Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Youngstown State

While Youngstown State is a Division I school today, at the time they fielded a wrestling program they were Division II.  Never a powerhouse, they did have success on an individual level.  

Dave Stilgenbauer
158 lbs 

A graduate of Austintown Fitch High School where he finished fourth in the Ohio state championships, Stilgenbauer put together a career record of 84-26, placing eighth at the 1979 NCAA Division II championships.  Post college he Coached wrestling, teaching P.E., Driver's Ed, & Health at Kennedy Christian High school in Pennsylvania. 

Rex Luckage
177 lbs 

A fellow Austintown Fitch High school graduate introduced to the sport in the eighth grade, Luckage placed twice in the Ohio state championships.  He placed fourth as a junior & fifth as a senior.  He began his career at Slippery Rock but soon transferred to Youngstown State. Competing for the Penguins, he took an eighth place finish at the 1981 NCAA Division II tournament. 

Rick Brunot
HWT 

No question about it, Rick Brunot, was the best wrestler that the Penguins ever produced.  Also a standout football player, Brunot graduated from Conneaut High School where he took a runner-up finish at the Ohio State championships. While competing for the Penguins, he was an All American in football making an immediate impact in wrestling placing fourth at the 1981 NCAA Division II championships as a freshman.  Injury would prevent him from a similar finish as a sophomore, as Youngstown State transitioned from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I status.  He qualified for the DI nationals as a junior & would face only one loss as a senior going 54-1 in route to a third place All American finish in 1985.   During his time at Youngstown State his brother Doug was on the football team with him & his sister Cindy was an All American on both the women's basketball & softball teams.  

Post College Brunot had short stints in the NFL with both the Cleveland Browns & the Denver Broncos.