Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Truman State

I'll be honest this is another one that hits hard for me.  When I was a junior & senior in high school it came time to decide what you wanted to study & where you wanted to study it.  Kirksville is a little less than two hours from where I grew up & about an hour from where my Great Grandmother as well as an Uncle & Aunt lived.  My Dad & I stopped and saw my family on the way to visit the campus & attend a dual.  It depresses me and it angers me that when the Bulldogs discontinued varsity wrestling after the 2018-2019 season, it marked the second school of schools that I looked at attending that no longer has a program.  

Truman State was a tough team in more than one way.  On the mat they won the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1978 & 1979.  They finished in tenth place at the NCAA Division II championships in 1968.   As impressive, they won NCAA Division II titles in Academics in 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010.  

Curtis "Curd" Alexander 

Alexander became the Bulldogs first NCAA Division II champion when he earned his title in 1968. 

Richard Beard
HWT 

A three time conference champion with a 64-16 career record Beard earned NCAA Division II All American honors twice during his time as a Bulldog.  He claimed fourth place as a sophomore in 1968 & came back as a senior in 1970 to earn sixth. 

Mike Duffy
150 lbs 

A graduate of Fort Madison High School in Iowa, Duffy had an outstanding career for the Bulldogs which included three MIAA titles, four NCAA qualifications & earning All American honors twice.  He placed eighth in 1979 & sixth in 1980 at the NCAA Division II tournament. He ended his career with a record of 93-20.  

Post college Duffy became a Fireman and a Missionary for Christar Missionaries. 

Justin Naumovitz
167 lbs 

Putting together a career record of 91-12, Naumovitz was a two time NCAA Division II All American for the Bulldogs.  He placed fourth in 1993 & seventh in 1994. 


 

Merrick Meyer

We've all know that wrestler that was "right there" that "came so close" that never won a title.  That's how you can describe nearly all of Merrick Meyer's wrestling career, except for his last season.  In high school Meyer wrestled for Francis Howell North, finishing out his last three seasons placing third, runner-up, runner-up.  As a sophomore in 2003, he made the NCAA Division II finals but again settled for a runner-up finish.  Amid an assortment of bronze and silver medals, as a junior in 2004 it was time to add a gold to the collection.  Meyer finally did it and won the NCAA Division II crown.  He once again qualified in 2005, but did not place. 

Ryan Maus
149 lbs 

Coming all the way up from Georgia where he wrestled for Kennesaw Mt, Maus earned All American honors by placing third at the 2013 NCAA Division II championships.