SIUE

The SIUE wrestling program reached new heights with the 1974-75 squad which finished second at the NCAA Division II Championships. The Cougars finished the national championship with 71.5 team points and were outdistanced only by Northern Iowa. Under the direction of Head Coach Larry Kristoff, the Cougars boasted five All-Americans who would finish in the top six nationally. Larry Pruitt and Frank Savegnago both reached the championship match at 126 pounds and 190 pounds, respectively. Mike Taylor collected a pin in the third-place match at 150 pounds. Terry Mulrenin placed fourth at 126 pounds while Dennis Byrne finished in fifth at 167 pounds. Other key members of the 1974-75 team include Chico Aiken, Assistant Coach Gordon Anderson, David Byrne, Tony DiGuida, Jim McCoy, Gary McGrath, Ray McGrath, Terry Mertes, Mike O’Grady, Jim Reizer, David Robinson, Rob Rummel, Mark Sanders, Danny Santana, Manny Santana, Cricket Smith, Greg Tuck, Jerry Washington, and Kevin White.