who was the best college wrestler?











Great survey, with some great match ups. I love stuff that tries to compare eras. Growing up in the late 70s and 80s, I am bias towards those guys who I really looked up to. My choice will be Ed Banach all way. Nothing is better than hearing he Mr. Ed theme while he runs out and then puts a hurt on some dude.
 




Great survey, with some great match ups. I love stuff that tries to compare eras. Growing up in the late 70s and 80s, I am bias towards those guys who I really looked up to. My choice will be Ed Banach all way. Nothing is better than hearing he Mr. Ed theme while he runs out and then puts a hurt on some dude.

agree but they don't have a shot winning because most of the ppl that remember those wrestlers don't know how to use the internet
 


agree but they don't have a shot winning because most of the ppl that remember those wrestlers don't know how to use the internet

So sad that you're correct .

Hodge was an amazing wrestler and definitely should be in the running for greatest college wrestler. He went 46-0 with 36 pins and was never taken down and never beaten.

Gable will always be greatest overall wrestler. His Olympic run was incredible and nobody will ever match it.
 






So sad that you're correct .

Hodge was an amazing wrestler and definitely should be in the running for greatest college wrestler. He went 46-0 with 36 pins and was never taken down and never beaten.

Gable will always be greatest overall wrestler. His Olympic run was incredible and nobody will ever match it.

again this is only college so cael will be hard to beat
 


Question from someone who doesn't know a whole lot about wrestling--
I thought Cael Sanderson was the only college wrestler to go undefeated for his whole career, but I looked up Yojiro Uetake, and apparently he went undefeated for his whole career as well. What gives?
 


Question from someone who doesn't know a whole lot about wrestling--
I thought Cael Sanderson was the only college wrestler to go undefeated for his whole career, but I looked up Yojiro Uetake, and apparently he went undefeated for his whole career as well. What gives?

Just curious how you came across Yojiro?

Yojiro 58-0

cael 159-0

there are a few over looked

• Earl McCready: Historically significant as the very first three-time NCAA champ in any weight class (1928-30), Oklahoma State heavyweight McCready had a perfect career in Stillwater, winning all but three of his matches by pin -- still the highest percentage of wins by pin of any heavyweight. In the 1928 finals, the big Cowboy pinned his opponent in 19 seconds -- still an NCAA record as fastest pin in a championship bout.
Earl McCready, a heavyweight for Oklahoma State, was the first three-time NCAA champion in any weight class (1928-30).


• The Peerys: It may be bending the rules to list a family of wrestlers, but, this father-son-son combination is worthy of consideration for their nine total college titles -- a record unmatched by any other family. Father Rex Peery won three NCAA titles at 115 pounds at Oklahoma State 1933-35. Elder son Hugh Peery (who was not on the 75th Anniversary ballot) earned his three championships at 115 pounds while wrestling for his dad at Pittsburgh 1952-1954, compiling a 57-1 record (including a 48-match winning streak); second son Ed (born while Rex was about to win his third title) also won three NCAA titles for Pitt in the 123-pound class 1955-1957, losing just one of 52 college bouts.


• Stan Henson: The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Web site says of this Distinguished Member, "In the never-ending debate over who has been America's greatest wrestler, the name Stanley Henson always receives plenty of support." This three-time NCAA champ for Oklahoma State (145 pounds in 1937 and '38, 155 pounds in 1939) had only one loss his entire college career, and was the first sophomore to earn NCAA Outstanding Wrestler honors (1937). Named Amateur Wrestling News Wrestler of the Decade for the 1930s.


• Bill Koll: Some present-day fans may be familiar with Koll's rough, tough image; reportedly the "slam" rule was instituted because of him. While wrestling at what is now Northern Iowa, Koll earned three college titles (1946-47 at 145 lbs; 1948 at 147.5 lbs) and Outstanding Wrestler honors two years in a row (the first to do so). Even more impressive than Koll's perfect 72-0 record: in his entire college career, he was taken down only once, reversed just twice … and pinned all five opponents at the 1948 NCAAs.


• Dick Hutton: Long before Pat Smith and Cael Sanderson were even born, this barrel-chested heavyweight for Oklahoma State came incredibly close to becoming the first four-time NCAA champion. After winning two straight college titles in 1947 and 1948, Hutton lost on a referee's decision to Minnesota's Verne Gagne in the 1949 NCAA finals -- his only loss in his college career. He came back to win his third title in 1950, concluding with a 42-1-1 record with 15 pins.


• Chris Taylor: Some fans may only know Chris Taylor for his size. Although he only wrestled two years at Iowa State, the surprisingly agile 415-pound Cyclone dominated the heavyweight ranks in his day … winning the title in 1972 and 1973 without surrendering a point in either finals match. While at Ames, Taylor had a perfect 87-0 record, pinning 42 of 48 opponents his senior year.
 
Last edited:


Question from someone who doesn't know a whole lot about wrestling--
I thought Cael Sanderson was the only college wrestler to go undefeated for his whole career, but I looked up Yojiro Uetake, and apparently he went undefeated for his whole career as well. What gives?

I would assume Cael was the only 4-time champ to go undefeated, while when Yojiro competed, I don't think freshman could compete, therefore he is "only" a 3-time champ.
 


Most Career Victories Without Loss

159 Cael Sanderson, 184-97, Iowa St. 1999-02
58 Yojiro Uetake, 130, Okla. State 1964-66
46 Dan Hodge, 177, Oklahoma 1955-57
43 William Koll, 145, Northern Iowa 1946-48

Most Career Matches Without Loss

159 Cael Sanderson, 184, Iowa State 1999-02
122 Carlton Haselrig, hwt, Pitt.-Johnstown 1987-89
103 Lee Kemp, 158, Wisconsin 1976-78
98 *Dan Gable, 142, Iowa State 1968-70
98 Pat Smith, 158, Oklahoma State 1990-94
91 Randy Lewis, 134, Iowa 1979-81
90 *John Smith, 134, Okla. State 1987-88
88 Chris Taylor, hwt, Iowa State 1972-73
 


Just curious how you came across Yojiro?

Yojiro was the #2 seed, behind Sanderson, in the poll you linked in the OP. I looked him up and found a YouTube video about him that said he went 58-0 in his career.

I would assume Cael was the only 4-time champ to go undefeated, while when Yojiro competed, I don't think freshman could compete, therefore he is "only" a 3-time champ.

That makes sense.
 




Most Career Victories Without Loss

159 Cael Sanderson, 184-97, Iowa St. 1999-02
58 Yojiro Uetake, 130, Okla. State 1964-66
46 Dan Hodge, 177, Oklahoma 1955-57
43 William Koll, 145, Northern Iowa 1946-48

Most Career Matches Without Loss

159 Cael Sanderson, 184, Iowa State 1999-02
122 Carlton Haselrig, hwt, Pitt.-Johnstown 1987-89
103 Lee Kemp, 158, Wisconsin 1976-78
98 *Dan Gable, 142, Iowa State 1968-70
98 Pat Smith, 158, Oklahoma State 1990-94
91 Randy Lewis, 134, Iowa 1979-81
90 *John Smith, 134, Okla. State 1987-88
88 Chris Taylor, hwt, Iowa State 1972-73

Hey Pin what do the * represent for gable and Smith?
 






Top