Category: Uncategorized (Page 77 of 174)

Writing this was a real treat, it was so much fun researching all these legends of the sport. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Chris Taylor

Chris was a larger then life type of character, both literally and figuratively. At 6 feet 5 inches and weighing over 400 lbs. Chris is the largest wrestling competitor in Olympic history. What’s amazing about Chris is the fact that he didn’t begin wrestling until he was a junior in high school. That didn’t stop him from winning two state titles thou. His two year career as a Cyclone was nothing short of spectacular. Taylor won individual titles in 1972 and 1973, leading his team to NCAA tournament titles both seasons. The Gentle Giant pinned his way through the NCAA tournament in 1973, becoming only the second wrestler to pin his way through a 32-man bracket. Taylor’s overall career record at Iowa State was 87-0-1 with 70 pins. In the Olympic games he earned a Bronze medal in freestyle and didn’t place in Greco. Being a rare DOUBLE competitor at the Olympics.

Yojiro Uetake

Yojiro was the complete wrestler, blending speed, strength and unparalleled skills to dominate all areas of the sport, takedowns, control, escapes and falls. Seldom did any opponent score offensive points against him. He was a 3x NCAA Champion, and was twice voted the NCAA Most Outstanding Wrestler. At the completion of his sophomore year, he returned home to Japan and won a Gold Medal at the 1964 Toyko Olympics. He returned to Oklahoma State and won 2 more NCAA titles. During his college career he never suffered a defeat, finishing with a perfect 58-0 record. In 1968, he returned to the Olympics and won his second Gold Medal, this time in Mexico City. Yojiro is widely considered the best college wrestler of all-time. Being as how freshman weren’t allowed to compete at this time in college, Yojiro was denied his opportunity to become the first 4x NCAA champion. But as it was, he was never really challenged on the mat, during his time at OSU. So its really hard to say just how good he really was.

Gene Mills

In the world of wrestling, there are legends, and then there is Gene Mills. With Gene, I honestly don’t even know where to begin, his outstanding list of credentials is strong enough to be featured in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. First off he had a career record of 1356-46-1, with 886 victories by pinfall. In high school he was a New Jersey state champion, and high school national champion. In college he was Syracuse University’s 1st 4 time All American, as well as a 2x NCAA Champion. He was twice voted the NCAA’s most outstanding wrestler. His most outstanding college accomplishment is a record he set that will likely never be broken. He is the NCAA D1 record holder for career pins. His record stands at 107 pins. He was also a 3x World Cup Champion, in 1980 he won Gold at the World Championship and was voted the tournaments most outstanding wrestler.

Dan Hodge

The exploits of the great Dan Hodge, are so great they are almost unbelievable. His success was so great, that the greatest achievement in college wrestling is an award named the Hodge Trophy. Its an award of excellence given out to college wrestling’s greatest wrestler, regardless of weight class. Hodge was so great, that he is widely considered the greatest college wrestler of all time. Hodge’s level of dominance was so great in college, that it will never be equaled. Throughout his college career, he was never defeated, never taken down, and never surrendered an offensive point. He was a 3x NCAA Champion, and pinned his way through the national tournament all 3 years.  In addition to his dominance over the college wrestling world, Hodge also won 3 AAU Freestyle national titles, as well as a AAU national title in Greco. To date he is the only amateur wrestler to be featured on the cover of Sport Illustrated. Hodge also competed in the 1956 Olympic Games and won a silver medal, despite having very little Freestyle experience. When his wrestling career finally came to an end Hodge took up boxing and put together a 24-0 record with 15 wins by KO. (it is rumored he had 2 boxing losses, however his official record has no mention of this) As you can see Dan was a legend among his peers, and I highly doubt his accomplishments will ever be matched.

Ben Peterson

Ben is considered one of the best Iowa State wrestlers of all-time by his peers, and was also one of America’s best wrestlers of his time. He was a 3x all-american, and 2x NCAA champion while competing at 190 lbs. His collegiate record stands at 74-4 with 24 pins. At the world championships he won a bronze and Gold medal.  He also won a Gold Medal at the 1972 Olympic Games. At the 1976 Olympics he captured a silver medal. His brother John was also an Olympic Gold Medalist.

Doug Blubaugh

Doug was a 2x AAU National Champion and a 1x NCAA Champion. In 1959 he was the Nations Most Outstanding wrestler, and he also won a Pan American Gold Medal. In 1960 he made the United States Olympic Team, where he defeated 3x World Champion and former Olympic Gold medalist Emam-Ali Habibi to win the Gold Medal. Following this win he was named the Worlds Most Outstanding Wrestler regardless of weight, by the Olympic committee.

Chris Campbell

The big thing I remember about Chris Campbell, is that Dan Gable told me that Chris is the greatest wrestler he has ever coached, and looking at his stats its easy to see why. At the University Of Iowa, Chris was a 3x all-american, and 2x NCAA Champion, with an incredible record of 122-6. Which is even more incredible when you consider the fact that he only wrestled for 3 years in college. In 1981, Chris won a Gold Medal at the World Championships. After a long layoff Chris returned in 1990, and won a Silver Medal at the 1990 World Championship. He followed that up in 1992 by becoming the oldest United States wrestler to win an Olympic medal when he captured Silver in Barcelona.

Bruce Baumgartner

Baumgartner is among the greatest American wrestlers of all time. His five international titles places him second behind John Smith, Jordan Burroughs, and Adeline Gray. Between 1983 and 1996, Baumgartner won an incredible13 World or Olympic medals. In addition to his 3 World, and 2 Olympic titles, he had 3 Pan American titles, 17 National titles, 8 World Cup Gold Medals, and an NCAA title. During his college career he was a 3x NCAA finalist, and had a record of 134-12 with 73 pins. Baumgartner ranked as one of the top super-heavyweight freestyle wrestlers for more than a decade. Placing in the world championships from 1983-1996. He is without a doubt the most accomplished heavyweight wrestler in American history.

Leroy Kemp

Leroy Kemp is a wrestler who achieved unparalleled success at the high school, collegiate, and international levels. Kemp took to the wrestling mats like a fish to water. He didn’t begin his exceptional career until the 9th grade, and by the time he had graduated he had completed 2 undefeated seasons and was a 2x Ohio state champion. Lee also won the prestigious Junior National Freestyle Tournament in July of his senior year defeating a future 3-time NCAA Champion in the finals. In college he wrestled for the University of Wisconsin where he was a 4x NCAA finalist and 3x Champion. Kemp only lost 3 matches his entire college career, and was a perfect 110-0 his final 3 years. During his sophomore year, when he was still just 18. He scored a career defining win over the legendary Dan Gable. Kemp was America’s first three-time World Champion, winning his first title in 1978 at age 21, establishing him as the youngest American world champion ever, a distinction he held for 30 years. Lee was a four-time World Cup Champion, 7-time United States Freestyle National Champion and was a heavy favorite for gold earning a berth on the 1980 United States Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team, but was unable to compete because of the U.S. boycott of the Olympics.

Earl McCready

Earl grew up in Western Canada, before moving to the United States to wrestle for Oklahoma State University. During his 3 seasons wrestling varsity for OSU, Earl never lost a match and was rarely scored upon. Incredibly he had an 88% pin rate throughout college. Numerous facts really stand out in his college wrestling career. First off, he was the first ever 3x NCAA champion. He was also the first foreign-born NCAA wrestling champ. He is one of only two collegiate wrestlers with three NCAA titles to win all three of his finals matches by pin-fall. (the other being Dan Hodge) McCready still owns the record for fastest fall in an NCAA final, pinning Ralph Freese of the University of Kansas in just nineteen seconds at the very first NCAA wrestling championship in 1928. Following the conclusion of his college career, he won the Gold Medal at the 1930, British Empire Games. Known now as the Commonwealth Games.

To See Iowa State’s Wrestling Top 10 All Time List, Click Here.

Bass River Resort is located in Steelville Missouri is the perfect destination for your next family vacation. There is so much to see and do you could stay for the whole summer. This gorgeous resort is located at 204 Butts Road in Steelville Missouri.  For more information, click here.

The campground has over 400 different sites to choose from, and 55 different cabins. Everything from tent sites to sites with full RV hookups. They have sites for pop up campers with electrical hook ups all the way to renting a full house. So no matter what type of adventure you desire, Bass River Resort has you covered.

A unique feature you won’t find at very many campgrounds, is the separation of the loud and quite camping areas. This allows guests the opportunity to enjoy and experience the grounds without the worry of disturbing others.

Cabins vary in size and style, with the largest accommodating up to 20 guests. Outside the cabins you will find, fire pits, charcoal grills, and picnic tables.

Even with all the fantastic lodging options, the real reason people come to the resort is all the fun activities available to them. At Bass River Resort there is no shortage of things to do. On the resort, guests can swim or relax by the beautiful pool, there is an enormous playground, an event center, a volleyball and basketball court. Fisherman love the more than 2 miles of riverfront on the Courtois River. The river is known as a hot-spot for bass, crappie, and numerous other game fish. If that wasn’t enough, the resort also offers horseback riding, float trips on two different rivers, hiking and mountain bike trails.

Nearby attractions include the gorgeous Maramec Spring, and Onondaga Cave State Park. Both of these are must see locations. Two great golf courses are only a short drive away.

Throughout the year the resort hosts numerous special events, to entertain guests. They have a fantastic 4th of July firework show, as well as local bands on Memorial Day and Labor Day. In October there is the BT Epic mountain bike race as well as the Halloween Boo Bash.

On Saturdays and Sundays guest can enjoy a delicious Country Breakfast Buffet. Delicious BBQ and Pizza are available on Saturday nights, and the Country Store serves up handmade deli sandwiches from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Bass River Resort has been in business for over 50 years, and has an outstanding reputation for providing guests with a fun, clean, and memorable camping experience!

This gorgeous resort is located at 204 Butts Road in Steelville Missouri.

For more information, click here.  All pictures used in this article are the property of Bass River Resort.

For more nearby lodging options, click here. For a list of Missouri’s best parks and locations, click here. For a list of nearby family activities, click here.

If you are looking for a camping experience unlike any other, Coconut Cove RV Resort in Hazel Green is the place for you. Coconut Cove RV Resort is located at 1549 Bluff Road, in Hazel Green Wisconsin. For more information, click here. 

This resort-caliber campground overlooks the mighty Mississippi River, providing breathtaking views and a large variety of fun activities and amenities to enjoy.

From the tropical-themed beachfront tiki bar to the floating aqua adventure park, Coconut Cove has exciting features for people of all ages.

Located on Bluff Road in Hazel Green, WI, you’ll find that getting to Coconut Cove RV Resort from Dubuque, Rutledge, Jamestown, Louisburg, and other surrounding areas is a breeze.

Whether you need a “day-cation” or a vacation, come see for yourself why Coconut Cove is the place to be.

From weekend getaways to extended vacations, Coconut Cove RV Resort has the lodging options to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable. This includes: RV Camping Spots, Premium Beachfront & Lakefront Cabins, and Glamping Pods. 

There are numerous features available at Coconut Cove RV Resort including:

• A large swimming pool and zero-entry wading pool for children
• 13-acre lake with an elaborate inflatable aqua park (additional fee for non-seasonal campers, must be at least 7 years old)
• Clean and modern shower house and laundry facilities
• On-site convenience store
• Equipment rentals such as paddle boats and boards, kayaks, golf carts, and beach umbrellas available
• A dog park for your furry friend to run and play in
• Wi-Fi available in the clubhouse.

There is also a clubhouse restaurant and pool and beach tiki bar!

If you enjoy camping, or maybe you love relaxing at a resort, either way this is the perfect place to spend your summer vacation.

For more amazing lodging and campground options, click here. For the best family activities in the area, click here. For the best parks and amazing locations, click here.

Bear Creek Cabins were established in 2003 and is a family owned business, located in Highlandville Iowa, just south of the Minnesota border. This heavily wooded area is an outdoor paradise featuring 9 absolutely breathtaking cabins!

These charming log cabins very in size and style, so weather your looking for a great location for your next family reunion,or a new spot for your hunting/fishing trip, or just a romantic get away with that special someone you’re sure to find exactly what your looking for at Bear Creek Cabins.

There is also a large campground featuring 12 sites with electricity, and 10 primitive sites!The campground also offers fishing boat, kayak, and canoe, rentals, and has a general store for all your fishing, hunting, and grocery needs.

The area has been described as a fishing and hunting Adventure waiting to happen. The Bear Creek Cabins are located only a short walk, from the North and South Bear streams, which are the #1 and #2 ranked trout streams in the entire state. If trout fishing is not your thing, the upper Iowa river is only a few miles away, and is loaded with bass, walleye, and northern pike!

Looking for a new place to hunt? Look no further. The Highlandville area has over 1,000 acres of public hunting land. The North Bear public land has some of the best whitetail and turkey hunting Iowa has to offer.

Bottom line, if you love spending time in the Great Outdoors, this is the perfect place for you and these cabins are just what you need.

Bear Creek Cabins is located at 3497 Highlandville Rd, Decorah, Iowa. For more information, click here.

A major concern for anyone spending long amounts of time in the wilderness is hauling around enough drinking water to keep you hydrated.   I had experimented with hydration packs on several occasions.  However using these just added another pack for me to carry, and on a long hike that is the last thing you want.  So recently I decided to explore some other options.   I had always heard of LifeStraw, but had never used it. In case you have not heard of the LifeStraw company, I will give you a little history and explanation of their products.

The LifeStraw company was born in 1996, as a way to remove Guinea worm larvae from drinking water.  By 2005 Life Straw had evolved into a water filter capable of removing virtually all of the microbiological contaminants that make water unsafe to drink.  This great product was originally designed to be used in emergency settings, following a natural disaster, and other times when clean water is not available.  By 2011 LifeStraw products began being sold in retail stores and became popular among outdoor enthusiasts, who use them on hiking and camping trips. Today LifeStraw is used in 64 different countries around the world.

Upon visiting the Lifestraw website, I found they had several different products available for sale.  Instead of choosing just one, I decided to pick out the three that best fit my needs .  The LifeStraw Go, the LifeStraw Personal, and LifeStraw Steel.

On my first trip I hiked through Starved Rock State Park, and Matthiessen State Park Located in Olgesby Illinois.  These parks offer many miles of trail, and feature some extreme elevation changes.  I figured this would help work up quite a thirst.  On this trip I packed my LifeStraw personal, and my Life Straw Steel.   Both of them did a great job.  They filtered the water well and provided me with an endless supply of drinking water.

Something that needs to be kept in mind when planning to use a LifeStraw on a hike, is that in most circumstances you will need to lay down on your stomach to be able to get a drink.  When your talking about survival, this is not a problem,  but on a casual hike you may not want to lay down every time you want to take a drink.  Its reasons like this, that they created the LifeStraw Go!

The LifeStraw Go is a great product, it incorporates 2 stage water filtration technology into a refillable water bottle.  This way you can refill your bottle at every body of water you come across.  This is not just convenient, but it turns any water source into clean, safe drinking water.  Its also a lot easier to use then the Personal and Steel models.

Now I carry both my Steel, and Go, Lifestraw products with me when I hike.  They are lightweight and do not take up much space in my pack, and both provide me with good clean drinking water when needed.  I hike and/or camp almost every weekend, and after almost 6 months the products are still doing a great job and have not shown any signs of wear.  Overall I think the LifeStraw products would be a great addition to your outdoor gear.  If you have not yet tried any of these products you can find them online by clicking here.