Defending the Title: 1977: Those Who Did and Those Who Did Not Defend the Title

1974 champion Rod Kilgore of Oklahoma returned to win his second title as Iowa's Chris Campbell won his second. Lee Kemp of Wisconsin and Jimmy Jackson of Oklahoma State both won title #2 of 3. 

1977 Champion 118
Jim Haines of Wisconsin 

A state champion out of Arcadia High School, Jim Haines is yet another NCAA champion that never won a BIG 10 title.  After finishing third at the BIG 10's in 1975 & 1976, Haines felt that the key to winning a BIG 10 title as a senior in 1977 lay in perfecting his takedowns.  He did perfect his takedowns, and while it didn't lead to winning the BIG 10's (Haines took 2nd) what it did do is lead to winning the NCAA title.  During the 1976-1977 wrestling season, Haines scored an unprecedented 224 takedowns.  Post college Haines has international success earning a silver medal at the Pan-American Championships in 1975, World Cup Golds in 1977 & 1978, and a World Silver in 1979. 

1977 Champion 126
Nick Gallo of Hofstra 

Putting together an impressive 104-14 career record the Deer Park High School graduate was 4th in the nation as a sophomore in 1975.  Failing to place at the 1976 NCAA tournament, Gallo came back strong as a senior in 1977 winning the NCAA title.  He later coached at Hofstra leading the Pride to East Coast Conference titles in 1980, 1982 and 1983. 

1977 Champion 134
Pat Neu of Minnesota 

Pat Neu never won a state title competing for Paynesville High school where he was 5th-3rd-3rd in his last three years of high school going 103-12.  He couldn't crack the varsity lineup as a freshman in 1974 & an injury kept him out of the game as a sophomore in 1975.  Perseverance kept him chugging alone as he made the BIG 10 finals as a junior in 1976.  He again made the BIG 10 finals in 1977, and upon his loss Iowa head coach Dan Gable told him that in spite of his loss, he was impressed with how hard he wrestled. "You'll do just fine at the NCAA's" Gable said to him.  "Just fine" was winning the NCAA title.   Later in life Neu coached youth wrestling and while he never officially coached high school wrestling, what he did do is build a pole barn that he called, "The Shed." A building with mats inside that kids from nearby high schools would come and workout in during the off season. 

1977 Champion 142
Steve Barrett Oklahoma State 

A state champion out of California, Barrett had an outstanding career competing for the Cowboys.  After finishing 5th and 3rd at the NCAA championships in his sophomore and junior seasons, Barrett capped off his career with the NCAA title in 1977.  He later became a member of Athletes in Action. 

1977 Champion 150 
Mark Churella of Michigan 

A state champion out of Farmington High school, Churella is in my regards the most successful wrestler the Wolverines have ever produced.  Going 132-13 during his career, after finishing in 3rd place as a freshman at the 1976 NCAA's, he completely dominated the field winning titles in 1977, 1978 and 1979.  He later coached at UNLV and was the brain child of what many believe to be the current toughest in season tournament in Division I wrestling, the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.  All three of his sons wrestled at Michigan themselves, Ryan and Josh both being multiple time All Americans and NCAA finalists. 

1977 Champion 190 
Frank Santana of Iowa State

A two time private school champion for Gordon Tech in Illinois, Santana had an outstanding career competing for the Cyclones where he went 84-9.  A national champion in 1977 as a junior, Santana took NCAA runner-up honors in 1976 and 1978.  Ironically enough, Santana was later and assistant to Churella at UNLV. 

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Kemp, Kilgore, Campbell and Jackson previously mentioned 

Churella would repeat as champion 

Santana would not 

Haines, Gallo, Neu, Barrett all seniors