Defending The Title: 1983: Those Who Defended The Title and Those Who Didn't

 A great year for repeat champions 

Teammates Barry Davis & Jim Zalesky of Iowa both won Title #2 of what would be 3. 

While further teammates Ed & Lou Banach finished off their Hawkeye careers with title #3 & #2 respectively. 

Nate Carr of Iowa State won title #2 as 1979 Champion Darryl Burley of Lehigh returned to finish off his career as a two time champion. 

Mark Schultz of Oklahoma also won title #3. 

1983 Champion 118
Adam Cuestas of Cal State Bakersfield 

Brother of Dan, Adam Cuestas was a two time State champion for Merced High School who had a standout career for the Roadrunners.  Winning NCAA Division II titles in 1981, 1982 & 1983, he added a DI title to his career as a senior in 1983.  Also successful on the international circuit, he won World Cup Gold Medals in 1982 and 1983. 

1983 Champion 134 
Clar Anderson of Oklahoma State 

Had it not been for the selfish decisions of Pat Dye, Anderson might have won his title for the Auburn Tigers.  After placing 6th in the nation in 1981, he was forced to find a new home, when Auburn wrestling was dropped.  Choosing Oklahoma State, he sat out the 1982 season, coming back strong in 1983 as a junior to capture the NCAA title.  He'd finish his career at Oklahoma State with a 5th place finish in 1984.  He later coached at Duke. 

1983 Champion 167 
Mike Sheets of Oklahoma State 

A two time NCAA champion for the Cowboys, Sheets won his first NCAA title as a junior in 1983, earning his second in 1984.  A four time All American he was 7th in 1981 & 2nd in 1982.   Mike's son Wyatt recently made history himself this past NCAA season.  He became the first wrestler in the history of the NCAA's to All American who was not originally even supposed to be in the tournament.  The NCAA grants qualification status to the top 33 wrestlers per weight class.  Wyatt was not one of the original 33 slotted for the national tournament.  Another wrestler was injured & Wyatt got to fill in for him. This is the first time a fill in has ever made All American status. 


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Davis, Burley, Carr, Zalesky, M Schultz, E Banach and L Banach previously mentioned. 

Anderson did not repeat 

Sheets did repeat 

A Cuestas was a senior