Defending the Title: 1939: Who Did and Who Didn't Defend Their Titles

 Franklin and Marshall wrestling has been around for 130 years.  That's not a typo.  The diplomat wrestling program is one of the oldest in the country.  In all that time, they have only hosted the NCAA tournament once.  1939.  

Here Joe McDaniel and Stan Henson capped off their careers as three time NCAA champions.   

As to the other champions crowned that night...

1939 Champion 128 
Dale Hanson of Minnesota 

A native of Iowa who won a state title for the traditional powerhouse of the era Cresco, Hanson was a junior when he won the NCAA title.  He made the finals again in 1940, but this time would settle for runner-up honors.  Serving our country during World War II, Hanson would unfortunately lose his life in 1942 when a fighter jet he was in was shot down. 

1939 Champion 136
Archie Deutschman of Illinois 

Having settled for a runner-up finish in 1938 as a junior, the Illini won the NCAA title in 1939. 

1939 Champion 145
Harold Nichols of Michigan 

It's hard to know exactly who started the state of Iowa's fixation with wrestling. As one of our greatest writers and historians, Mike Chapman would say, "From Gotch to Gable."  Many names deserve credit for the passion and love Iowans have for wrestling and perhaps none more than Harold Nichols.  It's funny as so many speak so eloquently and knowledgably of his unmatchable coaching prowess at Iowa State University.   Yet with as much as is said about the coach, little is said about the wrestler. 

Nichols never won a state title while competing for Cresco.  His best and only finish was taking third.  Ending up a Wolverine in Ann Arbor, Nichols won the NCAA title here as a senior. 

1939 Champion 165
Henry Matthews of Lehigh 

Matthews was a senior when he won the NCAA title

1939 Champion 175
Chris Traicoff of Indiana 

Traicoff wasn't just a basketball player in high school, he was a good basketball player in high school.  How in the world he ever ended up wrestling in college considering his passion for basketball is quite a mystery. Never the less, he excelled as much on the mat as he did on the court.  Finishing third at the NCAA's in 1938 as a junior, he won the NCAA title as a senior in 1939. 

Post high school he returned to his alma mater Calumet high school where he started what would be a short lived wrestling program, that was put on hold due to his commitments to World War II.  When he returned to Calumet, he took over as the boy's head basketball coach.  He lead the team to 298 victories and four conference championships.  

1939 Champion UNL
Johnny Harrell of Oklahoma State 

These days wrestlers build up their strength through many dedicated hours pumping iron in the weight room.  Harrell built up his strength by working in the oil fields of Southwestern Texas in between summers at Oklahoma State. Known for his incredible grip strength, he won the NCAA title as a senior.  Although his eligibility was up as far as wrestling was concerned, he still had eligibility left for football when he was asked to join the team at the Naval Academy.  Having never played football before, he soon became a starter for the midshipmen during the fall of 1939.  

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Legends McDaniel and Henson end their Cowboy careers as three time Champions 

Hanson settles for second in 1940 

Deutschman, Nichols, Matthews, Traicoff and Harrell are all seniors