Voting for the NCAA 75th Anniversary Team ends January 12; Vote today at www.nwcaonline.com

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Pat Tocci (NWCA)
01/06/2004


(Manheim, PA) Wrestling fans across the country have one week left to vote for the NCAA 75th Anniversary Team that will be honored at the 2005 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, March 17-19, in St. Louis, Missouri.  Voting to name the 15 wrestlers to the 75th Anniversary team ends on January 12, 2005.      This is your chance to recognize the heroes and champions of our great sport from the past 75 years by voting at www.nwcaonline.com      An esteemed group of wrestling historians have nominated a total of 45 wrestlers for the wrestling community to vote on.  The 45 wrestlers have been grouped into three categories, which consists of 15 wrestlers each: lightweights (115 lbs-141 lbs), middleweights (142 lbs-174 lbs) and heavyweights (177 lbs-285 lbs).  Please know that nominations are selected on NCAA performance only.  Five honorees will be selected from each of three ballots listing 15 lightweight, 15 middleweight and 15 heavyweight wrestlers.  For the final week of voting, the public can vote for all three groups.      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 Web site, www.nwcaonline.com, or access the ballot at www.ncaasports.com.    The complete list of nominees:     Lightweights   *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    Middleweights    * Wayne Martin, Oklahoma - 1934-36, three-time NCAA champ, 39-2-0 with 21 falls**145    * Stan Henson, Oklahoma State - 1937-39, three-time NCAA champ, 33-1-0**155    * Bill Koll, Northern Iowa - 1943, 1946-48, three-time NCAA champ, 37-0-0 with 15 falls**145     * Bill Nelson, Northern Iowa   - 1947-50, three-time NCAA champ**155    * Tommy Evans, Oklahoma - 1951-54, two-time NCAA champ, 42-1-0 with 20 falls**147    * Wade Schalles, Clarion - 1971-74, two-time NCAA champ, 153-5-1 with 106 falls**158    * Lee Kemp, Wisconsin - 1975-78, three-time NCAA champ, 143-6-1 with 47 falls**158    * Mark Churella, Michigan - 1976-79, three-time NCAA champ, 132-13-0 with 41 falls**167    * Nate Carr, Iowa State - 1980-83, three-time NCAA champ, 122-17-1**150    * Darryl Burley, Lehigh - 1979-83, two-time NCAA champ, 94-5-1 with 33 falls**142    * Jimmy Zalesky, Iowa - 1981-84, three-time NCAA champ, 131-8-1 with 26 falls**158    * Tim Kreiger, Iowa State - 1986-89, two-time NCAA champ, 116-3-2**150    *  Pat Smith, Oklahoma State  - 1990-94, four-time NCAA champ, 121-5-2 with 30 falls**158    * Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa  - 1993-97, three-time NCAA champ, 96-3-0 with 12 falls**150    * Cary Kolat, Penn State & Lock Haven - 1993-97, two-time NCAA champ, 111-7-0 with 53 falls**142    * Joe Williams, Iowa - 1994-98, three-time NCAA champ, 129-9-0 with 20 falls**158    175 to Heavyweight    * Ed Banach, Iowa - 1980-83, three-time NCAA champ, 141-9-1 with 73 falls  177lbs    * Chris Campbell, Iowa - 1974-77, two-time NCAA champ, 121-5-4 with 22 falls  177lbs    * Dick DiBattista, Pennsylvania - 1941-43, two-time NCAA champ, 37-0-0  175lbs    * Carlton Haselrig, Pittsburgh-Johnston - 1986-89, three-time NCAA champ, 143-3-1  HWT    * Dan Hodge, Oklahoma - 1955-57, three-time NCAA champ, 46-0-0 with 36 falls  177lbs    * Dick Hutton, Oklahoma State - 1947-50, three-time NCAA champ and runner-up, 42-1-1 with 15 falls HWT    * Jess Lewis, Oregon State - 1968-70, two-time NCAA champ, 76-1-0 with 50 falls  HWT    * Mark Lieberman, Lehigh - 1975-79, two-time NCAA champ, 85-6-0 with 43 falls - 177lbs    * Stephen Neal, Cal State-Bakersfield - 1996-98, two-time NCAA champ, 153-9-0 with 71 falls HWT    * Cael Sanderson, Iowa State - 1999-02, four-time NCAA champ, 159-0-0 with 61 falls  184lbs    * Mark Schultz, UCLA & Oklahoma - 1979-83, three-time NCAA champ, 97-15-0  177lbs    * Chris Taylor, Iowa State - 1972-73, two-time NCAA champ, 87-0-1 with 44 falls  HWT    * Earl McCready, Oklahoma State - 1928-30, first three-time NCAA champ** heavyweight    * Greg Strobel, Oregon State - 1971-74, two-time NCAA champ, 124-5-1 with 43 falls**190    * Kurt Angle, Clarion  - 1988-92, two-time NCAA champ, 116-10-2**275    * Ben Peterson, Iowa State - 1970-72, two-time NCAA champ, 74-4-0 with 24 falls**