Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Texas El Paso

Sometimes wrestling can be wrestling's own worst enemy and from what I have been able to gather, allegedly that is the case with the University of Texas El Paso's wrestling program.

The idea of a Division I athletic director wanting to field a wrestling program from scratch is downright foreign. In our sport, it just doesn't happen.  Add in the fact that the school is in the most southern part of Texas & that the athletic director is a football & basketball coach it makes the story outright non-believable. 

Yet, from what I've been able to gather that's exactly what happened.   Athletic director George McCarty, who was known for breaking the color barrier by playing UTEP's first African American in basketball, wanted the Miners to have wrestling.

His first course of action was hiring Bruno Rolack as the head coach.   Wanting to be competitive from the get go, Rolack went to good friend Henry Pillard who was the head coach of Joliet Community College in Illinois.  Wanting his wrestlers to go on to get bachelors degrees, Pillard sent them to wrestle for Rolack at UTEP.

In the miners first year of wrestling 1968-1969, two former Joliet wrestlers Al Handy & Larry Wollschlager won Western Athletic Conference titles.  They would repeat again in 1970, along with another former Joliet wrestler Bill Bell.

Unfortunately, from what I've been able to gather McCarty and Rolack had difficulty getting anyone to come to El Paso for home duals.  Oklahoma & Oklahoma State weren't thrilled about making the over 700 mile trip and no one else was closer.  The inability to host home meets, the budget to travel and the difficulty to recruit outside of the Joliet Pipeline lead McCarty to call it quits. Bill Bell had to finish up his senior year of wrestling at the University of Arizona.

 It's a sad state of affairs that with so many schools so eager to drop wrestling, act as if they never had a program at all (Did you read my article on the best wrestlers from Texas A&M?) that the one time we had a school, in the south that wanted wrestling, we were part of the reason it wasn't able to work out.  I'm happy that Arkansas-Little Rock's experience has been more pleasant. 

Larry Wollschlager

As mentioned above Larry Wollschlager is one of the best UTEP ever had in wrestling.  A two time WAC champ in 1969 and 1970, what's even cooler about Wollschlager is his history with Joliet wrestling.  Joliet dropped their wrestling program after the 1984-1985 season.  Because of the efforts of Wollschlager and others, Joliet reinstated wrestling a few years ago.

How cool it'd be if one day UTEP did the same!

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Texas A&M

I can't tell you much about Texas A&M's wrestling program.  All I can tell you is that they had a wrestling program back in the 1950's, they had twelve wrestlers participate in the NCAA wrestling championships.  I can provide you their names, the year and the weight class.

Here they are

Bill Allen 1954 @ 123
Bob Beattle 1954 @ 130
Dick Cappel 1954 @ 137
Rudy Heniun 1954 @ 147
Al Reid 1954 @ 167
Aluaro Ciachar 1956 @ 115
Don Burchard 1956 @ 130
Charles Schoenfield 1956 @ 137
? Hansley 1956 @ 147
Ken Jones 1956 @ 177
John Watson 1956 @ 191
Carlton Hazelwood 1956 @ HWT

I've looked up each one of these names numerous times and I haven't been able to find any information regarding them. I find it sad that in Texas A&M's Hall of Fame that not a single one of these athletes is recognized. I think it's high time the Aggies' Hall of Fame opens up to include some of them.

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Texas

If you read the first article in this series on Syracuse, you know that in many ways this project for me has been like an episode of UNSOLVED MYSTERIES.  A ton of questions, few clues and even fewer answers.

When it comes to the University of Texas Longhorn wrestling program, not much is known. I once called the University of Texas back in 2006 and asked the S.I.D. what information he could provide me on the former wrestling team.  He responded back that the school never had a wrestling program.  Funny, because records indicate that they did.

Thanks to fellow writer and historian Mark Palmer of intermatwrestle, I know that the Longhorns once defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys in dual meet action.

I also know that the Lornhorns head coach at one time was a guy by the name of R.J. McLean.  I have only be able to find a handful of Newspaper clippings from the 1910's, 20's & 30's with his name in them.  From what I gather he was the one that started the wrestling program at Texas and that the program folded upon his departure/retirement.

What I'm rather curious about is where exactly the wrestlers on the team came from.  I ask this because back in this time there was no youth, middle school or high school wrestling in Texas.  Private high school wrestling wouldn't start in the lone star state until the Mid 60's when Dory Funk helped to get it started in the Amarillo area.  Public High school wrestling wasn't officially sanctioned/recognized until 1999.

So you can see how this becomes a mystery.

Nevertheless I believe I can name the two best grapplers in Longhorn wrestling history

175 lbs
Ralph Hammonds

An NCAA runner-up for the Longhorns in 1928, the success of Hammonds is not as difficult to figure out as is the other wrestler that is about to be mentioned. Hammonds grew up in Hugo, Oklahoma and he did wrestle in high school.  Along with being a standout wrestler, he was also a star on the Longhorn track & field team.  An NCAA runner-up in Pole Vault, he helped to lead the Lornhorns to conference titles in both 1926 & 1927.   Along with his runner-up finish at the NCAA tournament, he was also a member of the 1928 Olympic wrestling team as well as the Olympic Track & field team.  To say he was a successful athlete is an understatement.

John "Tiny" Gooch
HWT 

The other well known wrestler in Longhorn wrestling history is John "Tiny" Gooch.  Along with Hammonds he was also a member of both the track & field team as well as the football team.  A native of Ennis High School, in Ennis, Texas one can only guess that it was either Coach McLean or Hammonds that convinced Gooch to give wrestling a try once he got to college.  Supposedly like Hammonds, Gooch won a few conference titles.

Here's where the history gets fuzzy.  From what I have been able to gather the only school that ever had wrestling in the SWC (Southwest Conference) was the University of Texas.  I've read that Southern Methodist strongly considered fielding a varsity team for a long period of time & they did have intramural wrestling, but they never went through with it.   So my question is, if Hammonds and Gooch did win conference titles in wrestling, who did they beat?

Neverthless what is known and well recorded is how well Gooch did as a discuss thrower.  He took third in the NCAA championships.

Post College, Gooch went on to become a successful lawyer and strongly considered running for governor of Texas as a Republican before deciding against it. We sadly lost Gooch in 1986.


Longhorn wrestling has been something I've been intrigued about for over 15 years when I first learned that they had a program.  If you have any information regarding the University of Texas' varsity wrestling program please feel free to share.

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Kansas

You'd think in a state that produces such talent as NCAA Champion Zach Roberson and NCAA runner-up Shawn Bunch that out of the three Division I schools one of them would offer varsity wrestling. That's not the case, although at one time all three did.

Kansas University fielded wrestling during the 1920's and 1930's and had a fair amount of success during this time crowing five All Americans and five (What would become the) BIG 12 champions.  The Jayhawks would also reinstate wrestling for a short amount of time in the mid 1960's.

While information regarding the program is scarce, most agree on who the best Jayhawk wrestler is.

Peter "Kansas Whirlwind" Mehringer

The case of Pete Mehringer is quite an interesting story.  Mehringer attended Kingsley high school in Kingsley, Kansas.  A member of the football team, he excelled on the gridiron. Kingsley did not offer a wrestling program but Mehringer became interested in the sport when he took a correspondence course on it.  Acting as his own coach and teaching himself the techniques he managed to win the state title that season.  Two years later he hitchhiked to the State tournament and again won the state title.

In college Mehringer would go on to become a star athlete on both the mat and the football field.  Capturing second place at the 1932 NCAA Championships he'd do himself one better that summer and capture a gold medal at the Olympic games.   In football he was every bit as successful garnering all conference honors and being selected as a member of the first ever college All-Star game. 

Post College Mehringer played professional football, dabbled in professional wrestling and worked in Hollywood as both a stuntman and an actor. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Kansas State

I'm not exactly sure when Kansas State started wrestling or when exactly they dropped. What I do know is that with exception to a few years, most of which were because of World War II, the wildcats sent at least one wrestler to the NCAA championships from 1930 to 1975.

The best of the Division I wrestling programs in the state of Kansas, Kansas State had 79 NCAA participants at the national tournament compared to Kansas with a total of six and Wichita State with zero.  The Wildcats also has twenty BIG 12 individual champions.

When researching the history of Kansas State wrestling I was unable to recover any photographs.  Names and information were rather scarce but at least existent.

One would have to conclude that among the best in Wildcat history, four time NCAA tournament participant Bob Mancuso would have to be among the ranks.  Although he never did win a BIG 12 title, he finished as the runner-up twice and in third place twice.   Post his collegiate career he went on to coach at Bellevue East High School where he lead the Cheiftains to their first team state championship. He later coached at the University of Nebraska.

Other names would be John Richardson who finished in second wrestling at 145 lbs in 1931, Earnest Jessup a state champion for Wichita East High School who finished in second in 1937 wrestling at 155 lbs and another 155 lbs'er Leland Porter who also finished second in 1941.

Joe Blanchard 

Perhaps the most famous wrestler to ever come out of Kansas State is Joe Blanchard who won a BIG 12 title for the wildcats in 1950.  He would later go onto fame in professional wrestling as both a worker and a promoter.  His son Tully, had success in both WWE & NWA as a tag team champion.  His granddaughter Tessa currently works for TNA Pro Wrestling.

Gone, Lost and Forgotten: Their Best = Denver

It's been a long time since the University of Denver fielded a wrestling team.  The Pioneers had wrestling from the 1921-1922 season through the 1966-1967 season. While never a powerhouse during their time on the mat they did send seven wrestlers to the NCAA championships and had some memorable names.

Everett Marshall 

One name was Everett Marshall who wrestled for the Pioneers back from 1926 through 1928.  Marshall would later become a champion professional wrestler known as "The Blonde bear." 

John "Dutch" Woudenberg 

Another name in the history of Pioneer wrestling is John "Dutch" Woudenberg who later went on to play in the NFL for both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49er's.  While wrestling HWT for Denver, he won many matches.

Albert "Bo" Place 

I was unable to secure a photograph of the late Albert "Bo" Place but I felt compelled to add him into the conversation on Denver wrestling because of how beloved of a figure he was in Pioneer athletics. Not only did Place wrestle, but he was also a member of the football and baseball teams as well.  Known for his class and humility it is said that one would be hard pressed to ever find an athlete that showed better sportsmanship than Bo.  Long before he would ever celebrate a victory on the mat, he made sure to shake his opponents hand and thank him for a hard fought battle.  It's said on the gridiron he'd knock the other player straight on his keester, hear the whistle blow, reach down and help him up. 

Will Howard

If I had to pick the very best wrestler in the history of Denver Pioneer wrestling it without question has to be Will Howard.  Wrestling for Denver North in high school, Howard won the state title his junior season at 112 pounds and the state title his senior season at 120 lbs in 1945 & 1946 respectively. 

Staying close to home Howard dropped down to 115 lbs to wrestle collegiality for the Pioneers.  In 1952 he made the NCAA finals taking home runner-up honors.


There you have it.  The best wrestlers in the history of Denver Pioneer wrestling.  If you have any more names or information involving the University of Denver's wrestling program I more than welcome it.  I'd love to learn more! 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Syracuse

My dad began getting subscriptions to A.W.N. (Amateur Wrestling News) when I was in eighth grade.  Back in those days the internet was still in its infancy, so if you wanted to keep up on your collegiate wrestling, A.W.N. & W.I.N (Wrestling International Newsmagazine) was the way to go.

A.W.N. featured an article from time to time that I loved. I cannot remember what they entitled it but it focused on the best wrestlers who had wrestled for a particular school. They'd go weight by weight and pick out a "dream team" if you will of their very best at each weight class.  My only criticism of this phenomenal idea was that it only featured teams that still existed.

We've lost so many great teams over the years.  These teams and their wrestlers deserve to be remembered, recognized and celebrated.  So that's what I plan to do with this series.  This is all about wrestling teams we no longer have and who their best wrestlers were.

Keep a few things in mind as you read these articles.  First and foremost not all teams were phenomenal, with loads of talent.  Some teams only lasted a couple of years.  Like literally I have a team that will be included that started in the 1968-1969 season and their last season was 1969-1970.

Most importantly there's not always a ton of information and not all of the information one is able to find in research is 100% accurate. In many ways think of this series as UNSOLVED MYSTERIES.  I'm the equivalent of Robert Stack although I'm not near as handsome and I don't have the iconic raspy and hoarse voice that used to terrify me as a kid.

These are my opinions and of course while I do my best to be fair and objective, they are still subjective.  If you feel there was someone I skipped over or left out, please share your thoughts in the comments section below.  I'm a wrestling historian second and a wrestling enthusiast first.

So now it's time to look at the Syracuse Orangemen.  Why did I choose to start with Syracuse?  Well for two reasons.  In my opinion of all of the many teams we've lost over the years, if I had to name the very best, it'd be Syracuse.  Looking at the team from a credentials and accomplishments perspective it's hard to argue. Eight EIWA team conference championships.  They finished in the top 10 in the NCAA Division I tournament six times.

Another reason is personal. Long before I ever realized I was nothing more than a creative writing/theatre nerd that really had little to no business being on a mat, I had dreams of wrestling in college.  How in the Hell a 13 year old living in Iowa gets it in his head that he wants to be an Orangeman, I don't know.  Being a professional wrestling fan, I learned one day watching an episode of WWE that a wrestler I.R.S. whose real name was Mike Rotunda, had wrestled for Syracuse and won an EIWA title back in 1981.  Then I was also fascinated by their current HWT Jason Gleasman who while still in college made the Greco-Roman team for the United States.

I was a freshman in high school when Syracuse announced that their wrestling team would be discontinued. It bothered me then, it bothers me now. I don't have the money or the power to bring wrestling back to Syracuse.  What I can do though is honor them by recognizing their best.

118 lbs
Gene Mills 

There's no argument here.  When it comes to the best of the super-light weights at Syracuse, Mean Gene "The Pinning Machine" Mills takes the top notch.  Wrestling with the strength of Brock Lesnar, Mills was able to rack up four EIWA conference titles.  Finishing third in the NCAA's as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore, Mills won titles as a junior and senior.   He had a 144 collegiate victories and 107 of them were by pin.

134 lbs
Rich Santana 

During his time at Syracuse, Rich Santana had highlights all throughout his career including placing eighth at the NCAA's as a sophomore and fifth as a junior.  Along with also being a two time EIWA conference champion, Santana also placed sixth at the prestigious Midlands championships.  Today Santana runs a wrestling academy in Sacramento, California to help youngsters to learn the fundamentals of wrestling and fall in love with the sport.

137 lbs
Lester Austin 

I didn't have a 126 lbs wrestler listed because I felt that in regards to the 130's, I had to include both Rich Santana and Lester Austin.  Wrestling at 137 lbs Austin won an EIWA conference title and took runner-up honors at the NCAA championships in 1960. Post his time as an Orangeman, Austin served our country during the Vietnam conflict. He then became an anesthesiologist and had many successful years in the field of medicine.  We sadly lost Austin in 2012.

142 lbs
Darren Schulman 

Accumulating a career record of 104-25 Darren Schulman captured a EIWA title and an eighth place finish at the NCAA championships as a junior in 1990.  As a senior he won a Midlands title and again secure All American honors, this time with a fifth place finish.  Post college Schulman has coached at both the high school and collegiate level.

155 lbs
Ken Hunte 

One of our World War II veterans who made the most of his G.I. bill, Ken Hunte is one of two I list in the 150 lbs range.  Wrestling at 155 lbs, Hunte captured two EIWA titles in 1949 & 1950.  In the same years he was also an NCAA runner-up, losing in both finals to the legendary Bill Nelson.  Post college, Hunte enjoyed a successful career teaching P.E. and coaching wrestling.  We sadly lost Hunte in 1985.

157 lbs
Ed Rooney 

When you put pinning and Syracuse wrestling in the same sentence the first name that will always come to mind is Gene Mills.  Another name that should also come to mind is the late Ed Rooney that we lost back in 1997.  Rooney whose record of pinning an opponent in 31 seconds at the NCAA championships stood for a number of years, won numerous awards for fastest falls in the least amount of time throughout his career.  The two time All American who finished in second in 1954 & fourth in 1955 was also a two time EIWA champion.  Post college Rooney served our country as a carrier pilot and then taught school, coached and life guarded up until his death.

167 lbs
Jason Morris 

When the rest of the world thinks of Jason Morris they think Judo.  It's only natural that they would.  After all Morris is the owner of Real Judo Magazine and he's been on multiple Olympic and World Judo Teams.  He captured a silver medal at the 1992 Olympic Games and a bronze medal at the 1993 World Championships.  Yet before he became a master in Judo, he was a wrestler.

Wrestling for the Orangemen at 167 lbs he made the EIWA finals twice winning a title in 1986 as a junior.  Although he would have to settle for runner-up honors the next season as a senior, he was able to capture a fifth place finish at the NCAA championships.

177 lbs
Wayne Catan 

Define irony if you will.  Before Wayne Catan came to Syracuse, he wrestled for the University of Tennessee, another team that we have lost over the years. While at Tennessee Catan captured seventh place at the NCAA championships.  While wrestling for the Orangemen, Catan won two EIWA conference titles in 1985 and 1986.  In the same years he would make the NCAA finals, taking runner-up honors both times.

Post an outstanding collegiate career, Catan's life has known nothing but success since.  He went into public relations and has represented such clients as Nike & NBC. He has also worked as a book reviewer for the N.Y. Times.

191 lbs
Art Baker 

I guess I'm not all that great at narrowing it down to one as in the 190's category I had to once again include two Syracuse legends.  One of which is Art Baker, an athlete more known for his time on the gridiron than for this time on the mat. The former Buffalo Bill who also played in the Canadian Football league is the only athlete in the history of NCAA Division I athletics to win both a championship in football and a championships in wrestling in the same season.  His 1959 NCAA title marked only the second time in history where an African American had won a title in wrestling.

191 lbs
Tom Schlendorf 

Along with Art Baker it's only right that I also include Tom Schlendorf.  The Orangeman accumulated a record of 84-8-1 in route to capturing both the EIWA and NCAA title in 1967.  Along with also being named captain of team East during the East Vs West All Star dual.   Post college Tom worked in marketing and coached wrestling up until his death in 1997.

HWT
Jim Nance 

Yet another multiple sport athlete "Big" Jim Nance takes the honors at HWT.   Already a big boy while in high school it is said that Pennsylvania added the HWT class strictly for Nance who was too large to compete at the highest weight of 185 lbs.

While at Syracuse Nance won three EIWA titles and captured NCAA titles in 1963 and 1965 during his sophomore and senior seasons.  Post college he played professional football in both the American Football league and the World Football league.  We unfortunately lost Nance to a heart attack in 1992.


 And there you have it, my "All Star" team of the Syracuse Orangemen if you will.  I'm sure I left out plenty of greats that could've/should've been mentioned.

Post Midlands Thoughts

It's funny to me to hear some say after Iowa broke the scoring record that, "The Midlands is a Shadow of what it used to be" because while it's not the incredibly tough tournament that it was 25 years ago, it's the toughest it has been in probably the last 10 years.  Everyone has different measuring sticks for how they evaluate a tournament's "toughness."  For me, I take a look at the caliber of wrestlers who do not place.  "Who missed the award stand?" is the first question I often ask.  There were some good kids who didn't make the top 8 this year. Kids that will for sure qualify for the NCAA's and some of them will even be All Americans.

125 lbs 

This is the best I've felt about Harvard in a very long time and Nolan Hellickson is why. An eighth place finish with impressive wins over Joe Manchio, Kyle Biscoglia & Jay Schwarm. 

Eric Barnett of Wisconsin had a good tournament finishing one match shy of a medal. 

I felt better about Christian Moody of Oklahoma.  I've been wondering for the past two months if the three time NCAA qualifier would miss out on the tournament in his fourth attempt.  He just hasn't looked good. Yet he looked better here.  He went 2-2, being eliminated with an 11-9 loss to Barnett. Yet he fought in the match, he looked good despite the loss.

Last thoughts are that I don't understand the strategy of having Spencer Lee forfeit to sixth place.  I'm not understanding the benefit of that.

133 lbs 

I am really impressed with Colin Valdiviez of Northwestern.  When it comes to this tournament, he comes to wrestle.  He's now a three time Midlands place-winner, each time expected not to place.  Or at least seeded that way.  To me that's impressive.

I was happy to see Louie Hayes make the award stand. I said to the Virginia wrestling twitter that I believe that after Jack Mueller graduates this season that Hayes might go down to 125 for the 2020-2021 season.  I think 125, he can be in the hunt for a national title.

Travis Piotrowski of Illinois wrestled a good tournament. I was anxious to see how well he'd do after moving up for 125 lbs.  Took third here, looked great.

I knew Seth Gross of Wisconsin would make the necessary adjustments he needed to make against DeSanto.  He has great mat awareness and an ability to stay one step ahead of his opponent. Did it against Rivera in the semi-finals too.   He's anything but a shoe-in for the national title.  It'll remain a fight and maybe more than just the three are in it.

141 lbs 

Not a ton of thoughts here, but I was happy to see Sal Profaci of American get on the award stand.  He's had a rough career full of injuries and disappointments.  It's always nice to see someone overcome and have some success.

Zach Sherman is a tough kid.  The young Tarheel reminds me of former Tarheel great Evan Sola.  He's a leech on top.  You can't get away from him.  Anyone ever chooses down against him, they're either extremely confident in their abilities or they didn't do their homework.


149 lbs 

Tournaments can be unforgiving.   This is proof of it. Northwestern's Yahya Thomas is way better than an 0-2 record.  Look at how he did at CKLV. He took third, and it was in all sense as tough if not tougher of a bracket.   Same can be said about Griffin Parriott who took fourth at CKLV.  He went 2-2. Both of these guys are capable of being All Americans this season.  It's simply a matter of  sometimes guys have bad tournaments.

My heart goes out to Jeren Glosser and Vince Turk of Iowa.  The two Hawkeye seniors are most likely done after this tournament.  Glosser, will go down in history as one of the best backups of all time.  They both wrestled tremendously with quality wins over quality opponents.  Congrats to both on placing sixth and fourth respectively.

I was hoping to see a non-DI  wrestler place this tournament and boy oh boy did Tres Leon of The Cumberlands do his best for me.  A fall over Princeton's Mike DeAngelo and a major decision over Jake Bergeland, before being eliminated in a heartbreaking one point match to American's Kizhan Clarke in the round of twelve.

Pat Lugo made anyone who doubts his ability to be a national champion change their mind.  He dominated and earned his new #1 ranking.

157 lbs 

Been wondering all year if it'd be Markus Hartman or Lucas Weiland for the Black Knights this season.  I think after a runner-up finish, the spot probably belongs to Hartman now.  He looked phenomenal.

Happy to see Kaleb Young of Iowa win the Midlands after the rocky start he's had to this season.  I think he needed this. I think he needed this bad. It should restore his faith in himself and his confidence.

165 lbs 

Alex Marinelli a three time Midlands champ, defeating David McFadden of Virginia Tech for the first time in his career.  Very impressive.

The Braunagel brother of Illinois are tough! I didn't realize how tough until this tournament.  Danny looked great!

Remember what I said about Harvard wrestling earlier?  Philip Conigliaro is another reason why

174 lbs 

Dylan Lydy continues to prove why I call him the best senior yet to AA.   Winner of CKLV and now a winner of Midlands.  A win over Bryce Steiert of Northern Iowa now for the second time.

I was very happy to see Joey Gunther of Illinois & Ben Harvey of Army, two other senior yet to AA finish third and fourth respectively.

184 lbs 

The story here is Iowa's Cash Wilcke.  His ability to lose in the second round and come back to take third is impressive for an assortment of reasons.  First and foremost he's a senior.  If he had lost in the bloodround to Nelson Brands, his career would be over.  This was his last shot.  I cannot imagine the pressure that he was under and honestly it speaks volumes not only about him but about coaching. The thing I respect about Tom and Terry the most is they are fair in how they are handling this.  Nelson may be Terry's son and Tom's nephew but they aren't granting him any special favors.  He has to earn it like everyone else.

Wilcke's ability to come back and take third is not only a reflection of his intestinal fortitude but of good coaching.  Iowa's #1 problem over the years has been an inability to come back through the consolations.  They overvalue first place to the point to where if guys know they aren't going to win championships, they completely fold after losing in the championship side of the bracket.  Wilcke losing in the second round and coming back to take third is a sign that maybe this is a problem they're working on. 

It also help's that Wilcke was able to defeat Illinois' Zach Braunagel who Brands lost to. 


197 lbs 
Cal Poly's Tom Lane had a horrible tournament going 2-2.  He already proved at CKLV, with in my opinion tougher competition how good he can be.  He took third there.  It's simply like it was with Thomas at 149 lbs a case of a bad tournament. They happen sometimes and they need to be seen for what they are.  Lane has the talent and the tools to be an All American this year.  I think he will be.

Jay Aiello of Virginia wrestled a great tournament.  He's always underrated I feel and under the radar.

I think C.J. Brunner of Purdue is a phenomenal example of how sometimes growth and development still does happen at the collegiate level.  Let's face it, anymore DI wrestling is a recruiting game.  It's a game of getting kids who are already demigods in high school and convincing them to come and wrestle at your school.  There are so many kids who seem to have already peaked, and they're as good as true freshman as they are when they're redshirt seniors.

It's refreshing to see someone who isn't.  C.J. Brunner the senior would annihilate C.J. Brunner the freshman.  He's head over heels better than he was a few years ago.  To see how much he's improved and how much the coaching staff at Purdue has helped him is rewarding. 

Many of the coaches at Purdue seem to have a chip on their shoulder.  A feeling of unfinished business.  Ersland finished one match shy of All American his senior year at Iowa.  Leroy Vega a three time All American who missed out on a fourth his senior year.  Jake Sueflohn of Nebraska one of the, if not the best wrestler of his era to not make All American.  I think this translates into their coaching and it is showing.  Purdue under their leadership is headed for great things.  It makes me excited about Boilermaker wrestling.


HWT 
Yaraslau Slavikouski is yet another name that makes me feel good about the future of Harvard wrestling.

I was shocked to see Jere Heino of Campbell, another wrestler I think can be an All American this season get beat out.  It either means that Carter Isley of Northern Iowa who placed fifth has gotten a lot better, or that Heino wrestled a terrible match.  Not sure.




Anyway those are my Midlands thoughts.  I was happy to see Purdue and Army do as well as they did.  I think both teams, ironically enough with the same (similar) colors doing as well as they are is great for wrestling.