Friday, August 13, 2021

Defending The Title: 1985: Those Who Did and Those Who Did Not Defend the Title

 While 1982 & 1983 champion Barry Davis of Iowa returned off a redshirt to win his third NCAA title, the other 9 champs crowned were all for the first time. 

1985 Champion 118
Ricky Bonomo of Bloomsburgh 


A graduate of Lake Lehman high school, Bonomo had an outstanding career for the Huskies.  Matter of fact, the best wrestler that Bloomsburg has ever produced. Finishing one match shy of All American status as a freshman in 1984, he'd not only stand on the award stand the next three seasons, he'd stand at the top of it.  Winning NCAA titles in 1985, 1986 and 1987, he finished his collegiate career with a record of 116-12. 
1985 Champion 134
Jim Jordan of Wisconsin 

A four time Ohio State champion for Graham High school, Jordan came to Wisconsin with a prep record of 150-1.  Placing sixth at the 1984 NCAA championships as a sophomore he won back to back NCAA titles in 1985 and 1986.  He has been heavily involved in politics most of his life. 

1985 Champion 142
Joe Gibbons of Iowa State 

Gibbons was a phenomenal high wrestler winning four state titles, two for Waterloo Columbus and two for Ames. In addition he also won four Freestyle state titles and four Greco-Roman state titles.  Competing for the Cyclones, he was 4th in the nation as a true freshman in 1982.  He came back as a redshirt sophomore to once again finish 4th in 1984.  Winning the NCAA title in 1985, he finished his career with a 3rd place finish in 1986.  He went 124-20 overall. 

1985 Champion 150
Eddie Urbano of Arizona State 

A two time state champion for Sunnyside High School, Urbano spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Pima where he won NJCAA titles in 1981 and 1982.   Transferring to Arizona State he was 4th in the nation in 1984, winning the NCAA title in 1985 as a senior.  He later coached at various high schools in and around Phoenix. 

1985 Champion 158 
Marty Kistler of Iowa 

A four time California state champion for Notre Dame high school, Marty Kistler may be the poster child for why redshirting can be monumentally effective in collegiate wrestling.  Competing as a true freshman in 1982, the highlight of his season was a 3rd place finish at the BIG 10's.  He went 0-1 at the NCAA's with a record of 12-16.  He took a redshirt in 1983 and when he came back to varsity competition in 1984, he was a whole new wrestler.  He won three BIG 10 titles in a row, finishing as the 1984 NCAA runner-up before winning back to back NCAA titles in 1985 and 1986. 

1985 Champion 167 
Chris Edmond of Tennessee 

During his sophomore year of high school some kids on the wrestling team made a bet with Edmond that he wasn't tough enough to endure a full wrestling practice.  Edmond took the bet and not only did he survive the practice, by the time he was a senior he finished 3rd in the state of New York for Freeport High School.  Competing for the Volunteers in college he was 8th in the nation in 1984 before capping off his career as national champion in 1985. 

1985 Champion 177 
Melvin Douglas of Oklahoma 

A Kansas state champion for Highland Park, Douglas finished one match shy of All American status as a freshman in 1983.  Getting injured in the quarterfinals of the 1984 NCAA's he would again be one match shy of All American as a sophomore.  Not to be denied again, Douglas won back to back NCAA titles his junior and senior seasons of 1985 and 1986.  Post college he had an outstanding showing on the international level winning Gold, Silver & two Bronze medals at the World Championships. 

1985 Champion 190 
Dan Chaid of Oklahoma 

During his illustrious career at Oklahoma, Chaid captured four All American honors for the Sooners.  6th in 1983, 4th in 1984, national champion in 1985 and NCAA runner-up in 1986. 

1985 Champion UNL
Bill Hyman of Temple 

A two time New Jersey state champion for Saddlebrook High School, Hyman had a great career for the Owls winning two EIWA titles in route to a 4th place NCAA finish as a junior in 1984, winning the NCAA title as a senior in 1985. He later had a successful career on Wall Street. 

==== 

Davis Previously mentioned

Great year for repeat champions.  Bonomo went on to win two more as Jordan, Kistler, & Douglas would all win one more. 

Gibbons and Chaid did not repeat 

Urbano, Edmond and Hyman all seniors.  


















No comments:

Post a Comment