Top 30 Midlands Wrestlers of the 20th Century

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Ken Kraft (Midlands Championships)
11/27/2000


The Midlands Wrestling Championships has released a "Top 30" Midlands Wrestlers of the 20th Century list. These outstanding athletes will be recognized at the 2000 Midlands Wrestling Championships, which will be held at the Welsh-Ryan Arena McGaw Hall at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., Dec. 29-30.    THE TOP 30 MIDLANDS WRESTLERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY  as released by Midlands Wrestling Championships    * Carl Adams, Iowa State, 1970, 71, 74, 3 Midlands, 2 Opens, undefeated in Midlands competition (17-0), Head Coach at Boston University.    * Royce Alger, Iowa/Hawkeye Club, 1984,85,87,88,90,93,94, 3 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 3 Opens    * Ed Banach, Iowa, 1978-82, 3 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 1 Olympic    * Bruce Baumgartner, Indiana St., 1979-87, 8 Midlands, 1 NCAA, 16 Opens, 3 Worlds, 2 Olympics, 40 straight wins, Athletic Director Edinboro University    * Terry Brands, Iowa, 1988, 90, 91, 1 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 3 Opens, 2 Worlds, Assistant Coach at Nebraska    * Tom Brands, Iowa, 1988,90,91, 1 Midlands, 3 NCAAs, 4 Opens, 1 World, 1 Olympic, Assistant Coach at Iowa    * Chris Campbell, Iowa, 3 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 4 Opens, 1 World    * Tim Cysewski, Iowa, 1972-79, 5 Midlands, 4 Opens, 28 straight wins, Head Coach at Northwestern    * Barry Davis, Iowa, 1980-87, 2 Midlands, 3 NCAAs, 1 Open, "20 in 4" club 8-time Midlands placer, 39 Midlands wins, Head Coach at Wisconsin    * Melvin Douglas, Oklahoma, 1983, 85, 89, 91, 92, 3 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 8 Opens, 1 World    * John Fisher, Michigan, 1984, 87, 89-95, 99, 4 Midlands, only 9-time Midlands place winner, Assistant Coach at Michigan    * Dan Gable, Iowa St., 1966-71, 6 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 1 World, 1 Olympic (Grand Slam winner), "20 in 4" club, undefeated in Midlands competition 31-0, Hawkeye Wrestling Club Coach    * Russ Hellickson, Wisconsin, 1966, 67, 69-71, 73-75, 80, 4 Midlands, 11 Opens, Head Coach at Ohio State    * Mark Ironside, Iowa, 1994-97, 99, 4 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, "20 in 4" club, 26 straight wins    * Lee Kemp, Wisconsin, 1974-77, 3 Midlands, 3 NCAAs, 6 Opens, 3 Worlds    * Cary Kolat, Penn St/Lock Haven, 1989, 90, 93, 94, 96, 3 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 2 Opens, "20 in 4" club    * Larry Kristoff, Southern Illinois-Carbondale, 1963-66, 4 Midlands, 5 Opens, undefeated in Midlands, 17-0, Retired Coach, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville    * Randy Lewis, Iowa, 1977-83, 3 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 1 Olympic    * Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa, 1996, 97, 2 Midlands, 3 NCAAs, 4 Opens    * Kenny Monday, Oklahoma St., 1980, 82, 87, 2 Midlands, 1 NCAAs, 1 Open, 1 Olympic, 1 World    * Stephen Neal, California-Bakersfield, 1995-98, 3 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 1 Open, 1 World    * Ben Peterson, Iowa St., 1968-72, 74, 75, 78, 79, 6 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 7 Opens, 1 Olympic, 30 straight wins, Head coach at Maranatha State College    * John Peterson, Wisconsin at Stout, 1969-75, 78, 5 Midlands, 3 Opens, 1 Olympic, 28 straight wins    * Wade Schalles, Clarion, 1971,72,75,76,78,79, 4 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 2 Opens, most falls at 165 (6) and 174 (10), Director of AAU Wrestling    * Jim Scherr, Nebraska, 1981-88, 6 Midlands, 1 NCAA, 3 Opens, 25 straight wins, Executive Director of USA Wrestling    * Mike Schmidlin, Cal-Fullerton/Schultz WC, 1983-97, All-time Midlands records: Consecutive Meets - 15, Most wins - 47, Most matches - 77, 7-time placer, Most falls - 25    * Dave Schultz, Oklahoma, 1979-81, 1 Midlands, 1 NCAA, 1 Open, 31 straight wins, "20 in 4" club, 1 Olympic, 1 World    * Chuck Yagla, Iowa, 1972-78, 81 Iowa, 3 Midlands, 2 NCAAs, 5 Opens, NCAA Wrestling Official    * Jim Zalesky, Iowa, 1979, 82, 83, 95, 2 Midlands, 3 NCAAs, Head Coach at Iowa