Coach Lonnie Nalls and the Continuing Tradition of Wrestling in Susanville

For more than five decades, wrestling at Lassen College in Susanville, California, has represented far more than wins and losses. It has been a program built on opportunity, perseverance and the belief that wrestling can change lives.

Since 1969, Lassen has developed state champions, national champions, All-Americans and student-athletes who have continued their education and competitive careers at four-year institutions. Through changing competitive landscapes, fluctuating program numbers and transitions between the NJCAA and 3C2A, Lassen has maintained a proud and influential place in California community-college wrestling history.

Today, that legacy is being carried forward by one of the program’s most familiar figures, Lonnie Nalls. A former NJCAA national champion, University of Illinois competitor, accomplished coach and member of the NJCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame, Nalls has a unique connection to Lassen. He was part of the program during one of its most successful periods, left to continue his coaching career elsewhere, and ultimately returned to Susanville in 2021 to lead the Cougars into another chapter of their storied history.

The numbers surrounding Lassen’s wrestling tradition are impressive. From 1969 through 2025, the Cougars have produced 100 3C2A state medalists, 43 3C2A All-Americans and 14 3C2A individual champions, while capturing the 1986 3C2A State Team Championship.

But those statistics tell only part of the story.

To fully appreciate Lassen’s place in community-college wrestling history, it is necessary to examine how a small Northern California college developed into a California state power, transformed itself into a national junior-college powerhouse, and continues to provide opportunities for another generation of wrestlers.

THE FOUNDATION OF A WRESTLING POWER

THE RISE OF A CALIFORNIA WRESTLING POWER

Lassen’s emergence as a major force in California community-college wrestling became particularly evident during the 1980s.

The Cougars established themselves as one of the state’s premier junior-college programs, culminating in the 1986 3C2A State Championship.

That championship was not an isolated accomplishment.

Lassen followed its 1986 title with runner-up finishes in 1987 and 1988, a fifth-place finish in 1989 and another second-place finish in 1990. The consistency demonstrated during that stretch revealed the depth and stability of the program.

Lassen was no longer simply competing for individual championships. It had become a legitimate team contender year after year.

The 1986 championship roster featured an extraordinary collection of individual champions, with Wes Fehr, Rodney Ford, David Rumfield and Tom Rodgers all capturing state titles.

Two years later, Dave Singletary and Scott Bones added their names to the list of Lassen champions, while Shawn McGee and Matt Davis won state titles in 1989.

Bones provided a particularly memorable highlight during the 1988 campaign, winning his state championship while also earning Outstanding Wrestler honors. His performance exemplified the caliber of athlete being developed in the Lassen wrestling room during that era.

The program’s strength, however, extended well beyond its champions. Wrestlers such as Mike Taylor, Jeff Hernandez, Bill Nickerson, Billy Bennett and Chuck Guptill produced runner-up and medal-winning performances, adding to a remarkable collection of individual accomplishments throughout the decade.

That depth was important. Championship programs are not built solely around one or two elite wrestlers. They are built through development, depth and a sustained ability to put competitive athletes on the mat at virtually every weight.

Lassen demonstrated precisely that quality throughout the 1980s.

The foundation had been laid for something even greater.

FROM STATE CHAMPIONS TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

FROM STATE POWER TO NATIONAL POWERHOUSE

The next chapter in Lassen’s history took the program onto the national stage.

Beginning in the early 1990s, Lassen became one of the most formidable programs in NJCAA wrestling, attracting outstanding wrestlers from California, throughout the United States and internationally.

The Cougars’ national run transformed the program’s identity. What had become a dominant California community-college program evolved into a national destination for junior-college wrestlers.

From 1992 through 2006, Lassen produced an extraordinary record of national success.

The Cougars captured four NJCAA National Team Championships—in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

The 1995 and 1998 championships were particularly noteworthy because Lassen finished tied with Garden City Community College in 1995 and North Idaho College in 1998.

The championship years were only part of the story. Lassen also recorded national top-five finishes with second place in 1993, third place in 1999, fourth place in 2000 and third place in 2004.

Taken together, Lassen finished among the top five programs nationally nine times during that broader period, including four national championships.

That level of sustained excellence places Lassen among the most accomplished junior-college wrestling programs in California history.

A GENERATION OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

The team success was fueled by extraordinary individual talent.

Lassen College produced a remarkable succession of NJCAA national champions, including Kelvin Jackson, Martin Hammers, Ben Gerdes, Mike Douglas, Gerald Carr, Joe Watson, Shelton Benjamin, Vladimir Anoshenko, Vladimir Matyushenko, Anton Talamantes, Moses McCraney, Richard Paulikonas, Charles Lloyd, Anthony Johnson and Zach Flake, along with numerous other All-Americans.

The program’s impact extended well beyond the NJCAA, with several former Cougars achieving national prominence at four-year institutions.

T.J. Williams became a three-time NCAA Division I All-American and two-time NCAA champion at Iowa from 1999 through 2001.

Kelvin Jackson captured an NCAA Division I championship at Michigan State in 1995.

Shelton Benjamin became a two-time NCAA Division I All-American at Minnesota, placing fifth in 1997 and third in 1998.

Paul Gomez earned NCAA Division I All-American honors at Nebraska with an eighth-place finish in 2000.

In the NAIA, Zach Flake became a three-time All-American and 2007 national champion at Campbellsville, while Jose Sanchez placed fourth nationally for Menlo in 2003.

Lassen’s reach extended to the international stage as well. Jamill Kelly, after competing at Oklahoma State, went on to win a silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

The program also featured outstanding California talent, including Gomez and Sanchez, both NJCAA national champions, while its recruiting reach extended across the United States and internationally, including wrestlers from countries such as Russia and Lithuania.

That national and international footprint reflected the reputation Lassen had established within junior-college wrestling.

Although Susanville was a relatively small Northern California community, Lassen College had built a national identity as a destination for wrestlers seeking an opportunity to compete—and succeed—at the highest levels of junior-college wrestling.

Its transformation was remarkable:

California state power in the 1980s. National powerhouse in the 1990s and early 2000s.

And it was during that national era that a young wrestler named Lonnie Nalls first became part of the Lassen story.

THE WRESTLER WHO BECAME A COACH

THE COACH WHO FOUND HIS WAY TO LASSEN

Nalls’ wrestling journey began thousands of miles away in the Chicago suburbs.

He was introduced to wrestling during his freshman year of high school. There were numerous wrestlers in his neighborhood, and his best friend and neighbor happened to be an outstanding wrestler.

That early exposure eventually developed into a lifelong passion.

Nalls credits his high school and junior-college coaches as the most influential people in his wrestling journey, with Rex Branum standing out above the rest.

According to Nalls, Branum “really lit the fire and passion for the sport.” He also credits Branum with providing much of the foundation for his own coaching philosophy.

What made Branum particularly influential was his understanding that wrestling was about more than winning matches. He cared about education as well as athletics, and that philosophy would remain with Nalls throughout his own career.

As an athlete, Nalls became an NJCAA National Champion at Lincoln College, finished as a national runner-up at Triton College and later competed at the University of Illinois.

His transition from athlete to coach, however, came through an unexpected turn in his life.

A CHANCE ENCOUNTER THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

After his competitive career, Nalls found himself working what he described as “dead end jobs.”

Then, while attending the Illinois State Tournament, he encountered Branum.

Nalls had simply wanted to thank his former coach for the impact he had made on his life.

Instead, Branum presented him with an opportunity.

“He talked me into coming to Lassen and helping out,” Nalls recalled.

In 1994, Nalls began his first tenure at Lassen as an assistant coach.

His arrival coincided with the program’s remarkable national era. He became part of a Lassen program that was producing national champions, All-Americans and championship teams.

The experience would leave a lasting impression.

Nalls spent approximately ten years at Lassen before eventually moving on, continuing his coaching career at the high school and club levels.

But the influence of those years never disappeared.

More importantly, Nalls discovered that coaching was something he genuinely loved.

“I just fell in love helping others,” he explained.

That realization would eventually bring him back to Susanville.

“WRESTLING SAVED MY LIFE”

THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE COACH

Perhaps the most revealing statement in Nalls’ reflections on his career is also the simplest:

“Wrestling saved my life.”

That statement helps explain why coaching means so much to him.

For Nalls, wrestling is not simply a sport. It can provide discipline, structure, direction and purpose at a critical point in a young person’s life.

His own experience convinced him that wrestling can be transformative. Consequently, he believes he has an obligation to give something back.

“I feel that I owe it to the sport to give back,” he said.

That philosophy is central to the current Lassen program.

Nalls is not simply trying to produce better wrestlers. He is attempting to provide young people with the same kind of opportunity that wrestling and his coaches provided him.

THE WORK ETHIC OF A WRESTLER

When asked about the most important life lesson wrestling has provided him, Nalls immediately points to one characteristic:

“The number one life lesson that I have learned from wrestling that has carried me through my personal and professional life, would be work ethic.“

For Nalls, work ethic is not simply a wrestling trait. It is a life philosophy.

He believes the ability to outwork people who are unwilling to work has helped him excel throughout his personal and professional life.

That philosophy is reflected in the advice he offers young athletes.

“Work hard, have a plan, and be willing to do the little things,” he said.

Those little things include conditioning, winning positions, footwork and mastering fundamentals.

Wrestling rewards athletes who understand that success is often built through thousands of small improvements rather than one dramatic breakthrough.

Nalls also emphasizes the importance of embracing discomfort:

“Be comfortable being uncomfortable.“

That lesson is fundamental to wrestling. Training is difficult. Competition is stressful. Improvement requires athletes to confront weaknesses rather than avoid them.

The ability to remain composed and committed when things become uncomfortable is a skill that extends far beyond the wrestling room.

BUILDING THE COMPLETE STUDENT-ATHLETE

Nalls inherited from Branum the belief that academic development should be inseparable from athletic development.

At Lassen, that philosophy has produced tangible results.

The program has reported a 98 percent graduation rate among student-athletes completing the program, while more than 50 wrestlers have continued to four-year colleges.

Those numbers illustrate an important role played by community-college wrestling.

For some athletes, Lassen represents an opportunity to continue competing after high school. For others, it provides a chance to develop academically while continuing to pursue their athletic goals. For still others, it can be a bridge to a four-year wrestling program.

A successful community-college wrestling program therefore has the ability to change the trajectory of an athlete’s life.

That is particularly meaningful to Nalls because his own journey demonstrates the same principle.

THE RETURN TO LASSEN

BACK TO SUSANVILLE

When Nalls returned to Lassen College in 2021, it represented something of a full-circle moment.

He was returning to a program that had already played an important role in his life and coaching career. But he was also returning to a program with a tremendous historical foundation.

The challenge was no longer simply to preserve the past. It was to build upon it.

Today, Nalls oversees the entire wrestling operation, including practices, technique, planning and travel.

“I am the coach,” he explained. “The entire wrestling program is run by me—practice, technique, and travel.“

Although he receives valuable support with logistics and program necessities, the wrestling direction and day-to-day competitive operation remain firmly under his leadership.

That responsibility requires an enormous investment of time and energy, but it also allows Nalls to establish a consistent vision for the program.

A CULTURE BUILT AROUND DEVELOPMENT

Nalls’ coaching philosophy has helped shape a Lassen wrestling culture centered on preparation, accountability, work ethic and personal development.

The wrestling room is where those values become tangible.

Athletes are expected to work.

They are expected to prepare.

They are expected to pay attention to technical details.

They are expected to embrace conditioning and physical challenges.

And they are expected to understand that their development is ultimately their responsibility.

At the community-college level, those lessons are particularly valuable because student-athletes arrive with different experiences and goals.

Some come from established high school programs. Others are still developing. Some are pursuing championships. Others are primarily looking for an opportunity to continue their education while remaining involved in the sport they love.

The challenge for the coach is to bring those individuals together and create a unified team.

That has been one of Nalls’ central responsibilities.

RECOGNITION OF A COACHING CAREER

Nalls’ accomplishments have earned recognition at both the national and regional levels.

His induction into the NJCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame reflects a career that includes success as both an athlete and coach. His accomplishments as an NJCAA national champion and collegiate wrestler established his credentials long before he became a Hall of Fame coach.

More recently, his work at Lassen was recognized when he was named Big 8 North Coach of the Year for 2025–26, following a season in which the Cougars produced strong regional performances.

But coaching success cannot be measured entirely through awards.

A coach’s greatest accomplishments are often found in the athletes who pass through the program.

Some become champions.

Some become All-Americans.

Some transfer to four-year institutions.

Some graduate and pursue careers outside wrestling.

And some eventually return to the sport as coaches.

That is how a wrestling legacy is passed from one generation to another.

EXPANDING THE LASSEN LEGACY

LASSEN AND THE NJCAA–3C2A CONNECTION

Because Nalls has coached in both the NJCAA and 3C2A, he offers a valuable perspective on the differences between the two organizations.

While the NJCAA has more wrestling programs and conducts a national championship, Nalls believes the fundamental competitive quality can be comparable.

In his view, the primary difference is the number of programs.

Some NJCAA institutions can offer scholarships and possess significant recruiting resources, while others cannot. The same variability exists within 3C2A wrestling.

Some programs have established recruiting pipelines and attract outstanding athletes. Others operate with more limited resources.

But competitive wrestling exists in both environments.

“We are just as competitive as the NJCAA,” Nalls said.

He believes California’s top 3C2A teams and individual wrestlers could compete successfully against strong NJCAA competition.

That perspective is particularly important as California community-college wrestling experiences renewed growth.

The state has a history of producing elite wrestlers.

Lassen’s own history proves it.

THE FUTURE OF 3C2A WRESTLING

After decades of fluctuating program numbers, California community-college wrestling is showing renewed momentum, with programs returning and new opportunities emerging.

Nalls believes sustaining that growth will require consistent advocacy.

“We need to continue to advocate and educate the institutions that had it on the benefits of our sport,” he explained.

That advocacy is increasingly important because wrestling offers colleges more than athletic competition.

It can help recruit students, develop leadership and discipline, provide transfer opportunities and create pathways to higher education.

The growth of women’s wrestling makes that argument even stronger.

Nalls believes the expansion of women’s wrestling represents a “win-win situation” for institutions and the sport.

But he also believes 3C2A wrestling needs to promote itself more effectively.

The accomplishments of programs such as Lassen demonstrate that there is a compelling story to tell.

EXPANDING WOMEN’S WRESTLING AT LASSEN

One of the most significant developments during Nalls’ current tenure has been the establishment of Lassen College’s first women’s wrestling program, a milestone that expands opportunities for female athletes throughout Northern California while positioning the college within one of the fastest-growing movements in American wrestling.

Women’s wrestling has experienced remarkable growth at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels. As participation continues to surge, community colleges have become an increasingly important part of the sport’s development, offering student-athletes an opportunity to continue competing while pursuing their education and preparing for the next level.

Lassen’s new program is already making its mark. To date, Alondra Juarez (Alisal HS) has established herself as a two-time NJCAA placer and All-American, earning honors in 2025 and 2026. In 2026, Alexandra Loretto (Pacheco HS) also earned NJCAA All-American honors, providing early evidence of the talent and competitive potential being developed through Lassen’s women’s program.

For Lassen, the addition of women’s wrestling represents more than simply expanding its athletic offerings. It reflects the program’s willingness to evolve while remaining true to the values that have defined its wrestling tradition for generations. The college is not turning away from its history or attempting to redefine its identity. Instead, it is extending a legacy built on opportunity, excellence, and the belief that wrestling can change lives.

In that sense, the women’s program is not a departure from Lassen’s storied past. It is the next chapter in a tradition that continues to grow—one that now includes a new generation of female wrestlers making their own mark on the Lassen legacy.

THE NEXT CHAPTER

A LEGACY LARGER THAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Lassen College wrestling has already established a remarkable history.

The program’s 100 3C2A medalists, 43 3C2A All-Americans and 14 individual champions represent generations of athletes who committed themselves to the sport.

The 1986 state championship represents a team that established itself as the best in California.

The subsequent runner-up finishes demonstrate the program’s sustained excellence.

The four NJCAA national championships represent a period when Lassen stood among the nation’s elite.

The national champions and All-Americans represent the individual talent that passed through Susanville.

And the more than 50 wrestlers who continued to four-year colleges demonstrate the program’s ability to create opportunities beyond community college.

Those accomplishments combine to create a legacy that places Lassen among the most accomplished junior-college wrestling programs in California and the nation.

But the challenge for the current program is not simply to recreate the Lassen of the 1980s or the national powerhouse of the 1990s.

The challenge is to build the next Lassen.

That means continuing to compete for championships while maintaining academic standards. It means expanding women’s wrestling. It means creating opportunities for athletes to transfer to four-year institutions. It means advocating for 3C2A wrestling and demonstrating the value of the sport to college administrators.

Most importantly, it means continuing to provide young people with an opportunity to discover what wrestling can do for them.

A SIMPLE MAN WITH A BIGGER PURPOSE

Away from wrestling, Nalls describes himself as a “pretty simple man.“

He enjoys spending time with his wife and three dogs, camping and relaxing at the lake.

But he also describes himself as a lifelong student of wrestling.

That may be the most fitting description of all.

After decades as an athlete and coach, Nalls continues to study the sport. He understands that wrestling is constantly changing. Training evolves. Technique evolves. Recruiting evolves. Women’s wrestling is expanding. Community-college athletics continues to change.

The best coaches must evolve with it.

Yet certain principles remain timeless.

Hard work matters.
Preparation matters.
Education matters.
Character matters.
Opportunity matters.

Those principles connect Nalls’ entire wrestling journey—from a Chicago-area high school wrestler, to an NJCAA national champion, to a University of Illinois competitor, to an assistant coach at Lassen, to a longtime coach at multiple levels, and ultimately back to Lassen as the leader of the program.

A coach once gave Nalls an opportunity when he needed direction.

That opportunity helped change his life.

Decades later, Nalls is in a position to provide similar opportunities to another generation.

“I feel that I owe it to the sport to give back,” he said.

That simple statement may ultimately define both Lonnie Nalls and the current era of Lassen College wrestling.

A LEGACY STILL BEING WRITTEN

The history of Lassen College wrestling is one of transformation.

A program that emerged as a powerful California 3C2A force in the 1980s became a national NJCAA powerhouse in the 1990s and early 2000s. Its banners and record books document the championships, but they cannot fully capture the countless hours of training, sacrifice, academic work and personal growth behind those accomplishments.

Now, Lassen is writing another chapter.

Under Lonnie Nalls, the Cougars are once again building a program grounded in the values that have defined their best eras: hard work, discipline, education, opportunity and competitive excellence.

Nalls’ own journey provides perhaps the most appropriate perspective on what Lassen wrestling can mean.

A coach once gave him an opportunity when he needed direction.

That opportunity helped change his life.

Decades later, Nalls is in a position to provide similar opportunities to another generation.

The Cougars have already established a remarkable legacy of championships, champions and All-Americans. But their greatest legacy may be found in the lives of the athletes who passed through the program and carried its lessons with them.

Because championships eventually become statistics.

Records eventually become history.

But the impact of a coach and a wrestling program on a young person’s life can last forever.

In Susanville, that legacy continues.

Lassen College wrestling is not simply preserving its past. It is building its future—one wrestler, one practice, one classroom and one opportunity at a time.

UNITED STATES OLYMPIAN

• Jamill Kelly, Silver Medalist – Freestyle [2004 Athens, Greece]

NCAA DIVISION I ALL-AMERICANS

• Joey Bracamonte [Univ. of Oregon]: 5th Place, 2006
• Eugene Harris [Univ. of Oregon]: 4th Place, 2002
• T.J. Williams [Univ. of Iowa]: 2x CHAMPION [3x AA], 1999 – ’01
• Paul Gomez [Univ. of Nebraska]: 8th Place, 2000
• Shelton Benjamin [Univ. of Minnesota]: 5th Place, 1997 / 3rd Place, 1998
• Kelvin Jackson [Michigan State]: CHAMPION, 1995

NAIA ALL-AMERICANS

• Forrest Bouge [Great Falls]: 8th Place 2008
• Zach Flake [Campbellsville] CHAMPION, 2007 [3x AA]
• Jose Sanchez [Menlo]: 4th Place, 2003

3C2A STATE MEDALISTS / ALL-AMERICANS [TOP 4]

• 184 – Joshua Cortez, 2^nd Place, 2025 
• 184 – Andrew Zarate, 4^th Place, 2024 
• 125 – Nick Foster, 4^th Place, 2019 
• 149 – Logan Garcia, 4^th Place, 2019 
• 184 – Russell Rucklos, 3^rd Place, 2019 
• 184 – Tevin Bailey, 4^th Place, 2018 
• 285 – Cole Mair, 2^nd Place, 2018 
• 184 – Tevin Bailey, 3^rd Place, 2017 
• HWT – Cola Mair, 3^rd Place, 2017 
• 197 – Wes Ruffer, 3^rd Place, 2016
• 165 – Owen Craugh, 4^th Place, 2012 
• 149 – Marcial Rodriguez, 4^th Place, 2011
• 149 – Brand Kummerer, CHAMPION, 2008
• 174 – James Hammontree, 4^th Place, 2008 
• 125 – Corey Houser , 2^nd Place, 2007 
• 157 – Trinity Perkins, CHAMPION, 2007 
• 197 – Shane Miller, CHAMPION, 2007 
• 133 – Shawn McGhee, CHAMPION, 1990 
• 150 – Country Taylor, CHAMPION, 1990 
• 158 – Marcus Boness, 3^rd Place, 1990 
• 167 – Todd Burk, 4^th Place, 1990 
• HWT – Lamar Washington, CHAMPION, 1990 
• 126 – Maurice Hernandez, 3^rd Place, 1989
• 134 – Shawn McGee, CHAMPION, 1989 
• 167 – Matt Davis, CHAMPION, 1989
• 126 – Dave Singletary, CHAMPION, 1988
• 167 – Scott Bones, CHAMPION /OW, 1988
• 177 – Billy Bennett, 3^rd Place, 1988 
• 275 – Chuck Guptill, 3^rd Place, 1988
• 142 – Mike Taylor, 2^nd Place, 1987
• 150 – Jeff Hernandez, 2^nd Place, 1987
• HWT – Chuck Guptill, 3^rd Place, 1987 
• 118 – Rick Fehr, 4^th Place, 1986
• 126 – Wes Fehr, CHAMPION, 1986
• 134 – Bill Nickerson, 2^nd Place, 1986
• 142 – Rodney Ford, CHAMPION, 1986
• 158 – David Rumfield, CHAMPION, 1986
• 177 – Tom Rodgers, CHAMPION, 1986
• 118 – Victor Tanksley, 2^nd Place, 1981 
• 118 – Mark Mathews, 4^th Place, 1977
• 126 – Guy Reilly, 4^th Place, 1975
• 118 – Purnty, 4^th Place, 1970 
• 137 – John Zenith, 3^rd Place, 1969

STATE MEDALISTS [5^TH – 8^TH PLACE]

• 125 – Troy Valentine,  7^th Place, 2025
• 197 – Chris Wells, 7^th Place, 2025 
• 133 – Dustin Merlos, 7^th Place, 2024 
• 133 – Dustin Merlos, 7^th Place, 2023 
• 184 – Andrew Zarate, 8^th Place, 2023 
• 157 – Gabriel DeHaro, 8^th Place, 2019 
• 141 – Logan Garcia, 8^th Place, 2018 
• 197 – Tony Rogers, 5^th Place, 2018 
• 149 – Alex Aniciente, 6^th Place, 2016
• 174 – Javier Contreras, 8^th Place, 2015
• 149 – Justin Hill, 8^th Place, 2014 
• 157 – Sean Raftery, 5^th Place, 2014 
• 174 – Tytin Johnson, 7^th Place, 2014 
• 125 – Dieuminse Dore, 6^th Place, 2013 
• 125 – Dieuminse Dore, 8^th Place, 2012 
• 133 – Jeff Lobos, 5^th Place, 2011 
• 157 – Owen Craugh, 6^th Place, 2011 
• 165 – Joe Madison, 5^th Place, 2010 
• 174 – Chris White, 8^th Place, 2010 
• 149 – Amol Aroliga, 8^th Place, 2009
• 125 – John Mort, 8^th Place, 2008
• 157 – Rafael Munoz, 6^th Place, 2008
• 165 – Anthony Clay, 8^th Place, 2008 
• 184 – Tony Ferris, 7^th Place, 2008
• 285 – Carson Carman, 7^th Place, 2008 
• 174 – Brad Muthart, 5^th Place, 2007
• 184 – Jonas Schenzel, 8^th Place, 2007
• 285 – Chris Kiel, 5^th Place, 2007
• 149 – Henry Kofa, 2^nd Place, 2006 
• 165 – Tony Moser, 8^th Place, 2006
• 174 – Matt Livley, 7^th Place, 2006
• 184 – Shane Miller, 8^th Place, 2006
• 142 – Greg Valencia, 5^th Place, 1990
• 118 – Albert Lalonde, 5^th Place, 1989 
• 158 – Mokie McGhee, 5^th Place, 1989
• 118 – Raymond Park, 8^th Place, 1988
• 134 – Bill Kopp, 6^th Place, 1988
• 142 – Billy Reid, 5^th Place, 1988
• 150 – Angel Senquiz, 6^th Place, 1988
• 158 – David Gyorfi, 7^th Place, 1988
• 190 – Fernando Rodriguez, 5^th Place, 1987
• 150 – Jeff Hernandez, 5^th Place, 1986
• 167 – Greg Parvin, 6^th Place, 1986
• 275 – Luis Flores, 5^th Place, 1986 
• 126 – Bill Nickerson, 5^th Place, 1985
• 134 – Mark Manfield, 5^th Place, 1985
• 142 – David Crisp, 5^th Place, 1985 
• 150 – Tim Monahan, 7^th Place, 1985
• 158 – Elvin Jones, 6^th Place, 1985
• 177 – Mike Whitfield, 5^th Place, 1985 
• 150 – Tim Monohan, 5^th Place, 1984 
• 134 – Rod Lemos, 5^th Place, 1981 
• 158 – Wade Workman, 8^th Place, 1981 
• 177 – Dave Ernaga, 5^th Place, 1980 
• 158 – Vertis Elmore, 6^th Place, 1979
• 126 – Guy Reilly, 5^th Place, 1977
• 142 – Bob Loflin, 5^th Place, 1972 

TOP 10 TEAM FINISHES 3C2A STATE

• 2019 – 8^th Place 
• 2018 – 8^th Place [tie w/Santa Rosa JC]
• 2008 – 6^th Place 
• 2007 – 3^rd Place 
• 1990 – 2^nd Place 
• 1989 – 5^th Place 
• 1988 – 2^nd Place 
• 1987 – 2^nd Place 
• 1986 – CHAMPIONS 
• 1985 – 6^th Place 
• 1981 – 9^th Place [tie w/Rio Hondo]

ALL-AMERICANS [CA Wrestlers] 1992 – 2006

• 125 – John Rojas (Canyon Springs, S): 7^th Place, 2005
• 285 – Dathan Miller (Will C. Wood HS, SJ): 2nd Place, 2003
• 285 – Dathan Miller (Will C. Wood HS, SJ): 7th Place, 2002
• 141 – Oliver Vasquez (Madera HS, CS): 5^th Place, 2001
• 184 – Matt Bates (Lassen HS, N): 8th Place, 2000
• 133 – Anthony Adame (Foothill-Bakersfield HS, CS): 7th Place, 1999
• 126 – Jose Sanchez (Edison HS, CS): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1998
• 190 – Demitrist Huff (Upland HS, S): 3rd Place, 1997
• 118 – Paul Gomez (North Monterey HS, CC): NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1996 
• 134 – Jamill Kelley (Atwater HS, SJ): 2nd Place, 1996 
• 190 – Demetrist Huff (Upland HS, S): 7th Place, 1996 

ALL-AMERICANS [Out of State Wrestlers] 1992 – 2006

• 149 – Henry Kofa [Denver East HS, CO]: 5^th Place, 2006
• 165 – Ray Richardson [Joliet HS, IL]: 4^th Place, 2006
• 133 – Chris Harris [Cimarron-Memorial HS, NV]: 3^rd Place, 2005
• 141 – Zach Flake [Lakota West HS, OH], NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2005
• 157 – Alex Fliaha [Pleasant HS, OH]: 7th Place, 2005
• 125 – Forrest Bouge [Elko HS, NV]: 8th Place, 2004
• 141 – Joe Mavins [Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS, SC]: 7th Place, 2004
• 133 – Charles Lloyd [Mount Carmel HS, IL]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2004
• 174 – Anthony Johnson [West Laurens HS, GA]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2004
• 285 – Kelly Anundson [Sparks HS, NV]: 4th Place, 2004
• 133 – Justin Stanley [Wilton HS, IA] 6th Place, 2003
• 165 – Shawn Riley [Elko HS, NV]: 5^th Place, 2003
• 184 – Anthony Johnson [West Laurens HS, GA]: 3^rd Place, 2003
• 165 – David Hilliard [Proviso HS, IL]: 2^nd Place, 2002
• 157 – Joey Bracamonte [West Mesa HS, NM]: 5th Place, 2002
• 149 – Dan Shaw [Fallon HS, NV]: 8th Place, 2002
• HWT – Randall Brown: 6th Place, 2001
• 157 – Al Daniels [Hubbard HS, IL]: 7th Place, 2001
• 141 – Oliver Vasquez [Miami Central HS, FL]: 5^th Place, 2001
• 149 – Brandon Cleaves [Kanakakee HS, IL], 5^th Place, 2001
• 197 – Richard Paulikonas [Lithuania]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2001
• 125 – Vaymond Dennis [Hammond HS, MD]: 5^th Place, 2000
• 133 – Jeff Charlebois [Oswego HS, IL]: 3^rd Place, 2000
• 141 – Tim Maldonado [East Chicago Central HS, IN]: 3^rd Place, 2000
• 197 – Moses McCraney [Miami Killian HS, FL]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2000
• 157 – Eugene Harris [Cimarron Memorial HS, NV]: 3^rd Place, 1999
• 174 – Lewis Taylor [Bogan HS, IL}: 7th Place, 1999
• 184 – Anton Talamantes [Bishop Dwenger HS, IN]: NATIONAL CHAMPION,  1999
• 197 – Dupree Lacey [Shelton HS, WA]: 2^nd Place, 1999
• 285 – John Bell [Columbia HS, GA]: 4^th Place, 1999
• 118 – Vince Sessa [Lake Central HS, IN]: 5^th Place, 1998
• 134 – Sonny Marchette [Walsh Jesuit HS, OH], NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1998
• 150 – Dennis Mitchell [Conway HS, SC]: 3^rd Place, 1998
• 177 – Moses McCraney [Miami Killian HS, FL], 3^rd Place, 1998
• 126 – Kelly Revells [Summersville HS, SC]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1997
• 134 – Jason Lawrence [Valley Lutheran HS, MI]: 4^th Place, 1997
• 142 – T.J. Williams [Mt. Carmel HS, IL]: 2^nd Place, 1997
• 150 – Matt Brady [Kearsley HS, MI]: 4^th Place, 1997
• 167 – Markese Nelson [Kirby HS, TN]: 2^nd Place, 1997
• 184 – Joe Watson [North Miami Beach HS, FL]: NATIONAL CHAMPON, 1997
• 285 – Vladmir Matyushenko [Russia]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1997
• 145 – Vladimir Anoshenko [Russia]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1996
• 285 – Shelton Benjamin [Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS, SC]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1996
• 126 – Robert Iglesias [North Miami Beach HS, FL]: 5^th Place, 1995
• 142 – Ben Gerdes [Carl Sanburg HS, IL]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1995
• 150 – Mike Douglas [Dolton Thornridge HS]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1995 
• 167 – Gerald Carr [West Laurens HS, GA]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1995
• 177 – Joe Watson [North Miami Beach HS, FL]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1995
• 190 – Wayne Matthews [Cholla HS, AZ]: 8^th Place, 1995
• 285 – Shelton Benjamin [Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS, SC]: 3^rd Place 
• 134 – John Wells [Albert Gallatin HS, PA]: 5^th Place, 1994
• 167 – Martin Hammers [Jacksonville HS, IL]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1994
• 118 – Kelvin Jackson [Anderson Highland, IN]: NATIONAL CHAMPION, 1993
• 126 – John Wells [Albert Gallatin HS, PA]: 5^th Place, 1993
• 134 – Aaron Whitlock [Miami HS, OK]: 4^th Place, 1993
• 167 – Martin Hammers [Jacksonville HS, IL]: 2^nd Place, 1993
• 190 – Hercules Ward [East Cleveland Shaw HS, OH]: 2^nd Place, 1993
• 285 – Lamar Washington [East Cleveland Shaw HS, OH]: 3^rd Place, 1993
• 118 – Kelvin Jackson [Anderson Highland HS, IN]: 2^nd Place, 1992
• 126 – Vernon Hansen [Maywood Proviso West HS, IL]: 5^th Place, 1992
• 150 – Sidney Hooks [Maywood Proviso West HS, IL]: 2^nd Place, 1992
• 190 – Craig Locke [Delta HS, IN]: 6^th Place, 1992
• 285 – Jeff Pease [Southside HS, IN]: 8^th Place, 1992  

NJCAA NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS [4x]

1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

NJCAA NATIONALS –  TOP 5 FINISHES [9x]

• 2004 – 2nd Place
• 2000 – 4^th Place 
• 1999 – 3^rd Place 
• 1998 – CHAMPIONS [tied w/North Idaho College]
• 1997 – CHAMPIONS
• 1996 – CHAMPIONS
• 1995 – CHAMPIONS [tied w/Garden City CC]
• 1993 – 3rd Place 
• 1990 – 3rd Place

3C2A STATE PLACERS / ALL-AMERICANS [WOMEN’S DIV.]

• Alondra Juarez [Alisal HS, CC]: 3rd Place, 2026 / 4th ’25 / ALL-AMERICAN
• Alexandra Loretto [Pacheco HS, SJ]: 3rd Place, 2026 / ALL-AMERICAN

Feature image – photos courtesy of Lonnie Nalls and John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com.

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