Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Lindenwood

 

Whenever you try and dive into the whys of a program being discontinued, you are often met with the condescending and patronizing remark of, "you don't know what all went down or what was all involved" counter to an opinion you may have on the subject.  Yet when you ask to be enlightened and educated upon the issue, the one thing you rarely, if ever get in response is the truth. Most of the time when a school tries to justify the elimination of a program, we're fed a bunch of baloney and malarky that makes the school seem like it did what was best overall for the students they care so much about. I'm not saying that isn't the case sometimes. I'm not saying that there aren't times when that is the issue, and we are being told the truth.  I AM saying however, that I've written 478 "Gone, Lost & Forgotten" articles and it's more often a bunch of bull, than it is not.  

Lindenwood discontinued wrestling and a bunch of other athletics programs.  I may not know the whole story or "everything" as they often like to put it, not knowing "everything" themselves or knowing "everything" but not willing to disclose in a whole truth, nothing but the truth manner.  What I do know is that Lindenwood wrestling was rich with credential and accomplishment.  The Lion wrestling program deserves to be remembered and celebrated.  That's what I know and that's what I'm going to do my best to try and accomplish right now. 

As a team, Lindenwood ruled the roost in the NAIA.  Titles won in 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009, the Lions finished at the team runner-up in 2005 & 2011.  28 Individual NAIA champions 

When they moved up to NCAA Division II status, they managed three top 10 finishes, including a 3rd place showing in 2021.    

The force to move up to NCAA Division I was not easy on the Lion wrestling program, nor is it ever smooth or transitional for any NCAA DII team that makes the move.  It takes time to adjust and learn the ways of the NCAA Division I world.  A time that Lindenwood was never given.   While I'll probably miss some names that more than deserve to be mentioned, I will do my best to list the many greats who wrestled for the Lion program. 

Keith Ketcham

To my knowledge, Keith Ketcham was the first All American in the history of Lindenwood wrestling when he captured a runner-up finish at the 1994 NAIA championships. He would go on to win the NAIA title in 1995. 

Rod Alton

Rod Alton was a two time NAIA All American for the Lions, placing 6th in 1994 & 5th in 1995. 

Rickey Williams

Rickey Williams was a two time NAIA national champion for Lindenwood, winning titles in 1995 & 1996. 

Stephan Hughes

Stephan Hughes won an NAIA title for the Lions in 1995. 

Britt Williams

Britt Williams also won an NAIA title for the Lions in 1996. 

Brett Mueller

Brett Mueller took 3rd place All American honors at the NAIA championships in 1996.  Believe his son Cole is currently a member of Lindenwood's football team.  Brother Brent won an NAIA title for hte Lions in 1997. 

Andrew Scrimgeor

Wouldn't think there would be that many people in the world named Andrew Scrimgeor, but the philosopher/writer is NOT the same person as the guy who took 2nd at the NAIA championships in 1996 & 4th in 1997 for Lindenwood. 

Brant Burner

Brant Burner had one of the most successful careers during Lindenwood's time in the NAIA.  Winning an NAIA title as a freshman in 2000, he'd finish in 3rd place at both the 2001 & 2002 championships, before reclaiming his status as champion once again in 2003. 

C.J. Campbell 

Former Oklahoma City head coach C.J. Campbell began his collegiate wrestling career at Southwest Oregon where he was a two time NJCAA All American.  He'd go on to compete for Lindenwood, where he'd earn two more All American honors at the NAIA level.  Making the finals in 2001, he'd place 5th in 2002. 

Dustin Teeman

Dustin Teeman won an NAIA title for the Lions in 2002. 

Chad Smith 

Chad Smith began his collegiate wrestling career at St. Louis Meramec where he was an NJCAA All American. Transferring to Lindenwood, Smith took 3rd place NAIA All American honors in 2002, before capping off his career as NAIA national champion in 2003.  He would later go on to become the head coach at Lindenwood, helping the team to much success after the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. 

Brian Holt

Brian Holt was a two time NAIA All American for the Lions.  Winning an NAIA title in 2002, he would place 7th at the 2003 championships. 

Dustin Zahursky

Owner and operator of Kutting Weight clothing, Dustin Zahursky was an NAIA national champion for the Lions in 2002.  He was also a champion Race Car Driver. 

Wayne James

Wayne James was a three time NAIA All American for the Lions.  6th in 2001, he was 3rd in 2002 & 4th in 2003. 

Kentral Galloway

Kentral Galloway wrestled his first three seasons of collegiate wrestling at Iowa State. He transferred to Lindenwood where he earned an NAIA All American honor of 3rd place his senior season of 2003. 

Johnny Galloway Jr

Johnny Galloway had an outstanding freshman campaign competing for the Lions, making the NAIA finals.  He'd go on to compete in NCAA Division I wrestling for the Huskies of Northern Illinois.  A three time Mid-American Conference finalist, he won a title in his junior season of competition.  Also a Midlands place-winner of 7th in his junior season, he'd end his collegiate career one match shy of DI All American status. 

Roger Miller

Roger Miller was a four time NAIA All American for the Lions between 2002 & 2005.  He placed 5th-2nd-3rd-1st. 

Deron Winn

MMA fighter Deron Winn began his college wrestling career at St Louis Community College where he won two NJCAA titles. Transferring to Lindenwood, Winn would take 3rd place honors at the 2011 NAIA championships.  Post college, he earned a PAN-AMERICAN bronze medal in 2014. 

Chris Chionuma

Chris Chionuma had a standout career for the Lions between 2009 & 2011.  Placing 5th as a true freshman at the NAIA championships in 2009, he took runner-up honors in 2010, winning the NAIA national title in 2011.   After the 2010-2011 season, Lindenwood began the transition to NCAA Division II, which would not be complete until the 2013-2014 season.  During that two year transition, Lindenwood competed within the NCWA.  Rather than do that, Chionuma decided to spend his remaining eligibility in NCAA Division I.  He transferred to Oklahoma State where he initially took a redshirt. He then won a BIG 12 title in 2013.  Post his own career he has coached at various colleges. 

Sam Schmitz

Sam Schmitz accumulated 123 wins during his days as a collegiate wrestler.  After capturing a 3rd place NJCAA All American finish for Clackamas in 2007, he'd go on to earn three NAIA All American honors for Lindenwood.  Placing 8th in 2008, he was 2nd in 2009 & 6th in 2010.  He'd go on to coach Womens' collegiate wrestling at various institutions. 

Ray Stephens

Ray Stephens won back to back NAIA titles for the Lions in 2008 & 2009. 

Ryan Moyer

Ryan Moyer was a four time NAIA All American for the Lions between 2006 and 2009.  Placing 3rd in 2006, he was 4th in 2007, a National champion in 2008 & 5th in 2009. 

Jeremy Powell

Jeremy Powell won a NAIA national title in 2009. 

Marco Tamayo

A native of Texas, Marco Tamayo began his collegiate wrestling career at Colby where he earned NJCAA All American honors.  Upon making the move to Lindenwood, he became their first NCAA Division II All American, when he placed 6th at the 2014 NCAA Division II national tournament. 

Kyle Webb

Kyle Webb was a four-time NCAA Division II qualifier for the Lions, making the Super Region II finals all four seasons of his career, winning titles as both a sophomore and senior.  He earned All American honors back-to-back of 8th place in 2014 & 2015. 

Terrell Willbourn

Also earning a 3rd place finish in 2014, Terrell Willbourn became Lindenwood's first NCAA Division II national champion in 2016, putting together a record of 25-0 that season. 

Derrick Weller

Kansas City native Derrick Weller was along for the ride in each of Lindenwood's transitions.  As a freshman he qualified for the NAIA championships. Then as a redshirt sophomore he won an NCWA title. When the Lions made the move to NCAA Division II, he took All American honors of 8th & 5th. 

Steve Butler

Also a member of the Lion Football team, Steve Butler earned NCAA Division II All American honors in wrestling when he placed 3rd at the 2014 championships. 

Carlos Jacquez

Carlos Jacquez earned a 6th place NCAA Division II All American honor in 2018 as a sophomore, putting together an undefeated 30-0 season as a junior to win the 2019 NCAA Division II title. Unfortunately because of COVID-19 he was not given the opportunity to defend his title.  He was nevertheless, still named an All American. 

Danny Swan

Danny Swan was a four time Regional place-winner during his time with the Lions placing 4th-5th-3rd-2nd. He earned All American honors his junior season of 2019, placing 6th.  He also placed 5th at the Midwest Classic that season as well. 

Gavin Landoff

Gavin Landoff started off his career at Appalachian State, where he made the finals of the Southern Conference his true freshman year.  Transferring to Lindenwood, he would earn a 3rd place finish at the NCAA DII championships as a true sophomore, again earning a 3rd place finish as a redshirt junior in 2021.  I believe injuries may have gotten the best of him prior to his senior season. 

Tanner Hitchcock

Tanner Hitchcock earned a 7th place finish at the 2021 NCAA Division II championships. 

Colby Smith

Colby Smith started off his collegiate wrestling career at Missouri, where he was an NCAA Division I qualifier for the Tigers.  Transferring to Lindenwood, Smith would become a three time Super Region II champion, earning NCAA Division III All American honors of 3rd & 6th in 2021 & 2022 respectively. 

Ronald Gentile

Ronald Gentile made the NCAA Division II championships in 2021. 

Abner Romero

Abner Romero won a CCCAA title for Fresno City in 2018.  He then transferred to Lindenwood where he won a NCAA DII title in 2021.  Upon Lindenwood's transition to NCAA Division I, Romero transferred to St. Cloud State to continue competing at the NCAA Division II level.  He would finish his career off with a runner-up finish at the national tournament. 

Andrew Bradbury

As a wrestling historian, I'm asked a lot of questions on a regular basis. One of them is, "has there ever been a wrestler who didn't win an NJCAA title, who did win a title at a higher level?"   Well, I know more than one, and now I can add another to the list.  Before coming to Lindenwood, Andrew Bradbury took a 2nd place finish at the NJCAA championships for Neosho.  He then transferred to Harper, where he was 4th in the NJCAA championships. Upon coming to Lindenwood, Bradbury won back to back  NAIA titles in 2004 and 2005. 

Mike Rio 

Before becoming the Wolverine in the world of MMA, Mike Rio had an outstanding collegiate wrestling career.   Taking 2nd & 1st place NJCAA finishes for Harper, Rio won back to back NAIA national titles in 2005 & 2006 competing for the Lions of Lindenwood. 

Jake Dieffenbach

Jake Dieffenbach had an outstanding career competing for Lindenwood.  Making the NAIA finals as a freshman in 2005, he won back to back NAIA titles in 2006 & 2007 in his sophomore and junior seasons.  As a senior Dieffenbach transferred to Oklahoma State to try his hand at NCAA Division I wrestling. Injuries ultimately got the best of him, but he went 20-7 on the season & qualified for the NCAA DI championships.  He later came back to coach at Lindenwood. 

Matt Cauley

Matt Cauley was a three time NAIA finalist and two time NAIA champion during his time at Lindenwood. 

John Murray

John Murray earned an NAIA runner-up finish in 2009 for the Lions. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Fresno State

 

If you've read many of my "Gone, Lost & Forgotten" articles, you probably sense a mixture of bitterness and depression. I don't know how anyone as passionate about wrestling as I am, could write about these discontinued wrestling programs, and not feel a mixture of negative emotions. Fresno State had a rich history. Started in the 1961-1962 season, the Bulldogs were gutted from the inside out after the 2006-2007 season. I watched so many, work so hard to revive the program during the 2017-2018 season.  I watched long time head coach Dennis DeLiddo pour his heart and soul into reinstating Bulldog wrestling. All that work, all that passion, all of it, only to once again be discontinued after the 2020-2021 season.  Gymnastics fan can relate, as can fans of swimming & diving, but this is a heartache of pain that basketball and football fans will never know. 

Dennis DeLiddo

You cannot mention Fresno State wrestling without talking about former head coach Dennis DeLiddo.  A man who ate, slept and breathed Bulldog wrestling.  Won 312 dual meet victories and 7 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) titles, coaching 27 All Americans and 55 conference champions in all.  

Roy Stuckey

Roy Stuckey began his collegiate wrestling career at Fresno City College where he won a CCCAA title in 1961. He then went on to compete for the Bulldogs, where he took 3rd at the 1964 NCAA Division II championships. 

Steve Johansen

Steve Johansen was a two time NCAA Division II All American for the Bulldogs during his collegiate career. Winning an NCAA DII title in 1965, he finished as the NCAA DII runner-up in 1966. 

Mike Gallego

Mike Gallego had an outstanding career while competing for the Bulldogs. In his sophomore season of 1966, he took 6th place All American honors at the NCAA Division II championships. As a junior in 1967, he won the NCAA DII crown, taking runner-up honors at the NCAA DI championships.  As a senior in 1968, he'd win both the NCAA DII title and the NCAA DI title.  He later became a Dentist. 

Richard Birbeck

Richard Birbeck earned NCAA Division II All American honors of 3rd for the Bulldogs in 1966. 

Sylvester Carver

When Fresno State moved to NCAA Division I status, Sylvester Carver earned back to back All American honors of 5th & 3rd in 1983 & 1984 respectively. 

Fred Little

Fred Little earned NCAA DI All American honors for the Bulldogs in 1986 & 1987, placing 8th & 5th. 

Dan Niebuhr

Dan Niebuhr started off his career at Madison College (another program we've sadly lost) where he won back to back NJCAA titles in 1985 and 1986. He went on to compete for Fresno State, where he earned a 7th place All American honor in 1989 for the Bulldogs. Post college, he earned a silver medal at the 1993 World Cup.  He later became a personal trainer and a firefighter. 

Wade Zimmerman

Zimmerman earned NCAA DI All American honors of 6th in 1989. 

Lorenzo Neal

A two sport athlete for the Bulldogs, Lorenzo Neal took 7th place All American honors at the 1992 NCAA Division I wrestling championships his junior season.  As a football player, he rushed for a total of 2,405 yards, scoring a total of 18 touchdowns between his junior & senior seasons.  He was All Big West in those seasons as well.  Post college, Neal went on to have a 16 year career in the NFL where he competed for various teams, becoming a four time pro-bowl selection.  

Gerry Abas

Gerry Abas had an outstanding career for the Bulldogs, making the NCAA DI finals three seasons in a row between 1992 & 1994.  Winning three WAC titles, he won 134 matches during his time at Fresno State. 

Serge Mezheritsky

Serge Mezheritsky earned a 6th place All American finish at the 1993 NCAA DI championships.  Today he is the head coach of the Los Angeles Wrestling Academy. 

The Zinkin Family 

Venice Beach, California has to be probably the most famous area in the entire world for bodybuilders to work out.  Everyone from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Lou Ferigno has pumped iron on what is popularly known as "Muscle Beach."  It was started by a man by the name of Harold Zinkin, who would go on to have kids and grandkids who found success on the wrestling mat.  For the record, Harold Zinkin was also the inventor of the Universal Lifting Machine.  

Harold's grandson Harold Zinkin would win a WAC title for the Bulldogs and earn a 5th place NCAA Division I All American finish in 1993.  Another of his grandsons, DeWayne Zinkin Jr, would win two WAC titles, placing 5th at the 1995 NCAA DI championships. 

Terry Watts

Terry Watts earned an All American finish of 5th in 1994.  He had two sons that competed for North Dakota State. 

Yero Washington

Yero Washington started off his collegiate career competing for Fresno City, where he won a CCCAA title.  He then went on to become a two time All American for the Bulldogs, placing 6th at the 1996 NCAA Division I championships, and 3rd in 1997.  Post college, he coached at both Iowa State & Columbia. 

Alfonzo Tucker

Here's a man with a story.  When Alfonzo Tucker was 6 months old, he was kidnapped by his father.  As a result he never got to know his mother.  He lived with his Dad, a pimp and a drug dealer until his was 13.  Then from ages 13 to 17, he bounced around from foster house to foster house.  When he was 17, life finally gave him a break & he went to live with Mike and Dana Darling.  It was then he discovered the sport of wrestling.  He took to the sport quick and became so good, that he earned an All American honor of 4th, competing for Fresno State in 1996.  Post college Tucker has gone on to do an assortment of accomplishments.  A deputy sheriff, he's written non-fiction books, written for the L.A. Sentinel, and been both a counselor and motivational speaker. 

Brendan Buckley

Brendan Buckley earned NCAA Division I All American status for the Bulldogs when he placed 7th at the 1997 NCAA DI championships.  He later went on to coach at Columbia. 

Stephen Abas

Without a doubt, the most well known and decorated wrestler in the history of Fresno State wrestling, Stephen Abas.  After placing 4th as a true freshman in 1998, he would win the NCAA DI title as a true sophomore in 1999.  He would then take a redshirt, winning two more NCAA DI titles in 2001 and 2002.  He compiled a record of 144-4 while competing for the Bulldogs.  Post college he went on to have a successful international career. Winning PAN-AMERICAN gold in 2003, he won Olympic Silver in 2004. 

Stan Greene

Starting his career off at Fresno City, Stan Greene would transfer to Fresno State, where he became a two time NCAA Division I All American for the Bulldogs. Placing 4th in 1998, he was 5th in 1999. 

Billy Blunt

Billy Blunt earned NCAA DI All American status, placing 5th for the Bulldogs in 2001. 

Marcio Botelho

Marcio Botelho enjoyed a successful career at Fresno State, where he made the Western Regional finals in all four years of varsity competition & he earned an 8th place finish at the 2003 NCAA championships as a sophomore.  He is the current head coach at Lemoore College. 

Josh Hokit

Talk about heart & determination.  Josh Hokit was a walk-on for the Fresno State Football team, where he eventually played both sides of the ball over a three year career.  When Fresno State decided to reinstate wrestling for a short period of time, he made the decision to be a part of it as well.  The highlight of Hokit's career would come when he placed 5th at the 2019 NCAA Division I wrestling championships his junior season. It was far from his only accomplishment on the mat though. He'd also place at the Midlands championships his in junior and senior seasons, taking home 7th & 6th place finishes.  He then went on to a career as a practice team member of both the San Francisco 49'ers and the Arizona Cardinals. 

Kyle Parco

The Bulldogs could very well be looking at crowning an NCAA DI champion this year & the odds are damn near 100% that they would be looking at crowning a five time All American had they never discontinued their wrestling program.  Kyle Parco earned a 6th place finish at the 2021 NCAA championships in what would be Fresno State's final stand on the mat.  Since that time, he's gone on to earn three more All American honors for Arizona State & will look to earn a fifth All American honor, as well as an NCAA DI title for the University of Iowa this season.