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

Today the Hornets of Cal State Sacramento are a NCAA Division I school but during the time they sponsored wrestling, they were NCAA Division II. 

Andy Wilson
150, 158 lbs 

A graduate of Cordova High School, Wilson was twice named NCAA Division II All American. He claimed sixth place in 1978 and seventh place in 1979. 

Dean Reichenberg
158 lbs 

Reichenberg claimed fourth place All American honors in 1978 for the Hornets.  Today their is a Junior Varsity tournament held at Consumes Oaks in Elk Grove in his honor. 

Don Stirewalt
134 lbs  

Stirewalt was an NCAA Division II All American in 1979 taking eighth place.  Post college he became a successful plumber/electrician. 

Eddie Franco
118 lbs  

Wrestling for East Union High School Eddie Franco never made it to the California State championships although he did win two sectional titles putting together a record 129-23.  He also participated in Judo, and took fourth place at the state championships.  Also participated in boxing winning a series of golden gloves tournaments, ideally making him a candidate for MMA/UFC before all of that became immensely popular decades later. 

He began his collegiate career at Delta College where he won the CCCAA title in 1977.  

Transferring to Cal State Sacramento, Franco would capture a fourth place finish at the NCAA Division II tournament in 1980. 

Antonio Lopez
126 lbs 

Born in Zacatecas, Mexico when Lopez first began interest in sports he gravitated towards baseball.  Yet being an aggressive, small kid it was wrestling where he really shined.  Wrestling for Ukiah High school, Lopez put together a record of 44-2 his senior season before starting his collegiate career off at Mendocino (another program we've lost) where he won a Golden Valley conference championship.  

Transferring to Cal State Sacramento Lopez would have a standout season in 1981 winning a conference title & taking eighth place All American honors at the NCAA Division II tournament. 

Today Lopez works as a Dean of Counseling at Mendocino. 

Russ Jones
190 lbs 

A graduate of Roseville High school,  Jones took sixth place at the California State championships before beginning his collegiate career.  While competing for the Hornets, Jones placed sixth in 1983 & fifth in 1984 at the NCAA Division II championships.