Sunday, June 14, 2020

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Kalamazoo

An NCAA Division III institution today, the Hornets of Kalamazoo competed in both Division II & Division III during their time on the wrestling mat.  Winners of the 1980 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) the Buzz claimed an assortment of individual titles. 


Steve Crooks

A three time MIAA champion for the Hornets, Crooks took sixth place All American honors at the NCAA Division III championships in 1978 as a sophomore.  He narrowly missed out on making All American honors again as a junior in 1979 finishing one match shy of placing. 

Steve Myers
123, 126 lbs 

Myers won two MIAA titles for the Hornets in 1969 & 1972. 

Tom Welke
177 lbs 

A graduate of Coldwater High School, Welke won an MIAA title in 1980. 


Tim Mallett
190 lbs 

A graduate of Niles High School, Mallett won MIAA titles for the Hornets in 1979 & 1980.   

Post college Mallett became a pharmacist & opened up his own Frozen Custard restaurant. 

Chris Davis
142 lbs 


After taking sixth place honors at the Michigan high school state championships for Kalamazoo Central, Davis went on to a stellar career at Kalamazoo.  He would win three MIAA titles in 1979, 1980 & 1982. 


Rich Ringer
118 lbs 


One of the few not native to Michigan on the Hornet roster, Rich Ringer came to Kalamazoo from Griffith, Indiana.  He won the MIAA title in 1981. 


Steve Zuhl
134 lbs

Putting together a career record of 94-14, Zuhl won MIAA titles for the hornets in 1973,1975 & 1976.  

Post college Zuhl had success in a tremendous amount of endeavors and retired early so he could help coach his son's basketball team. 


Dennis Bishop
158 lbs 

A graduate of Battle Creek Lake View High School Dennis Bishop made history by becoming the first & only Hornet to win four MIAA titles.  He won titles in 1972, 1973, 1975 & 1976.  His sophomore season of 1973 he took sixth place All American honors at the NCAA Division II championships. 


No comments:

Post a Comment