Ohio Wrestling Firsts

Discover the trailblazers from Ohio who were the first to accomplish amazing feats in the sport of wrestling

Ohio wrestling firsts and other accomplishments

1919 – Ohio University mans the first ever collegiate wrestling program in Ohio. The team was formed and coached by Thor Olson, a former World Middleweight Champion.

1920 Ohio University Wrestling Team — ***1919/20 Ohio University Wrestling Team***

1920 – Ohio State University fields its first wrestling team. Captain of the team, Perry Martter of Grandview Heights, wins the Western Conference championship in the light-heavy class.

1921 Ohio State University Wrestling Team — **1920/21 Ohio State University Wrestling Team**
Perry Martter pictured third from left

1924 – Perry Martter (Grandview Heights) and Harry Steel (Canton McKinley) become the first wrestlers from Ohio to make a US Olympic team.

1924 Olympic wrestling team Harry Steele Perry Martter — *Harry Steele (left) and Perry Martter (right) at the 1924 Olympics in Paris, France*

1924 – Harry Steel (Canton McKinley) becomes the first wrestler from Ohio to win an Olympic gold medal.

Harry Steele wrestling — *Harry Steele – 1924 Olympic Champion*

1932 – Kermit Blosser (Logan) becomes the first wrestler from Ohio to win an NCAA championship.

Kermit Blosser wrestling — *Kermit Blosser – Ohio University Wrestling Team*

1938 – The first Ohio High School state wrestling tournament is held at Cleveland John Hay High School. Peter Brdar of John Hay becomes Ohio’s first individual state champion by winning the 95-pound weight class. Although John Hay earns the most points (22), no team champion is presented.

Peter Brdar Ohio's first wrestling state champion — *Peter Brdar – Ohio’s first state champion*

1939 – Cleveland John Hay wins the first Ohio high school state team championship with 23 points. Cleveland West Tech, Cleveland Rhodes, Garfield Heights, and Shadyside all tie for second place with 14 points.

***1939 Cleveland John Hay Wrestling Team***
**Front**: Peter Brdar, Joseph Leyback, Leonard Weisenberg, Joseph Incorvaia, James Keane, Pat Scrima
**Back**: Adolph Albanese (manager), Frank Jaros, Edmund Chojnicki, Charles Kolesnicky, Walter Heller, Jack Cavano, Sam RAnallo, Mr. Kester (coach)

1940 – George Downes (Magnolia) becomes Ohio State University’s first NCAA wrestling champion.

George Downes wrestling — *George Downes – NCAA Champion*

1948 – John Matteucci (Cleveland West) becomes Ohio’s first three-time state wrestling champion.

John Matteucci wrestling — *John Matteucci – Cleveland West*

1951 – Cleveland West wins the Ohio high school wrestling team championship with 6 individual champions, 4 of them consecutive. Their record 6 champions stood until 2009 when St. Paris Graham crowned 7.

Champions: Roberg Pogue (121-lbs), Vince Matteucci (128-lbs), Fred Darienzo (134-lbs), Emil Palmieri (139-lbs), Pete Rossi (155-lbs), Richard Bonacci (166-lbs)

1951 Cleveland West Wrestling Team
Row 1: Bob Stilla, Joe Scarl
**Row 2**: Ernest Rocco, Vince Matteucci, Dick Bonacci
**Row 3**: Pete Rossi, Emil Palmieri, Fred Darienzo, Jim Schiller, Bob Pogue, John Morabito, Al Medaglia
**Row 4**: Bill Warnkin (Mgr), Chuck Bilardo, Dan Vacca, Sandy Colisim, Ron Depolo, Harold Kester (coach)

1951 – Dick Bonacci (Cleveland West) becomes Ohio’s first undefeated three-time state champion.

Dick Bonacci wrestling — *Dick Bonacci – Cleveland West*

1954 – Jim Dregalla (Cleveland John Marshall) becomes Ohio’s first three-time heavyweight state champion.

Jim Dregalla wrestling — *Jim Dregalla – John Marshall*

1956 – Bill Kerslake (Euclid Central) records the Guinness World Record for “fastest pin in national tournament competition” by pinning Ralph Bartleman in 4 seconds to win the 1956 AAU Greco-Roman national championship.

Bill Kerslake wrestling — *Bill Kerslake attempts to throw his opponent*

1958 – Ludie Graddy (John Adams) becomes the first black Ohio high school state wrestling champion by defeating Euclid’s Bill Murphy 4-3 in the 145-pound finals.

Ludie Graddy Ohio's first black state wrestling champion — *Ludie Graddy*

1962 – Carl Hoppel (Lisbon Beaver) becomes Ohio’s first freshman to win a state wrestling title.

Carl Hoppel wrestling — *Carl Hoppel – Lisbon Beaver*

1968 – Bobby Douglas (Bridgeport) defeats the legendary Dan Gable 11-1 to claim the spot on the 1968 US Olympic team.

Bobby Douglas Dan Gable — *Bobby Douglas takes down Dan Gable*

1972 – Wayne Holmes (Columbus Central) becomes the first wrestler from the US to compete in the 48 kg weight-class at the Olympics.

Wayne Holmes Olympics wrestling — *Wayne Holmes – 1972 Olympian*

1972 – At the age of 18 years and 3 months, Pat Milkovich (Maple Heights) becomes the youngest NCAA wrestling champion in history.

1972 NCAA Wrestling Champions
Pat Milkovich (front, second from left)

1973 – Tom Milkovich (Maple Heights) becomes the first wrestler to go undefeated in Big Ten competition.

Tom Milkovich Michigan State — *Tom Milkovich – Michigan State*

1975 – Lee Kemp (Chardon), at the age of 18, defeats Dan Gable 7-6 in the finals of the Northern Open.

Lee Kemp Chardon High school — *Lee Kemp*

1978 – At the age of 21 years, 8 months, Lee Kemp (Chardon) becomes the youngest American wrestler to win a world or Olympic gold medal.

Lee Kemp world champion — *Lee Kemp at the World Championships*

1979 – Mark Zimmer (St. Francis DeSales) becomes Ohio’s first wrestler to win four state titles.

Mark Zimmer four-time state champion — *Mark Zimmer*

1982 – Lee Kemp (Chardon) becomes the first American to win three world championships.

1983 – Jim and Jeff Jordan (St. Paris Graham) become the first set of brothers to win four Ohio state wrestling titles after Jeff wins his fourth in 1983. Jim won his fourth in 1982.

Jim Jordan and Jeff Jordan wresltling — *Jim and Jeff Jordan*

1987 – Greg Elinsky (Lakewood St. Edward) becomes Penn State’s first four-time all-American.

Greg Elinsky Penn State — *Greg Elinsky – Penn State*

1989 – Alan Fried (Lakewood St. Edward) becomes the first and only four-time Junior National Freestyle Champion in USA history.

1987 Junior National Freestyle - Alan Fried — *1987 Junior National Freestyle Placers 123-pounds (Fried 1st)*

1990 – Brian Dolph (North Canton Hoover) becomes Indiana University’s first three-time all-American after winning the 1990 NCAA championship.

Brian Dolph wrestling — *Brian Dolph – NCAA Champion*

1990 – Dan St. John (Cleveland St. Joseph) becomes Arizona State’s first two-time NCAA champion.

Dan St. John Arizona St. — *Dan St. John – 2x NCAA Champion*

1991 – The DiSabato brothers (Bishop Ready) combine for a record 11 state titles after Dominic wins his third. Vince (2), Leo (2), Luke (1) , Mike (1), Adam (2), and Dominic (3).

The DiSabato brothers Ohio wrestling — *The DiSabato Brothers*

1992 – At 28 years old, Charlie Jones (Sandusky) becomes the oldest wrestler to ever win an NCAA title. He did so ten years after graduating high school.

Charlie Jones Purdue — *Charlie Jones – Purdue*

1993 – Adam DiSabato (Bishop Ready) becomes Ohio State University’s first three-time all-American.

Adam DiSabato Ohio State — *Adam DiSabato – Ohio State University*

1993 – Kevin Randleman (Sandusky) becomes Ohio State University’s first two-time NCAA champion.

Kevin Randleman NCAA champion — *Kevin Randleman wins 1993 NCAA Title*

1994 – Willie Wineberg (Fairfield) becomes the first wrestler to win four state titles in Ohio’s large school division.

Willie Wineberg wrestling — *Willie Wineberg – Fairfield*

1996 – John McGhee (Coventry) becomes the first four-time Ohio state champion to win all of his titles at 135 pounds and above.

John McGhee wrestling — *John McGhee – Coventry*

1997 – Mark Coleman (Fremont St. Joe’s) becomes the UFC’s first heavyweight champion by submitting Dan Severn in UFC 12.

Mark Coleman UFC Heavyweight champion — *Mark Coleman – UFC Heavyweight Champion*

1999 – Four-time state champion, Jared Opfer, ends his career holding almost every major OHSAA wrestling record: career wins (211), career falls (139), career takedowns (959), season takedowns (333), and season falls (46).

Jared Opfer wrestling — *Jared Opfer – Sandusky SMCC*

2004 – Tommy Rowlands becomes Ohio State University’s first four-time all-American and sets career records for: wins (164), takedowns (705), and team points (703).

Tommy Rowlands wrestling — *Tommy Rowlands – 2x NCAA Champion*

2011 – One year after Logan Stieber wins his fourth state title; Hunter Stieber, Cam Tessari, and Chris Phillips win their fourth for Monroeville. They become the first team to have multiple four-timers in the same year.

*Cam Tessari, Chris Phillips, Hunter Stieber, Logan Stieber*

2015 – Logan Stieber (Monroeville) wins his fourth NCAA division 1 title – just the fourth wrestler ever to do so.

Logan Stieber four-time NCAA champion — *Logan Stieber after winning his fourth NCAA title*

2018 – Rocky Jordan (St. Paris Graham) wins his third state title giving the Jordan brothers a combined 11, tying them with the DiSabatos. Bo (4), Micah (4), Rocky (3)

Bo Rocky Micah Jordan — *Bo, Rocky, and Micah Jordan*

2018 – David Carr (Dayton Christian/Massillon Perry) becomes the first five-time state champion to finish his career in Ohio. He won one title in Kentucky before winning four in Ohio.

David Carr state champion — *David Carr – Massillon Perry*

2020 – David Taylor (St. Paris Graham) wins the Olympic gold medal by defeating reigning Olympic and World Champion Hassan Yazdani of Iran.

David Taylor Olympic champion Hassan Yazdani — *David Taylor defeats Hassan Yazdani at the 2020 Olympics*

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