favorite wrestlers of all time
- Thread starter Uncle Fester Addams
- Start date
do you have vhs? i stupidly recorded over mine. newphew willie had big wins. best wrestlers are in my opinion these guys. brands, steiners, altons are influenced by them. they are mentors to many. attitude and winning.
It used to be Andy Matter, but to be honest, there have been so many during the Cael era that I've liked even more - but DT will probably be at the top of the list with Nolf and Bo for a long time. Or maybe not. 
Duane Peoples wrestled for PSU late 80s. Had this cat style of wrestling and was always wearing a scuba suit when he warmed up. He also had those glasses which made him look like a buff IRS agent.
John Smith. Had the best ankle pick in the game.
When I first moved from Wales to the good ol' USA in 1993, some of my new American friends had implored me to join the wrestling team because of my absolute disdain for basketball. Begrudgingly, I accepted their invitation to go to some place called Rec Hall to work out. I had no idea what I was in for...
I had never seen a wrestling match, and was only vaguely familiar with the sport at all (rugby sevens and football are the biggest sport in Wales). I had no skill, but I was willing to learn and after several practices at the high school gym, I felt ready to join the team at Rec hall for a Sunday workout.
I could not have been more incorrect. I got busted up almost immediately, and had no intention of going much further with this wrestling idea.
As I was contemplating what I had gotten myself into, a small Japanese man put his arm around me and he said "you can't quit, you haven't even started yet." He said that with such conviction that, even though I didn't know this guy at all, I knew I couldn't let this man down. I was determined to finish the practice...and I did! And I was damn proud to hang in there.
I was never a good wrestler, but I kept going to practices at Rec Hall with our team, always seeking out that same man for my workout partner. He could have said 'no' to the skinny Welsh kid, but he always took time out of his workout to show me moves and techniques.
For that reason, Sunny Abe will always be my favorite wrestler.
I had never seen a wrestling match, and was only vaguely familiar with the sport at all (rugby sevens and football are the biggest sport in Wales). I had no skill, but I was willing to learn and after several practices at the high school gym, I felt ready to join the team at Rec hall for a Sunday workout.
I could not have been more incorrect. I got busted up almost immediately, and had no intention of going much further with this wrestling idea.
As I was contemplating what I had gotten myself into, a small Japanese man put his arm around me and he said "you can't quit, you haven't even started yet." He said that with such conviction that, even though I didn't know this guy at all, I knew I couldn't let this man down. I was determined to finish the practice...and I did! And I was damn proud to hang in there.
I was never a good wrestler, but I kept going to practices at Rec Hall with our team, always seeking out that same man for my workout partner. He could have said 'no' to the skinny Welsh kid, but he always took time out of his workout to show me moves and techniques.
For that reason, Sunny Abe will always be my favorite wrestler.
No way I could pick just one as the best. There are just to many going all the way back to when I was a kid watching Matter, Joyner, Lorenzo, Frantz.
Chronologically........
Peter Yozzo (when I first got into wrestling, I could watch Lehigh on public tv, and Yozzo was the man)
Kolat
Cael
Askren
DT
Nolf
Bo
Peter Yozzo (when I first got into wrestling, I could watch Lehigh on public tv, and Yozzo was the man)
Kolat
Cael
Askren
DT
Nolf
Bo
So Bo and Jason have to win in order to be on your list of favorites, what they have done over the last 120 or so matches isn’t enough to be a favorite
I'll only give my answers to wrestlers I have seen in person.
Local High School(Prep);
Bronze: Jack Cuvo , Slickest on his feet
Silver: Rico Chipperlli, Just Funky
Gold: Jordan Oliver, Great in every position
Penn State Wrestlers
Bronze: David Taylor, Set the tone with Cael
Silver: Bo Nickal, Should be going for 4th
Gold: Jason Nolf, Most creative ever
Honorable Mention
Non local High School: Cary Kolat
Non Penn State: Daryl Burley (Lehigh)
Local High School(Prep);
Bronze: Jack Cuvo , Slickest on his feet
Silver: Rico Chipperlli, Just Funky
Gold: Jordan Oliver, Great in every position
Penn State Wrestlers
Bronze: David Taylor, Set the tone with Cael
Silver: Bo Nickal, Should be going for 4th
Gold: Jason Nolf, Most creative ever
Honorable Mention
Non local High School: Cary Kolat
Non Penn State: Daryl Burley (Lehigh)
Ben "Funky" Askren
Bret "The Hitman" Hart
David Taylor
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Whoever is wrestling Dake from 'Merica
D-Generation X
Jason "The Cyborg" Nolf
Torrie Wilson
Zain "ZTrain of Pain" Retherford
Lita & The Hardy Boys
Quentin Wright
Bret "The Hitman" Hart
David Taylor
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Whoever is wrestling Dake from 'Merica
D-Generation X
Jason "The Cyborg" Nolf
Torrie Wilson
Zain "ZTrain of Pain" Retherford
Lita & The Hardy Boys
Quentin Wright
Wade Shalles. I remember watching John “Bimbo” Chatman pin his opponent in the regionals at Pitt Fieldhouse with my dad and saying no one would beat him. When Wade faced him in the finals at states he used an elevator, similar to Bo’s move against Martin last year, and pinned Chatman. Of course Shalles went on to have a stellar collegiate and international career.
First off just want to confirm that this is 'all time favorite' not 'best wrestler' pick.
I worked at a District & Regional tournament in South Jersey for about 20 years starting in the late 1960s. In the mid 70s Darryl Burley appeared on the scene displaying the kind of rare natural ability that leaps out at followers of the sport. Never having wrestled until his family moved into the area he didn't know much about the sport but was convinced to join his new (9th grade if memory serves me right) friends as they went to their wrestling practice. It was immediately obvious that he was something special. To cut this short; by his sophomore year he was a force to be reckoned with. His junior year he made it to the semi-finals at states where he lost in overtime to Tom Husted, the defending state champion and OW. His Senior year he goes undefeated devastating the competition only to run into Pete Schuyler another returning champ who he succeeds in defeating. Both Darryl & Pete choose Lehigh (becoming roommates) where true freshman Darryl has a tremendous first season making it all the way to the National Finals only to find defending champion Mike Land, who has won 74 straight matches, waiting. Darryl beats Land for the first of the two National Titles that he won at Lehigh and to this day remains my favorite of all time.
I worked at a District & Regional tournament in South Jersey for about 20 years starting in the late 1960s. In the mid 70s Darryl Burley appeared on the scene displaying the kind of rare natural ability that leaps out at followers of the sport. Never having wrestled until his family moved into the area he didn't know much about the sport but was convinced to join his new (9th grade if memory serves me right) friends as they went to their wrestling practice. It was immediately obvious that he was something special. To cut this short; by his sophomore year he was a force to be reckoned with. His junior year he made it to the semi-finals at states where he lost in overtime to Tom Husted, the defending state champion and OW. His Senior year he goes undefeated devastating the competition only to run into Pete Schuyler another returning champ who he succeeds in defeating. Both Darryl & Pete choose Lehigh (becoming roommates) where true freshman Darryl has a tremendous first season making it all the way to the National Finals only to find defending champion Mike Land, who has won 74 straight matches, waiting. Darryl beats Land for the first of the two National Titles that he won at Lehigh and to this day remains my favorite of all time.
All of the above that you guys have named plus two more that only the older guys would remember. Ivan Yarygin and Sergey Beloglazov - both from Russia and both were/are good people too. There are some good videos of them posted on YouTube. Beloglazov in particular was one of the most exciting wrestlers to watch in competition. I think he is currently the freestyle head coach at the Cliff Keen WC in Michigan.
I'm going to have to go Bo ...
We have had so many special wrestlers in the program that it's basically impossible to pick but Bo has had so many wow moments when the pressure was on (so has the rest of our guys obviously but a few sticks out)
-Up only 12-11 at Carver Hawkeye after Mark just lost his debut ... Sammy Brooks is in on the single and suddenly Bo has the spladle and ended the match in 38 seconds and virtually the dual. Does the Hulk Hogan to the crowd.
-Team only up 15-13 at GIA... Nolan Boyd gets in on a double, Bo's head is on the mat .... suddenly a cradle is locked up and Boyd is flat. Bo ends the match in 38 seconds again and virtually the dual. Does the "settle down" motion to the crowd.
-Down 15-12 to OSU with 2 #1 opponents for tOSU at 197 and 285. Up 7-2 with riding time to the #2 guy (who some said was wrestling better that year up until then) and Myles seems content with just losing by decision. Bo is not content winning by decision, gets the tilt started just in time with 2 seconds left to win by major.
-3/17/18, team title virtually on the line ..... I am so grateful that exchange happened so quick cause I didn't even have time to comprehend how close Bo was to getting pinned or being down 4-0 or 6-0 (to which Myles likely just tries to preserve that win) Bo had two option when Myles got in on the double, concede the takedown and escape and be down 2-1 ... risk it all to hit the ultimate funk move to just take home everything. It was never a question for Bo....
I remember a video analysis of that exchange was posted on YouTube and it showed how many moving parts there were for Bo to successfully pull off that move. He pulled it off under the brightest lights with the stakes at its highest. Bo subsequently declares that move was nothing to him because he's been hitting it since he was 6 years old and he knew Myles was going to his back. Then gave a speech that will forever be immortalized for PSU wrestling fans.
If anyone doubts Bo will represent the US on the biggest stage and succeed .... I don't know what to tell them.
We have had so many special wrestlers in the program that it's basically impossible to pick but Bo has had so many wow moments when the pressure was on (so has the rest of our guys obviously but a few sticks out)
-Up only 12-11 at Carver Hawkeye after Mark just lost his debut ... Sammy Brooks is in on the single and suddenly Bo has the spladle and ended the match in 38 seconds and virtually the dual. Does the Hulk Hogan to the crowd.
-Team only up 15-13 at GIA... Nolan Boyd gets in on a double, Bo's head is on the mat .... suddenly a cradle is locked up and Boyd is flat. Bo ends the match in 38 seconds again and virtually the dual. Does the "settle down" motion to the crowd.
-Down 15-12 to OSU with 2 #1 opponents for tOSU at 197 and 285. Up 7-2 with riding time to the #2 guy (who some said was wrestling better that year up until then) and Myles seems content with just losing by decision. Bo is not content winning by decision, gets the tilt started just in time with 2 seconds left to win by major.
-3/17/18, team title virtually on the line ..... I am so grateful that exchange happened so quick cause I didn't even have time to comprehend how close Bo was to getting pinned or being down 4-0 or 6-0 (to which Myles likely just tries to preserve that win) Bo had two option when Myles got in on the double, concede the takedown and escape and be down 2-1 ... risk it all to hit the ultimate funk move to just take home everything. It was never a question for Bo....
I remember a video analysis of that exchange was posted on YouTube and it showed how many moving parts there were for Bo to successfully pull off that move. He pulled it off under the brightest lights with the stakes at its highest. Bo subsequently declares that move was nothing to him because he's been hitting it since he was 6 years old and he knew Myles was going to his back. Then gave a speech that will forever be immortalized for PSU wrestling fans.
If anyone doubts Bo will represent the US on the biggest stage and succeed .... I don't know what to tell them.
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I also want to add that although there were no team implications on the line. Bo had a world of pressure in 2017 .... IMO he was wrestling by far the best opponent of the 5, hence why it was the "marquee matchup" (maybe IMar is close all things considered) .. he was last after his teammates just won (there is the high but you also don't want to be the only one to lose yourself) and he is coming off losing NCAAs last year and losing at B1Gs just a few weeks ago.
Gabe scores the first TD and I'll admit I was very worried. Grinding out slow paced defensive positioning matches is his strength and I had my doubts Bo could win that kind of match against Dean after conceding the first takedown .. rest is history.
Gabe scores the first TD and I'll admit I was very worried. Grinding out slow paced defensive positioning matches is his strength and I had my doubts Bo could win that kind of match against Dean after conceding the first takedown .. rest is history.
Wade Schalles, Gene Mills, Andy Matter, Pete Morelli, Wayne Packer, Donny Rohn, Jerry White, Darryl Burley, Scotty Lynch, Dan Mayo, Adam Mariano, Nate Carr, Quentin, DavidT, EddieR, Bo, The Nolf.
No way I can name just one and this is only a partial list.
No way I can name just one and this is only a partial list.
Sorry - I can't stop ranting ...,
I remember the morning of Day III of the 2018 NCAA finals. I wasn't a member here yet but of course I was lurking. I saw after Session V, the recipe was simple. If we could win 3 matches and one of them was Bo ... we have the team title. The other path was 4 titles without Bo but I had my doubts about Mark and Cenzo.
I talked to my other friends who are diehard PSU fans. One of them said that is a ton of pressure on Bo once again then I remembered saying ... Bo seems to thrive in those moments, it's "what he lives for" (remembering the Boyd and Brooks match) I still felt nervous yet confident at the same time.
I remember the morning of Day III of the 2018 NCAA finals. I wasn't a member here yet but of course I was lurking. I saw after Session V, the recipe was simple. If we could win 3 matches and one of them was Bo ... we have the team title. The other path was 4 titles without Bo but I had my doubts about Mark and Cenzo.
I talked to my other friends who are diehard PSU fans. One of them said that is a ton of pressure on Bo once again then I remembered saying ... Bo seems to thrive in those moments, it's "what he lives for" (remembering the Boyd and Brooks match) I still felt nervous yet confident at the same time.
Huh? And Blasphemy.
Just as Robert Redford had the best one-armed pushups at the Oscars ceremony? And just as the 1980’s had the Showtime Detroit Pistons?
I can tell which era each of the posters are from. Going with AgSurger and midniteride as a smidgeon older than me, NoVa same age (give or take), and nitlion a few years younger. Many of the rest are pups .
.My favorite PSU wrestler when I was in high school was easily Sanshiro Abe, he was always fun to watch. I really think the way he wrestled would've meshed well in Cael's program. Reslo's post from above just cements it for me, cool to know he was that kind of a person.
The best wrestler I ever saw live in high school that went to PSU was Biff Walizer. I wrestled a lot of really good wrestlers in high school(several district champs) but the first time I saw him wrestle it was clear how much better he was then anyone I ever wrestled or even saw. He destroyed a guy a weight below me in districts that usually beat me in our wrestling room. Tech'd him about 30 seconds into the 2nd period and the kid looked like he was jumped by 5 guys in an alley when it was over.
Looking at the Cael era, we have had an embarrassment of talent and have been spoiled by high end wrestlers. There have been way too damn many to pick just one. Bo Nickal.
The best wrestler I ever saw live in high school that went to PSU was Biff Walizer. I wrestled a lot of really good wrestlers in high school(several district champs) but the first time I saw him wrestle it was clear how much better he was then anyone I ever wrestled or even saw. He destroyed a guy a weight below me in districts that usually beat me in our wrestling room. Tech'd him about 30 seconds into the 2nd period and the kid looked like he was jumped by 5 guys in an alley when it was over.
Looking at the Cael era, we have had an embarrassment of talent and have been spoiled by high end wrestlers. There have been way too damn many to pick just one. Bo Nickal.
Nobody can teach an Abe-era old dog new literary tricks. Vincenzo Joseph.
love all your points but jason nolf
Nobody can teach an Abe-era old dog new literary tricks. Vincenzo Joseph.
Well played.
You're 100% right. I could write just as long of a rant about Nolf as well. I thought that injury last year would end his season and honestly for most wrestlers, I think it does.
Instead? Nolf completely reinvents his style to account for it. Instead of the "you gave have a takedown if you want" he used to have, he changed it to "you aren't getting anything against me" at NCAAs ... and it worked like a charm. I recall being worried before the matches yet he was never in danger of losing a single one of those matches.
Despite that, he still showed us a little bit of Nolf when he rolled Heffernan twice and teched a kid who rarely gives up bonus. He showed A LOT of Zain when he decided to scorer 12 NF points on Micah. The only reason he didn't get bonus in round 2 and the QFs is cause the refs missed his NF against Crone and Tom Ryan .. I mean .. the committee decided it'd be a good idea to wrestle the 1st and 2nd best wrestlers at 157 in the QFs.
His ability to adjust his style makes me so optimistic that like Bo (and Zain/Mark) he will be a staple of team USA once he learns the ins and outs of freestyle.
don't know about the pick, but a low single I would readily agree.Huh? And Blasphemy.
Just as Robert Redford had the best one-armed pushups at the Oscars ceremony? And just as the 1980’s had the Showtime Detroit Pistons?
I’m 28, so my answers may be a bit recent but without a doubt the toughest wrestler I ever put my hands on was Jordan Oliver. I remember watching him tear through Escape the Rock my freshman year of high school and thinking “this kid is just different”. Got to work out and some clubs with him and he was on another level. Also a great guy who overcame a lot of adversity to get where he is. Rooted for him ever since.
Otherwise I’d say old videos of John Smitj, Askren, Nolf, Ruth, and DT. Yianni with an honorable mention but he’s not done yet so...
When I was in college - Kirby Wood, for one match anyway that he wrested as "unlimited" eight days after he wrestled 167, he lost, and was everyone's hero.
Then David Taylor. He got me interested in wrestling again with his high energy offensive style.
Now Jason Nolf. His high energy style is still what I like, but his ability to change his style last year when he needed to was amazing.
I'm not an expert in wrestling, and maybe I don't know enough about it to appreciate a defensive 2-1 or 3-2 style match, but I like the high powered, lots of points action. I wouldn't be a fan at all if every match was low scoring.
Then David Taylor. He got me interested in wrestling again with his high energy offensive style.
Now Jason Nolf. His high energy style is still what I like, but his ability to change his style last year when he needed to was amazing.
I'm not an expert in wrestling, and maybe I don't know enough about it to appreciate a defensive 2-1 or 3-2 style match, but I like the high powered, lots of points action. I wouldn't be a fan at all if every match was low scoring.
I can tell which era each of the posters are from. Going with AgSurger and midniteride as a smidgeon older than me, NoVa same age (give or take), and nitlion a few years younger. Many of the rest are pups
Possibly even a little more than a smidgeon. I was at Munich in 1972 and actually spoke with Gable about 45 minutes before he beat the Russian for the gold medal. That was after a few years in college, so it should give you an idea of my chronology.
I believe same Olympics that saw 400 pound Chris Taylor thrown to his back on a bear hug subplay. I hope the video loads.
Great picture
https://goo.gl/images/SLpc1n
Great picture
https://goo.gl/images/SLpc1n
Jim Martin, for introducing me to “The PSU” brand of wrestling.
Kolat, for taking dominance to new heights.
McIlravy, I was kind of scared of him but he was a great talent.
McCoy, for his attitude and how he made the weight class look slow and without skill.
Cael
Then, you know, the gang. Picking one seems like picking a favorite child or single malt or something.
Kolat, for taking dominance to new heights.
McIlravy, I was kind of scared of him but he was a great talent.
McCoy, for his attitude and how he made the weight class look slow and without skill.
Cael
Then, you know, the gang. Picking one seems like picking a favorite child or single malt or something.
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