Fans can vote online for all-time NCAA Div. I wrestling team as part of 75th anniversary celebration

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
11/16/2004


When St. Louis hosts the 2005 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, March 18-20, it will mark the 75th time the tournament has taken place.     The St. Louis Sports Commission is working with the NCAA and National Wrestling Coaches Association to organize a 75th anniversary celebration that will take place in between sessions three and four on Friday, March 18.     Leading up to the Championships, fans are encouraged to cast their votes for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships 75th anniversary team.     That team -- which will include 15 of the greatest grapplers in collegiate wrestling history -- will be introduced and honored at the celebration in St. Louis.     A group of wrestling historians nominated a total of 45 wrestlers the general public will vote upon for the 75th anniversary team.     The 45 wrestlers have been grouped into three categories which will consist of 15 wrestlers each: lightweights (115 lbs-141 lbs), middleweights (142 lbs-174 lbs) and heavyweights (177 lbs-285 lbs). Nominations are selected on NCAA performance only and should be evaluated based upon their college wrestling careers only.    Each week, the public will have the opportunity to vote for five wrestlers from each respective group. Five honorees will be selected from each of three ballots listing 15 lightweight, 15 middleweight and 15 heavyweight wrestlers.     Right now, it is the lightweights who are being offered for your selection.     The nominees are:  * Rick Sanders, Portland State - 1965-68, two-time NCAA champ, 103-2-0 with 46 falls at 115 lbs.  * Elliott "Gray" Simons, Lock Haven - 1959-62, three-time NCAA champ, 91-2-0 at 115 lbs.  * Gene Mills, Syracuse - 1977-81, two-time NCAA champ, 144-5-1 with 107 falls at 118 lbs.  * Rex Perry, Oklahoma State - 1933-35, three-time NCAA champ at 118 lbs.  * Dave Auble, Cornell - 1958-60, two-time NCAA champ, 51-1-0 with 18 falls at 123 lbs.  * Ed Peery, Pittsburgh - 1955-57, three-time NCAA champ, 51-1-0 at 123 lbs.  * Stephen Abas, Fresno State - 1998-02, three-time NCAA champ, 144-4-0 with 32 falls at 125  * Dwayne Keller, Oklahoma State - 1968, 1970-71, two-time NCAA champ, 64-1-0 with 13 falls at 126 lbs.  * Randy Lewis, Iowa - 1978-81, two-time NCAA champ, 127-11-1 with 64 falls at 126 lbs.  * Yojiro Uetake, Oklahoma State - 1964-66, three-time NCAA champ, 57-0-0 with 11 falls at 130 lbs.  * Tom Brands, Iowa - 1989-92, three-time NCAA champ, 158-7-2 with 46 falls at 134 lbs.  * John Smith, Oklahoma State - 1984-88, two-time NCAA champ, 157-7-2 with 40 falls at 134 lbs.  * Dan Gable, Iowa State - 1968-70, two-time NCAA champ, 96-1-0 with 72 falls at 137 lbs.  * Myron Roderick, Oklahoma State - 1954-56, three-time NCAA champ, 28-2-0 with 7 falls at 137 lbs.  * Mike Caruso, Lehigh - 1965-67, three-time NCAA champ, 57-1-0 with 6 falls at 123 lbs.    The NWCA will rotate the groups over a nine week period so each group will be available to be voted upon three times. The NCAA will reveal the 75th anniversary team at a special celebration at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Friday, March 18, 2005.     Fans can vote until January 12, 2005, at the National Wrestling Coaches Association website, www.nwcaonline.com.     The direct link is:  http://209.183.221.16/performance/results/nwcasurvey.aspx    - report compiled from St. Louis Sports Commission, NCAA and NWCA source materials