The list of America's top ten wrestling states wasn't easy to finalize. The states listed in this two-part series are a combination of the objective (individual performances at NCAAs, Fargo results, recent Olympians) and the subjective (cultural impact, leadership, overall reputation). This is a reflection of what wrestlers, clubs, teams and leaders have done to further the sport both on and off the mat. Special consideration is given to historical influences as well as how each state is trending. Therefore the list is both based on the history of the sport in each of these states and how they are currently influencing our wrestling community.
Here is Part 2 of our two-part series looking at the top wrestling states in America. Let the debating begin!
5. New York
The quality of New York's high school wrestling talent has never been better. Last decade wrestling fans were treated to the careers of Troy Nickerson and Jesse Jantzen. Nickerson, a 2009 NCAA champion for Cornell at 125 pounds. the Chenango Forks High School grad was the first-ever five-time New York high school state champion. Jantzen, who parlayed his four prep titles into a Harvard education, became that Ivy League school's first-NCAA champion since 1938. Nickerson and Jantzen, while exceptional, can't match the glow around the country's most talked about collegiate wrestler, three-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake of Cornell. Dake, who attended Lansing High School near Ithaca, next season is looking to become only the third wrestler in NCAA history to win four NCAA titles. When it comes to dominance, New York has produced some impressive talents.
Rob Koll has turned Cornell's wrestling program into a power (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)In addition to Koll's influence, the state has several other competitive Division I teams that have done well as regional entities, recruiting local talent and winning on the national stage. Hofstra had two All-Americans in 2012, and Binghamton added two more All-Americans to its growing list of wrestlers that have achieved success in recent years.
On the hyper-local level wrestling is doing exceedingly well in upstate New York thanks to Journeymen Wrestling Club founder Frank Popolizio. His club, which brings in arguably the most decorated clinician staff throughout every season giving birth to some fresh-out-of-high-school talent and improving the competitiveness of the state at national tournaments. When it comes to the community aspect of the sport, some the most passionate and loyal fans in the country live on Long Island where allegiances are always tested and the battles between local high schools can draw respectable crowds.
Finally nothing has been more beneficial to wrestling as a whole than Al Bevilacqua and his Beat the Streets Program. His non-profit has generated media interest, funding and reestablished wrestling as a sport in America's largest city. His organization and the support of the NYC donors could propel the sport to heights we've never understood to be possible.
NCAA Division I All-Americans (since 1961): 133
4. Oklahoma
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is in Stillwater, Okla.On the team level, Oklahoma has been the most dominant state in the country with a combined 41 NCAA titles between Oklahoma State (34) and Oklahoma (7).
The influence of college wrestling is pronounced and the Oklahoma tradition created by Ed Gallagher whose influence extends today as he remains the only wrestling coach with an arena named in his honor. Gallagher and alter Art Griffin did more to shape the current wrestling landscape than almost any two other historical figures. Their coaching tradition is now being shepherded by John Smith, but his in-state dominance is certainly being tested. Last year's addition of Mark Cody as the head wrestling coach in Norman means that the competition between the old rivals is tightening and with a sudden influx of major talent on both sides we can expect to witness more Bedlam duals like last year's 19-18 criteria decision, and higher placings at the NCAA tournament in March.
The only knock on Oklahoma might be a recent dearth of in-state wrestling talent. Johny Hendricks was the last native-Oklahoman to win an NCAA Division I championship, though Chris Perry placed third at this year's NCAAs.
Still, the Oklahoma wrestling tradition is alive and well heading into the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The Olympic freestyle team is going to be represented by two Sooners, Sam Hazewinkel (55 kilos) and Jared Frayer (66 kilos), and one Cowboy, Coleman Scott (60 kilos).
NCAA Division I All-Americans (since 1961): 134
3. Ohio
Written by InterMat high school analyst Josh Lowe
This year celebrated the 75th edition of the OHSAA State Wrestling Tournaments, the first of which was hosted in Cleveland in 1938. Fourteen of the first 16 championships were won (or shared) by a Cleveland public school. Subsequent to that is the Maple Hts. (an inner-ring suburb southeast of Cleveland) dynasty led by head coach Mike Milkovich. In a 19-year stretch (1956-1974), the Mustangs won 10 state titles and were runners-up six additional times. Among the driving forces in that era were two of his sons, Tom and Pat, who would become NCAA champions at Michigan State in the early 1970's.
Inspired by that, Howard Ferguson's charisma, wealth and vision built the St. Edward program into a state and national power starting with the maiden team state title in 1978, anchored by Brian Heffernan, who was the program's first state champion. From that same family came four-time All-American, and 1986 national champion, Jim (now head coach at Illinois) and two-time All-American John (now the primary assistant coach at St. Edward). In the 12 years before Ferguson's tragic death, the Eagles won 11 titles, only interrupted by a fourth place finish in 1988.
Greg Urbas continued that legacy, and has led them to 16 state titles in 23 years (six other times in second place). Stars of the Urbas era include 2008 Olympian Andy Hrovat, four-time NCAA All-Americans Ryan Bertin (also a two-time champion) and Lance Palmer. The runner-up finish from Chris Honeycutt in St. Louis made it 22 consecutive and 31 of 33 Division I NCAA tournaments in which a St. Edward alumnus earned All-American honors.
David Taylor gave Logan Stieber his only high school loss (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Current Penn State superstar David Taylor (a four-time state champion from 2006-2009) is the defining wrestler of the modern Graham dynasty. Also of significance is Jim's oldest son Ben, a three-time state champion (2005, 2006, 2008), who was an NCAA All-American this past year.
The Cleveland, Ohio influence extends the national wrestling media. InterMat high school wrestling analyst Josh Lowe calls the Greater Cleveland area home, as do Bob Preusse from Amateur Wrestling News and Dan Fickel from Wrestling USA Magazine. The interest in wrestling is so strong that since 1972, way before the Internet and teams from different parts of the state competing in the same events, Brian Brakeman has written a comprehensive forecast for the state tournament one month before the event. In addition, Mark Osgood wrote the seminal publication, Ohio's Best in Amateur Wrestling to capture the first sixty years of the state tournament era, and an addendum was subsequently published.
Ohio natives have made their impact felt at the collegiate and Olympic levels as well. In the last 42 years, 25 of them have seen a native son win a NCAA Division I title (as have 9 of the last 11). These champions include legendary three-timer Lee Kemp; along with two-timers Pat Milkovich, Jim Jordan, Dan St. John, Kevin Randleman, Markus Mollica, Tommy Rowlands, Ryan Bertin, and J. Jaggers.
Buckeye State native Justin (Harry) Lester is on the U.S. Olympic squad this year, Hrovat was on the 2008 team, Mark Coleman represented in 1992, Lee Kemp and Greg Wojciechowski would have been on the 1980 squad, Bobby Dougas appeared in 1964 and 1968, Bill Kerlaske was a three-time Olympian, while Harry Steel was a gold medalist in 1924.
NCAA Division I All-Americans (since 1961): 177
2. Iowa
Tell someone from Iowa that you wrestle and you're guaranteed to be engaged in a compelling discussion of wrestlers that attended their high school, or hear that their brother, father, cousin, uncle or grandfather was a famous wrestler. Perhaps nowhere else in the country is wrestling more of cultural staple than in Iowa. In fact, Dan Gable was so popular that in 2001 he was approached by leaders in the Republican Party to challenge incumbent Governor Tom Vilsack. Gable declined and Vilsack retained his governorship.
Including Cael Sanderson, Iowa has produced two of the biggest names in American wrestling history and both wrestled collegiately at Iowa State and became NCAA championship coaches.
Iowa's Matt McDonough, who will be vying for his third NCAA championship next March in Des Moines, is coached by Iowa legends Tom and Terry Brands (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)The prep scene in Iowa is healthy and not surprisingly the Iowa Hawkeyes have done a fantastic job of taking local talent and creating NCAA champions and All-Americans. For example, homegrown talent Matt McDonough could become a three-time NCAA champion and four-time finalist next March in Des Moines, far from ho-hum, but not the best-ever within the state of Iowa. The state has produced dozens of multiple-time NCAA champions and Olympians. Many of the top college coaches from around the country were trained by Gable at Iowa. His influence can't be overstated. Gable has woven his DNA into the fabric of our wrestling community and directly changed the way our sport is perceived by millions of Americans. More than a decade after retiring from coaching he's still the sport's most recognizable figure.
NCAA Division I All-Americans (since 1961): 186
1. Pennsylvania
There are plenty of places to start the quantification and qualification of Pennsylvania as the top wrestling state in the country. You can look at the number of All-Americans (295), NCAA champions (75), or Division I programs (12), each of which are a national best. You can look at the Dapper Dan where the Pennsylvania All-Star team competes ever year in a dual meet against the USA All-Star team (PA has a close to .500 record in the event, which started in 1975), or take a look at any number of other statistical oddities. For me the telling data is actually in the following anecdote, and not because it's SHOCKING, but because it makes complete sense.
Pennsylvania native Jake Herbert won a World silver medal at the 2009 World Championships in Herning, Denmark (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Obviously there is a new argument to be made for the state that revolves around the success of Penn State under Cael Sanderson. There are arguments to be made around the fact that Pennsylvania native Cary Kolat is the greatest high school wrestler in history. But none of these factoids matter, because you the reader know that Pennsylvania is the keystone of American wrestling. Within the borders of the commonwealth resides the most wrestling-pure subcultures in the country.
You might disagree that Illinois is sixth or that California is ninth, but when it comes to No. 1 you knew the answer all along, which isn't to say that there won't be a new answer in ten years. Ohio or Iowa are certainly capable of making the jump.
Until that happens the heart of American wrestling rests in Pennsylvania.
NCAA Division I All-Americans (since 1961): 295
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