Due to the interruption of World War II, the NCAA did not hold a tournament in 1943, 1944 or 1945.
Bud Arndt of Oklahoma State was the only wrestler to win NCAA titles on both sides of the War. After winning titles in 1941 and 1942, he served as a lieutenant in the war, coming back for a final season in 1946 to capture a third title. Very impressive considering the circumstances.
Let's take a look at the other seven champions crowned in Stillwater that night.
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| 1946 Champion 121 Cecil Mott of Northern Iowa |
Sometimes it takes time to get to the elite level. While competing for Mason City High school, Cecil Mott never made the Iowa high school state tournament. Then in a year of competing for Mason City Community College, he excelled more as a football player than he ever did as a wrestler. His time at Northern Iowa was postponed by World War II, but upon returning he found his stride on the mat, that lead him to win the 1946 title as a senior. He later coached at both Iowa Falls and Mason City.
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| 1946 Champion 128 Gary Leeman of Northern Iowa |
Leeman had an outstanding career for the Panthers, ending it as an NCAA champion. He went on to win an Olympic silver at the 1948 games & later take over the reigns at Lehigh where he lead his team to six EIWA team titles.
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| 1946 Champion 145 Bill Koll of Northern Iowa |
After serving the country during World War II, the legend of Bill Koll began here as the young sophomore won his first of what would eventually be three NCAA titles. He then took his vast knowledge and skill of the sport and passed it on as a coach. He coached at Chicago, Cornell College, Northern Iowa and most notably Penn State. His son Rob was a standout wrestler in his own right, a long time coach at Cornell and is currently the head coach at Stanford.
Another wrestler whose career was postponed by World War II. Finishing third at the NCAA tournament as a sophomore in 1942, he then served our country for the next three years. Upon returning in 1946 he won the NCAA title, following it up with a runner-up finish in 1947. Also a member of the Wolverine golf team, he finished his collegiate golfing career with a top twenty finish.
Add Shapiro to the list of NCAA champions that never won a state title in high school. Competing for Joliet Township, his best finish was third. Before the outbreak of World War II, Shapiro began his career at Indiana. Yet when he turned from the War, he decided he wanted to wrestle a little closer to home. He won the NCAA title here in 1946, finishing as runner-up in 1947.
Another veteran of World War II, George Dorsch was a lieutenant in the Army before coming back to win the NCAA title as a senior in 1946. Post his collegiate career, Dorsch taught and coached at the high school level for many years. Later he ran night school operations to help individuals who did not receive a traditional high school diploma earn their G.E.D.'s.
So if Gable Steveson were to accept a WWE contract, he'd be the first collegiate wrestler to perform in pro wrestling while competing in collegiate wrestling right? WRONG! During his collegiate career at Ohio State, in order to hide what he was doing during the off season, Bollas competed as "The Mystery Man" underneath a mask. Post his NCAA title victory as a senior in 1946, his professional wrestling career took off to where he saw his greatest success in George Championship Wrestling where he was known to the fans as "The Zebra Kid."
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Arndt was the sole returning champion from pre-World War II to win a title post World War II
Mott, Leeman, Dorsch and Bollas were all seniors when they captured their first NCAA titles
Courtight and Shapiro were unable to repeat as champions in 1947, although both did once again earn All American status.
Koll was the sole champion of 1946 who would repeat again, winning two more titles in 1947 and 1948
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| 1946 Champion 155 Bill Courtright of Michigan |
Another wrestler whose career was postponed by World War II. Finishing third at the NCAA tournament as a sophomore in 1942, he then served our country for the next three years. Upon returning in 1946 he won the NCAA title, following it up with a runner-up finish in 1947. Also a member of the Wolverine golf team, he finished his collegiate golfing career with a top twenty finish.
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| 1946 Champion 165 David Shapiro of Illinois |
Add Shapiro to the list of NCAA champions that never won a state title in high school. Competing for Joliet Township, his best finish was third. Before the outbreak of World War II, Shapiro began his career at Indiana. Yet when he turned from the War, he decided he wanted to wrestle a little closer to home. He won the NCAA title here in 1946, finishing as runner-up in 1947.
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| 1946 Champion 175 George Dorsch of Oklahoma State |
Another veteran of World War II, George Dorsch was a lieutenant in the Army before coming back to win the NCAA title as a senior in 1946. Post his collegiate career, Dorsch taught and coached at the high school level for many years. Later he ran night school operations to help individuals who did not receive a traditional high school diploma earn their G.E.D.'s.
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| 1946 Champion UNL George Bollas of Ohio State |
So if Gable Steveson were to accept a WWE contract, he'd be the first collegiate wrestler to perform in pro wrestling while competing in collegiate wrestling right? WRONG! During his collegiate career at Ohio State, in order to hide what he was doing during the off season, Bollas competed as "The Mystery Man" underneath a mask. Post his NCAA title victory as a senior in 1946, his professional wrestling career took off to where he saw his greatest success in George Championship Wrestling where he was known to the fans as "The Zebra Kid."
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Arndt was the sole returning champion from pre-World War II to win a title post World War II
Mott, Leeman, Dorsch and Bollas were all seniors when they captured their first NCAA titles
Courtight and Shapiro were unable to repeat as champions in 1947, although both did once again earn All American status.
Koll was the sole champion of 1946 who would repeat again, winning two more titles in 1947 and 1948
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