Defending the Title: 1941: Those who Did and Those Who Didn't Defend Their Title

 Alan Whitehurst was the sole returning champion from 1940 who would repeat as champion in 1941. 

1941 Champion 121 
Merle Jennings of Michigan State 

Long before the Banachs or the Brands, there was the Jennings. Identical twin brothers from Tulsa, Oklahoma who won back to back NCAA titles in their sophomore and junior seasons of 1941 and 1942.  They could have been the first and only identical twin brothers to win three NCAA titles in a row, but unfortunately they were robbed of that potential by World War II.  In our day in age, we saw the seniors of the 2019-2020 season robbed of their final season due to Covid-19.  Eighty years ago, they were called to defend their country.  While serving during World War II, Jennings earned the rank of Lieutenant and later became a surgeon. 

1941 Champion 128 
Burl "Bo" Jennings of Michigan State 

To fans watching at Lehigh that night, it might have looked like the same wrestler who had just won the NCAA title at 121 lbs, wrestling again at 128.  Yet, it wasn't. It was Merle's twin brother Bo.  Like Merle he would repeat again in 1942, but was denied a chance at a third title when called to serve his country in World War II. 

1941 Champion 145 
David "Buddy" Arndt of Oklahoma State 

Like the Jennings brothers, Buddy Arndt of Oklahoma State won back to back titles in 1941 and 1942. Like the Jennings brothers, he was denied a shot at a third title in 1943, as he was called to serve his country in World War II. Like Merle Jennings, he ranked lieutenant. Unlike the Jennings brothers, Arndt decided to come back for his senior season in 1946, where he won his third NCAA title.  He was the only wrestler to win NCAA titles on both sides of the war. 

1941 Champion 155
Earl Van Bebber of Oklahoma State 

The case of Earl Van Bebber of Oklahoma State is a rather interesting one. The brother of Olympic Gold Medalist Jack Van Bebber who won three NCAA titles for the Cowboys, had it not been for the injury of one of his teammates, Earl Van Bebber might not have ever been varsity for the cowboys.  Behind 1940 NCAA champion Vernon Logan, who would also win an NCAA title in 1942, he filled in for Logan when Logan broke his nose during the 1941 season. As he did in his sophomore year, Van Bebber again sat behind Logan during his senior year.  Post college, Van Bebber would own and operate an Ace hardware store. 

1941 Champion 165
Virgil Smith of Oklahoma State 

Yet another Cowboy NCAA champion, Smith would repeat as a senior in 1942 

1941 Champion 175
Dick DiBatista of Pennsylvania 

Like the Jennings brothers, DiBatista won back to back titles in 1941 as as sophomore and 1942 as a junior, only to be denied a third title in 1943 as a senior due to conflicts with World War II.  Also a standout on the gridiron, DiBatista played both sides of the ball during Quaker games.  He later coached and officiated. 

1941 Champion UNL 
Leonard "Butch" Levy of Minnesota 

Another of our standout wrestlers who also excelled in football, Levy was a junior when he won the NCAA title in 1941.  A broken foot would keep him from competing his senior season, but it didn't stop him from going into the Navy or from playing professional football for the Cleveland Rams.  Post his football playing days Levy got into professional wrestling where he was one of the superstars of the AWA.