Post Grads at The Midlands - Part 6

 

Jon McGovern 

You don't see too many NCAA Division III wrestlers in the discussion of all time greats, but let me introduce you to Central College's Jon McGovern.  Not only did McGovern win two NCAA DIII titles during his career as a Dutchmen, he also also took 3rd at the Midlands his senior season.  

Post college, he continued to wrestle competing in and placing at three Midlands tournaments. 

In 1992 he took 3rd place.  Who did he beat for 3rd? Missouri's Shaon Fry, who not only made the NCAA finals that season, but also became the Tiger's first NCAA finalist. 

He would take 3rd again in 1996, this time securing a 12-4 major decision over Jevon Herman of Illinois.  An All American, who was the only wrestler to hand Mitch Clark of Ohio State a defeat in the season he won an NCAA title. 

Jake Patacsil 

Purdue's Jake Patacsil's story is a fun little inspirational one that should encourage anyone who ever hears it to never give up on themselves. A phenomenal top wrestler, it was surprising that by the time Patacsil's collegiate career was said and done, that he had only earned All American honors once.  A 5th place finish his senior year of 2005.  Also a three time Midlands place winner, Patacsil was 2nd-2nd-3rd in the tournament. 

Coming so close to being a Midlands champ during his time as a Boilermaker, while coaching at various schools, Patacsil decided to go for that championship as a post-grad.  

Finishing as the runner-up in 2009, it looked as if he was finally going to win in 2010.  In the semi-finals he was up 14-0 against Chase Nelson of Oklahoma, as he went for another tilt to secure a technical fall. Somehow or another Nelson weaseled out of the move, catching Patacsil in a headlock and securing a fall with a little less than a minute and half to go in the match.   Patacsil came back to take 3rd, taking only a minute to stick future NCAA finalist Jason Welch of Northwestern. 


In 2011, Patacsil finally got the job done after having come so close five times prior.  In route to winning the title he took only 1:24 to pin future NCAA finalist David Habat of Edinboro. 

Wade Schalles 

It goes without saying that Wade Schalles is one of the best of all time.  The man beat everyone and on top of it, he damn near pinned everyone.  Nevertheless many things happened during his post-grad years at the Midlands that are worth mentioning. 

For one he dropped a 9-5 loss in 1975 to Minnesota's Larry Zilverberg.  Zilverberg who was 2nd-5th-6th at the NCAA's in his final years as a Golden Gopher, I would have to conclude scored his greatest victory that day. 

In 1978 Schalles sorta, kinda avenged his loss to Zilverberg, when he pinned Larry's brother Danny at 5:51. 

Saving the most interesting for last, in his final Midlands tournament Schalles defeated a wrestler from Oklahoma by a score of 9-4.  You may have heard of this wrestler, his name is Dave Schultz. 

Tod Surmon 

If it wasn't one thing, it was another.  During his time at Stanford, Tod Surmon suffered an assortment of injuries.  A torn hamstring, a dislocated elbow, a torn knee, health was not a friend to Surmon. Nevertheless he made the most out of his circumstances, earning a PAC-12 title and a 7th place finish at the NCAA championships his senior year of 1996.  It makes one wonder, how good Surmon would have been had it not been for the assortment of misfortunes. 

We got a glimpse of how good as Surmon competed as a post-grad at the Midlands.  

After placing 3rd in 1997 and 6th in 1998, Surmon would win a Midlands title in 1999.  This included a victory over Steve Blackford of Arizona State who finished 3rd at the NCAA's that season. 


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Are there more great Post-Grad stories that happened at the Midlands? You bet.  There are a lot more! I couldn't tell every single one.  Yet, I hoped to give a variety of examples that illustrate how much more fun the Midlands used to be when Post-grads were competing by the dozens.  When every weight class had post grads in the bracket. 

I for one would LOVE to see the Midlands go back to this format. To see post-grads take on current collegiate stars.  Oh what fun that would be.  I'm an advocate for it, are you?