The event, called the UNI Night of Wrestling Champions, will be held on December 16 following the UNI versus Iowa State wrestling meet at the McLeod Center. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. with the celebration to follow at 5 p.m. at the museum. All 15 NCAA champions will be recognized at halftime of the dual.
"This is a great way to honor the greatest athletic tradition in Northern Iowa history," said Kyle Klingman, associate director of the wrestling museum. "As far as we know, nothing like this has ever been done to honor past UNI wrestling champions. Since the museum is all about history we felt this was a great way to recognize some of the sport's greatest champions. We can't stress enough that this event is open to the public."
The event is co-sponsored by the UNI Panther Wrestling Booster Club and DGIWIM.
"I am really excited and honored that we are able to have this many champions come back and participate in our champions night," said Ty Kimble, president of the UNI Wrestling Booster Club. "I've had the fortune of seeing all these national champions since 1966 and it's going to be exciting to see the majority of these guys who were national champions for UNI. It should be a fantastic night for fans, wrestlers, and obviously myself."
The celebration will recognize athletes who participated at Iowa State Teachers College, State College of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa. The school was known as ISTC from 1909 through 1961, was changed to SCI in 1961 and finally to UNI in 1967.
In the long history of the school there have been 13 division I national champions who have won 21 titles and 14 division II national champions who have won 22 titles. Twenty-two former NCAA champions are still living and to date 15 have replied that they will attend both the meet and the reunion.
"What a unique and great opportunity to get these great champions back all at once," said Northern Iowa head wrestling coach Brad Penrith. "These are the men who shaped and formed our institution and our wrestling program. It's something that's long overdue and with the help of the Dan Gable Wrestling Museum and their staff's continued efforts to preserve the history of wrestling, these great champions will not be forgotten."
Gerry Leeman won the national title in 1946 and is the senior member of the group. A longtime coach at Lehigh University, he currently resides in Cedar Falls.
"I think what the museum is doing is extremely important," said Leeman. "This is great publicity for the program. I think it's noteworthy that this new facility is being used to honor past champions and to improve local wrestling."
The division I national champions who are attending are Leeman, Bill Nelson (titles in 1947, 1948, and 1949), Bill Smith (1949 and 1950), Keith Young (1949, 1950, and 1951), Gene Lybbert (1952), and Jim Harmon (1953).
The division II national champions who are attending are Jim Sanford (1963), Don Parker (1966 and 1967), Clint Young (1971), Jim Miller (1974 and 1975), Ken Snyder (1974 and 1975), Randy Omvig (1975), Gary Bentrim (1976, 1977, and 1978), Keith Poolman (1978), and Ken Gallagher (1980).
Julie McCready will represent her late husband Mike at the event. Mike McCready was a division II NCAA champion in 1972 who won a total of 15 national titles in freestyle, Greco-Roman, and college.
While regular admission to the museum is $5, this event is free and open to the public. The museum gift shop will have several special items on sale for this event, including a poster and commemorative shirt.
Anyone wanting more information about the event should contact the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum at (319) 233-0745.
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