Celebrating the many “firsts” of our great sport

Photo: Kyle Dake became the first wrestler to win four NCAA titles in four different weight classes.

*Editor’s Note: This article appeared in Volume 31 Issue 6 of WIN Magazine, which was printed on March 10, 2025.

By Mike Chapman

Being first in any sporting activity is a part of history that lasts forever. There can only be one first in any event for an athlete. Babe Ruth, Roger Bannister, the Green Bay Packers were all first, in one way or another. And college wrestling is no different.

As we speed toward another NCAA tournament, here are some fabulous firsts that come to my mind:

The very first NCAA tournament was held in Ames, Iowa, in 1928.

That year, Harold DeMarsh, Oklahoma State, became the first NCAA champion ever, at 115 pounds.

The first official team champion was Oklahoma State in 1929. (No team score was kept in 1928.)

The first three time champion was Earl McCready, Oklahoma State heavyweight, from 1929 to 1931.

In 1932, Edwin Belshaw, Indiana, became the first O.W.

The tournament was cancelled from 1943-1945 due to World War II, and David Arndt of Oklahoma State stands tall as the only wrestler to win titles on both sides of the war. He claimed two at 145 pounds prior to the conflict, then flew over 100 combat missions in Europe, and returned home to win his third in 1946, this time at 136 pounds.

In 1947, tiny Cornell College in Mount Vernon, under Coach Paul Scott, became the first of four Iowa colleges to win the team title.

In 1948, Bill Koll, Iowa Teachers College (now UNI), was the first to win two O.W. awards at the tournament.

The first four-time finalist was Dick Hutton, Oklahoma State heavyweight, with three titles and one runner-up spot, his final year in 1949.

Penn State claimed its first NCAA title in 1953, under Coach Charlie Speidel.

In 1956, Oklahoma’s Dan Hodge became the first wrestler to capture NCAA, freestyle and Greco-Roman titles all the same year (and with 13 straight pins)!

In the 1957 tourney, Ed Peery of Pittsburgh won his third title at 123, giving the Peery family an amazing nine crowns, the most ever for one family. Father Rex won three for Oklahoma State in the 1930s and Hugh won three for Pittsburgh when Rex was the head coach there.

That same year, Simon Roberts of Iowa earned the honor of being the first African-American by winning at 147 pounds.

In 1958, Myron Roderick of Oklahoma State became the first NCAA champion to also coach a team to the title.

In 1967, Michigan State was the first Big Ten team to win the official title, under coaches Grady Peninger and Doug Blubaugh.

The first and only seven-time college champion is Gray Simons, Lock Haven State (three NCAA and four NAIA), his last pair coming in 1962.

At 440 pounds, Iowa State’s Chris Taylor is the largest man to ever win the NCAA championship. He also holds the single season NCAA pin record with 44 in 1973, while going 48-0.

In 1987, John Smith of Oklahoma State became the first wrestler to win the World Championship while still active in college competition.

Arizona State, coached by Bobby Douglas, is the first college west of the Rocky Mountains to win the team championship, doing it in 1988.

The first NCAA six-timer is Carlton Haselrig, as the Pitt-Johnson heavyweight claims three Div. 1 and three Div. 2 titles, the last ones in 1989.

Pat Smith of Oklahoma State was the first to ever own four NCAA titles when he took the 158-pound crown in 1994.

The first Dan Hodge Trophy winner is T.J.  Jaworsky of North Carolina, in 1995.

Dan Gable set the all-time record for the most titles as a coach when he won his 15th championship for Iowa in 1997.

The first undefeated four-time champion is Cael Sanderson, Iowa State, with his last coming in 2002 at 197 pounds.

In 2013, Kyle Dake of Cornell U. became the first wrestler to win national titles in four different weight classes.

So, there you have it – some remarkable memories from wrestling’s finest spectacle!

(Mike Chapman is the founder of WIN Magazine, the Dan Hodge Trophy, the National Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum, author of 30 books and is a member of 11 halls of fame.)