Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Susquehanna

Located along the beautiful Susquehanna river in Selingsgrove, Pennsylvania the River Hawks of Susquehanna were a competitive wrestling program at both the NCAA Division III level & at the conference level on an individual basis.  Throughout the 80's up through when the program was dropped after the 1995-1996 season, a series of All Americans & conference finalists were produced. 

Ken Tachjy
177 lba 

Even though injury prevented him from wrestling his senior season, Tachjy was still able to rack up a record of 67-8 during his career.   He won a MAC title in 1982, taking NCAA Division III All American status with a fourth place finish. 

He later became an attorney. 

Steve Deckard
190 lbs 

Seeing that it was available to him at the time, after graduating from Selingsgrove High School, Steve Deckard decided to stay home and compete for the River Hawks.  In 1985 as a junior he racked up a record 72 takedowns in route to a MAC title & a third place finish at the NCAA Division III championships.   He won another MAC title in 1986 finishing with a 65-6 career record. 

His brother Mike won a MAC title for the River Hawks in 1984. 

Chris LaBrecque
167 lbs 

After finishing as the MAC runner-up in 1987, LaBrecque not only won an MAC title in 1988, he was named the outstanding wrestler of the tournament.  He capped off his career with a sixth place finish at the NCAA Division III championships. 

Andy Watkins
190 lbs 

Whether it was on the gridiron or it was on the mat, either way there was only one way to describe Andy Watkins, impressive. 

As a football player he racked up 289 tackles, two sacks & three blocked field goals in route to All American status.  The River Hawks went 33-6 during his varsity career, in partial to the excellent defense he provided as a middle linebacker. 

As a wrestler he made an immediate impact earning runner-up honors at the MAC championships his freshman and sophomore seasons, before winning two titles in his final two seasons.  As a junior in 1991 he finished in third place at the NCAA Division III championships.  Although injured he still managed to secure a second All American finish by placing eighth as a senior in 1992.  His career record was 81-16. 

Mike Hardy
 

Hardy won a MAC title in 1995 & followed it up with a runner-up finish in 1996. 

Bill Bryson
142 lbs 

During Bryson's time at Susquehanna the wrestling team got quite a bit of press in the schools newspaper.  That may have been because he ran it.  Also a member of the River Hawk rugby team, Bryson won a MAC title in 1981.  

He later had a career in Highway Safety. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Capital

Within the hotbed of high school wrestling in Columbus, Ohio,  Capital University is located in the suburb of Bexley.  The Crusaders had a wrestling program up through the 1998-1999 season.  

Randall Fee
118 lbs 

Fee finished in eighth place at the 1982 NCAA Division III championships

Brandon Newill
125 lbs 

Newill had a very strong freshman campaign for the Crusaders taking seventh place All American honors at the NCAA Division III championships.  Forced to find a new home after Capital discontinued their wrestling program, he found himself at Pittsburgh-Johnstown now competing at the NCAA Division II level.  As a sophomore in 2000 he finished in third place, taking fourth place honors as a sophomore in 2001.   He capped off his career by having his 100th victory in the NCAA Division II finals.  

After a short stint as assistant coach at Buffalo, he took over the Kittanning Armstrong High school program while also teaching history. 

Ryan Collins
HWT

Another NCAA Division III All American in Capital's final year of wrestling, Collins placed fifth.  

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Upsala

Used as a shooting location for the 2001 Penny Marshall film Riding in Cars With Boys, Upsala College was at one time a liberal arts institution that competed in NCAA Division III athletics.  Due to financial problems, a declining enrollment & the loss of accreditation the school was permanently closed in 1995.  I'm not sure when the school first fielded a wrestling team, but they had one up until the very end. 

Greg Evans

Evans had a standout career for the Vikings, going 102-12 over four seasons & taking third place All American honors at the 1982 NCAA Division III championships.

He later moved to Oklahoma, where he found himself head coach of three different programs.  Tulsa Union, Broken Arrow & Bixby High Schools.  Within the three he produced thirty five state champions, that included seven three timers & one four timer.

John Butto
150 lbs

Butto was a Middle Atlantic Conference Runner-up in 1981

Wali Muhammad
158 lbs 

The owner & operator of The Peak Wrestling School, Wali Muhammad won a Middle Atlantic Conference title for the Vikings in 1981.

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Rowan (Glassboro State)

A rather large NCAA Division III institution located in southwestern New Jersey, Rowan was known as Glassboro State during the time they fielded a wrestling team.  They competed at both the NAIA & NCAA Division III levels in the Metropolitan Conference.  During their final season of 1991-1992, they placed two All Americans. 

Chris Ormsby

A graduate of Maple Shade high School, Ormbsy spent one year at Chowen & another year at Gloucester County wrestling in the NJCAA before coming to Rowan.  In that season of 1992-1993, the school was making a lot of changes.   For one, the name Glassboro State was out & the name Rowan was in.  For two, they were getting rid of wrestling.  Ormsby never wrestled for the Profs but his scholarship was honored  & he did finish his degree. 

John Villecco

One half of the famous Deptford High School wrestling brothers, after taking third at the state championships as a junior, John became the school's first state champion as a senior.   Competing for the Profs, he would go 41-9, securing 18 falls placing fifth at the 1970 NAIA championships & sixth in 1971.  Involved in a motorcycle accident, he was unable to compete his final season of eligibility.  His brother Jerry was a multiple time All American at Penn State.  We sadly lost John in 2009. 

Kevin Brockway
134, 142 lbs 

Brockway was a two time NCAA Division III All American taking sixth place honors in 1981 & fourth place in 1983. 

Mike Suk

Also a member of the Prof football team where he was all conference, Suk went 70-24 during his wrestling career racking up forty victories by fall.  In 1984 he took third place at the NCAA Division III championships. 

T.J. McStravik
134 lbs 

McStravik has a phenomenal career for the Profs winning an NCAA Division III title in 1990 & following it up with a third place finish in 1991.  In addition he was also a three time Metropolitan Conference champion who ended his career with a record of 104-27. 

Brian Barrett
150 lbs 

Another great in Prof wrestling history was Brian Barrett who won an NCAA Division III title in 1986 & followed it up with a runner-up finish in 1987. 

Etienne Miszczak
158 lbs 

Miszczak was a two time NCAA Division III All American placing fifth in 1991 & sixth in 1992. 

Van Lynch
177, 190 lbs 

A member of the honor society, Lynch took sixth place All American honors at the 1971 NAIA championships. 

Jeff Pallies
HWT

You may not know the name Jeff Pallies but chances are that you have at least heard of his brother Chris.  Maybe not by the name of Chris Pallies but by his other alias, King Kong Bundy in the world of professional wrestling.  Chris himself was an amateur wrestler as both he & Jeff competed for Washington Township High school.  

During College Jeff also played football & went 37-2 during two years varsity on the wrestling team.  He won two Metropolitan Championships & his only losses came at the national tournament. 

Adam Miller
142 lbs 

In the Prof's final season of wrestling (1991-1992) Miller took third place All American honors at the NCAA Division III championships. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Clarkson

A small school located in Potsdam, New York, Clarkson competed at the NCAA Division III level in the Independent Collegiate Athletic Conference (ICAC) during the time they sponsored wrestling. 

Scott Cook 
158 lbs 

Cook earned NCAA Division III All American status for the Golden Knights with an eighth place finish in 1980. 

Craig Lewis
126 lbs

A two time ICAC champion, Lewis took seventh place All American honors at the 1982 NCAA Championships. 

Todd Read
150 lbs

In 1984 Read won a ICAC title & took fourth place honors at the 1982 NCAA Championships. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Juniata

Located in the central Pennsylvanian town of Huntingdon, Juniata is a small college, a little over 1,500 students that competes in NCAA Division III athletics.  During their time in wrestling, the Eagles competed in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC).  

Joe Paskill
150 lbs 

A two time MAC champion, Paskill twice earned NCAA Division III All American honors for the old gold & yale blue.  He placed sixth in 1979 & third in 1980.  He ended his career with a record of 70-15. 

Grey Berrier
HWT

Grey Berrier was quite a busy man during his time at Juniata.  On the football field one could find him playing every position their was with exception to Quarterback.  It was the only position he never got to play in three years of being named All MAC.  As a wrestler he made the MAC finals & as a baseball player he had a .385 batting average. 

Pete Schuyler
HWT

Life can be bittersweet at times & it certainly was for Pete Schuyler in 1970.  He won the MAC championships but a test that he had to take in order to graduate was scheduled for the same day as the opening of the NCAA Division III championships.   He chose academics over wrestling that day & graduated with a career record of 36-15.  18 of those 36 victories came via fall. 

Shad Hoover

Principal of CMT Laboratories, Shad Hoover wrestled at Juniata. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = St. Thomas

The Tommies were very competitive in both the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) & NCAA Division III.  At the conference level, St. Thomas won team titles in 1981 & 1986.  In NCAA Division III, they took a high of third place in 1991 & finished in ninth place in 1996. 

After the 1999-2000 season, St. Thomas faced some economic hardships & Athletic Director Steve Fritz wasted no time in announcing the discontinuation of wrestling as the first measure to help cut costs. 

Richard Gurtek
191 lbs 

A graduate of New Brighton High School, Gurtek won three MIAC titles for the Tommies.  His sophomore season of 1958 he made the NAIA finals. 

Roger Zeug
167lbs 

Zeug had an outstanding career at St. Thomas winning three MIAC titles & being named the Outstanding wrestler of the tournament his senior season of 1964.  That season he also made the NAIA finals. 

Don Studer

A state champion for Sherburn High school,  Studer finished as the MIAC runner up twice before finally securing a title in 1984.  Finishing eighth at the NAIA tournament in 1983, he most likely would have made All American status again but was unable to participate in the 1984 tournament due to an injury. 

Kevin McNamer
158 lbs 

During his career McNamer won two MIAC titles for the Tommies finishing in fifth place at the 1978 NCAA Division III championships.

Denis McNamara
167, 177 lbs  

McNamara was a two time NCAA Division III All American for the Tommies. He placed eighth in 1987, making the finals in 1988.  

Jason O'Brien
118 lbs 

Add the name Jason O'Brien to your list of national champions who never won a state title.  Although he won three conference, two district & two regional championships, the state title eluded him during his career at Waseca High school.  The best he finished in his 76-11 prep record was fourth twice.  

Wrestling for the Tommies, O'Brien won three MIAC titles & took fourth at the 1990 NCAA Division III championships.  In 1991 he'd win the NCAA Division III title. 

Rich Elliott
134 lbs 

A bit of a mystery on 1991 NCAA Division III finalist Rich Elliott that I was unable to figure out.  Writer Rich Elliott author of Big Snow has mentioned in his writing that he was a wrestler, but I don't know if this is the same Rich Elliott or not.  Perhaps other wrestling fans will be able to answer. 

Kevin Ahern
158 lbs 

A graduate of Simley High school where he finished as the 1988 Runner-up, Ahern came to St. Thomas with a record of 102-28.  After winning an MIAC title in 1991, it looked like Ahern's goal of being an All American might be over when he lost his first round match at the NCAA Division III championships.   It was far from over, it was only getting started.  Ahern would never lose another match as he battled his way back to a third place finish.  

Kevin Fiedler
150 lbs  

A graduate of Sauk Center high School,  Fieldler made the NCAA Division III finals in 1996. 

Joel O'Brien
126 lbs 

Younger brother of NCAA Division III national champion Jason, Joel had a notable career for the Tommies in his own right.  A graduate of Waseca High school he came to St. Thomas with a record of 84-14 having finished fifth & second in the state.  

While competing for St. Thomas, he won three MIAC titles and took third at the 1997 NCAA Division III championships.  He had 123 victories during his career. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their best = Union

Another wrestling program I wasn't able to find much on.  

Mike Paquette
177 lbs 

A graduate of Colonie High School, Paquette earned NCAA Division III All American honors with a fourth place finish in 1977.  He later won a Veterans National Championship in Las Vegas. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Grove City

I wasn't able to find out a whole lot about Grove City wrestling but what I do know is that they were (and the school still participates in) an NCAA Division III institution in the President's Athletic Conference.  

David Bauchman
167 lbs 

The Wolverines best wrestler without a doubt was two time NCAA Division III All American David Bauchman.  He took fifth in the 1976 championships & sixth in 1978. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Cal State Stanislaus

Today the warriors of Cal State Stanislaus are a NCAA Division II school but during the time they competed in wrestling they were NCAA Division III.  Warrior wrestling came to an end after the 1980-1981 season, ironically after they crowned their first NCAA finalist. 

Mel Harris
134 lbs 

A graduate of Merced High school, Mel Harris earned NCAA Division III All American status with a fourth place finish in 1976. 

Brad Keith
142 lbs 

Brad Keith was an NCAA Division III All American in 1979 placing seventh. 

John Parreira
150 lbs 

Parreira took eighth place All American honors at the 1979 NCAA Division III touranment. 

Don Tafoya
118 lbs 

A graduate of Ventura High School, Tafoya took sixth place in 1980 at the NCAA Division III tournament. 

Vertus Elmore
158 lbs  

During his time as a Warrior, Vertus Elmore won two conference titles & two regional titles.  In 1981 he made the NCAA Division III finals.  The discontinuation of wrestling at Cal State Stanislaus was announced a short time later. 

Post college Elmore became a Marriage & Family counselor. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = MIT

It's always heart-wrenching & depressing when we lose a collegiate wrestling team, but it's all the more when that team has such a long illustrious history. I've found records as far back as the 1930's for MIT wrestling.  Perhaps it lasted longer than that, but we're discussing a mat program with eighty years, that came to an end after the 2008-2009 season.   

To illustrate the importance of wrestling on campus, not only was a club team formed immediately at the announcement of the discontinuation of the varsity program, they won the 2010 NCWA team title. 



 

Robert Axford
115 lbs 

Axford became the first NEIWA (New England Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) champion for the Engineers in 1930. 

Dave Schramm

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Schramm won NEIWA titles in 1966 & 1967.  He later became head coach at California Tech for a while before becoming an Astrophysics professor at the University of Chicago.  Famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking considered Schramm to be one of his best friends.  We sadly lost Schramm in a plane crash in 1997. 

Fred Andree
HWT

When the announcement was made that Baraboo High School (Wisconsin) was going to getting a wrestling program, Fred Andree was the first to sign up.  He came to MIT with a record of 68-10.  While competing for the Engineers, Andree won a NEIWA title in 1968 & took runner-up honors in 1969.  In 1968 he placed fourth at the NCAA Division I tournament. 

Jack Mosinger
118 lbs 

The school newspaper had quite a bit of wrestling coverage during the mid 1970's & that may have been because Jack Mosinger was in charge of it.  He took runner-up honors at the NEIWA tournament in 1973, before winning a title in 1975. 

He later became CEO of Mark Lemp Footwear 

Erland Van Lidth de Jeude
HWT 

A native of the Netherlands, Erland Van Lidth de Jeude is the most colorful wrestling that MIT ever produced.  A two time NCAA Division III All American, he placed sixth in 1975 before making the finals in 1976. 

Post college Van Lidth de Jeude had a successful career as both a singer & as an actor.  He was a member of the famous Amato Opera & he acted alongside such legends as Arnold Schwarzenegger & Richard Pryor in The Running Man & Stir Crazy. 

Ken Shull
134 lbs 

Going 82-9 during his career, Shull won three conference championships & took seventh place All American honors at the NCAA Division III championships in 1983. 


 

Glenn Geesman

Geesman earned NCAA Division III All American honors in 2008.  He later became head coach at Sonoma High School in California. 

Joseph Silverman
197 lbs 

The Engineers final NCAA Division III All American, Silverman took seventh place honors in 2009.  The following year the native of Olympia, Washington became MIT's first NCWA finalist. 

Ryan Madson

A native of Hutchinson, Minnesota, Madson became MIT's first four time NCWA All American only four seasons post when the varsity program was cut.  He placed fourth in both 2010 & 2013, making the NCWA finals in 2011 & taking third in 2012. 

Madson later was an assistant at Augsburg.