Career collegiate pins

[canvasback]

Congrats to Coach AL Sears, Belleville Maroons, for being recognized as the all-time
college career pin record holder. Coach Sears recorded 110 falls at SIUE, 1982-85.
Number two on the list is Wade Schalles with 106. No other wrestlers had 100 or more falls. See page 38, AWN, March 8, "Historian Takes a Look at Career Pins".

[Analizer17]

Really? He has the most, I would of thought it would be someone like Gene Mills with his amazing half.

[Grappler177]

More than 100 pins is amazing, even more so when you consider he probably only wrestled 3 varsity years. Consider Askren, who wrestled 4 years at a high level "only" has 86 (or there about).

Where do the numbers go from there? Who is 3rd, 4th, 5th ...

[Analizer17]

Yes, not to put Sears down but Askren is wrestling D 1 and I believe Sears wrestled D2. Like many people say there is a big differnece between the two divisions.

[robbewc]

SIUE wrestled a very competitive schedule eventhough they were D2. Look at the following:
1982-1983
Purdue 29-15 (NCAA-I) Missouri 22-18 (Ranked 22nd In NCAA-I) Illinois 30 -11 (NCAA-I) Chicago State 56 -0 (NCAA-II) Louisiana State 8-32 (Ranked 8th In NCAA-I) Kent State 22-22 (NCAA-I) Western Illinois 38-4 (NCAA-I) Northern Colorado 40-7 (NCAA-II Eastern Illinois 25-1 (Ranked 34th In NCAA-I) Tennessee-Chattanooga 32-9 (NCAA-I) Western Illinois 47-3 (NCAA-I) Southwest Missouri State 44-3 (NCAA-I) Northeast Missouri State 57-0 (NCAA-II) SIUE Record Illinois State 36-12 (NCAA-I) Kentucky 30-6 (Ranked 40th In NCAA-I) Indiana 30-13 (NCAA-I) Northwestern 35-9 (Ranked 25th In NCAA-I) U.S. Air Force Tournament 1st Place/Eight Teams Southwest Missouri State Tournament 1st Place/14 Teams Leatherneck Classic At Western Illinois 1st Place/Five Teams NCAA-II Midwest Regionals 1st Place/Nine Teams NCAA-II National Championships 4th Place/47 Teams

1983-1984
Oklahoma State 6-38 (ranked third in NCAA-I) Oklahoma 9-30 (ranked fourth In NCAA-I) Central State (Oklahoma) 18-26 (ranked second) Purdue 35-8 (NCAA-I) Eastern Illinois 36-10 (NCAA-I) Northern Iowa 14-22 (ranked 9th in NCAA-I) Minnesota "B" 44-6 Missouri 17-20 (ranked 15th in NCAA-I) Minnesota 20-20 (NCAA-I) Augustana (Ill.) 41-6 (NAIA) Arizona State 32-8 (NCAA-I) Clemson 33-9 (NCAA-I) Tennessee-Chattanooga 26-18 (NCAA-I) Tennessee-Knoxville 29-16 (NCAA-I) Eastern Illinois 32-8 (NCAA-I) Missouri 23-17 (ranked 10th in NCAA-I) Illinois State 29-11 (NCAA-I) Truman State 48-0 (NCAA-II) Southwest Missouri State 38-3 (NCAA-I) Indiana 38-9 (NCAA-I) Northern Illinois Dual Tournament 3rd Place/Eight Teams Southwest Missouri State Invitational 1st Place/12 Teams NCAA-II Midwest Regionals at SIUE 1st Place/Seven Teams NCAA-II National Championships at Baltimore, Md. 1st Place/47 Teams

1984-1985
Oklahoma 12-26 (ranked fourth in NCAA-I) Truman State 54-2 (NCAA-II) Missouri-Rolla 32-17 (NCAA-II) Northern Iowa 25-12 (ranked eighth in NCAA-II) Augustana (S.D.) 30-10 (ranked fifth in NCAA-II) Nebraska-Omaha 35-13 (ranked second in NCAA-II) Nebraska 22-24 (ranked 27th in NCAA-I) Adams State 36-12 (ranked third in NAIA) Kent State 42-6 (NCAA-I) Minnesota 36-10 (NCAA-I) Augustana (Ill.) 42-10 (NAIA) Ohio 45-3 (NCAA-I) Arizona State 28-6 (ranked third in NCAA-I) Morgan State 33-8 (NCAA-II) Tennessee-Chattanooga 39-12 (NCAA-I) Eastern Illinois 31-12 (NCAA-I) Central Oklahoma 31-9 (NAIA) Indiana State 25-16 (ranked 29th in NCAA-I) Southwest Missouri State 48-3 (NCAA-I) Purdue 31-15 (ranked 30th in NCAA-I) Illinois 27-13 (ranked 28th in NCAA-I) Illinois State 27-11 (ranked 25th in NCAA-I) Iowa 13-44 (ranked first in NCAA-I) Southern Open (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 5th Place/39 teams Illinois Invitational 1st Place/25 teams Huskie Dual Tournament 1st Place/6 teams Midlands 10th Place/42 teams Southwest Missouri State Invitational 1st Place/10 teams NCAA-II Midwest Regionals at SIUE 1st Place/Seven Teams NCAA-II Nationals at Dayton, Ohio 1st Place/40 Teams

I think it was not your normal D2 schedule. With the quality of the teams SIUE wrestled, give Al his due. He is the PIN KING.

[robbewc]

1984-1985 30-0
1983-1984 28-8
1982-1983 31-9-1

I don't have access to his freshman statistics but obviously he didn't wrestle as much as in his last three years. Pretty impressive considering the schedule.

[Analizer17]

I mean don't get me wrong SIUE had a very competitive schedule but I don't think you could compare it to Missouri's schedule the past few years.

[Grappler177]

1984-1985 30-0
1983-1984 28-8
1982-1983 31-9-1

I don't have access to his freshman statistics but obviously he didn't wrestle as much as in his last three years. Pretty impressive considering the schedule.

Okay, the schedule I am not knocking - they were a tough team and wrestled some good comp. To Analizer's point, it is not the same level as MO but good & tough nonetheless.

What I was thrown by are the stat's you put up ... they did not seem to add up. I mean, if he win's all those by pin that would be 89 pins - meaning, he would have had to had 27 pins his freshman year. If he did, that is awesome.

But the skeptic in me did a little digging ... according to the SIUE web site, he does hold the career record for pins, though they list it at 112 (still amazing). They also do not have him with a perfect season - which makes sense considering they do not list him as a national champ. He was a 4x AA so he definetly had (has) skills.

You have any more info???

[Mr. White]

I believe he was a D-II national champ. That is probably his undefeated season. Back then, if you were a D-II champ you could wrestle in the D-I national tourney. He was a D-I All-American but not a champ. So depending on where you look, he may or may not be listed as undefeated for that year. I am going based on memory and what other SIUE alumni from that era have told me, so correct me if you have more info.

[Grappler177]

I believe he was a D-II national champ. That is probably his undefeated season. Back then, if you were a D-II champ you could wrestle in the D-I national tourney. He was a D-I All-American but not a champ. So depending on where you look, he may or may not be listed as undefeated for that year. I am going based on memory and what other SIUE alumni from that era have told me, so correct me if you have more info.

Maybe he was ... not certain though. The SIUE site does list him as a 4x AA, but does not have him as a champ.

I did find it strange that he wrestled (and AA'd) in the D1 tourny, but they do not have him as a champ.

In the end, I think your memory may be more complete than the site.

[Mr. White]

Maybe he was ... not certain though. The SIUE site does list him as a 4x AA, but does not have him as a champ.

I did find it strange that he wrestled (and AA'd) in the D1 tourny, but they do not have him as a champ.

In the end, I think your memory may be more complete than the site.
Well I do have a good memory, but it is not of when the events actually happened. I didn't even get into wrestling until about 1990 when I was nine years old. What I do remember though is the conversations I have had with the many coaches that were SIUE wrestlers during this era. A few have told me that he was a D-I all-American. When I questioned how he could have been D-I, I was told about how they allowed the D-II champ to wrestle in the D-I tourney. Either way his pin record is untouchable.

[white knight]

He was a two time D1 All American. He place 7th or 8th in both his junior and senior year.

[GrappleFan1]

In 1985 Keith Hanson from Augustana was the Division II National Champion. Both he and Sears wrestled in the DI championships. Sears finished 8th, Hanson did not place. Sears was seeded 9th in the DI tournament.

I don't know why both of them were in the tournament, even though I thought either all of the 2nds, or a number of them qualified as wild cards.

In 1984 Don Stevens, Maurice Brown and Booker Benford qualified for the DI tournament with Stevens finishing 8th and Benford finishing 3rd. Sears did not wrestle in the 1984 DI tournament.

[Grappler177]

He was a two time D1 All American. He place 7th or 8th in both his junior and senior year.

Are you talking about Sears? According to the 2006-07 Media Guide on the SIUE web site, he was a 4 time AA (82 - 85). He even has his picture on page 5 where they showcase all of their 4 time AA's.

Page 2 of that same guide lists the Div 1 AA's, as well as the D2 National Champs. He is listed as taking 8th in 85 D1 Nationals but not listed as a D2 Champ.

The media guide is linked below.
http://www.siue.edu/ATHLETIC/WREST/20062007/wrx.pdf

[robbewc]

In that era, if you finished 1st or 2nd Div II, you qualified for the national DI tournament. Hence you could be a Div II All-American and a D I All-American the same year. Al was never a Div II national champ but was twice a D I All-American in addition to being a 4 time D II All-American. Correction on his 30-0 season, it was 39-9.

Comparing Missouri which is a great D I school today and Max Askren who is one of the great 174 pounders in D I history is difficult to do. Two different eras and two different weight classes. If it was easy to get over 100 pins regardless of the Division, we wouldn't be having this debate. The facts stand that Al holds the NCAA record for most pins in a career.

If you really want to get started, Tim Wright was the first NCAA four time champion. Most publication list Pat Smith from Oklahoma State. Also a little known fact is that Alan Grammer was the only wrestler in John Smith's college career to beat Smith twice.

[Analizer17]

Yeah, I knew Alan was the only person to beat John Smith twice in college. Also that Tim Wright was the first NCAA four time champ, what years he wrestled just slips me right now. Also its Ben Askren at 174 and Max Askren at 197.

[Analizer17]

Also most say that Pat Smith was the first four time champion because they are talking about College Division 1.

[Amanda Donovan]

Well I do have a good memory, but it is not of when the events actually happened. I didn't even get into wrestling until about 1990 when I was nine years old. What I do remember though is the conversations I have had with the many coaches that were SIUE wrestlers during this era. A few have told me that he was a D-I all-American. When I questioned how he could have been D-I, I was told about how they allowed the D-II champ to wrestle in the D-I tourney. Either way his pin record is untouchable.


9 years old in 1990? Your just a baby! I would have thought by the way that you write that you were older than that. You are pretty knowledgeable.

[Analizer17]

9 years old in 1990? Your just a baby! I would have thought by the way that you write that you were older than that. You are pretty knowledgeable.

So, now-a-days you have to be old to be smart?

[Mr. White]

So, now-a-days you have to be old to be smart?
She just means I sound like an old man LOL. :D Thanks Amanda

[Amanda Donovan]

So, now-a-days you have to be old to be smart?


No, my husband is not old and no one knows more about wrestling than him.

Mr. White got what I meant!

[Amanda Donovan]

Not an old man, just having some knowledge on life.

[RAMbunctious]

Does anyone know what stunt Sears pulled when he broke the record for most falls? It was really pretty tame, but clever all the same.

[Grappler177]

Does anyone know what stunt Sears pulled when he broke the record for most falls? It was really pretty tame, but clever all the same.

Are you going to fill us in???? You can't keep us waiting forever.

Also, have to second AD MR White - I had you pegged as slightly older - by 10 years or so ...

[RAMbunctious]

Are you going to fill us in???? You can't keep us waiting forever.

Also, have to second AD MR White - I had you pegged as slightly older - by 10 years or so ...

Sorry, I thought someone might take a stab at it. Sears had bragged that he was going to do something special when he broke the record. Many of his team mates & definitely Coach Kristoff were a little concerned about what his "special" stunt would be.

I wasn't there but I do recall one of his team mates telling me about this. If I have some of the details wrong, please feel free to set them straight.

After breaking the record, he rolled down his socks & written on the inside of the socks were the total number of falls he had recorded in his career. No need for concern. Nothing flashy or unsportsmanlike. Really a pretty tame, but nonetheless clever & classy way of marking his record breaking performance.