Defending The Title: 1942: Those Who Did and Those Who Did Not Defend Their Titles

 1942 was a year for returnees as six of the eight champions crowned that night had previously won championships. 

Identical twin brothers Merle and Bo Jennings won their second NCAA titles for Michigan State & had it not been for World War II causing the NCAA to postpone the 1943, 1944 & 1945 tournaments due to World War II, they might have been the first and only twin brothers to win three consecutive NCAA titles together at the same time.  

David Arndt of Oklahoma State also won his second title & he did come back in 1946 to win his third. 

Vernon Logan of Oklahoma State who had won an NCAA title in 1940, but missed out on the NCAA season in 1941 due to a broken nose came back to secure a second NCAA title in his final season as a Cowboy.  

Virgil Smith also of Oklahoma State won his second NCAA title as a senior. 

Dick DiBatista of Penn won his second title as a junior & most likely would have been a three time NCAA champ had it not been for the interruption of World War II. 

It's truly amazing how exciting and noteworthy NCAA wrestling was at the time that World War II broke out.  Covid-19 may have robbed quite a few young men of opportunities and dreams, but it's important to remember it's not the only time in our country's history where the tournament was postponed. 

1942 Champion 136
Bill Maxwell of Michigan State 

Maxwell who was also an NCAA runner-up in 1941, was a junior when he won the NCAA title.  As a result of World War II, he missed out on a second chance at a title in 1943. 

1942 Champion UNL 
Loyd Arms of Oklahoma State 

Having finished third at the 1941 NCAA tournament as a sophomore, Arms won the NCAA title as a junior.  Dedicating himself to his country the next three years as a member of the United States Army during World War II, he came back to Oklahoma State for his final season in 1946.  He placed fourth at the NCAA tournament to become a three time All American.  

Post college, he turned his attention towards Football where he played for the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL.