Defending the Title: 1972: Those Who Did and Those Who Didn't Defend The Title

 Greg Johnson of Michigan State won his third NCAA title as Penn State's Andy Matter along with Carl Adams and Ben Peterson of Iowa State winning their third. 

1972 Champion 126
Pat Milkovich of Michigan State 

As good as Pat Milkovich ended up being for the Spartans it is mind blowing to know that he was originally a walk-on at Michigan State. Winning the NCAA title as a true freshman in 1972, he took a redshirt in 1973.  He returned in 1974 to win his second NCAA title. As a junior and senior in 1975 and 1976, he would finish as the NCAA runner-up.  Putting together at record of 90-8, he later coached at both Michigan State and Alabama.  He then started the NCWA club team at Florida Gulf Coast University. 

1972 Champion 134 
Gary Barton of Clarion 

Gary Barton is an interesting case for two distinct reasons.  In his first three seasons at Clarion, he didn't achieve a whole lot.  A decent wrestler, he did little of note.  Matter of fact even though he won a PSAC title, he entered the NCAA Division II tournament as a senior with an overall career record of 36-24. Yet he wrestled his way to a 3rd place finish. What makes it even more ironic? He entered the NCAA Division I tournament and won it.  A wrestler who did not win DII's, that won DI's.   He later coached at Rhode Island. 

1972 Champion 142
Tom Milkovich of Michigan State 

A four time BIG 10 champion, Tom Milkovich had an outstanding career for the Spartans. Placing fourth as a freshman in 1970, he won the NCAA title here in 1972 as a junior after not placing at the NCAA's his sophomore season.  As a senior in 1973 he had to medical forfeit to a 6th place finish after suffering an injury.  Post college he returned to his alma mater to coach the Maple Heights Mustangs to 10 Ohio State team championships and 9 runner-up finishes. 

1972 Champion 150
Wade Schalles of Clarion 

Wade Schalles won 153 matches during his career at Clarion and 106 of them were by fall. An absolute terror on the mat, Schalles won NCAA DII and DI titles in his sophomore and junior seasons of 1972 and 1973. No doubt about it, he would have added two more titles, for a total of six in all had it not been for controversy surrounding eligibility issues his senior season of 1974 which caused him to miss out on the post season.  Taking his knowledge and skills into the world of coaching he had stints at Arizona State, South Dakota State, Clemson and Old Dominion.  I wonder if any of us could possibly talk him into stretching Camden Selig in a painful spladle. I sure like the sound of that. 

1972 Champion 177
Bill Murdock of Washington 

Murdock was a junior when he won the NCAA title for the Huskies in 1972.  He unfortunately did not place at the 1973 NCAA championships. 

1972 Champion UNL
Chris Taylor of Iowa State

The Gentle Giant, Chris Taylor to this day still remains the largest athlete to ever compete in the Olympic Games.  An NJCAA champion in 1971 for Muskegon Community College, Taylor wrestled his final two season of eligibility for the Cyclones. Winning his first NCAA title in 1972, Taylor would win bronze at the 1972 Olympic games before returning in 1973 to win the NCAA title.  Post college he had a short career in professional wrestling, working for the AWA.  Of note, Taylor was the first pro wrestler in the history of the United States to ever receive guaranteed money.  Up until his famous $100,000 per year contract, all American pro wrestlers worked on a percent of gate basis. 


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Johnson, Adams, Matter and Peterson previously mentioned 

P Milkovich repeated in 1974, but settled for runner-up honors in 1975 and 1976 

Schalles repeated in 1973, but had to sit out 1974 where he most likely would've won another title (as well as another DII title) 

T Milkovich and Murdock did not repeat as champions 

Barton was a senior 

Taylor repeated again in 1973