Defending The Title: 2001: Those Who Did and Did Not Defend the Title

 Fresno State's Stephen Abas returned off a redshirt to win title #2 of 3. 

Eric Juergens and teammate T.J. Williams of Iowa both ended their careers with title #2 as did Donny Pritzlaff of Wisconsin.  

Cael Sanderson of Iowa State wins title #3 of 4. 

2001 Champion 141 
Michael Lightner of Oklahoma 

About an hour southwest of Norman, Lightner was a four time state champion for Marlow High School.  Competing for the Sooners he put together a record of 144-16, while earning All American honors in all four seasons.  After finishing 5th in 1998 as a freshman, he took runner-up honors in 1999 and 2000.  As a senior in 2001, he won the NCAA title.  He later coached at Oklahoma. 

2001 Champion 149
Adam Tirapelle of Illinois 

Coming to Illinois from Clovis, California, Tirapelle earned 127 victories competing for the Fighting Illini.  3rd in 1999 and 2nd in 2000, he capped off his career NCAA champion in 2001 as a senior.  Father Steve was an All American for Humboldt State and brother Alex made the NCAA finals in 2003. 

2001 Champion 174
Josh Koscheck of Edinboro

Another NCAA champion that never won a state title.  Competing for Waynesburg Central, Koscheck was a runner-up in his senior season.  Competing for the Fighting Scots, Koscheck had an outstanding career of 128-7, earning All American status four times.  In 1999 he was 4th in the nation, earning NCAA runner-up honors in 2000 as a sophomore. His NCAA title came in 2001 as a junior.  As a senior in 2002, despite various injuries, including a disc in his neck, he came back to finish a strong 3rd.  He later had a successful career in UFC. 

2001 Champion 197 
Mark Munoz of Oklahoma State 

A two time California state champion for Vallejo high school, Munoz earned 121 victories competing for the Cowboys of Oklahoma State.  Finishing a match shy of All American honors in 1999 as a sophomore, Munoz was 3rd as a junior in 2000, ending his career as NCAA champion in 2001.  Post college, Munoz has had success in UFC and recently starred in the film Lumpia With a Vengeance. 

2001 Champion HWT
John Lockhart of Illinois 

While in High school Lockhart competed for both Hoopeston Area High school and Mahomet Seymour, winning a state title.  While competing for the Illini he took 7th place as a sophomore in 2000, winning the national title in 2001 as a junior.  As a senior in 2002, he took 3rd place.  Ironically enough he had 122 victories in both high school and college.  Post college, he became a Dr. at Seattle Children's Hospital in Washington. 

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Abas, Juergens, Williams, Pritzlaff and Sanderson all previously mentioned 

Koscheck and Lockhart did not repeat 

Lightner, Tirapelle and Munoz all seniors