Duke Wrestling has a long and cherished history, dating back nearly 80 years. In its lifetime, the program has always made a concerted effort to strive for both academic and athletic excellence, while also playing a positive role in both the university and local communities. The program has actually had some of its most success over recent years and looks to continue to live up to the high standards set by tradition.
1926-1927 was the first year of competition for Duke Wrestling under the venerable W.E. Tilson. The first two decades saw much upheaval, as 8 different coaches led the team. The true course of Duke Wrestling was set in 1947, when Duke Hall of Fame member Carmen Falcone took the reins. During his tenure, Duke joined the new Atlantic Coast Conference, and soon thereafter started accumulating ACC Champions. Highlights of the Falcone era include another Duke Hall of Fame member, Hal McElhaney ‘57, a winner of back-to-back ACC titles, Karl Schettler ‘60 and Luke Sharpe ‘64, each heavyweight ACC champions, and Jerry Chadwick ‘56, who, in 1955, became the first Blue Devil in Duke's history to ever take home the ACC individual crown.
The program stayed in beloved, Hall of Fame hands after Falcone stepped down. Legendary coach Bill Harvey stepped in and began a 31-year tenure as head coach. Harvey coached 16 ACC champions, including Duke's only 3-time champ, Joel Puleo ‘75, and three two-time titlists: Duke Hall of Fame member Ed Newman ‘73, Greg Penny ‘74, and Bradd Weber ‘91. 1974 was a particular banner year, as Duke had 3 champions, the most in one season to date, with Penny, Puleo, and Brian Davis all winning their respective weight classes. Harvey finished his tenure as the winningest coach in Duke Wrestling history with an impressive 220-195-4 record.
The modern era for Duke wrestling saw no drop off in coaching as NCAA Champion Clar Anderson came aboard to helm the good ship. Anderson, an Oklahoma State graduate, has already led Duke Wrestling to some of its finest seasons in his brief tenure. 2001 saw the winningest season in Duke history, and in 2004 he coached the team to a share of the dual season ACC Championship and had 4 ACC Tournament Champions, the most of any school that season and the most in Duke's history for one year. Under Anderson's watch, Duke has qualified 12 wrestlers for the NCAA tournament and won 6 ACC titles. One of the highlights has been Frank Cornely ‘06, a back-to-back titlist with one of the most successful careers in Duke's history. In this era, Duke Wrestling also found its first Rhodes Scholar in John Sauer ‘98.
That is the epitome of Duke Wrestling: a combination of academic and athletic excellence. As this program moves forward and continues to push towards new heights, it is with full knowledge of the great past behind it and a drive to live up to ever-higher standards, something this program welcomes gladly.
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