Like the Eastern Regional, the Western Regional began in the 1972-1973 season. Unlike the Eastern Regional that started off with twenty-two teams, the first tournament in the Western Regional saw only five teams compete. Of these five teams, only one, Air Force remains today. Portland State, Drake, Utah State & Central Washington have since discontinued their programs. At this initial tournament, the champion advanced to the NCAA finals with a handful of runner-up's being granted wildcard entry.
Over the years, many teams came & went, qualifying through the Western Regional.
Of teams we still have to this day, Northern Colorado, Cal Poly & Fresno State (did drop, but then reinstated) were among some that popped up over the years. As representation became more consistent, Northern Iowa, Wyoming, North Dakota State, Utah Valley, Air Force & South Dakota State became more permanent fixtures.
Among other teams that we no longer have that were once part of the Western Regional: UC Santa Clara, San Jose State, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, Southern Illinois Carbondale (which ironically also had years in the Eastern Regional), Eastern Illinois & Hawaii.
I feel since it is such an oddity to a wrestling fan to know that the University of Hawaii had varsity wrestling, I should further comment.
Hawaii also showed up a few times in PAC-12 results as well. They were always in last place & usually with zero points, although a few years they had a point or two. From what I have been able to gather, Hawaii usually only had a handful of duals per year. I've found seasons where other teams are having a substantial amount of duals & Hawaii is only having between two & four. I think at the time there team didn't wrestle much outside of the qualifying tournament. The way I understand it, no team traveled to Hawaii to compete and Hawaii only came into the mainland for a week of duals in California once a year. I could be wrong, but this is what my research has led me to.
I'll probably catch Hell for not counting the Western Regional & the Western Wrestling Conference as two separate things. To me, it was simply the Western Regional changing the name to the Western Wrestling Conference in the 2006-2007 season. It was essentially the same teams & I know attending the WWC in Cedar Falls in 2012, many still referred to it as the Western Regional.
Upon Northern Iowa wanting to branch out to compete in a tougher conference & the BIG 12 being in jeopardy of losing status as a wrestling conference, the Western Wrestling Conference held it's final tournament in 2015. The next season most of the teams joined the BIG 12 (in wrestling only) in order to save BIG 12 wrestling.
Here is what the final tournament looked like.
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| 125 Champion Josh Rodriguez |
A junior at the time, the next season of 2015-2016, Rodriguez would take a third place finish at the BIG 12 tournament.
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| 133 lbs Champion Jade Rauser |
Rauser had quite the notable career while wrestling for the Wolverines. As a freshman in 2013 he became the first freshman in Utah Valley history to qualify for the NCAA Division I championships when he took fourth place at the Western Wrestling Conference. After finishing as the WWC runner-up in 2014, he made history again by becoming the Wolverine's final WWC champion, earning the title at the final tournament in 2015. If that wasn't enough for breaking records, Rauser would become the first four time NCAA qualifier in Utah Valley history when he took a third place finish at the BIG 12 tournament in 2016. To top off what was already a great career, Rauser ended on a high note earning an eighth place All American finish at the NCAA tournament.
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| 141 lbs champion Mitch Bengston |
A champion as a freshman, unfortunately injuries would hamper the Bison for the remainder of his career. Finishing in sixth place at the BIG 12's in 2016, injury would keep him from competing in 2017. He ended the 2018 season with a record of 12-4.
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| Clay Ream Champion at 149 lbs |
Another freshman champ for the Bison at the final WWC, Ream went on to qualify for the NCAA tournament the next three seasons. After finishing third at the BIG 12's in 2016, he made the BIG 12 finals in 2017 & 2018. He graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
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| 157 lbs Champion Cody Pack |
Pack who had won the WWC title the season before, became a two time WWC champion in the final tournament. With one more season of eligibility left, he took runner-up honors at the BIG 12 in 2016, finishing one match shy of All American status at the NCAA tournament. He ended his career with 116 victories.
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| Mitch Polkowske 165 lbs Champion |
It was quite the career for Polkowske at Northern Colorado. After winning a WWC title in 2009, he would take the next three seasons off to go on a mission. He returned in the 2012-2013 season but didn't fare as well. In 2014, he placed fourth at the WWC. It was here in 2015, that Polkowske returned to form earning his second WWC title & becoming the Bears final WWC champion.
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| Kurtis Julson 174 lbs Champion |
It was a significant day in the career of Kurtis Julson when he won the WWC title at 174 lbs. Unable to compete in the WWC's as a freshman due to injury, Julson took a third place finish in 2013 & a runner-up finish in 2014. It was only fitting he walked out champion in 2015. To top off what was already an impressive resume, Julson would end his career with an eighth place finish at the NCAA tournament.
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| Hayden Zillmer Champion at 184 lbs |
Zillmer's title in 2015 was his second, as he also won a WWC title in 2014. He would go on to place sixth at the NCAA championships. The next season in 2016, Zillmer made the BIG 12 finals. Although he was unable to capture a second All American honor, he did finish in seventh place at Cliff Keen Las Vegas & third at the Midlands championships.
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| Shane Woods Champion 197 lbs |
Woods made history at the final WWC winning the Cowboys final (his third) title at 197 lbs.
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| JJ Everard Champion at HWT |
Competing for South Dakota State, Everard would transfer to Northern Iowa after winning the final WWC title at HWT. Taking a redshirt in 2016, he'd return in 2017 to finish in eighth place at the Mid-American Conference tournament.
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