Skip To Main Content

Eastern Oregon University Athletics

Hall of Fame

Back To Hall of Fame Back To Hall of Fame
HOF

1967, 1968, and 1969 Wrestling Teams

  • Class
  • Induction
    2016
  • Sport(s)
    Wrestling
With the return of wrestling to EOU, the historic achievements set during these three seasons would go on to define what it means to be a Mountaineer wrestler. Head coach Erling Odegaard led the squad all three seasons and directed the Mountaineers to three-straight strips to the NAIA National Championships.
 
During the 1966-67 season, the Mountaineers notched the Oregon Collegiate Conference and the NAIA District 2 Championships while placing ninth at the NAIA National Championships. Individually, Rollin Schimmel and Leonard Phelan led the 1966-67 Mountaineer squad. Schimmel would become the NAIA National Champion at 157 pounds and was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Phelan would finish the tournament in third place at 177.
 
The 1967-68 team built off the previous season and continued its reign as Oregon Collegiate Conference Champions and NAIA District 2 Champions. The team finished even better in the NAIA National Championships with a sixth-place finish.
 
Craig Woodward led the way individually, with a third-place finish at 167 pounds. John Kruesi finished fourth at 115 and Dan Ellsworth finished sixth at 145.
 
The 1968-69 team would again finish sixth at the NAIA National Championships. Brick Woodward notched the 160-pound title, while Kruesi earned second at 115.
Back To Hall of Fame

Copyright © 2025 Eastern Oregon University Athletics