Defending the Title: 2007: Those Who Did and Those Who Did Not Defend The Title

 Pennsylvania's Matt Valenti, Missouri's Ben Asrken and Minnesota's Cole Konrad all ended their careers as two time champions. 

2007 Champion 125
Paul Donahoe of Nebraska 

A two time Michigan state champion for Davison High School, Donahoe was not a likely candidate to win the NCAA title his sophomore season of 2007.  In 2006 he had gone 2-2 at the NCAA championships, and two weeks prior at the BIG 12 tournament he was manhandled by Oklahoma's Sam Hazewinkle the favorite. Yet when the two met in the NCAA finals, Donahoe slowed Hazewinkle's offense down and attacked at just the right moment to secure a takedown for the victory.  Donahoe would place 3rd for the Huskers in 2008 as a junior.  After a very controversial decision, Nebraksa dismissed Donahoe from the team.  He transferred to Edinboro where he finished his career as the NCAA runner-up in 2009. 

2007 Champion 141
Derek Moore of UC Davis 

Although 5th in the state is the best Moore ever achieved competing for Shasta High School, he was still hoping to become UC Davis' first NCAA Division I All American. (The Aggies had quite a few NCAA All Americans during their time in NCAA Division II).  Moore came heartbreakingly close in his freshman and junior seasons, losing nose hair decisions to finish one match shy of All American.  He had only one opportunity left.  Yet even then he had roadblocks as he hurt his knee a few times throughout the season causing him to miss a couple of competitions. Nevertheless the non-scholarship walk on refused to be denied. Not only did he earn that first DI All American honor, he also one upped himself by also becoming UC Davis's first national champion.  Post college Moore went into the Army and then coached at both Sacred Heart and California Baptist.  While Moore is thrilled to be UC Davis's first, I highly doubt he enjoys knowing that he is and will remain the only.  A short time after his NCAA championship, Davis discontinued wrestling. 

2007 Champion 149 
Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro 

A two time New York state champion for Webster Schroeder high school, Gillespie's NCAA title came in his sophomore season of 2007.  As a freshman he was 7th, placing 5th as a sophomore and 4th as a senior. He earned 152 victories while competing for the Fighting Scotts. He coached at Hofstra and fought in the UFC where he went by "The Gift" as well as being nicknamed "The Fisherman."  Brother Torsten was also an All American at Edinboro. 

2007 Champion 157 
Trent Paulson of Iowa State 

A standout at Council Bluffs Lewis Central, Paulson came to Iowa State a two time state champion. Not placing as a freshman in 2004, he took back to back 4th place finishes in 2005 and 2006.  He ended his career as a NCAA champion in 2007.  Post college, Paulson has coached at various schools including Iowa State, Nebraska and currently Virginia.  Identical twin brother Travis was a three time All American for the Cyclones as well.  

2007 Champion 165 
Mark Perry of Iowa 

His father wrestled for Oklahoma State. His uncle Lee Roy wrestled for Oklahoma State. His uncle John wrestled for Oklahoma State. His uncle Pat wrestled for Oklahoma State. His uncle Mark wrestled for Oklahoma State. His brother Chris would himself one day wrestle for Oklahoma State. So where did Mark wrestle? Iowa, of course.  The Blair Academy (New Jersey) graduate that grew up in Stillwater, Oklahoma until it came time for high school decided that he wanted to do things different.  While in high school he racked up 169 victories. 127 of them were by fall.  An unorthodox, limber and flexible style, Perry wowed the Hawkeye faithful with maneuvers they were not used to seeing. In his freshman campaign he finished NCAA runner-up, capturing a 3rd place finish as a sophomore. He'd win back to back NCAA titles in 2007 and 2008 as his Hawkeye career came to an end.  Post college he got into coaching. Arizona State, Cal Poly and Illinois being among schools he has been. 

2007 Champion 184 
Jake Herbert of Northwestern 

A state champion out of North Allegheny High School in Pennsylvania, Herbert is one of the best wrestlers to have ever competed for Northwestern.  In his freshman season of 2005 he finished 3rd in the nation, coming back in 2006 to earn NCAA runner-up honors.  Winning his first NCAA title in 2007, he took the 2008 season off to train for international competition, returning in 2009 to capture his second NCAA title for the Wildcats. Post college he won World Silver in 2009 and Pan-American Silver in 2015. 

2007 Champion 197 
Josh Glenn of American 

A New York state champion for Johnson City high school, Glenn became "the first" at American in a multitude of ways.  Earning All American Status as a sophomore in 2006 with a 4th place finish, he became the Eagles first underclassmen All American.  Winning the NCAA title in 2007 as a junior, he became the Eagles first NCAA champion.  Then with a 5th place finish in 2008 as a senior, he became the Eagles first three time All American.  During his time he was also a three time EIWA conference champion.  He went into the Navy post college. 

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Valenti, Askren and Konrad previously mentioned 

Donahoe, Gillespie and Glenn did not repeat 

Perry and Herbert both repeated 

Moore and Paulson both seniors