Best Wrestlers to Never Win an NCAA Title

[Jim L]

4 hours ago, jross said:

Which wrestler has achieved multiple podium finishes in Greco-Roman at the senior-level World Championships or Olympics, yet never placed among the top finishers in NCAA Division I Folkstyle wrestling?

While we are doing Greco trivia name the only DI champ to win a world meal.

And name at least two other DI champs who made US World team.

[OMW]

44 minutes ago, Jim L said:

While we are doing Greco trivia name the only DI champ to win a world meal.

Brad Vering!

[OMW]

1 hour ago, CHROMEBIRD said:

Dunno about best, but I thought funkmaster Jason Welch would win a title his senior year. I think he lost to DSJ twice, Bubba, Fittery, Adam Hall, can't remember who else at NCAAs.

Of note, Jay got his 1st National Champ this season for San Francisco State!

[gimpeltf]

48 minutes ago, Jim L said:

While we are doing Greco trivia name the only DI champ to win a world meal.

Might not have won D1s (4th) but I'm sure Rulon Gardner won quite a few meals!

[lisa morales]

Ryan Churella (Michigan) 3. 4, 2*  

* Kesseled

[jross]

1 hour ago, Jim L said:

While we are doing Greco trivia name the only DI champ to win a world meal.

Keeping it Greco

Brad Vering was a D1 champion that took 2nd at Worlds in 2007.  5th at Worlds in 2002 and 2003.

Jeff Blatnick was a D2 champion that was the Champ in the 1984 Olympics. 

Who are at least two other D2 champs that medaled in a World/Olympics?

Who are at least two D3 champs to win a World/Olympics medal?

 

Edited April 1, 2025 by jross

[jchapman]

10 minutes ago, jross said:

Brad Vering was a D1 champion that took 2nd at Worlds in 2007.  5th at Worlds in 2002 and 2003.

Jeff Blatnick was a D2 champion that was the Champ in the 1984 Olympics. 

Who are at least two other D2 champs that medaled in a World/Olympics?

Who are at least two D3 champs to win a World/Olympics medal?

 

Rick Sanders, Stan Dziedzic?  Wait, you mean in Greco?  Nevermind.

Edited April 1, 2025 by jchapman

[jross]

57 minutes ago, Jim L said:

Name at least two other DI champs who made US World team.

Wrestler	GR Rep Count	GR Best Place	GR Last Year	FS Rep Count	FS Best Place	FS Last Year
Brad Vering	6	2	2008
Marty Morgan	2	DNP	1995
Evan Johnson	1	DNP	1976
Mike Gallego	1	DNP	1973	1	DNP	1973
Wayne Baughman	8	5	1972	2	5	1972
Chris Taylor	2	4	1972	1	3	1972
Rick Sanders	1	DNP	1972	6	1	1972
Dale Lewis	2	DNP	1961	1	DNP	1961
William Weick	1	DNP	1961
Larry Lauchle	1	DNP	1960

[jchapman]

5 hours ago, jross said:

Which wrestler has achieved multiple podium finishes in Greco-Roman at the senior-level World Championships or Olympics, yet never placed among the top finishers in NCAA Division I Folkstyle wrestling?

Dennis Hall

[GimJustafan]

On 3/26/2025 at 7:21 PM, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

Michael Kemerer?

lots of guys stay in school for 7 years

they are called doctors 

[jross]

15 minutes ago, jchapman said:

Dennis Hall

Bingo!  Extra credit!  I had him as not competing in college, and he at least began his freshmen year at Wisconsin.  What confidence he had!

 

Edited April 1, 2025 by jross

[jross]

19 minutes ago, jchapman said:

Rick Sanders, Stan Dziedzic?  Wait, you mean in Greco?  Nevermind.

You are spot on for FS

[Jim L]

3 hours ago, jross said:

Keeping it Greco

Brad Vering was a D1 champion that took 2nd at Worlds in 2007.  5th at Worlds in 2002 and 2003.

Jeff Blatnick was a D2 champion that was the Champ in the 1984 Olympics. 

Who are at least two other D2 champs that medaled in a World/Olympics?

Who are at least two D3 champs to win a World/Olympics medal?

 

Kozlowski 2x for D2??

Edited April 2, 2025 by Jim L

[Boring]

On 3/30/2025 at 9:24 AM, Ched64 said:

Eric Grajales was a highly touted recruit to Michigan back in 2010ish.  i think he was a 5 time state champ out of florida. over his career, he was one of the more exciting wrestlers on the circuit but didn’t crack AA until his final year with a 3rd in 2013.  Though slowed by injuries and a questionable gas tank, he was extremely entertaining and always a difficult out.

Grajales gas tank wasn't questionable at all, it was straight up bad! He was a talented guy and fun to watch. 

[jackwebster]

On 4/1/2025 at 11:11 AM, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Let me share a little secret: the wrestling is fun crowd is filled with "dicks."  Nickal, Carter, Taylor, etc,.  even Nolf.  The whole crew enjoys inflicting pain and humiliation.  That is their fun. And that is the case with most good wrestlers. I'm not sure why there is any confusion on their motivations.

No doubt, and this is a point worth making every time they appeal to the God of love and compassion.

Though to be fair, the folks you name are not as likely to mention JC as some others.

[WrestlingRecords.com]

On 4/1/2025 at 12:15 PM, CHROMEBIRD said:

Dunno about best, but I thought funkmaster Jason Welch would win a title his senior year. I think he lost to DSJ twice, Bubba, Fittery, Adam Hall, can't remember who else at NCAAs.

Agreed. Jason Welch was great.

[jross]

On 4/1/2025 at 3:38 PM, jross said:

Keeping it Greco

Who are at least two D3 champs to win a World/Olympics medal?

[jross]

On 4/1/2025 at 3:38 PM, jross said:

Keeping it Greco

Jeff Blatnick was a D2 champion that was the Champ in the 1984 Olympics. 

Who are at least two other D2 champs that medaled in a World/Olympics?

Note: for common names, there could be some false positives matching college to senior results.  I did not go one by one to validate.

[GimJustafan]

On 3/28/2025 at 3:19 PM, Gus said:

Chris Phillips is always brought up as a "what if". Jesse Thielke (had Greco aspirations), Destin McCauley, John Meeks, Ben Whitford, Brooks Black, Lance Benick, Chase Singletary, Gavin Teasdale, Joey Silva were hammers in HS that never AA'd at the D1 level. 

Hopefully Braxton Amos can get healthy and finish his career strong next year so he does not end up on this list. 

 

[jackwebster]

Hi-jack alert re small guys: How big was Cory Baze?

[MD152]

1 hour ago, GimJustafan said:

 

great call on Chris Phillips "what ifs"....spoke to Tom Ryan back in either 2012 or 2013 @ Davidson when they wrestled them I think it was 2013 and Chris was trying to get his grades up to par (or something like that)....we spoke briefly for 3 mins or so and we talked about Chris finally getting to Ohio State University to wrestle, his exact words "if we can get him here wont nobody touch him" he mentioned he was simply destroying everyone @ training facilities around the area, he was rag dolling everyone @ open tourneys and also in the room itself, he mentioned Nick Heflin and Derek Garcia and simply stated that he beats them all..i wished him luck as he was walking away, he quickly came back to me and said...... "never seen anything like him, he is different"

 

"Best to never win it"

 

Light WGT

Fix, Gerry Abas

 

Middle WGT

Kemerer, Caldwell & Hamlin

 

Heavier WGTS:

Myles Amine, MIke McMullian

[headshuck]

Sam Hazewinkel in the lightweights?

[MPhillips]

1 minute ago, headshuck said:

Sam Hazewinkel in the lightweights?

[Husker]

Bryan Snyder, Nebraska. 2X runner up with both final losses in overtime. 
 

One of the most decorated wrestlers in program history, Snyder owns the best winning percentage all-time at Nebraska with a mark of .925, compiling a 136-11 record from 1999 to 2002. A member of Nebraska’s 100-win club, he claimed All-America accolades and a Big 12 championship all four years, while finishing as the NCAA runner-up at 157 pounds in 2001 and 2002.

[Konquest]

Adam Coon has a pretty wild hit list for a guy who never won the big one.