Agree with Lincoln and Metcalf. Stunning losses to me both times (to some pretty darn good wrestlers for sure). Glad you brought up the Ironside vs Kolat match, it made me have to dig because I wasn't sure I would consider that an upset...................so.........................
Ironside beating Kolat may have been considered an upset to some at the time (1996), I think largely because Kolat was a couple years ahead of Ironside from a competitive standpoint and had placed 3,2 while at Penn State (1993, 1994 - sat out 1995 transferring to Lock Haven). When you consider their overall careers, it's pretty darn close, so not sure I would classify it as an upset in that regard, but some may because of the time in which it happened, and that's fine. The comeback fashion in which Ironside beat him in the 1996 All-Star match was phenomenal, that much is certain.
Later that year in which Kolat won the Title, Ironside was the #1 seed, losing in OT in the semis, to 4 seed Steve St. John (one of the worst losses to witness in my life @ Minnesota, and St. John had beaten a higher seeded Ironside the year before as well - I believe St. John was 2 years older). Kolat was the #2 seed. Going into the semi's Ironside had a Tech and 2 Falls, Kolat 2 Majors and a Dec. Kolat finished it off beating St. John 5-2.
Ironside was a 4x All-American, (6,3,1,1), 4x Big Ten Champ, 67 match win streak, Hodge Winner.
Kolat was a 4x All-American as well (2,3,1,1) Pretty darn impressive, and of course his legendary H.S. record
Ironside career record = 127-10
Kolat career record = 111-7
So Kolat had the better career by a slim margin I suppose. Those are two tip-top careers, and pretty darn even.
