Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = James Madison

The Dukes of James Madison were often a team that had success at both the conference & dual meet levels.  Winners of the Virginia Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1975, they would also win team titles at the Eastern Regional in 1985 & 1986, as well as Colonial Athletic Association titles in 1999 & 2000. 

Tony Gentile
150, 158 lbs 

A three time NCAA qualifier, Gentile won Eastern Regional championships for the Dukes in 1985 & 1986. 

Jeff "Peanut" Bowyer

Affectionately known as "Peanut" Jeff Bowyer earned three NCAA qualifications for the Dukes in 1985, 1986 & 1987.  He placed fifth at the Midlands championships.  

Brian Kurlander

A two time NCAA qualifier for the Dukes, the highlight of Kurlander's career came as a junior in 1987 when he won an Eastern Regional title & placed eighth at the NCAA championships.  He ended his career with 112 victories. 

Jude Arena
142 lbs  

A four time NCAA qualifier from Succasunna, New Jersey, Arena won three CAA titles for the Dukes in 94', 95' & 96'. 

Elliott Williams
190, 197, 184 lbs 

Williams narrowly missed out on becoming the Dukes first four time CAA champion, winning titles as a freshman and sophomore.  He'd miss out on a title his junior season, but come back strong to win a third as a senior in 2000. 

Dave Vollmer
126, 133, 141 lbs 

At three different weight classes, Vollmer won CAA titles in 1998, 1999 & 2000. 

Mike Coyle
141, 133 lbs 

A two time CAA champion with 76 career victories, Coyle would cap off his impressive career with a eighth place finish at the 2000 NCAA championships. 

Dave Colabella
184 lbs 

A CAA champion in 2001, Colabella would qualify twice more for the NCAA championships in 2002 & 2003. 

Seth Cameron
165, 174 lbs 

A three time NCAA qualifier, Cameron won a CAA title his junior season in 2002. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Morgan State

Morgan State Bears wrestling existed before the late James Phillips took over the program as head coach during the 1975-1976 season.  Matter of fact they won Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) titles in 1963, 1964 & 1965.  Yet it was under Phillips leadership, that the Bears really took a stronghold at the NCAA Division II level.  Phillips who grew up in Texas, never wrestled.  In fact not only did his high school not have wrestling, none of the high schools in his area had wrestling.  Phillips was a football player.  A good one.  As a player he lead Morgan State to a 14-6 victory over West Chester in the Tangerine Bowl. It was the first time a historically black college had won a bowl game. He later played for the Chicago Bears & in the Canadian Football League. It was only natural that he'd later coach football.  What didn't seem a fit, was when Phillips decided to take the unpaid position of head wrestling coach.  

During the next twenty seasons, Phillips was able to so what many would deem impossible.  He won thirteen Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles (MEAC) being named Coach of the Year twelve times. He lead the Bears to five NCAA Division II top ten performances, including a high finish of fourth in 1984.  His overall dual record was 197-95.   It was also important to Phillips to try and grow the popularity of wrestling within the Baltimore, Maryland area.  He did so by growing the fan base for dual meets & having Morgan State host the 1985 NCAA Division II championships.  He saw wrestling as a fantastic sport for young black men, as well as all young men to be a part of.  Upon his death many friends and family members said that while he was always proud of his accomplishments as a football player & as a football coach, what made him most proud was the time he spent as the wrestling coach.  After he resigned from the position after the 1994-1995 season, Bears wrestling held on for two more seasons being discontinued at the completion of the 1996-1997 season.  

William "Bucky" Smith
158 lbs 

Breaking the barrier at about every level, William "Bucky" Smith was the first at many levels.  He was the first wrestler from a historically black college to win four MEAC titles.  He also earned six All American honors during his prestigious career as well.  During his freshman & sophomore seasons of 1977 & 1978 he finished as the NCAA Division II runner-up.  In his sophomore campaign he also placed sixth at the NCAA Division I tournament.   In 1979 he placed fifth in Division II.  He'd save his best season for last, when he became the first wrestler from a historically black college to win the NCAA Division II title.  This was not only in wrestling, but in any sport.  He'd follow it up by taking runner-up honors in NCAA Division I. 

Emanuel "Tiny" Yarbrough
HWT 

Affectionately referred to as "Tiny" by his teammates, Yarbrough was a two time All American for the Bears during his career at Morgan State.   During the Bears time in NCAA Division II he captured an eighth place finish at the 1983 championships.  When the Bears transitioned into NCAA Division I status, he would place eighth in the 1986 championships. Post college Yarbrough had success in many endeavors.  He tried his hand at both MMA & Sumo, winning a world championship in the later in 1995.  He later got into acting, landing an occurring role on HBO's Oz and getting a small part in Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler.  We sadly lost Yarbrough in 2015. 

Chauncy Wynn
158 lbs 

Wynn was a four time NCAA qualifier for the Bears earning All American status his senior year with a sixth place finish at the NCAA championships in 1996. 

Dontae Smith
118 lbs 

Without a doubt Dontae Smith would have been a four time NCAA qualifier for the Bears during his career, but unfortunately after qualifying for the championships in 1991 as a freshman he would miss the entirety of the 1991-1992 season do to a hernia.  He'd come back strong the next two seasons earning NCAA qualification in 1993 & 1994.  A highlight of his career placing fourth at the Midlands as a senior. 

Charlie Morgan
126 lbs  

With a last name like Morgan, where else would you wrestle?  Charlie qualified for the NCAA championships in 1993, 1994 & 1995. 

David Morgan
118 lbs 

Morgan qualified for the 1994 NCAA championships as a freshman for the Bears before deciding to transfer to Michigan State for the remainder of his career.  Competing for the Spartans, Morgan earned All American status on three occasions.  He placed third in 1996, fifth in 1997 & took runner-up honors in 1998. 

John Davis

Davis had an outstanding career for the Bears.  He placed sixth in the nation at the 1981 NCAA Division II championships as a freshman.  As a sophomore in 1982 he placed third.  He'd finish out his career as a two time NCAA Division II champion, being named the outstanding wrestler of the tournament in 1984. 

Greg Veal

Another all time great in Bear history was Greg Veal who took two bronze medals at the 1981 & 1982 NCAA Division II championships before coming home with the gold in 1983. 

Jeff Green
HWT 

Two time Pennsylvania high school state finalist for Pottstown High School, Green was also a standout football player.  When it came time to choose the mat or the gridiron, Green originally made the choice to play football. He entered the University of Kentucky with the intention of playing football for the Wildcats.  Yet after a year he decided he missed wrestling as well as the east coast & he headed to Baltimore to join the Morgan State wrestling team.   There he would take third place All American honors at the 1984 NCAA Division II championships.   

Post college Green served our nation as a captain in the United States Army during the Gulf War. He later made the 1996 Olympic team.  We sadly lost Green in 2003. 

Albert Woody
134, 142 lbs 

Woody was a two time NCAA qualifier for the Bears in 1987 & 1988.  He took over for Phillips as head coach in the 1995-1996 season.  His son, also named Albert later wrestled for Lehigh. 

Marlon Houston
HWT

Houston who also played football for the Bears was a two time NCAA qualifier in 1993 & 1996.  After Morgan State axed the wrestling program, Houston finished up his career at Oklahoma State.  His son, also named Marlon would be a starter on the Central Oklahoma football team years later. 

Eldoardo Vance
137, 147 lbs 

Vance as a two time All American for the Bears during his career.  He placed sixth at the NAIA championships in 1963 & fourth at the NCAA Division II championships in 1964. 

Curtis Ellis
118 lbs 

Curtis Ellis had a standout career for the Bears during his time at Morgan State.  A four time NCAA qualifier, Ellis won four MEAC titles & two Eastern Regional titles earning All American honors at the NCAA Division II level three times.   He was sixth in both 1978 & 1979, taking eighth place in 1980.  He finished his senior season with an overall record of 102-17. 

Later in life as the owner of Real Image Media, Ellis became exceptionally involved in the community of Baltimore.  He coached youth wrestling, ran a Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization & a Dog rescue. 

Willard Crews
190 lbs 

Crews was a three time All American for Morgan State placing seventh in both 1980 & 1983, as well as eighth in 1982 at the NCAA Division II championships. 

Chuck Kennedy
118 lbs 

A graduate of Kingston High School in Section I of New York, Kennedy was a three time state qualifier before coming to Morgan State. Competing for the Bears he made the NCAA Division II finals in 1984. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Minnesota Duluth

Minnesota Duluth Bulldog wrestling ended after the 1993-1994 season.  That year they won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title & they finished in 12th place at the NCAA Division II championships with three All Americans.   The story of how & why Bulldog wrestling came to an end is a complicated, convoluted & depressing one.  Journalist Brian Jerzak writes about it in explicit detail & I highly recommend looking up his article on the subject.  It's long but without a doubt the most thorough account I've ever came across as to why a wrestling program was dropped. 

Along with winning their final NSIC tournament, they also won team titles in 1985, 1990, 1991 & 1992.   They finished in eighth place at the 1988 NAIA championships. 

Blaine Dravis
126 lbs 

A graduate of Staples High School, Dravis took NAIA All American honors with a third place finish at the 1986 championships. 

Jeff Dravis 
 

Following his brother Blaine to Minnesota Duluth, Jeff Dravis had an outstanding career for the Bulldogs earning NAIA All American status on three occasions.  He placed fifth in 1986, second in 1987 & fourth in 1988. 

Jerry Hoy
118 lbs 

Putting together a career record of 103-18, Jerry Hoy finished as the NCAA Division II runner-up in 1982. 

Ron McClure
142 lbs 

A graduate of Golden Valley High School, McClure had an outstanding career for the Bulldogs putting together a career record of 108-17, which included forty falls.  In 1993 he would capture fourth place All American honors at the NCAA Division II tournament.  He'd take runner-up honors in 1994 at Minnesota-Duluth's final NCAA Division II championships.  

Michael Hirschey
158 lbs 
 

A graduate of Glenwood High school where he took runner-up honors at the 1984 State championships, Hirschey would add his name to the list of wrestlers to win a national title that never won a state title in 1987 when he won the NAIA crown.  An avid skier after college, Hirschey was unfortunately murdered after a dispute in May of 2008. 

Trevor Lundgren
142 lbs 
 

Another graduate of Staples High School, Lundgren originally started off his career at Gustavus Adolphus (Another program that we have lost) before coming to Minnesota Duluth.  While wrestling for the Bulldogs he put together a record of 95-12, earning back to back third place All American honors at the NAIA championships in 1988 & 1989.  In the 1989 championships he also won the Gorriaran award for the most amount of falls in the least amount of time.  


 

Dave Viaene
HWT 

Former New England Patriot Dave Viaene became Kaukana High School's (Wisconsin)  first state champion when he captured a title in 1983.  Also a member of the Bulldog football program, Viaene would go on to earn runner-up honors at the 1986 NAIA championships.  

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Virginia Commonwealth

Extensive research hasn't been able to come up with much about Virginia Commonwealth wrestling other than to say the Rams did have a team at one time.  I've ran across the name of two coaches & the only wrestler who's name I've been able to find is Matt Gattling a 190 lbs'er.   Here's to hopefully one day finding more information on VCU wrestling. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Jacksonville State

The friendliest campus in the south at one time fielded a wrestling program that at one time was ranked as high as 15th in the NCAA Division II level.   While the school has been successful in a variety of athletics, crowning an assortment of NCAA champions, their first was in wrestling. 

Gary Erwin
150 lbs 

An Alabama native of Gardendale High school where he won the state title in 1978, Erwin was the most successful of Gamecock wrestlers.  He won three Mid-South Conference titles as well as two Regional titles during his career.  In 1980 as a sophomore he took fifth place All American honors at the NAIA championships.  He would make the NCAA Division II finals in 1981, becoming the Gamecocks first NCAA champion in any sport finishing his career with a Division II title in 1982. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Allegheny

A small NCAA Division III college in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Allegheny had success at the conference & national level on a individual scale.  They won the President's Athletic Conference (PAC) title in 1960. 

Tom Elcott
150 lbs 

One of the best in Gator history, Tom Elcott was a three time PAC champion & three time NCAA Division III All American.  He finished with a fourth place finish in 1979, winning the title in 1980 & finishing as the runner-up in 1981. 

Harry Black
177, 191, HWT 

Also a football standout for the Gators, Black won two PAC titles putting together a record of 40-3. 

John Bernhard
157, 147 lbs 

Only the second four time PAC champion in history, Bernhard won titles in 1960, 61', 62' & 63'. 

Bob Muth
HWT 

A graduate of Maplewood High School, Muth had an outstanding career for the Gators winning four PAC titles & earning NCAA Division III All American status in his final two seasons.  He took seventh in 1982 & capped off his career with the national title in 1983.  He was 106-14 during his time as a Gator. 

Eric Temple
HWT  

Temple earned NCAA Division III All American honors in 1979 with a fourth place finish. 

Randy Graves
190 lbs  

A graduate of Warren High where he took third in the state championships, Graves finished in fifth place at the 1982 NCAA Division III championships. 

Jeff Payne
150 lbs 

Payne took seventh place honors at the 1986 NCAA Division III championships. 

Tony Pendolino
134, 142 lbs 

Despite battling a series of injuries throughout his career, Tony Pendolino still managed to come out as one of the Gators top stars.  He earned two NCAA Division III All American honors during his career.  He placed fifth as a sophomore in 1988 & came back as a senior in 1990 to take seventh place honors with a 36-6 record. 

Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Grand Valley State

With the love & recognition that the wrestling team still receives to this day, it's hard to believe that wrestling at the varsity status ever left Grand Valley State University.  The NCWA (National Collegiate Wrestling Association) club program that was formed about twenty years ago & has had a tremendous amount of success in a variety of ways.  The team has won the NCWA title in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 & 2008, producing 23 individual NCWA champions, including MMA superstar Tyrone Ferguson.  This also includes seven conference titles & being host to a well attended NCWA championship in 2006.  The club program is well supported with a substantial fan-base.  An area where the reinstatement of varsity wrestling would make tremendous sense.  

At the varsity status, the Lakers had wrestling from the 1967-1968 season to the 1992-1993 season.  They were tremendously successful at both the NAIA & NCAA Division II levels.  Two runner-up finishes & three fourth places finishes in the NAIA throughout the mid 1970's into the early 1980's.  Three top 10 finishes in NCAA Division II.    During their time in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Association (GLIAC) they won five titles, finishing as the runner up on ten occasions & one third place showing.  

Mike Abrams
158, 167 lbs 

A five time All American, Abrams earned medals at the NAIA, NCAA Division II & NCAA Division I levels.  The graduate of Pontiac North high school, Abrams earned his first All American honor with a fourth place finish at the 1977 NAIA nationals.  He'd follow that up by winning a NAIA title in 1978.  In 1979 he'd finish third in the NAIA, winning a NCAA Division II title & finishing his career with a sixth place finish at the NCAA Division I tournament.  His record 88-15.  He later went on to coach & teach physical education at Roy Martin junior high in Las Vegas. 

Ron Essink
HWT 

It's safe to say that former Seattle Seahawk/Dallas Cowboy Ron Essink learned the sport of wrestling fairly quickly.  He decided to give it a try his senior year at Zeeland high school & he went undefeated winning the state title! In doing so he became Zeeland's first state champion in any sport.   At Grand Valley State despite only having one year of high school wrestling under his belt he made the NAIA finals in 1978, winning a title in 1980 & adding to it an NCAA Division II title as well.  At the NCAA Division I level he finished seventh in the nation.  After a career in the NFL Essink returned to Zeeland to coach both football & wrestling. 

Roger Singleton
118 lbs 

Singleton had an outstanding career for the Lakers winning three GLIAC titles & earning All American status at both the NCAA Division II & Division I levels.  As a sophomore in 1986 he took fifth in DII.  He followed that up with a runner-up finish in 1987, taking sixth in Division I. He'd end his career with an NCAA Division II title in 1988. 

Mark Mangianti
126 lbs 

A graduate of Mt. Clemens High School, Mangianti won four GLIAC titles, earning All American status three times with a 138-12 career record. He won an NAIA title in 1974, finishing third at both the NAIA & NCAA Division II championships in 1976. 

Ed King
190 lbs 

King earned All American status twice for the Lakers in 1979. He placed fifth at the NAIA level & sixth at the NCAA Division II level. 

Mike Gohn
HWT

A state champion of Sparta High School, Mike Gohn took third place All American honors at the NCAA Division II tournament in 1989. 

Steve Bolleback
HWT 

Bolleback was third at the 1975 NAIA championships.  

Dorr Granger
142 lbs 

A four time GLIAC champion, Granger put together a 99-38 career record with twenty-eight falls earning All American status on four occasions.  He placed sixth at the 1980 NAIA championships, following it up with an eighth place finish in 1981, which also included a third place showing at the NCAA Division II championships.  He'd end his career placing fifth in NCAA Division II in 1982. 

Jamie Hosford
177, 190 lbs 

If you're looking for a multi-sport athlete, here you go.  Hosford not only wrestled at Grand Valley State, he also played football, golf, baseball & participated in track & field.   All in all he earned twelve varsity letters. An All American on the gridiron he rushed for 1,313 yards in a single season, rushing for 3,157 during his career.  As a wrestler he put together a record of 113-12 with nearly all of his losses being at the national tournaments.  At the NAIA level he placed fourth his freshman & sophomore seasons of 1974 & 1975.  As a junior in 1976 he took third, capping his career off with a NAIA title in 1977. 

Paul Neumann
150 lbs 

Neumann was an NAIA runner up in 1979. 

Tim Horn
142 lbs 

Horn who to this day still has an invitational named in his honor, placed third for the Lakers in the 1980 NAIA championships. 

Jim Shutich
134 lbs 

A graduate of nearby Grand Rapids West Catholic, Shutich began his career at the NJCAA level competing for Grand Rapids Community College (a program we no longer have).  Wrestling for the Lakers, Shutich won the NAIA crown in 1977. 

Bill Roersma
142 lbs 

Putting together a career record of 66-10, Roersma won the NAIA title in 1977. 

John Harris
134 lbs 

A graduate of Battle Creek Central high school, Harris put together an impressive career at Grand Valley State.  A record of 117-19, he won three GLIAC titles twice finishing as the NAIA runner up in 1976 & 1977.