Defending the Title: 1968: Those Who Did and Those Who Did Not Defend The Title

 1968 marked a very important year in NCAA Division I wrestling as freshmen were now eligible to compete in post season tournaments. 

Dale Anderson of Michigan State & 1966 Champion Dave Porter of Michigan both ended their careers as two time NCAA champions. 

1968 Champion 115
Ken Melchior of Lock Haven 

A graduate of Haddonfield High School in New Jersey, Melchior won NAIA titles in 1967, 1968 and 1969. Winning the NCAA DI title in 1968, he would not place at the NCAA's in 1969.  Graduating with a 98-6 career record he later coached at Delaware State. 

1968 Champion 123
Dwayne Keller of Oklahoma State 

Keller keeps his place in history as being the first freshman to win an NCAA title after freshmen were reinstated to be able to compete in the NCAA tournament.  Missing out on his sophomore season in 1969, he would repeat as champion in 1970 & then end his career taking NCAA runner-up honors in 1971. 

1968 Champion 130 
Dan Gable of Iowa State 

The most recognized and prolific name in amateur wrestling, Gable won the NCAA title for the Cyclones here in 1968 as a sophomore. He would repeat in 1969 as a junior, losing in the 1970 NCAA finals in what many consider to be the greatest upset to ever happen in collegiate wrestling.  A 1971 World Gold Medalist who won Olympic Gold in 1972, Gable's real testimony to wrestling was as a coach.  An unperilled 15 NCAA titles and 21 BIG 10 titles while the head of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Gable not only gets the nod as the greatest college wrestling coach of all time, he's in the argument for the greatest college coach of all time period. 

1968 Champion 145
Dale Bahr of Iowa State 

A three time State champion for Iowa Falls high school, Bahr was NCAA runner-up in 1966 and third in 1967 before capturing the NCAA title in 1968.  Later a coach at Michigan, he took the Wolverines to six top 10 NCAA finishes, producing 45 All Americans, winning 221 duels. 

1968 Champion 152 
Wayne Wells of Oklahoma 

Another case for Texas, the lone star state native finished as the NCAA runner-up in 1967, finishing out his Sooner career as champion in 1952.  He went on to have grand success at the international level, winning World Silver in 1969, World Gold in 1970 and Olympic gold in 1972. 

1968 Champion 160 
Reg Wicks of Iowa State 

If you're looking for another story of inspiration, I have one for you.  Competing for Decorah, runner-up honors is the best Wicks ever did while in high school.  Even more notable is the fact that Wicks competed in both the 1966 and 1967 championships.  He didn't win a match in either.  Ironically, in 1968 he entered that NCAA tournament too, this time, he didn't lose a match.   Wicks later coached at Mankato State, Wisconsin Stevens Point and Navy. 

1968 Champion 167 
Mike Gallego of Fresno State 

With the illustrious history of Bulldog wrestling, the administration at Fresno State ought to be embarrassed and ashamed of themselves for dropping the program.  Gallego a graduate of McLane HIgh School won two NCAA Division II titles for the Bulldogs, taking NCAA DI runner-up honors in 1967 before winning a DI title in 1968.  He later ran a dentistry in Grass Valley. 

1968 Champion 177
Bob Justice of Colorado 

A state champion for Lincoln high school, Justice captured the NCAA title for the Buffalos in 1968 as a junior.  In 1969 he looked poised for another NCAA title, when he suffered a season ending injury at the BIG 12 tournament. 

1968 Champion 191
Dominic "Nick" Carollo of Adams State 

Many wrestlers have stories of scrapping on the mat with dad, uncle, older brothers or even grandpa, but how often do you hear of someone who was toughened up by mom? Carollo's mother was a fourth degree black belt in Judo, and she taught him an assortment of throws.  If that isn't enough to make Carollo unique, it should also be noted that he is the first CCCAA champion to win an NCAA title. He won two CCCAA titles for El Camino college before transferring to Adams State.  Along with winning the 1968 NCAA DI title, he also won NAIA championships in 1966, 1967 and 1968.  He later won Pan-American gold in 1971. 


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Anderson and Porter previously mentioned

Keller repeated in 1970 but did not in 1971, whereas Gable repeated in 1969 but did not in 1970

Melchior did not repeat in 1969

Injury kept Justice from repeating in 1969

Bahr, Wells, Wicks, Gallego, and Carollo all seniors