Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Defending The Title: 1993: Those Who Did and Those Who Did Not Defend The Title

 Kevin Randleman of Ohio State won title #2 


1993 Champion 118
Sammie Henson of Clemson 

A three time Missouri state champion for Francis Howell High School, Henson began his collegiate career at Missouri where he won a BIG 12 title & had a 5th place showing at the 1991 NCAA championships for the Tigers.  Keeping Tigers as a nickname, Henson transferred to Clemson where he went undefeated in his final two seasons of eligibility going 71-0 winning back to back ACC titles and NCAA titles in 1993 and 1994.  Post college he won World Gold in 1998, Olympic Silver in 2000 and World Bronze in 2006.  Since he has coached at Oklahoma, Penn State, Army, Cal Poly and Nebraska. 

1993 Champion 126
Tony Purler of Nebraska 

A two time Missouri state champion from Wentsville, Purler began his collegiate career at Oklahoma State where he placed 3rd at the 1991 NCAA's for the Cowboys.  Transferring to Nebraska, Purler had a near perfect season entering the NCAA tournament. His only two losses were to Shawn Charles of Arizona State.  Meeting Charles in the finals, this time it'd be Purler who ended the match with his hand raised.  Post College he coached at Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Missouri and Clarion before opening up his own wrestling academy in Kansas City. 

1993 Champion 134
T.J. Jaworsky of North Carolina 

A graduate of Edmond Memorial in Oklahoma, Jaworsky began his collegiate career at Oklahoma State where he did not place at the NCAA championships in 1992.  Transferring to North Carolina, he won three NCAA titles in 1993, 1994 and 1995.  Along with this honor, he was also the nation's first Hodge Trophy winner. 

1993 Champion 142
Lincoln McIlravy 

A five time South Dakota State champion for Philip High School, McIlravy had an outstanding career for the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Winning the NCAA title as a true freshman in 1993, many felt that after we saw Pat Smith of Oklahoma win his fourth NCAA title as in 1994, that McIlravy might immediately join him as our next four time champion.  He came close winning titles in 94' and 97'.   He was upset in 95' taking NCAA runner-up honors.  Post college he won World Bronze in 1998, World Silver as well as Pan-American Gold in 99, and an Olympic Bronze medal in 2000.  Today McIlravy owns hotels in Iowa and Nebraska. 

1993 Champion 150
Terry Steiner of Iowa 

A two time North Dakota state champion for Bismark Century, Steiner was 3rd in the nation in 1991 and 5th in the nation in 1992, before capping off his Hawkeye career at national champion.  He later won Pan-American Gold in 1996 and has since been extremely instrumental in the enormous growth of women's wrestling in the United States. 



1993 Champion 158 
Markus Mollica 

Another freshman to win the 1993 NCAA title was Markus Mollica a two time Ohio state champion for Walsh Jesuit.  Placing 5th in the nation as a sophomore in 1994, he'd win another national title as a junior in 1995, finishing in 4th place as a senior in 1996. 


1993 Champion 167
Ray Miller of Arizona State 

A three time PAC-12 champion, Miller earned 115 victories for the Sun Devils.  A four time All American Miller was 5th in 1990, 4th in 1991 & 2nd in 1992 before capping off his career as national champion in 1993. 

1993 Champion 190
Rex Holman of Ohio State 

A graduate of Upper Arlington High school, Holman finished one match shy of All American status as a freshman in 1990. Not placing in 1991, he made the NCAA finals as a junior in 1992, ending his Buckeye career with the national title in 1993. 

1993 Champion HWT
Sylvester Terkay of North Carolina State 

When he was a little kid, people called him "Bear" because his mother dressed him in a big fluffy brown jacket that made him look like a chubby little cub. As a senior in college, people referred to him as "bear" because he was as big, strong and mean as the nastiest grizzly one could find in Alaska.  In high school he wrestled from 138 lbs to 196. Between never quite finding the right weight class and a knee injury, Terkay knew he was a better wrestler than what his high school credentials and accomplishments illustrated. Feeling he needed to first prove himself at a smaller college before moving on to a larger one, Terkay began his wrestling career at Chowan Community College.  

Disagreements with the coach, Terkay decided to enter North Carolina State as a Walk-on.  Coaches felt that he had a long way to go in terms of ability and technique, but with as eager and hungry as Terkay was they decided he was worth the time and effort to teach.  By the time his freshman year ended, Terkay won an ACC title.  He'd go on to win three more, placing 3rd at the 1991 NCAA championships as a sophomore and NCAA runner-up in 1992 as a junior before ending his career as the NCAA champion in 1993. 

122 victories, with 64 falls. Not bad for a walk-on. 

Since his collegiate wrestling days, Terkay has been involved in MMA, pro wrestling, as well as acting in both films and commercials. 

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Randleman previously mentioned 

Henson repeats in 94

Jaworsky repeats in 94 and 95

McIlravy repeates in 93 & 97, taking 2nd in 95 

Mollica does not repeat in 94, does repeat in 95, does not repeat in 96 

Purler, Terry Steiner, Miller,  Holman and Terkay all seniors 













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