Some of my "GOAT's".....won't pick just one.......in America first.....John Smith, Jordan Burroughs, Bruce Baumgartner (13 time world/Olympic medalist. Others throughout the world.....Arsen Fadzaev, Sergei Belaglozov, B. Satiev, Valentine Jordanov, Alexander Medved (12 time world/Olympic medalist....11 gold). *Karelin in GR. I like Levan Tediashvili on this list as well.....he won world championships in 3 different weight class, in Russia, he is considered by many to be their most techical wrestler of all time...has wins in the Olympic finals over both Ben and John Peterson. That's my rant, and I'm sticking to it...there could be others on my LIST.....LOL MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ON HERE!
Thanks for the reminder......you reminded me of a great "read" in my library....."The New Breed" written by Lou Banach/Mike Chapman.....going to dust it off and reread it. All my "coaching" books are highlighted and hand indexed in the back for quick reference!!! Alger was one and Penrith another......but they weren't bad on the mat or as human beings, I just think they liked to drink. I think Penrith doesn't drink at all anymore. They are both in a number of hall of fames and went on to success internationally. I don't think you can put them on this team.
Thanks, you were close, he did lose to Burley 8-7 in the Midland Finals, but it was in 1981. One of number of their classic matchups! Loved it when the locked up/upper body. There was a chance for some fireworks. I may even have that match in my library (super 8 transferred to video)....good chance I do!
As Lee Corso would say "NOT SO FAST".....I had to do some digging but I found it! An AWN/Mike Chapman article on Randy Lewis titled "He wrestled for the pin". In the article it states that Lewis wrestled 26 different men who had placed in the top 3 in World or Olympic competition, and he beat 23 of them. He also counts 25 NCAA Champions among his victims. His career record at Iowa is 127-11-1. Off the top of my head ....one of his losses was to an undefeated Mike Land (NCAA finals his freshman year)...then Randy won NCAA's in 79 and 80, in 81 got hurt (severely) and still took 7th. I don't know if he ever lost to Daryll Burley (4 time finalist/2 time champion) 2 losses were to Jim Gibbons the year he got hurt and 1 was to Ricky Delagatta. He may have lost to Delagatta more than once in his career. Delagatta never won it though, finishing 4-3-3. The Lewis/Burley matches were some of my favorite matches to watch....Midland's, NCAA's, East West All-Star/
John Fritz https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/bio/2548
Jeff Prescott.....https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/champions-database?wrestler=6532&tab=aa
In my physical education classes we called it Battleball....had several variations....kids loved Battleball, but it was only played occasionally...example in the Fall when we were outside, but it was raining....just sayin'
I count 15 different guys.....Davis, Darkus, Weaver, McFarland, Metzger, Carr, Monday, Martinez, D. Schultz, M. Schultz, Ed Banach, Jim Scherr, Bill Scherr, Baumgartner and Lou Banach.
I just mean which year had the toughest 10 wt. classes....some wt's. may be great 1-8, some may be great only 1-4....but the most great weight classes.