Located in north central West Virginia, the Fighting Falcons at one point had a varsity wrestling team. Although they are NCAA Division II today at the time they were NAIA. A high finish of sixth at the 1979 NAIA championships, Fairmont State won West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) titles in 1973, 1974 & 1976.
Rodney Baird
A three time WVIAC champion, Baird was a two time NAIA All American. After finishing in fourth place in 1976, Baird was the 1977 runner-up.
Fortier excelled at three sports during his time at Fairmont State. As a football player he was All WVIAC in 1968 & 1969. As a wrestler he won WVIAC titles in 1968, 1969 & 1970. In track he was All WVIAC in 1968. Post his collegiate career Fortier played football for the New York Giants.
Going 25-5, securing 19 victories by fall, Hinkle won a WVIAC title in 1979.
Moses Guinn
|
| Matt Fortier |
Fortier excelled at three sports during his time at Fairmont State. As a football player he was All WVIAC in 1968 & 1969. As a wrestler he won WVIAC titles in 1968, 1969 & 1970. In track he was All WVIAC in 1968. Post his collegiate career Fortier played football for the New York Giants.
|
| Bruce Hinkle |
Going 25-5, securing 19 victories by fall, Hinkle won a WVIAC title in 1979.
Moses Guinn
Also a member of the Track & Football teams, Guinn broke rushing records at Fairmont State in both 1958 & 1959.
A three time WVIAC champion, Kirby finished third at the NAIA championships in 1975. He ended his career with a record of 168-9.
Going 83-12 over the course of his carer, Jobst was able to something that no other Flying Falcon ever did. He won four WVIAC titles. 1973, 1974, 1975 & 1976.
Also a member of the Flying Falcon Football team, where he was All WVIAC, Moyer was a two time NAIA All American in wrestling. He finished as the 1962 runner-up, earning fourth place in 1963.
|
| Mike Kirby |
A three time WVIAC champion, Kirby finished third at the NAIA championships in 1975. He ended his career with a record of 168-9.
|
| John Jobst 126, 134 lbs |
Going 83-12 over the course of his carer, Jobst was able to something that no other Flying Falcon ever did. He won four WVIAC titles. 1973, 1974, 1975 & 1976.
|
| Gary Moyer |
Also a member of the Flying Falcon Football team, where he was All WVIAC, Moyer was a two time NAIA All American in wrestling. He finished as the 1962 runner-up, earning fourth place in 1963.
Fairmont State has restarted their program this past season. Another note of interest I found in a Blue Book of College Athletics from the early 1940s said that their mascot or team name was the "Fighting Teachers" which brought a chuckle.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize they restarted
DeleteThank you for the information
Their last previous season is 1082-83. Chris Freije was the coach and the team went (1-6) in their first year back.
ReplyDelete