Defending the Title: 1939: Who Did and Who Didn't Defend Their Titles

 Franklin and Marshall wrestling has been around for 130 years.  That's not a typo.  The diplomat wrestling program is one of the oldest in the country.  In all that time, they have only hosted the NCAA tournament once.  1939.  

Here Joe McDaniel and Stan Henson capped off their careers as three time NCAA champions.   

As to the other champions crowned that night...

1939 Champion 128 
Dale Hanson of Minnesota 

A native of Iowa who won a state title for the traditional powerhouse of the era Cresco, Hanson was a junior when he won the NCAA title.  He made the finals again in 1940, but this time would settle for runner-up honors.  Serving our country during World War II, Hanson would unfortunately lose his life in 1942 when a fighter jet he was in was shot down. 

1939 Champion 136
Archie Deutschman of Illinois 

Having settled for a runner-up finish in 1938 as a junior, the Illini won the NCAA title in 1939. 

1939 Champion 145
Harold Nichols of Michigan 

It's hard to know exactly who started the state of Iowa's fixation with wrestling. As one of our greatest writers and historians, Mike Chapman would say, "From Gotch to Gable."  Many names deserve credit for the passion and love Iowans have for wrestling and perhaps none more than Harold Nichols.  It's funny as so many speak so eloquently and knowledgably of his unmatchable coaching prowess at Iowa State University.   Yet with as much as is said about the coach, little is said about the wrestler. 

Nichols never won a state title while competing for Cresco.  His best and only finish was taking third.  Ending up a Wolverine in Ann Arbor, Nichols won the NCAA title here as a senior. 

1939 Champion 165
Henry Matthews of Lehigh 

Matthews was a senior when he won the NCAA title

1939 Champion 175
Chris Traicoff of Indiana 

Traicoff wasn't just a basketball player in high school, he was a good basketball player in high school.  How in the world he ever ended up wrestling in college considering his passion for basketball is quite a mystery. Never the less, he excelled as much on the mat as he did on the court.  Finishing third at the NCAA's in 1938 as a junior, he won the NCAA title as a senior in 1939. 

Post high school he returned to his alma mater Calumet high school where he started what would be a short lived wrestling program, that was put on hold due to his commitments to World War II.  When he returned to Calumet, he took over as the boy's head basketball coach.  He lead the team to 298 victories and four conference championships.  

1939 Champion UNL
Johnny Harrell of Oklahoma State 

These days wrestlers build up their strength through many dedicated hours pumping iron in the weight room.  Harrell built up his strength by working in the oil fields of Southwestern Texas in between summers at Oklahoma State. Known for his incredible grip strength, he won the NCAA title as a senior.  Although his eligibility was up as far as wrestling was concerned, he still had eligibility left for football when he was asked to join the team at the Naval Academy.  Having never played football before, he soon became a starter for the midshipmen during the fall of 1939.  

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Legends McDaniel and Henson end their Cowboy careers as three time Champions 

Hanson settles for second in 1940 

Deutschman, Nichols, Matthews, Traicoff and Harrell are all seniors 





 

Defending The Title: 1938: Who Did and Who Didn't Defend Their Title

 The 1938 NCAA's held at Penn State saw Cowboy teammates Joe McDaniel and Stan Henson win #2 of what would eventually be three titles. Then of course there was Charley McDaniel who appeared again to win his second NCAA title.  The other five champions crowned that night stood atop the award stand for the first time. 

1938 Champion 126
Allen Sapora of Illinois 

The younger brother of two time champion Joe Sapora, Allen decided to add another national title to the list of family accomplishments when he took the title here as a senior.  He devoted a large portion of his life to wrestling after college. Among officiating many tournaments throughout the United States and Canada, he also helped to establish many wrestling programs throughout the state of Illinois where they previously not sponsored the sport. 

1938 Champion 135
D.C. Matthews of Oklahoma 

World War II Veteran D.C. Matthews was a senior when he won the NCAA title

1938 Champion 155
Dale Scrivens of Oklahoma State 

The testimony as to why Kansas should have a DI wrestling team is long as it dates back nearly 85 years.  At one time Kansas, Kansas State and even Wichita State had programs. Still should as Kansas has always produced great wrestling talent.  Scrivens of Wellington High School was one of them. Finishing third at the NCAA's as a junior in 1937, he won the NCAA title here as a senior. 

1938 Champion 165 
John Ginay of Illinois 

An NCAA runner-up as a junior in 1937, Ginay bettered himself one spot by capturing the NCAA title in 1938.  He'd go on to serve in the U.S. Navy before turning his life over to teaching and eventually becoming a principal. 

1938 Champion 175
John "Chip" Harkness of Harvard 

Brains and muscles, Harkness won the NCAA title for the Crimson in 1938.  He'd be the sole champion until Jesse Jantzen won a title in 2004, in which he was in attendance to witness. An architect post college he designed many buildings and homes. 


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Joe McDaniel and Stan Henson, along with Charley McDaniel both win title #2. 

Sapora, Matthews, Scrivens, Ginay and Harkness all leave the door wide open for new champions to be crowned in 1939, as all were seniors. 

Defending the Title: 1937: Who Did and Who Didn't Defend Their Title

 With exception to of course 1928, 1937 marked an important year in NCAA wrestling history as it was the first tournament in nine years where a returning NCAA champion didn't win a national title. That's right in 1937 all eight champions that night were crowned champion for the first time. 

1937 Champion 118
Joe McDaniel of Oklahoma State 

Another Cowboy legend, McDaniel was only a sophomore when he captured his first of what would eventually be three NCAA titles. He went on to win two more in 1938 and 1939.  Post his phenomenal collegiate career, he turned his attention towards coaching.  Along with coaching at the high school level, he also took the helm at both Syracuse and Wyoming. Altogether he lead his teams to over 250 victories. 

1937 Champion 126
Dale Brand of Cornell (IA) 

A Fort Dodge native, Dale Brand showed the huge perennial powerhouses of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State that a small town kid from a small college in Mount Vernon, Iowa could hang with the big boys. He was a junior the night he won an NCAA title.  He'd return in 1938 this time to take runner up honors.  Post college, he coached at Clarion high school where he led twenty-four different young men to individual state titles. 

1937 Champion 135
Ray Cheney of Northern Iowa 

Although Greene High school would eventually produce talent like Hawkeye All American Tyler Nixt, at the time Cheney attended they didn't have a wrestling program.  He didn't start wrestling until his freshman year at Northern Iowa.  Despite the lack of experience, he caught on quickly and a few years later as a senior became the Panthers first NCAA champion.  He'd later go on to introduce wrestling to Troy High School in Ohio. 

1937 Champion  145
Stan Henson of Oklahoma State 

We all know the legend of Stan Henson and it began here in 1937 as the young sophomore captured his first of what would eventually be three titles. 

1937 Champion 155
Bill Keas of Oklahoma 

If you look up the loss record of Stan Henson, you'll notice that it is relatively small. Keas was one of the only men to ever hand the Cowboy legend a loss.  A legend in his own right, Keas won the NCAA title as a senior, having finished second in 1936. 

1937 Champion 165
Harvey Base of Oklahoma State 

Base was a senior when he won the NCAA title for the Cowboys. 

1937 Champion 175
John Whitaker of Minnesota 

Today Golden Gopher wrestlers look bean, mean, scary and unusually muscular.  I guess nothing was different nearly 85 years ago.  Whitaker looks big, mean and scary with massive shoulders and an impressive back.  He was a senior when he won the NCAA title. 

1937 Champion UNL 
Lloyd Rogers of Oklahoma State 

A native of Stillwater, Rogers brought two high school state titles with him when he stayed right in his home town to compete for Oklahoma State.  He was a senior when he won the NCAA title. 

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McDaniel would repeat twice more as champion as would Henson 

Brand would settle for second in 1938 

Cheney, Keas, Base, Whitaker and Ricks were all seniors 











 

Defending The Title: 1936: Who Did and Who Didn't Defend Their Titles

 While future Hollywood stuntman Wayne Martin of Oklahoma won his third NCAA title, all of the other champions crowned in 1936 tasted gold for the first time. 

1936 Champion 123
Ted Anderson of Central Oklahoma 

World War II veteran Ted Anderson was a junior the night he won the NCAA title.  He'd reach the finals again in 1937, but this time settle for runner-up honors. 

1936 Champion 145 
Harley "Doc" Strong of Oklahoma State 

Strong was a senior when he won an NCAA title for the Cowboys. 

1936 Champion 158 
Walter Jacob of Michigan State 

The Spartans first NCAA champion as a junior, he did not attend the NCAA championships in 1937. 

1936 Champion 174 
Harry Broadbent of Oklahoma 

The Sooner was a senior when he won the NCAA title here.  Broadbent would go on to coach for a short amount of time at Washington & Lee before being called to serve our country in World War II.  Also a coach of football and track, Broadbent would then take his coaching duties to San Diego State where he lead the Aztecs to 97 dual meet victories. 

1936 Champion 191
Ray "Duke" Clemons of Central Oklahoma 

Also a 1936 Olympian, Clemons was a senior when he won the NCAA title. 

1936 Champion UNL 
Howell Scobey of Lehigh 

Also a member of the Lehigh football team, it is said that between his strength, speed and gracefulness Scobey wrestled more like a middle-weight than he did a Heavyweight.  His forte was putting his opponents shoulders to the mat as in 34 matches, 28 of them were by fall.  Making the NCAA finals as a junior in 1935, he finished second.  Here in 1936, he finished first. 

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Wayne Martin of Oklahoma the soul repeat champion 

Anderson coming up just a hair short as Walter Jacob did not attend the NCAA's as a senior in 1937. 

Strong, Broadbent, Clemons and Scobey all seniors  

Defending The Title: 1935: Who Did and Who Didn't Defend Their Titles

 Both Rex Peery and Ross Flood of Oklahoma State won their third titles as Wayne Martin of Oklahoma won his second of what would eventually be three.  

1935 Champion 135
Vernon Sisney of Oklahoma 

Sisney was a senior the night he captured his NCAA title. Post college he spent a short time as a member of the highway patrol before getting a job as the head psychologist at the V.A. hospital in Oklahoma City.  He later opened up his own practice and taught psychology courses at Oklahoma. 

1935 Champion 155
Frank Lewis of Oklahoma State 

Originally from Texas, the wrestling world may have never known Lewis had it not been for a move to Cushing, Oklahoma during his youth.  A talented wrestler who placed at the state tournament every season, including winning a state title, he certainly had the credentials legendary coach Ed Gallagher looked for in a wrestler.  Only Lewis didn't plan on wrestling in college. He was more interested in focusing on his school work and getting a job to help pay for college expenses. 

For fun, he decided to enter an intramural wrestling tournament.  He got beat in the finals. It bothered him so much that he decided he was going to join the wrestling team after all.  Making the finals in 1934 as a junior, he won the NCAA title here in 1935 as a senior.  He'd continue his career post college, winning a gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games. 

1935 Champion 165
Howard Johnston of Penn State 

Johnston was a senior in 1935, who would later help to organize the first high school state championships in Pennsylvania as well as officiate at them. 

1935 Champion 175
Ralph "Ruffy" Silverstein of Illinois  

Silverstein was junior when he won the NCAA title.  A three time BIG 10 champion, he didn't attend the 1936 NCAA's as he instead tried out for and made the Olympic team. Unfortunately for Silverstein, the Jewish community boycotted the Olympic games and he was unable to attend.  Getting into professional wrestling, he soon found himself as a fan favorite in the American Wrestling Association.  

1935 Champion UNL 
Charley McDaniel of Indiana 

Also a member of the Hoosier football team, Charley McDaniel poses a bit of a mystery when you look at his history.  A sophomore here in 1935 winning his first NCAA title, he finished as the NCAA runner-up in 1936. No where to be found in the 1937 NCAA tournament, one would come to the conclusion that he didn't enter the tournament.  Yet a year later in 1938, there he is and he wins a second NCAA title.  He wasn't a freshman in 1935 because freshmen weren't eligible to compete at the NCAA's in 1935.  All I can figure is that he somehow got an extra year of eligibility in order to compete in 1938.  Either having took 1937 off or having gotten hurt and granted another year. To my knowledge medical hardships and extra years didn't exist in the 1930's.   

McDaniel would go on to coach the Hoosiers from 1945-1972.  This included fourteen top 25 finishes at the NCAA tournament. 

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As mentioned previously Peery and Flood won their third titles as Wayne Martin won his second of what would eventually be three. 

Vernon Sisney of Oklahoma, Frank Lewis of Oklahoma State and Howard Johnston of Penn State were all seniors. 

Silverstein did not defend his title as instead he concentrated on making an Olympic team that he unfortunately didn't get to compete for. 

McDaniel settled for second place in 1936 but came back in 1938 to claim title #2. 

Defending The Title: 1934: Those Who Did and Those Who Didn't Defend The Title

 A series of repeat champions happened in 1934 as Rex Peery & Ross Flood of Oklahoma State won their second of what would eventually be three titles along with teammate Alan Kelley who won his second title and Ralph Teague of Southwest Oklahoma State who also won his second title. 

Of the new champions crowned that night. 

1934 Champion 135 
Wayne Martin of Oklahoma 

Success followed Sooner Wayne Martin around like a dog.  Winning his first title here as a sophomore, Martin would add two more titles in 1935 and 1936.  Post college, he found himself as a Hollywood stuntman for years before becoming a personal trainer for celebrities.  Some of his clientele included John Wayne, Jack Benny and Bob Hope. 

1934 Champion 155
Ben Bishop of Lehigh 

Whenever Bishop stepped on the mat, it rarely went the distance as he usually ended it early by fall.  Also a member of the Lehigh football and soccer squads, Bishop was a senior when he won the NCAA title. 

1934 Champion 
Marion Foreman of Oklahoma 

Foreman won the title for the Sooners as a senior. 

1934 Champion 
Dick Voliva of Indiana 

Making the NCAA finals in 1933, Voliva bettered himself here in 1934, ending his career as an NCAA champion.  Also a member of the Hoosier football team, Voliva took a silver medal at the 1936 Olympic games.  A World War II veteran, Voliva was instrumental in starting the program at Montclair State, which enjoyed tremendous success at the NCAA Division III level before being discontinued.  He also coached at Rutgers for 25 seasons. 


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1934 was a great year for upperclassmen as five of the champions crowned that night were seniors.  Kelley and Teague won their second titles as Bishop, Foreman and Voliva all won their first. 

Peery and Flood as mentioned won 2/3 

Martin won his first of what would eventually be three. 







 

Defending the Title: 1933: Those who Did and Those Who Didn't Defend Their Title

 Iowa State's Robert Hess was the only repeat champion in Lehigh in 1933.  All of the other champions that night one their first title. 

1933 Champion 118 
Rex Peery of Oklahoma State 

Legend as a wrestler and later legend as a coach at Pittsburgh, Peery was a sophomore the night he won his first of what would eventually be three NCAA titles for the Cowboys.  He'd repeat in 1934 and 1935. 

1933 Champion 126
Ross Flood of Oklahoma State 

Like teammate Peery, Flood was a sophomore who would go on to win two more titles in 1934 and 1935.  Post his phenomenal collegiate career, Flood would capture a silver medal at the 1936 Olympics. 

1933 Champion 135
Patrick Devine of Indiana 

These days Indiana is most certainly thought of as a basketball school, but back during the days of Patrick Devine, the Hoosiers more than held their own on the mat.  The two time BIG 10 champion, was a junior the night he won the NCAA title. He'd come back as a senior to capture a third place finish.  

1933 Champion 145
Alan Kelley of Oklahoma State 

One of the many repeat champions of Oklahoma State, Kelley would go on to win a second title in 1934. 

1933 Champion 155
Merrill "Doc" Frevert of Iowa State 

There was no wrestling where Frevert attended high school and he had to be convinced to give wrestling a try once he arrived at Iowa State.  Reluctant and weary as he was, a few short years after stepping onto a mat for the first time, Frevert graduated as an NCAA champion.   Post college, he ran a veterinarian clinic in West Union, Iowa. 

1933 Champion 165 
George Martin of Iowa State 

World War II veteran, who was awarded the bronze star for an act of heroism, add Martin to your list of NCAA champions who never won a state title.  Wrestling for Eagle Grove, Martin took finishes of second and third while in high school.  During his time as a Cyclone, Martin finished third at the NCAA championships as a junior before winning the NCAA title here in 1933. 

1933 Champion UNL
Ralph Teague of Southwest Oklahoma State 

Of the many great wrestlers who competed for colleges that no longer have wrestling programs that SHOULD, Ralph Teague was among the best.  Winning a title here as a junior, he'd go on to capture another title in 1934 as a senior. 

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Very successful year for individuals who would go on to win more titles.  Hess as already mentioned, as Peery, Flood, Kelley and Teague would all see gold again during their collegiate careers. 

Cyclone teammates Frevert and Martin marked the only two seniors crowned NCAA champions that night 

Devine the one who was unable to repeat as champion, yet came back for a strong third place finish. 









 

Defending The Title: 1932: Who Did and Who Didn't Defend Their Title

 At the 1932 NCAA championships, Hardie Lewis of Oklahoma would reclaim his throne from 1930 NCAA's becoming a two time champion.  Heavyweight Jack Riley of Northwestern would also claim his second title. 

As to the other five champions crowned? 

1932 Champion 118 
Joe Puerta of Illinois 

Puerta who was a junior at the time he won the NCAA title, would once again make the finals in 1933 but this time have to settle for second place. 

1932 Champion 134 
Edwin Belshaw of Indiana 

Belshaw was a senior the year he captured the NCAA title for the Hoosiers.  Post graduation Belshaw looked to have a solid career in professional wrestling when it was all cut short by a tragedy.  During a match, he suffered a severe burn when his knee scraped the canvas.  This turned into a serious infection that would take his life a short time later. 

1932 Champion 158 
Carl Dougovito of Michigan 

Dougovito had made the NCAA finals twice before during his illustrious career as a wolverine, but both times saw himself on the losing end.  It was here, as a senior he would finally find himself on the winning end.  

1932 Champion 174 
Robert Hess of Iowa State 

Of the great many Cyclone wrestlers over the years, Robert Hess of Cresco, Iowa was one of them. After finishing in second place as a sophomore in 1931, Hess would stand atop the award stand in both 1932 and 1933. 

1932 Champion 191
Kerm Blosser of Ohio 

It's already an interesting fact that Kerm Blosser won the first NCAA wrestling title for the Bobcats here as a senior.  What's even more interesting is that not only was it Ohio's first title in wrestling, it was their first NCAA title in any sport.  Even more fascinating is that Blosser played basketball in high school!  

To prove that he was a natural, he was hired years later as Ohio's head men's golf coach.  He had never played a game of golf in his life, yet he was till able to lead the Bobcats to 9 MAC titles! 


So there you have the 1932 champions 

As already discussed Lewis and Riley won their second titles. 

Joe Puerta had to settle for 2nd place in 1933

Belshaw, Dougovito and Blosser were all seniors 

Hess would be crowned champion again in 1933 

Defending the Title: 1931: Who Did and Who Didn't Defend Their Title

 Of the 1931 Champions, Oklahoma State's Jack Van Bebber won his third title as did fellow Cowboy Conrad Caldwell.  All of the other champions won their first title. 

1931 Champion 118
John Engel of Lehigh 

Engel had an interesting career, as he began wrestling for the first time as a freshman at Lehigh. After wrestling on the junior varsity as a sophomore, he improved well enough to take third at the 1930 EIWA championships.  By the time he was a senior in 1931, he won an NCAA title. 

1931 Champion 126
Bobby Pearce of Oklahoma State 

Pearce was a junior the time he was crowned champion for the Cowboys.  He would have to finish for runner-up honors the next season in 1932, but even though he lost out on a second NCAA title, what he did do in 1932 was win an Olympic Gold Medal. 

1931 Champion 135
Richard Cole of Iowa State 

A native of Ames, Iowa, Cole had won a state title for Ames High School before coming to Iowa State.  Although he had participated in both the 1929 & 1930 championships, he wouldn't make the award stand until his final appearance in 1931.  What better place to stand than on the #1 spot?  Post his career at Iowa State he coached at both Brown and Rhode Island University, as well as serving our country during World War II as a member of the U.S. Navy. 

1931 Champion 145 
Bill Doyle of Kansas State 

Have a bit of mystery here when it comes to Bill Doyle of Kansas State.  What I do know is that he was a senior in 1931.  What is fuzzy is what exactly he was doing in 1929 and 1930.  Doyle attended Douglas High school, which is two hours and 15 minutes from Kansas State.  According to Douglas's records, their coach in 1929 and 1930 was Bill Doyle.  Maybe Bill's Dad was also named Bill?  That could be the answer.  I can't see him spending nearly five hours on the road a day, while going to school to come back to coach.   What I do know is that the Bill Doyle who won the 1931 NCAA title, did coach at Douglas from 1952-1957.  His last three seasons included leading the team to three straight fourth place finishes at the state tournament, going 25-0 in duals. 

1931 Champion 155
LeRoy McGuirk of Oklahoma State 

Future pro wrestling legend LeRoy McGuirk who made a name for himself as promoter, was a junior at the time he won the NCAA title.  He'd make the finals again in 1932, this time having to settle for runner-up honors.  McGuirk's daughter Michelle, better known to pro wrestling fans as Mike, was an announcer in the WWE for 9 years. 

1931 Champion UNL 
Jack Riley of Northwestern 

NFL football star Jack Riley was as much of a force to be reckoned with on the mat as he was on the gridiron.  Winning his first title here in 1931 as a junior, he would repeat in 1932 as a senior. 



Out of the eight champions crowned in 1931, as mentioned Oklahoma State's Van Bebber and Caldwell both won their third titles.  

Jack Riley of Northwestern would go on to win a title in 1932. 

Engel, Cole and Doyle were seniors

Pearce and McGuirk were unable to defend in 1932.