Origins of Wrestling
Wrestling is probably the oldest of all sports and has been depicted in cave paintings dating back 15,000 years. It was a sport practiced in many ancient societies. The first wrestling matches were likely part of military training. The Ancient Greeks were the most prolific wrestlers, and they elevated it to a physical art form. They realized that wrestling is like playing chess with your body, utilizing techniques and moves to outwit your opponent and, in the process, dominate him.
The Greeks also created the Olympic Games, and wrestling was one of only a few events featured in the very first Games in the eighth century B.C. Later, with the fall of the Greek Empire in the fifth century A.D., the Olympic Games ceased, and the sport became less of an art form (reverting to its more militaristic beginnings). In time, both styles spread to the Roman Empire and beyond. When the Olympics resumed in 1896, one of the first sports offered was wrestling.
1904 Olympic Wrestling Match
Wrestling in the Americas Many Native American tribes practiced wrestling, but little is known about their distinct styles, which are likely to have varied from tribe to tribe. While the styles may have been different, the goal was the same -- to become skilled warriors.
During the 1700’s, wrestling graduated from a form of combat into a genuine spectator sport. It was the major contact sport among men of all classes in America. The wrestling style of the day was collar and elbow, named for the starting position. Standing face to face, each wrestler placed one hand behind his opponent’s neck and the other hand behind his elbow. This form did away with dirty tactics, such as “bull rushing” and throwing dirt in the opponent’s eyes, and allowed for different techniques specific to a wrestler’s size and strength.
Interestingly, George Washington was one of our country’s first champion wrestlers; at age 18, he held a collar-and-elbow wrestling championship that was at least county- wide and possibly colony-wide. Washington wrestled through much of his youth and continued to hold a winning record. Even at the age of 47, ten years before he became President, the “Commander of the Continental Armies” was able to defeat seven consecutive challengers from the Massachusetts Volunteer Guard.
Abraham Lincoln was also well known for his wrestling skills and was the wrestling champion of his county as early as 1830, at the age of 21. Lincoln was an imposing physical specimen, with a tall (6’4”), thin and muscular body strengthened by years of manual labor. Lincoln was likely the best and toughest of the “wrestling Presidents.” Sometimes he deviated from the formal collar-and-elbow style, opting for the catch-as catch can, which was more hand-to-hand combat than sport.
More American Presidents have been wrestlers than any other type of athlete, including: • John Adams • Abraham Lincoln • Chester A. Arthur • Franklin Pierce • Calvin Coolidge • Theodore Roosevelt • Dwight Eisenhower • William H. Taft • James Garfield • Zachary Taylor • Ulysses S. Grant • John Tyler • Andrew Jackson • George Washington
Modern Wrestling in America The first organized national wrestling tournament was held in New York City in 1888, and the first AAU championship was held in 1895. Soon after, many wrestling clubs were formed around the country.
In 1905 the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles began to standardize and formulate rules. Freestyle wrestling débuted in the 1904 Olympic Games held in St. Louis. Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) launched the first college wrestling program just before World War I, and they went undefeated for a decade in various competitions.
After World War I, many high schools across the country introduced wrestling to their programs. The NCAA held the first championships in 1928. Throughout the 20th century folk-style wrestling (high school and college) has been the most popular version of wrestling in America.
It wasn’t until the late 1970’s that American participation in Olympic wrestling was publicized and respected. Since then, the U.S. has produced many talented Olympic- style wrestlers. However, America’s folk-style has remained the most popular form of wrestling in the country. Today, many folk-style wrestlers go on to compete very successfully in Mixed Martial Arts and International styles of wrestling.
History of Wrestling at Loomis Chaffee
Loomis Chaffee wrestling has a rich history of championship wrestling that dates back to the 1930’s. In the 1950’s, three Pelicans brought home individual New England titles in the same season. Over the past six decades, Loomis has consistently had one of the top programs in NEPSAC wrestling and, since 2001, has won four New England titles and three league titles.
1954 Thomas Burns 115 1993 Josh Woodward 130 David Stainton 147 Peter Howard 167 1994 Arshad Chowdhury 112 Dan Oppenheimer 145 1956 Tim Thrall 177 1995 Chris Thompson 145 1960 Alexander Grannis 133 1998 Greg Stanislaus 145 1974 Dennis Watson 145 1999 Alexander Kozmin 103 1975 Dennis Watson 167 2003 Mike Powers 119 1977 Richard Schneiderton 167 Jonathan Moyet 145
1980 Johnnie Coles 98 2004 Patrick Feeley 119 Robert Ginsberg 127 Mike Powers 135
1986 Alfred Inghram V. 145 2005 Ravid Chowdhury 119 Corey Stewart 135 1987 Fred Hartung Jr. 167 Curtis Roddy 160
1988 Ken Greene 135 2006 Sean Boyle 112 Scott Carlsten 160 Corey Stewart 145 Fred Hartung Jr. 189 Mike Powers 152 David Bernstein 215 1989 Huw Price 171 2010 Ryan Harding 152 1992 Charles Melendez 135 Johann Roebelen 160