By CRAIG PHILLIPS

Staff writer

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – It was old home day for the Clarion University wrestling program Friday at Union Station’s South Plaza.

Golden Eagle greats Wade Schalles and Kurt Angle were named to the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s NCAA 75^th Anniversary team before a crowd of roughly 4,000 fans in an open-air ceremony.

The most important person in attendance, according to both Schalles and Angle, was their former coach Bob Bubb, who guided Clarion to the spotlight in Division I circles and will be inducted to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame later this year.

“When I was up on the stage, I was looking down at coach Bubb and he was all smiles,” Schalles said. “Bob has meant a lot to all of us. You could see it in his eyes that this brought him a lot of joy.

“He helped all of us through wrestling, through school,” Schalles continued. “He shared his family with us and made us a part of his family … to watch him smile made it all that more enjoyable for me. It made it special for me to be here for him, much more than for me myself.”

Angle echoed Schalles’ sentiments.

“I was happy for coach (Bubb), for all of his hard work paid off in Wade and I being honored,” Angle said. “It was nice for him and Clarion and proved we could produce champions.”

Angle also was selected as the on-stage spokesman for the entire 15-man contingent, which included such legends as Dan Gable, John Smith and four-time NCAA champions Pat Smith and Cael Sanderson.

Angle, who thanked the NCAA, NWCA and God for the opportunity to be selected to the all-time team, began, “I stand along side these guys and wonder how I made it. These guys were my idols and I looked up to them. They gave me the desire to be the best. This is like winning another (Olympic) gold medal.

“I’m in the WWE and I enjoy playing Kurt Angle the character on TV,” he continued. “But I’m always for you the wrestling fans and I always remind everyone, everytime, I’m Kurt Angle – amateur wrestler.”

A total of 47 wrestlers from the past 75 years were nominated by wrestling historians for on-line voting conducted for a period of months. The nominees were grouped into three categories: lightweights, middleweights and heavyweights.

Fifteen were then chosen to the all-time team.

Iowa had four selections while Oklahoma State had three and Clarion and Iowa State had two apiece.

Three native Pennsylvanians were selected and all three earned Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association titles during their scholastic careers. Joining Schalles, who won his state crown for Hollidaysburg High School, and Angle, a champion while at Mount Lebanon High School, was Carlton Haselrig of Johnstown.

Haselrig later won three NCAA championships at Pitt-Johnstown.

Schalles, known as “Wondrous Wade” during his career at Clarion, won NCAA titles in 1972 at 150 pounds and 1973 at 158. Due to a transfer rule, he was ruled ineligible to compete in the NCAA Championships during his senior season, but did manage to pin three NCAA champions during the season.

Schalles completed his career with a 153-5-1 record and 106 pins – then an NCAA record.

He capped a brilliant career by pinning Bloomsburg’s Shorty Hitchcock in the 177-pound finals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships. Hitchcock would go on to win the NCAA title that season and was voted the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.

Angle, who had a career record of 116-10-2 at Clarion, won NCAA titles in 1990 and 1992 and was a runner-up in 1991. He went on to win a freestyle World Championship before claiming the Olympic Gold medal at 220 pounds at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

Following the ceremony, Angle and Schalles signed autographs for almost an hour and were the last two signees to leave.

Angle had to leave on a private jet for Knoxville, Tenn., for a WWE show today before returning home to Pittsburgh on Sunday for a one-day visit with his family. Then he will be off on a two-week junket which will include a Wrestlemania event and time spent in Australia.

“My only regret is not being able to be with my wife and family when I’m gone,” he said.

Schalles, an assistant to the president of the Amateur Athletic Union, will return to his home in Orlando, Fla.

And, he may be up to something else special.

Schalles, who began his illustrious career as a high school freshman, is helping coach his son Jacob, the last of his children – who just happens to be in his first year of wrestling as a freshman.

For Bubb, whose Hall of Fame induction awaits, yesterday was one he’ll remember the rest of his life.

“As I stood and watched the ceremony, I was just sorry all the Clarion fans couldn’t be here to enjoy this moment,” Bubb began. “So many people have helped and done so much for Clarion to achieve success.

“To me, it was very emotional and I wish everyone could have been here,” he continued. “A greater award than to be selected to the Hall of Fame was to have two of our kids chosen to this team. I told both of them I couldn’t have been prouder of them as people and wrestlers. This was the greatest because they weren’t selected by a small group or committee, they were selected by the masses.”

And, both Schalles and Angle were proud to serve their leader, who ultimately showed them the way to St. Louis.

Use on scoreboard

(Lightweights)

-- Stephen Abas (Fresno State) 1998-02: Three-time NCAA champion, 144-4-0 career record with 32 falls, 125 pounds.
-- Yojiro Uetake (Oklahoma State) 1964-44: Three-time NCAA champ, 57-0-0 with 11 falls, 130 pounds.
-- Tom Brands (Iowa) 1989-92: Three-time NCAA champ, 158-7-2 with 46 falls, 134 pounds.
-- John Smith (Oklahoma State) 1984-88: Two-time NCAA champ, 157-7-2 with 40 falls, 134 pounds.
-- Dan Gable (Iowa State) 1968-70: Two-time NCAA champ, 96-1-0 with 72 falls at 137 pounds.

Honorable mention – Rick Sanders (Portland State) 1965-68: Two-time NCAA champ, 103-2-0 with 46 falls, 115 pounds; Elliott “Gray” Simons (Lock Haven) 1959-62: Three-time NCAA champ, 91-2-0, 115 pounds; Gene Mills (Syracuse) 1977-81: Two-time NCAA champ, 144-5-1 with 107 falls, 118 pounds; Rex Peery (Oklahoma State) 1933-35: Three-time NCAA champ, 118 pounds; Dave Auble (Cornell) 1958-60: Ed Peery (Pittsburgh) 1955-57: Three-time NCAA champ, 51-1-0, 123 pounds; Dwayne Keller (Oklahoma State) 1968, 70-71: Two-time NCAA champ, 64-1-0 with 13 falls, 126 pounds; Randy Lewis (Iowa) 1978-81, Two-time NCAA champ, 127-11-1 with 64 falls, 126 pounds; Mike Caruso (Lehigh) 1965-67: Three-time NCAA champ, 57-1-0 with six falls, 123 pounds.

(Middleweights)

-- Wade Schalles (Clarion) 1971-74: Two-time NCAA champ, 153-5-1 with 106 falls, 158 pounds.
-- Lee Kemp (Wisconsin) 1975-78: Three-time NCAA champ, 143-6-1 with 47 falls, 158 pounds.
-- Pat Smith (Oklahoma State) 1990-94: Four-time NCAA champ, 121-5-2 with 30 falls, 158 pounds.
-- Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa) 1993-97: Three-time NCAA champ, 96-3-0 with 12 falls, 150 pounds.
-- Joe Williams (Iowa) 1994-98: Three-time NCAA champ, 129-9-0 with 20 falls, 158 pounds.

Honorable mention – Wayne Martin (Oklahoma) 1934-36: Three-time NCAA champ, 39-2-0 with 21 falls, 145 pounds; Stan Henson (Oklahoma State) 1937-39: Three-time NCAA champ, 33-1-0, 155 pounds; Bill Koll (Northern Iowa) 143, 1946-48: Three-time NCAA champ, 37-0-0 with 15 falls, 145 pounds; Bill Nelson (Northern Iowa) 1947-50: Three-time NCAA champ, 1955; Tommy Evans (Oklahoma) 1951-54: Two-time NCAA champ, 42-1-0 with 20 falls, 147 pounds; Mark Churella (Michigan) 1976-79: Three-time NCAA champ, 132-13-0 with 41 falls, 167 pounds; Nate Carr (Iowa State) 1980-83: Three-time NCAA champ, 122-17-1, 150 pounds; Darryl Burley (Lehigh) 1979-83: Two-time NCAA champ, 94-5-1 with 33 falls, 142 pounds; Jim Zalesky (Iowa) 1981-84: Three-time NCAA champ, 131-8-1 with 26 falls, 158 pounds; Tim Kreiger (Iowa State) 1986-89: Two-time NCAA champ, 116-3-2, 150 pounds; Cary Kolat (Penn State, Lock Haven) 1993-97: Two-time NCAA champ, 111-7-0 with 53 falls, 142 pounds.

(Heavyweights)

-- Ed Banach (Iowa) 1980-83: Three-time NCAA champ, 141-9-1 with 73 falls, 177 pounds.
-- Carlton Haselrig (Pitt-Johnstown) 1986-89: Three-time NCAA champ, 143-3-1, 275 pounds.
-- Cael Sanderson (Iowa State) 1999-02: Four-time NCAA champ, 159-0-0 with 61 falls, 184 pounds.
-- Kurt Angle (Clarion) 1988-92: Two-time NCAA champ, 116-10-2, 275 pounds.
-- Dan Hodge (Oklahoma) 1955-57: Three-time NCAA champion, 46-0-0 with 36 falls, 177 pounds.

Honorable mention: Chris Campbell (Iowa) 1974-77: Two-time NCAA champ, 121-5-4 with 22 falls, 177 pounds; Dick DiBattista (Pennsylvania) 1941-43: Two-time NCAA champ, 37-0-0, 175 pounds; Dan Hodge (Oklahoma) 1955-57: Three-time NCAA champ, 46-0-0 with 36 falls, 177 pounds; Mark Lieberman (Lehigh) 1975-79: Two-time NCAA champ, 85-6-0 with 43 falls, 177 pounds; Mark Schultz (UCLA, Oklahoma) 1979-83: Three-time NCAA champ, 97-15-0, 177 pounds; Greg Strobel (Oregon State) 1971-74: Two-time NCAA champ, 124-5-1 with 43 falls, 190 pounds; Jess Lewis (Oregon State) 1968-70: Two-time NCAA champ, 76-1-0 with 50 falls, heavyweight; Stephen Neal (Cal State-Bakersfield) 1996-98: Two-time NCAA champ, 153-9-0 with 71 falls, 285 pounds; Chris Taylor (Iowa State) 1972-73: Two-time NCAA champ, 87-0-1 with 44 falls, heavyweight; Earl McCready (Oklahoma State) 1928-30: First three-time NCAA champ, heavyweight; Ben Peterson (Iowa State) 1970-72: Two-time NCAA champ, 74-4-0 with 24 falls, 190 pounds; Dick Hutton (Oklahoma State) 1947-50: Three-time NCAA champ and one-time runner-up, 42-1-1 with 15 falls, heavyweight.