Wrestling Capital of the US?

[ngineer]

Interesting stat was discussed today that 60 of the 300 NCAA D-I qualifiers hail from Pennsylvania, and another 30 from New Jersey. At the same time, Oklahoma has 9. Granted, PA and NJ have much greater population, but "OK" has always fancied itelf as the 'home' of wrestling. Perhaps in terms of collegiate championships that is correct; but in terms of where the home-grown talent comes from at the high school level, PA appears to be the mecca.

[Gil Dobie]

Interesting stat was discussed today that 60 of the 300 NCAA D-I qualifiers hail from Pennsylvania, and another 30 from New Jersey. At the same time, Oklahoma has 9. Granted, PA and NJ have much greater population, but "OK" has always fancied itelf as the 'home' of wrestling. Perhaps in terms of collegiate championships that is correct; but in terms of where the home-grown talent comes from at the high school level, PA appears to be the mecca.

Don't forget Minnesota with the top ranked Gophers and DIII #3 Augsburg. :)

[colgate13]

Granted, PA and NJ have much greater population, but "OK" has always fancied itelf as the 'home' of wrestling.
OK can fancy themselves all the want, but the 'home' of wrestling is located pretty firmly in Eastern PA/Western NJ, radiating outward about oh, 40 miles or so. I would place the epicenter right at the Delaware river between Easton, PA and Phillipsburg, NJ.

Everything else is second place. :nod:

[Gil Dobie]

OK can fancy themselves all the want, but the 'home' of wrestling is located pretty firmly in Eastern PA/Western NJ, radiating outward about oh, 40 miles or so. I would place the epicenter right at the Delaware river between Easton, PA and Phillipsburg, NJ.

Everything else is second place. :nod:

East coast biased :( :rotateh: xlolx ;)

[colgate13]

East coast biased :( :rotateh: xlolx ;)

It ain't basis if it's true! :D

[crunifan]

Umm...Iowa?

We not only have the most storied wrestling program in the histroy of the sport, we have to other perennial top 25 teams in Iowa State and UNI. High school wrestling is also huge in the state.

[ASU Kep]

Iowa also can lay claim to Gable. Iowa is the home of wrestling in America.

[DuckDuckGriz]

I was going to say, only one state comes to mind when I think of wrestling and that's...

http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/images/usa/iowa.jpg

[ChickenMan]

When it comes to HS wrestling... I'd put Pennsylvania right at the top. I've attended the NWCA/DWA Brute Scholastic Showcase wrestling dulas in Dover, DE the past three years. This is a post season event with states sending HS all-star wrestling teams comprised of their best underclassmen. The PA team has totally 'dominated' this event over the last three years... winning all three times vs all-star teams from NJ, Florida, New England, Illinois, Oregon, Virginia, Michigan, Delaware, Colorado, Indiana and New York. The PA team has been the 'best' by a very wide margin and they were never really tested in the three years I attended.

[crunifan]

The Iowa Hawkeye Dynasty

From wikipedia:

"Through 2005, the Hawkeyes wrestlers have won an amazing 20 national titles and 31 Big Ten titles. Coach Dan Gable's Gang won nine straight NCAA team championships (1978 to 1986) and twice won three in a row (1991 to 1993 and 1995 to 1997). Iowa's 47 NCAA Champions have won a total of 73 NCAA individual titles, crowning six three-time and 13 two-time champions. Furthermore, Iowa's 127 all-Americans have earned all-America status 258 times, including 16 four-time, 27 three-time and 29 two-time honorees. Sports Illustrated named the Iowa program one of the top sports dynasties of the 20th century."

[blukeys]

My son was a Delaware State Wrestling Champion and most of his interest he got for college scholarships were in the Mid - West from the Dakotas East.

All that being said Gable, a 72 Olympian, has done more to raise the profile of his sport in a state than anyone I know. He is the best college wrestling coach of all time. The title goes to Iowa with second going to Oklahoma (as a state) and third to PA. (with their multitude of great programs including Lehigh)

[ngineer]

The Iowa Hawkeye Dynasty

From wikipedia:

"Through 2005, the Hawkeyes wrestlers have won an amazing 20 national titles and 31 Big Ten titles. Coach Dan Gable's Gang won nine straight NCAA team championships (1978 to 1986) and twice won three in a row (1991 to 1993 and 1995 to 1997). Iowa's 47 NCAA Champions have won a total of 73 NCAA individual titles, crowning six three-time and 13 two-time champions. Furthermore, Iowa's 127 all-Americans have earned all-America status 258 times, including 16 four-time, 27 three-time and 29 two-time honorees. Sports Illustrated named the Iowa program one of the top sports dynasties of the 20th century."

Not discounting the Iowa collegiate history, just as I acknowledge Oklahoma's (Okie State is the ALL-TIME leader in NCAA champs). However, the initial premise of the thread was the 'capital' of wrestling considering where all of these national qualifiers come from. A good number of Iowa's and OSU's grapplers are from out of state.
Through 2005, number of individual titles won:
Okie State.....130
Iowa............. 72
Oklahoma....... 65
Iowa State..... 62
Lehigh........... 26
Mich. State.... 24
North. Iowa... 21
Penn State.... 20
Illinois........... 20

[crunifan]

Not discounting the Iowa collegiate history, just as I acknowledge Oklahoma's (Okie State is the ALL-TIME leader in NCAA champs). However, the initial premise of the thread was the 'capital' of wrestling considering where all of these national qualifiers come from. A good number of Iowa's and OSU's grapplers are from out of state.
Through 2005, number of individual titles won:
Okie State.....130
Iowa............. 72
Oklahoma....... 65
Iowa State..... 62
Lehigh........... 26
Mich. State.... 24
North. Iowa... 21
Penn State.... 20
Illinois........... 20

Wow, Oklahoma and Iowa dominate individual titles!

[AmsterBison]

Yeah, Iowa has always meant wrestling to me - but thanks to this thread I'll start putting Pennsylvania up there too.

[ngineer]

In the last 50 years, Lehigh is fourth, nationally, in number of years with an All-American (47), behind only Iowa State, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. In those same 50 years, Lehigh has placed 44 times in the top 25, including 29 top-ten finishes and 16 top-five finishes--good for 6th best in NCAA history.
In terms of All-American in all NCAA history (75 years), Lehigh is 9th with 124. The top ten schools producing All-Americans:
Oklahoma State.......403
Iowa State.............259
Iowa......................258
Oklahoma...............249
Michigan................156
Penn State............151
Michigan State........129
Minnesota..............125
Lehigh...................124
Northern Iowa.........111

[crunifan]

I think it is cool that Lehigh and UNI are so good at wrestling, a sport that seems dominated by the Big 10 and the Big XII. We are really the only big name schools representing "smaller" schools.

[colgate13]

When I think of capitals I think of all across the state, not just a college or two located in a state. That's why I say PA. PA wrestling from midget on up through college is the tops IMO.

[Gil Dobie]

When I think of capitals I think of all across the state, not just a college or two located in a state. That's why I say PA. PA wrestling from midget on up through college is the tops IMO.

I beleive you 13 :) ;)

[Hansel]

What's the population of Penn in relation to Minny, IA or Okie?

[Cap'n Cat]

All things and levels considered, adjusted for population, my opinion:

1. (Tie) Pennsylvania and Iowa
3. Oklahoma
4. Illinois
5. Michigan

[colgate13]

Don't sell Jersey short with your 4 & 5 picks, Cap'n... some top wrestling is going on in that state!

[ngineer]

Don't sell Jersey short with your 4 & 5 picks, Cap'n... some top wrestling is going on in that state!

Yes, Jersey--especially from the central and western regions is very strong. Jerseyites are sprinkled all over the midwestern collegiate scene. 8 of Lehigh's 35 wrestlers are from the Gaaaaaden State...;)

[ngineer]

I think it is cool that Lehigh and UNI are so good at wrestling, a sport that seems dominated by the Big 10 and the Big XII. We are really the only big name schools representing "smaller" schools.
Yes, and Cornell and Penn have become pretty strong in the past 10 years, too. However, while I-AA football schools, they aren't really 'small'. Cornell has about 13,500 students and Penn around 8,000. Lehigh's undergrad enrollment is about 4,600.

[Go...gate]

NJ wrestling very strong in Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon Counties. Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ one of the nation's strong programs, as are several in the Sussex County Interscholastic League (SCIL).

[Hansel]

NJ wrestling very strong in Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon Counties. Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ one of the nation's strong programs, as are several in the Sussex County Interscholastic League (SCIL).
What % of Blair Academy's wrestlers are actually from New Jersey- do they "recruit" from other states. I know Iowa St's 184 (Backes) was from Blair but I thought he went there from somewhere else

[Go...gate]

Blair does recruit nationally, but they have a surprising number of Jersey kids.

[ngineer]

Lehigh has had a number of Blair wrestlers over the years--some going on to national championships. They have won the National Prep Tourney about 7 years in a row, now. Tournament is held every year at Lehigh. Blair does recruit nationally, but the majority are from the East. Okie State's big heavyweight Mocco, who transfered from Iowa, is a Blair graduate.