previous "Gone, Lost & Forgotten" article as the Alabama's final NCAA qualifier, the legendary Jimmy Carr spent his first three seasons at Kentucky. Even before he began his collegiate career, Jimmy as a sophomore in high school had already made an Olympic team. A fun side note, that not many are aware of is that Jimmy roomed with Chris Taylor during the games. It should also be noted that while still in high school Jimmy won a Midlands title & was awarded the Outstanding wrestler of the tournament.
While at Kentucky, he once again wrestled at the Midlands this time taking runner-up honors to Olympic Silver Medalist Don Behm. His sophomore year, he'd place fifth at the 1977 NCAA championships.
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Kurt Mock
134, 126 lbs |
From Council Rock high school in Pennsylvania, Mock had an outstanding career for the Wildcats qualifying for the NCAA championships all four years. He placed sixth at the NCAA championships in 1976 as a sophomore & in fourth place in 1977 as a junior. His junior season he also took fifth at the Midlands. Post college he worked as a relocation specialist.
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Joe Carr
158, 167 lbs |
Another of the famous Carr family, Joe spent his freshman year at Division II Ashland before coming to Kentucky to wrestle for Fletcher. While at Kentucky Joe won three SEC titles in 1975, 1976 & 1977. He placed third at the NCAA championships as a sophomore & junior. He also took third at the Midlands both of those seasons as well.
Post college Carr took a Silver medal at the PAN-AMERICAN championships before turning over to coaching. His son Joe Jr, won four Kentucky state titles while in high school putting together a reord of 242-7. He wrestled collegiality for West Virginia, a four time NCAA qualifier winning two EWL titles.
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Tim Mousetis
142 lbs |
From Washington high school in Pennsylvania, where he was a two time state finalist, winning a title his junior season, Mousetis had a standout career for the Wildcats. He placed sixth at the Midlands tournament as a freshman, winning an SEC title & placing sixth at the NCAA tournament as a junior.
Post college Mousetis went back to Pennsylvania to coach at both Chartiers-Houston & Canon McMillan high schools.
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Harold Smith
HWT |
An Ohio State champion in 1974 for William McKinley high school, Smith was one of the toughest HWT's during his time as a Wildcat. He finished in third place at the 1977 NCAA championships as sophomore, and in sixth place at the 1980 NCAA championships as a senior. He also has distinction as being Kentucky's only Midlands champion, a title he won his junior season. He finished in second place as a senior.
Post college Smith made a World team in 1981.
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Ricky Dellagatta
126, 134 lbs |
From Buena Regional high school in New Jersey, Ricky Dellagatta had an outstanding career for the Wildcats. Placing fourth at the NCAA championships as a sophomore in 1979, Dellagatta would take third place in 1980 & 1981. He'd also placed third & second at the Midlands championships his junior and senior seasons, as well as being named to team East in the All Star Classic.
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Ricky Rindfus
150 lbs |
One of the Wildcats last NCAA qualifiers before Kentucky wrestling came to an end after the 1982-1983 season, Rindfus took fifth at the 1980 Midlands championships. He once highlighted a dual against Oklahoma State when he upset Kenny Monday 16-12.
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