"underappreciated" Hawkeye - the guy you really enjoyed who hasn't received the attention and accolades you feel he earned. I'm going to nominate three.
3. Ryan Fulsaas - Man, I loved to watch him fight. If every Hawk had his spirit and toughness we'd be winning team titles again. No, he did not have great technique and he took a lot of risks, but he never gave less than 100%. I remember a match in Carver (I can't remember the opponent, but it might have been Jon Trenge) when he got down big. The score against him seemed insurmountable, but his pace wore the guy down and Ryan came storming back. His opponent was dead on his feet and Fulsaas was taking him down and cutting him and it started to look like victory was possible. Then Ryan got a nosebleed and the match was stopped for a blood timeout. His opponent got a little rest but was still tired. The cotton fell out of Ryan's nose and it started to bleed again. Ryan scooped up the cotton, stuffed it back in his nose and ran back to the middle, hoping to avoid another timeout, but, alas, the referee stopped the match again. The additional timeout was enough for his foe to recover and he held Ryan off. It was one of the loudest ovations I've ever heard for a losing wrestler.
2. Daryl Weber - He would do anything to get on the mat, including cutting from 158, where he was behind Joe Williams, to 142. He was an All-American at 3 weights, including his title at 167 in 1996. He, too, was a fighter and that probably cost him at least two spots on the podium in 1995, when he pushed Eric Smith off the mat onto the concrete in the consolation semi-finals. Weber was penalized (I believe for unsportsmanlike conduct) and when Smith couldn't continue he was awarded the win by injury default. As most of you know, Daryl is a successful high school coach in Virginia now.
1. Simon Roberts - I'm not old enough to have seen Si wrestle, but I had the honor and pleasure of hanging out with him and his lovely wife a few times in the early '70's. Si was witty, smart and humble. He NEVER mentioned his athletic exploits. He loved his family and community. With all that has been written about him in the wrestling press over the years, why am I calling him "underappreciated"? Simple - HE BELONGS IN THE NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME. This year's class has been announced and, once again, he has been omitted. Si is not a young man and I'd hate to see the NWHOF pull a "Ron Santo" and wait until Si is gone and induct him posthumously.
3. Ryan Fulsaas - Man, I loved to watch him fight. If every Hawk had his spirit and toughness we'd be winning team titles again. No, he did not have great technique and he took a lot of risks, but he never gave less than 100%. I remember a match in Carver (I can't remember the opponent, but it might have been Jon Trenge) when he got down big. The score against him seemed insurmountable, but his pace wore the guy down and Ryan came storming back. His opponent was dead on his feet and Fulsaas was taking him down and cutting him and it started to look like victory was possible. Then Ryan got a nosebleed and the match was stopped for a blood timeout. His opponent got a little rest but was still tired. The cotton fell out of Ryan's nose and it started to bleed again. Ryan scooped up the cotton, stuffed it back in his nose and ran back to the middle, hoping to avoid another timeout, but, alas, the referee stopped the match again. The additional timeout was enough for his foe to recover and he held Ryan off. It was one of the loudest ovations I've ever heard for a losing wrestler.
2. Daryl Weber - He would do anything to get on the mat, including cutting from 158, where he was behind Joe Williams, to 142. He was an All-American at 3 weights, including his title at 167 in 1996. He, too, was a fighter and that probably cost him at least two spots on the podium in 1995, when he pushed Eric Smith off the mat onto the concrete in the consolation semi-finals. Weber was penalized (I believe for unsportsmanlike conduct) and when Smith couldn't continue he was awarded the win by injury default. As most of you know, Daryl is a successful high school coach in Virginia now.
1. Simon Roberts - I'm not old enough to have seen Si wrestle, but I had the honor and pleasure of hanging out with him and his lovely wife a few times in the early '70's. Si was witty, smart and humble. He NEVER mentioned his athletic exploits. He loved his family and community. With all that has been written about him in the wrestling press over the years, why am I calling him "underappreciated"? Simple - HE BELONGS IN THE NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME. This year's class has been announced and, once again, he has been omitted. Si is not a young man and I'd hate to see the NWHOF pull a "Ron Santo" and wait until Si is gone and induct him posthumously.
