Past Tense A WINNING TRADITION ENDS Wrestling has a rich tradition at Portland State. For many years, PSU boasted one of the top wrestling programs in the Pacific Northwest and a powerhouse in the Division II of the NCAA. The team was ably coached for 19 years (1952-71) by Howard Westcott. PSU’s most successful wrestler was Rick Sanders, who wrestled at 115 pounds and led his team to national prominence. As a freshman, Sanders won the NAIA gold, the first of five national freestyle championships. He took a bronze medal in the 1966 World, won the 1967 Pan-Am games, took silver in the 1967 World, and became the first American to win a world championship at his weight. He won the silver in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. Tragically, he died in an automobile accident after the latter event. Portland State’s wrestling team won the NCAA Division II National Championships in 1969, 1989, and 1990, the latter two anchored by Dan Russell ’91 and coached by Marlin Grahn. Russell was a four-year NCAA Champion and a two-time NCAA Division I All-American. Another well-known Portland State wrestler is All-American Eddie Dahlen, who is now a mixed martial arts fighter. In 1997 the program moved up to Division I of the NCAA along with all of Portland State’s athletic programs. At that time, the wrestling program was accepted into the prestigious Pac-10 conference. Unfortunately for the state of Oregon, the PSU wrestling program was cut at the end of the 2008-09 season. Past Tense features glimpses into Portland State’s history. To submit a story (or an idea for one), e-mail the RAPS History Preservation Committee at raps@pdx.edu. Rick Sanders
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